StanCorp Financial Group (SFG) received a “buy” reiteration today from securities research analysts at investment firm McAdams Wright Ragen. The firm also cut their performance outlook for SFG by adjusting its price target nearly ten dollars from $52 to $41 dollars. Firm noted that for a second quarter in a row that the benefit ratio at StanCorp surpassed estimates regarding guidance and noted that at current share valuation the company is attractive.
SFG gapped south at the end of trading last week and today SFG was unable to break above nor below Friday’s daily range, however, shares would again close today for a third consecutive daily loss. SFG has struggled to gain any bullish traction throughout 2011 trading and during each quarter there has been an associated bearish gap for three consecutive quarters now.
StanCorp is slated to release their next earnings report on October 20th, 2011, and is estimated to post EPS of 74 cents. Their last earnings report was released on July 21st, 2011, and announced EPS of 61 cents which was below street estimate consensus of $1.04 dollars. SFG is currently trading below its 50 & 200-day moving averages and 2011 is a down year for the company.
StanCorp is a holding company that has insurance and asset management subsidiaries among others. The company has market capitalization of $1,589,557,900 and 45,235,000 shares outstanding. SFG has a 52-week high of $48.87 with the low being $33.69 dollars.
