Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) reported weak growth through HIFY24 but it witnessed a boost in embedded value (EV) due to equity market performance. But concerns regarding its stock include loss of market share as it is outpaced by private sector rivals. sticky operating expenses (reduced slightly yearon-year but up in Q2FY24 versus Q1FY24). and high sensitivity of embedded value to equity volatility.
Traders may also factor in the likelthood of another stake sale by the Government of India. These concerns are reflected in valuations. LIC trades at a big discount in price/EV terms (less than 1x) compared to private sector rivals (mostly 3x or more). Growth is healthy on a sequential basis but weak on a Y-0-Y basis. The individual annualized premium equivalent (APE) in HIF’Y24 was flat Y-0-Y at Z 14,640 crore, whereas the group APE was down by 24.5 percent Y-0-Y to Z 7.990 crore. Policies that provide policyholders a share of the insurance company’s profits as an annual dividend payout are also called par or with-profit policies.
The VNB (value of new business) margin was flat on a Y-0-Y basis despite the rise in share of non-par business. which is margin positive. The VNB margin for HIFY24 was 14.61 percent against 14.58 percent in HIFY23. Though the rise in share of non-par products had a positive impact on the VNB margin. more benefits were given to policyholders, particularly for annuity. which pulled margins down again.
The product mix shift to non-par should push the VNB margin up in the long-term. But competitive intensity meant product pricing had to be low-margin and more benefits were offered to policyholders. The annuity rates have also been increased. The overall APE dropped 10.3 percent over the past year to ¥ 22.630 crore. The individual business accounted for 64.7 percent of the APE. The individual APE was flat Y-o-Y, whereas the group business dropped 24.5 percent.
The solvency ratio is adequate. and the movement to non-par is positive for margins. But further loss of market share would occur unless LIC pushes up growth rates to match rivals. It’s hard to estimate EV trends. Valuations are cheap which leaves room for some upside.
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