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Here are highlights from Friday's Analyst Blog:
Everest Re Peaks at a Hold
Everest Re Group, Ltd. (NYSE: RE | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) intends to release its 3Q08 earnings later this month. The company continues to experience rate pressures resulting from increased competition, higher commissions, and increased retentions by the ceding companies. Competition continues with a greater intensity in the US than in the international markets.
However, the company's results should be able to benefit from its strong risk-adjusted capitalization, good long-term operating performance, strong traditional risk management capabilities, well-diversified product lines and excellent market profile as a leading global reinsurance franchise, going forward. Even so, our Hold recommendation on the shares remains in place, presently.
State Auto Kept in Neutral
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, State Auto Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: STFC | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) is a property & casualty insurance holding company formed in June 1991 by State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company (Mutual), an Ohio mutual P&C company. Founded in 1921, Mutual currently owns approximately two-thirds of STFC.
STFC is expected to release its 3Q08 results on October 23, 2008. The company reported operating losses of $0.12 per share in 2Q08, versus operating net income of $0.51 per share in the prior year quarter, driven by a record level of catastrophe losses of $76.8 million.
Sangamo Biotech a Strong Buy
Sangamo Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) is a biopharmaceutical company engaging in designing and developing engineered transcription factors for gene regulation. The company uses a proprietary gene regulation technology to discover and develop a new class of therapeutic candidates for cardiovascular disease, cancer, neuropathic pain and immune diseases, such as sickle cell anemia and HIV.
Sangamo uses a proprietary ZFP gene regulation technology to discover and develop a new class of therapeutic candidates for diabetic neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, cancer and immune diseases. We are optimistic about this novel technology and are encouraged to hear that the company intends to bring more drug candidates into the clinic in 2008.
Lloyds a Hold on HBOS Buyout
We are maintaining our Hold on Lloyds TSB Group Plc (NYSE: LYG). The company has agreed to buy HBOS Plc (Nasdaq: HBOS), a UK bank with GBP681 billion in total assets, in an all-stock deal worth about GBP12 billion, expected to be completed in late 2008/early 2009.
We are reducing our 2008 EPADS estimate to $2.90 from $3.00, due to recent share issuance and US$ appreciation, and our 2009 estimate to $3.95 from $4.00, including the HBOS acquisition. While the deal makes Lloyds the #1 bank in the UK in terms of market share and over GBP1 billion in pretax cost synergies are seen, risks include major loan concentrations, increased reliance on wholesale funding, and potential capital shortfalls.
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