Exhibit 99.1
|
|
NEWS RELEASE | |||
| 2108 East South Boulevard |
Montgomery, Alabama 36116 | Telephone 334-288-3900 | ||
| CONTACT: |
Stephen G. Rutledge | RELEASE DATE: February 11, 2004 | ||
| Senior Vice President, CFO and Chief Investment Officer (334) 288-3900 |
ALFA CORPORATION REPORTS RECORD 2003 RESULTS
Montgomery, Alabama (February 11, 2004) Alfa Corporation (Nasdaq/NM:ALFA) today announced record financial results for the year ended December 31, 2003. Operating income for the year was a record $74,397,597, or $0.93 per diluted share, compared with operating income of $68,354,141, or $0.86 per diluted share for 2002, an increase of 7.7% on a per share basis. Net income, which includes net realized investment gains, was a record $78,468,948, or $0.98 per diluted share for 2003, compared with $71,708,006, or $0.90 per diluted share in 2002, a per share increase of 8.3%. Premiums and policy charges for 2003 increased 6.9% to $525,229,034.
Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2003 was $20,418,044, or $0.25 per diluted share, compared with fourth quarter 2002 operating income of $19,291,569, or $0.24 per diluted share. After net realized investment gains, net income for the fourth quarter of 2003 was $21,780,443, or $0.27 per diluted share, compared with $20,258,405, or $0.25 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. Premium revenue for the final three months of 2003 increased 5.9% to $133,858,864.
Alfas Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jerry a. Newby, said, We are extremely pleased to report another record year. Loss ratios in our property and casualty business were outstanding despite the challenges of increased weather-related losses. Alfa Corporation enters 2004 with a strong balance sheet, a well-positioned property and casualty business, solid consumer finance and commercial lease portfolios, repositioned life products, and a great management team ready to deliver value to our shareholders. In addition, technology initiatives slated for 2004 delivery will take our ability to service our customers to a new level.
Alfa Corporation will host a conference call today at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time. Investors and other interested parties may access the teleconference by calling 1-800-289-0528, or via links located on Alfas web site: www.alfains.com. A 30-day Internet play of the call will also be available from Alfas web site.
Alfa Corporation is engaged in insurance and financial activities through its subsidiaries. The common stock of Alfa Corporation is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Markets National Market under the symbol ALFA.
For unaudited quarterly financial statements for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, along with additional information, click here: http://www.irinfo.com/alfa/4q03fs.pdf.
-MORE-
Alfa Corporation Reports Record 2003 Results
Page 2
February 11, 2004
ALFA CORPORATION
Financial Highlights
| Year Ended December 31, |
Three Months Ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
Change |
2003 |
2002 |
Change |
|||||||||||||
| Premiums and Policy Charges |
$ | 525,229,034 | $ | 491,104,980 | 6.95 | % | $ | 133,858,864 | $ | 126,376,605 | 5.92 | % | ||||||
| Net Investment Income |
83,508,811 | 88,506,032 | (5.65 | %) | 19,714,474 | 22,576,597 | (12.68 | %) | ||||||||||
| Other Income |
3,045,162 | 2,777,624 | 9.63 | % | 566,040 | 699,510 | (19.08 | %) | ||||||||||
| Total Revenues |
611,783,007 | 582,388,636 | 5.05 | % | 154,139,378 | 149,652,712 | 3.00 | % | ||||||||||
| Total Expenses |
511,449,809 | 488,203,118 | 4.76 | % | 127,776,568 | 122,522,196 | 4.29 | % | ||||||||||
| Income Before Provision for Income Taxes |
100,333,198 | 94,185,518 | 6.53 | % | 26,362,810 | 27,130,516 | (2.83 | %) | ||||||||||
| Provision for Income Taxes |
25,935,601 | 25,831,376 | 0.40 | % | 5,944,766 | 7,838,947 | (24.16 | %) | ||||||||||
| Operating Income* |
74,397,597 | 68,354,142 | 8.84 | % | 20,418,044 | 19,291,569 | 5.84 | % | ||||||||||
| Realized Investment Gains, Net of Tax |
4,071,351 | 3,353,864 | 21.39 | % | 1,362,399 | 966,836 | 40.91 | % | ||||||||||
| Net Income |
$ | 78,468,948 | $ | 71,708,006 | 9.43 | % | $ | 21,780,443 | $ | 20,258,405 | 7.51 | % | ||||||
| Operating Income Per Share* |
||||||||||||||||||
| Basic |
$ | 0.93 | $ | 0.87 | 7.47 | % | $ | 0.25 | $ | 0.24 | 4.29 | % | ||||||
| Diluted |
$ | 0.93 | $ | 0.86 | 7.70 | % | $ | 0.25 | $ | 0.24 | 4.44 | % | ||||||
| Net Income Per Share |
||||||||||||||||||
| Basic |
$ | 0.98 | $ | 0.91 | 8.05 | % | $ | 0.27 | $ | 0.26 | 5.94 | % | ||||||
| Diluted |
$ | 0.98 | $ | 0.90 | 8.28 | % | $ | 0.27 | $ | 0.25 | 6.09 | % | ||||||
| Average Number of Shares Outstanding |
||||||||||||||||||
| Basic |
79,808,669 | 78,804,265 | 80,293,809 | 79,115,566 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted |
80,390,001 | 79,546,788 | 80,827,936 | 79,760,663 | ||||||||||||||
| * | Management believes that operating income and operating income per share, non-GAAP financial measures, serve as meaningful tools for assessing the profitability of the Companys ongoing operations. Operating income is defined by the Company as net income excluding realized investment gains and losses, net of applicable taxes. Operating income per share represents operating income divided by the weighted average shares outstanding for the reporting period. Management uses operating income and operating income per share as measures of the Companys ongoing profitability since they eliminate the effect of securities market volatility from earnings. |
Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release which relate to the future are, by their nature, uncertain and dependent upon numerous contingencies including political, economic, regulatory, climatic, competitive, legal, and technological any of which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements. Additional information regarding these and other risk factors and uncertainties may be found in Alfa Corporations filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
-END-