The Money Bin

In the week to 1 May the FTSE All Share rose 1.2% vs. the Insurance Index at +0.5% and 0.9% for the Lloyd’s Index. The best performer was JLT (+2.5%); Beazley (-0.2%) was the worst performer. The Q1 reporting season has begun: newsflow has been mixed with a number of US insurers reporting improved PBT/rates, but also loss creep, higher Q1 losses and warnings from brokers about stalling rate rises ahead of the key Jun/Jul US renewals. The 2018 hurricane season starts 1 June with consensus for sli

The Money Bin

In the week to 24 April the FTSE All Share rose 2.6% vs. the Insurance Index at +1.8% and 0.0% for the Lloyd’s Index. The best performers were Helios* (+7.0%) and Beazley (+1.5%); Hiscox (-1.1%) was the worst performer. Following last week’s analysis of the issue of underinsurance with the 2017 cat losses, we look at the growing risk of a Californian earthquake – not necessarily in San Francisco but along the Hayward Fault. Latest analysis suggests an insured loss of cUS$30bn but an economic los

The Money Bin

In the week to 17 April the FTSE All Share fell -0.3% vs. the Insurance Index at +0.5% and +0.2% for the Lloyd’s Index. The best performer was Lancashire (+4.0%); Helios* (-2.3%) and JLT (-0.8%) were the worst performers. Swiss Re’s sigma analysis of the 2017 insured losses highlights the material protection gap. It estimates the total insured losses from the 2017 catastrophes at US$144bn vs. total economic losses of US$337bn, giving a cat risk protection gap of US$193bn (57%). Herein lies a pot

The Money Bin

In the week to 10 April the FTSE All Share rose 3.0% vs. the Insurance Index at +1.5% and +0.8% for the Lloyd’s Index. The best performer was Hiscox (+3.0%); Lancashire (-2.2%) was the worst performer. We look at the first forecasts for the 2018 hurricane season. These early estimates suggest a slightly elevated level of windstorm activity – and an increase in US landfall probability. Of course, it is the if/where of the latter that holds the greatest risk of insured loss and, in 2018, will be a

The Money Bin

In the week to 3 April the FTSE All Share rose 0.4% vs. the Insurance Index at +0.8% and +0.8% for the Lloyd’s Index. The best performer was Lancashire (+2.8%); JLT (-1.9%) was the worst performer. This week we review the 1 April renewals, where prices were as muted as we expected. Ongoing competition dampened rate movements where accounts were loss free. It was always going to be a big ask to get those not affected by the 2017 cats to pay up – and they didn’t. Interestingly, M&A is picking up,

The Money Bin

In the week to 27 March the FTSE All Share fell -1.0% vs. the Insurance Index at -1.8% and 0.2% for the Lloyd’s Index. The best performer was Beazley (+4.3%); Helios* (-3.1%) and Hiscox (-1.6%) were the worst performers. We remind investors of the growing cyber hacking threat to energy providers, especially in the US. Several speciality insurers are already teaming up with energy experts, eg Beazley and Energy Insurance Mutual, to look to provide customised cover for this risk but the insured ex

The Money Bin

In the week to 13 March the FTSE All Share rose 0.1% vs. the Insurance Index at +1.7% and +3.3% for the Lloyd’s Index. As M&A speculation rose among the Bermudian underwriters, the best performer was Hiscox (+6.4%); Lancashire (-1.3%) wasthe worst performer. We often talk of the band of global specialist (re)insurers that Beazley, Hiscox and Lancashire belong to. In the table below, we rank the key players by market cap (in USD), splitting out the major European players. What stands out is the P

The Money Bin

In the week to 6 March the FTSE All Share fell -1.6% vs. the Insurance Index at -2.7% and -0.3% for the Lloyd’s Index. The best performer was Lancashire (+3.3%); JLT (-6.4%) post its FY17 results, was the worst performer. This week we look at the data on actual US property/casualty rate changes in Q4 2017 and Jan 2018. This has a bearing on the outlook for (re)insurers and the drivers behind the latest M&A moves ie the AXA bid for XL Catlin at 1.5x NAV/2.0x TNAV and AIG’s acquisition of Validus

Non Life Insurance

2017 tested the global re/insurance market but we believe the quoted Lloyd’s insurers responded well. The results also highlighted the very different underwriting strategies, especially between Lancashire and Beazley/Hiscox. Lancashire’s underwriting loss, given the 2017 catastrophes, should not have surprised shareholders, nor the fact that Hiscox had an FX exposure. In this report we review the FY results in more detail.

The Money Bin

In the week to 27 February the FTSE All Share rose 0.5% vs. the Insurance Index at +1.9% and +1.3% for the Lloyd’s Index. The best performer was JLT (+5.6%); Helios* (-3.7%) and Beazley (-1.6%) were the worst performers. This week we review the FY2017 results from Beazley, Hiscox and Lancashire. Beazley reported the highest PBT and ROE (8.7%), helped by a strong investment yield. Lancashire’s loss was expected given its higher cat/reinsurance exposure and the 2017 losses. Hiscox was hit by FX lo

Building for the future

FY2017 PBT of £30.8m (£93.6m pre FX) was impacted by nat cats and FX losses, as expected, but future FX noise will fall with the move to US$ reporting. The results were solid in our view given the 2017 cats, helped by GPW growth in Retail. The outlook has improved for London Market/Reinsurance - lower than Hiscox hoped but closer to our predictions, which should boost 2018/19E PBT. We don’t see an early return to special dividends but instead value-add investment, an improved ROE and 5% pa growt

The Money Bin

In the week to 20 February the FTSE All Share rose 1.3% vs. the Insurance Index at +1.2% and -1.9% for the Lloyd’s Index. The best performer was JLT (+0.2%); Lancashire (-14.6%) was the worst performer, reflecting the (overdone in our view) share price fall post its FY17 results. This week we look at the wide range of combined ratios being reported for 2017. The variation reflects the portfolio split, (short/long/cat etc), as well as the quality of underwriting (cf Aspen closing its unit). NB a

Non Life Insurance

In this Cyber Bytes we look in more detail at two recent cyber reports from Beazley (fraud) and Hiscox (cyber readiness). Beazley flags the increased threat from fraudulent instruction scams, which quadrupled in 2017 for its clients. Hiscox’s more in-depth report found that c73% of organisations surveyed in Europe and the US were unprepared for cyber attacks. Not surprisingly, the smaller firms fared worse than larger firms. Ahead of GDPR coming into effect on 25 May 2018, only 33% of all respon

The Money Bin

In the week to 13 February the FTSE All Share rose 0.4% vs. the Insurance Index at +3.6% and +2.7% for the Lloyd’s Index. The best performer was Beazley post its FY17 results (+4.8%); JLT (-0.6%) was the worst performer. We review the recent Alpha (Lloyd’s) Market Analysis. It reports a wide range of rate rises for most short tail lines at January 2018 and suggests there is potentially more to (gradually) come despite a ‘disappointing’ reinsurance renewal. This supports our view of rates: we con

The Money Bin

In the week to 6 February the FTSE All Share fell -5.8% vs. the Insurance Index at -3.4% and -5.3% for the Lloyd’s Index. The sector was inevitably caught up in the recent market correction, but valuations remain pretty robust. The best performer was Beazley (-3.6%); Hiscox (-7.0%) was the worst performer. The FY17 results season has kicked off: Beazley reports today, then Lancashire and Hiscox. We provide a broad comparison of the three insurers to highlight their differences – and a guide as t

LIBERUM: Plus500: Strategic progress pays dividends

Tatton Asset Management (TAM LN) - Record net inflows

Tatton, the leading on-platform discretionary fund manager (DFM) and IFA support services Group has released a trading update ahead of its results to 31 March 2024, due on 18 June 2024.

Hardman & Co Insight: 2023 was an annus horribilis for Quoted UK Infrastructure and Renewable Energy

The focus of Hardman & Co Research is on the nine quoted Infrastructure Investment Companies (IICs) and on the 22 Renewable Energy Infrastructure Funds (REIFs): the stocks analysed are all members of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC). We are updating our publication of January 2023, assessing both the lacklustre share price performances during 2023 and the key issues, including interest rates, inflation and power prices. As a 31-strong group, its combined market capitalisation is no

Ondo InsurTech FY24 Trading Update

Ondo InsurTech has released a brief post-YE update revealing its good progress continued through 2H24 and consequently FY24 will be in line with market expectations.

BlackRock World Mining

BRWM’s managers: we see all the classic signs of high commodity prices...

NextEnergy Solar Fund - Attractive Refinancing

The refinancing of a £135m revolving credit facility and the extension of a similar £70m facility gives NESF firepower as development opportunities for new solar are especially attractive thanks to lower module prices in Europe. They give the fund key financial flexibility at a critical time as it pursues its capital recycling programme.

Morning Note – 18 April 2024

The Hardman & Co Monthly: April 2024

Feature article: Steady as she goes, but could be better: A review of investment company liquidity since 2016 Liquidity is the lifeblood of equity markets. The measurement of liquid asset availability to a market or company is a way of gauging a market’s health. This article builds on our previous work, which analysed the liquidity data for non-financial trading companies, by applying the same analytical techniques to the investment companies (IC) space. We analyse liquidity for ICs as a whol

Foxtons Group (FOXT LN) - 1Q24 IMS shows real momentum

Foxtons Group plc first quarter revenue rose 9% to £35.7m (1Q23: £32.9m) with growth delivered across all business segments. Trading is in line with management's expectations.

Initial Equity Trading Comments - 19 February 2024

M Winkworth+ (WINK, House Stock at 163p) - Solid FY23A results, well placed to grow

Foxtons Group - FY24 underpinned by market share gains

Foxtons Group’s Q1 revenue grew by 9%, supported by growth in all three divisions as the strategic initiatives continue to gain significant momentum, driven by investment in staff, best-in-class bespoke IT and data platforms. This implies that Foxtons’ medium-term targets are now coming into focus. Market share is being gained in all divisions, which puts Foxtons in a good position as the sales market stabilises. We maintain our valuation of 132p/share and believe that if interest rates stabilis

Resilient FY24, confident long-term outlook

Vp’s full year update highlights sector-leading results, once again benefiting from the diversity of its end markets and the quality of its specialist businesses. With results expected to be broadly in line with expectations, we trim our FY24 PBT forecast by c.5% to £39.0m, a shade below the FY23 outturn (£40.2m). We consider this an impressively resilient performance set against a mixed market backdrop. Under new leadership, a strategic refresh is underway and management is confident in long

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 16/04/2024

16th April 2024 * A corporate client of Hybridan LLP ** Arranged by type of listing and date of announcement *** Alphabetically arranged **** Potential means Intention to Float (ITF) has been announced Dish of the day Admissions: Delistings: What’s baking in the oven? ** Potential**** Initial Public Offerings: Reverse Takeovers: Electric Guitar (ELEG.L) Concurrent with its Admission to trading on AIM, Electric Guitar is proposing to acquire the entire issued share capital of 3radical Limited for

AUM up 30% in FY24, record flows, forecasts raised

AUM jumped £3.8bn or +30% in FY24, reaching £16.6bn on 31 Mar 24, 12% above our previous forecast of £14.7bn. Including 50%-owned 8AM Global, Assets Under Influence hit £17.6bn. Investment performance provided a tailwind, adding £1.5bn to AUM. But our key takeaway from Tatton’s hugely impressive last few years, is that it has designed and implemented a superior offering in platform-MPS with net flows consistently far higher than peers. That leadership looks even more pronounced in H2-24 with net