Reinsurance Group Of America Operating Earnings Top Estimates

(RTTNews) - Reinsurance Group of America Inc (RGA) on Monday reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $191 million or $2.75 per share compared with $145 million or $2.03 per share last year.

Excluding items, operating earnings for the quarter were $2.99 per share compared with $2.17 per share a year ago.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters estimated earnings of $2.11 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Total revenues for the quarter were $2.7 billion compared with $2.74 billion in the prior year.

Analysts estimated revenues of $2.74 billion for the quarter.

Net premiums for the quarter were slightly up at $2.22 billion, compared with a year ago.

Results were mainly helped by a decrease in benefits and expenses to $2.42 billion from $2.51 billion last year.

The company has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.33 per share.