Jeffrey Schuman, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

MetLife, Inc. (MET) - Jeffrey Schuman at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

MetLife Chief Executive Robert Henrikson spoke of the AIG talks Wednesday during a conference call "MetLife does not need to enter into any (merger and acquisition) transaction to meet our business objectives," said Wednesday during an analyst call "Any transaction we undertake would be accretive and financially attractive to our shareholders" Henrikson's comments came at the beginning of the conference call to discuss the New York based insurer's fourth quarter earnings Company shares slid $181, or 5 percent, to $3456 Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc analyst Jeffrey Schuman said MetLife's capital position "affords them the possibility of funding part of an acquisition, perhaps $2 billion to $3 billion, from existing resources" 

MetLife, Inc. (MET) - Jeffrey Schuman at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

MetLife Chief Executive Robert Henrikson spoke of the AIG talks Wednesday during a conference call "MetLife does not need to enter into any (merger and acquisition) transaction to meet our business objectives," said Wednesday during an analyst call "Any transaction we undertake would be accretive and financially attractive to our shareholders" Henrikson's comments came at the beginning of the conference call to discuss the New York based insurer's fourth quarter earnings Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc analyst Jeffrey Schuman said MetLife's capital position "affords them the possibility of funding part of an acquisition, perhaps $2 billion to $3 billion, from existing resources" 

Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG) - Jeffrey Schuman at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc is rebounding from the credit crisis and market downturn earlier this year with a strong capital base and improving businesses, an analyst wrote in a research note Wednesday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc analyst Jeffrey Schuman said Hartford Financial's third quarter results released Tuesday showed better than expected earnings from both its property and casualty and life insurance businesses.  

AFLAC Inc. (AFL) - Jeffrey Schuman at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

Analysts expect the company to report earnings of 59 cents a share, down from 65 cents a share in the year ago quarter, but revenue of $1.19 billion, 8.6% above last year's results. Aflac's (AFL), which offers insurance designed to help insured people pay additional expenses, has a different set of issues. On one hand, the company is "likely to endure no matter what the outcome is" on health care reform, says Jeffrey Schuman, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods. But Aflac's life insurance sales continue to suffer from weak demand. "Normally, in a recession, softer demand is offset by strong recruiting of sales agents," Schuman says. 

AFLAC Inc. (AFL) - Jeffrey Schuman at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

While the overall market rallied, investments in CIT Group Inc. , the 101 year old lender that needed emergency funding to avoid bankruptcy, may hurt insurers' balance sheets, said Jeffrey Schuman , an analyst with KBW Inc in a note on July 16. Aflac Inc. , the world's biggest seller of supplemental insurance, and Genworth Financial Inc face the most risk, Schuman said. 

Genworth Financial, Inc. (GNW) - Jeffrey Schuman at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

While the overall market rallied, investments in CIT Group Inc. , the 101 year old lender that needed emergency funding to avoid bankruptcy, may hurt insurers' balance sheets, said Jeffrey Schuman , an analyst with KBW Inc in a note on July 16. Aflac Inc. , the world's biggest seller of supplemental insurance, and Genworth Financial Inc face the most risk, Schuman said. 

AFLAC Inc. (AFL) - Jeffrey Schuman at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

Aflac Inc., the world's biggest seller of supplemental insurance, had about $240 million in CIT senior debt at the end of March and Richmond, Virginia based Genworth Financial Inc had about $178 million of the notes, Jeffrey Schuman , an analyst with KBW said last week in a report to investors. Insurers may have changed their investments since the end of the first quarter, and portions of the holdings may be protected by hedges, Schuman said. CIT's advisers, including JPMorgan Chase & Co and Morgan Stanley, discussed with other banks about a debtor in possession loan to fund the company's operations should it enter bankruptcy, people with knowledge of the matter said last week. Meanwhile, bondholders hired law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and investment bank Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin to advise them, according to a person familiar with the matter. 

Genworth Financial, Inc. (GNW) - Jeffrey Schuman at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

Aflac Inc., the world's biggest seller of supplemental insurance, had about $240 million in CIT senior debt at the end of March and Richmond, Virginia based Genworth Financial Inc had about $178 million of the notes, Jeffrey Schuman , an analyst with KBW said last week in a report to investors. Insurers may have changed their investments since the end of the first quarter, and portions of the holdings may be protected by hedges, Schuman said. CIT's advisers, including JPMorgan Chase & Co and Morgan Stanley, discussed with other banks about a debtor in possession loan to fund the company's operations should it enter bankruptcy, people with knowledge of the matter said last week. Meanwhile, bondholders hired law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and investment bank Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin to advise them, according to a person familiar with the matter. 

Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG) - Jeffrey Schuman at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

Ayer's successor was expected to be Thomas M. Marra, who was promoted to president and chief operating officer of The Hartford in 2007. But Marra, 50, had led the life operations - the most troubled side of The Hartford - and the company announced in February a "mutually agreed separation" in which he will retire . Ayer and the board had long been talking about management succession and his plans to retire, and none of the directors wanted him to leave despite the company's troubles, said Michael G. Morris, the lead independent director, in an interview. "This was Ramani's choice and we felt duty bound to respect it," said Morris, a former chief executive and now CEO of Morris also praised Ayer's integrity, deep knowledge and experience. It's an opportune time to initiate a management change "because they have turned the initial corner on this crisis," said Jeffrey Schuman, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods.  

Prudential Financial Inc (PRU) - Jeffrey Schuman at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

Some analysts say Ameriprise may not be the only insurance company to refuse the federal money. Principal Financial Group and Prudential Financial are unlikely to take it, predicted Jeffrey Schuman of New York based Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, writing in a Friday research note.  

Principal Financial Group Inc (PFG) - Jeffrey Schuman at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

Some analysts say Ameriprise may not be the only insurance company to refuse the federal money. Principal Financial Group and Prudential Financial are unlikely to take it, predicted Jeffrey Schuman of New York based Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, writing in a Friday research note.