Assurant Inc.AIZ

Morningstar Rating

Stock Research and Analysis

by Drew Woodbury

Assurant offers specialized, niche insurance products in an attempt to creatively underwrite risks that it believes are profitable to insure. Despite its strong distribution channels, Assurant seems unable to price its insurance profitably, and we don't Read more

Bulls Say

Strong point-of-sale distribution makes Assurant the default choice for the purchase of many types of insurance.

Assurant underwrites specialized insurance products. These products are often characterized by less competition, creating a potential moat for the company. Read more

Bears Say

Profits from a relationship with Circuit City--to whom the company provided warranties--are in question because of the retailer's bankruptcy.

Many of Assurant's customers have significant scale, which allows them to demand aggressive pricing from the insurer.

Assurant is exposed to both the tightening credit markets and the softening housing market through its specialty insurance products. Read more

Strategy

By targeting niche markets, the company attempts to put itself in markets with fewer competitors. Doing this, especially over a long period, allows the company to develop an expertise in assessing particular Read more

Management

Recent events, including a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into the company for abusing the use of reinsurance contracts to inflate earnings, have put Assurant's stewardship in some question. The company is led by CEO Robert Pollock Read more

Profile

Diversified insurer Assurant offers a range of property-casualty, health, employee-benefit, and prefunded funeral insurance to a client base made up of individuals and institutions. Read more

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