Intact Financial posts lower second-quarter profit but does better than estimates

TORONTO – Intact Financial Corp. (TSX:IFC) had a smaller second-quarter profit than last year but exceeded recent analyst estimates following several recent catastrophes that will result in millions of dollars of payouts by the insurance company.

On a per-share basis, the Toronto-based property and casualty insurance company had 89 cents per share of net operating income.

That was down from $1.35 a year earlier but 16 cents a share better than anticipated.

Overall, Intact’s net operating income fell 32 per cent to $123 million, down $57 from $180 million in the same time last year.

Intact said the lower operating income in the quarter ended June 30 reflects losses related to storms and flooding in Alberta.

It warned earlier this month that it expected to take a hit in both the second and third quarter from claims related to flooding in Alberta in late June and Toronto and the Lac-Megantic train crash in Quebec in early July.

Intact’s net income in the second quarter was $103 million, down 20 per cent from $129 million a year earlier. Its net income fell to 73 cents per share from 95 cents per share.