Citi Upgrades Torchmark Corp (TMK) to Buy on Two Catalysts
TMK Hot Sheet
Rating Summary:1 Buy, 9 Hold, 1 Sell
Rating Trend:
Up
Today's Overall Ratings:
Up: 16 | Down: 7 | New: 23
Citi upgrades Torchmark Corp (NYSE: TMK) from Hold to Buy, citing valuation and strong conviction management can grow earnings and book value. The firm lowered their price target from $45 to $37.
Citi analyst says, "While we have trimmed our target price to $37, it still represents ETR of 36.6%. We have also lowered our 2009-10E to $6.15 and $6.55 and established a 2011E of $7.15. Changes follow our detailed review of what we considered to be quite satisfactory 4Q08 results. Reduction to our target was solely due to the weakness of the life insurance peer group whose valuations on average are down approx. 25% YTD in 2009...Two catalysts driving the upgrade — First, a very attractive valuation with a P/E of just 4.5x our revised 2009E, and P/B of 1.0x BV at YE08 including other comprehensive income (OCI) and 0.7x BV exclud. OCI. Second, strong conviction management can grow earnings and book value (ex. OCI) in 20009/10. For 2008, TMK’s 8.0% growth in BV ex. OCI ranked second amongst the peer group and well above the peer average of 0.7%."
Torchmark Corporation (Torchmark) is a holding company for a group of insurance companies, which market primarily individual life and supplemental health insurance, and to a limited extent annuities, to middle income households throughout the United States.
Citi analyst says, "While we have trimmed our target price to $37, it still represents ETR of 36.6%. We have also lowered our 2009-10E to $6.15 and $6.55 and established a 2011E of $7.15. Changes follow our detailed review of what we considered to be quite satisfactory 4Q08 results. Reduction to our target was solely due to the weakness of the life insurance peer group whose valuations on average are down approx. 25% YTD in 2009...Two catalysts driving the upgrade — First, a very attractive valuation with a P/E of just 4.5x our revised 2009E, and P/B of 1.0x BV at YE08 including other comprehensive income (OCI) and 0.7x BV exclud. OCI. Second, strong conviction management can grow earnings and book value (ex. OCI) in 20009/10. For 2008, TMK’s 8.0% growth in BV ex. OCI ranked second amongst the peer group and well above the peer average of 0.7%."
Torchmark Corporation (Torchmark) is a holding company for a group of insurance companies, which market primarily individual life and supplemental health insurance, and to a limited extent annuities, to middle income households throughout the United States.
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