Selective Insurance Group Beats Up on Analysts Yet Again
Selective Insurance Group (NAS: SIGI) reported earnings on Feb. 2. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Selective Insurance Group beat slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.
Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased slightly, and GAAP earnings per share dropped significantly.
Margins dropped across the board.
Revenue details
Selective Insurance Group logged revenue of $400.4 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $396.3 million. Sales were 1.6% higher than the prior-year quarter's $394.1 million.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions.
EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.33. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.31 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.29 for Q4 were 33% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.43 per share.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Figures may be non-GAAP to maintain comparability with estimates.
Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 8%, 190 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.1%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.
Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $416.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.36.
Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.66 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.48.
Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 37 members rating the stock outperform, and five members rating it underperform. Among 21 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 19 give Selective Insurance Group a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.
Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Selective Insurance Group is hold, with an average price target of $18.80.
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At the time thisarticle was published Seth Jayson had no position in any company mentioned here at the time of publication. You can view his stock holdings here. He is co-advisor ofMotley Fool Hidden Gems, which provides new small-cap ideas every month, backed by a real-money portfolio. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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