Close Close
Popular Financial Topics Discover relevant content from across the suite of ALM legal publications From the Industry More content from ThinkAdvisor and select sponsors Investment Advisor Issue Gallery Read digital editions of Investment Advisor Magazine Tax Facts Get clear, current, and reliable answers to pressing tax questions
Luminaries Awards
ThinkAdvisor

Life Health > Annuities

Merrill Optimistic About Phoenix

X
Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

NU Online News Service, July 16, 3:15 p.m. – Phoenix Companies Inc., Hartford, should post sound growth now that it has demutualized, according to analysts at Merrill Lynch & Company Inc., New York.

The analysts predict in a recent note that Phoenix will post a 3.5% operating return on equity in 2002. This is well below the 13% return posted by John Hancock Financial Services Inc., Boston, and the 10% return posted by Metlife Inc., New York, at the time of their demutualizations. But Phoenix has created more value for policyholders over the long term than the average mutual insurer, the analysts argue.

Phoenix is reporting a strong net flow of funds into its life insurance and annuities, and that should translate into strong growth in account balances, the Merrill analysts write.


NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.