Direct Line Prelims

[idpickering]

Strong financial performance, final dividend up 40.2% to 13.6p and special dividend of 15.0p


Paul Geddes, CEO of Direct Line Group, commented

"2017 is the fifth successive year in which we have delivered a strong financial performance. We have seen significant growth in our direct own brand policies as more customers respond positively to the many improvements we have made to the business. This success has resulted in our proposing an increase in the final dividend by 40.2% to 13.6 pence, bringing the total ordinary dividends to 20.4 pence, and declaring a special dividend of 15.0 pence. This amounts to a cash return of £486 million to shareholders for 2017.

"At half year we refreshed our medium term targets and today's results show we've been delivering on our management priorities to maintain revenue growth, reduce expense and commission ratios and deliver underwriting and pricing excellence.

"Looking to the future, this success enables us to continue investing in our technology and customer experience, supporting our plans to grow the business whilst improving efficiency. Together with our track record of delivery, these give us the confidence to continue to target a combined operating ratio of 93% to 95% over

And later;

Dividends

The Board is proposing a final dividend of 13.6 pence per share making a total ordinary dividend of 20.4 pence per share (2016: 14.6 pence). This represents 39.7% growth over the 2016 ordinary dividend in line with the increase in the interim dividend announced with the H1 results.

In normal circumstances, the Group expects to operate around the middle of its solvency capital ratio risk appetite range of 140% to 180%. As a result of the Group's lower capital requirements in 2017 and the strong financial performance in the year, the Group has declared a special dividend of 15.0 pence per share as an interim dividend, taking the estimated Group solvency capital ratio post-dividends to 162%. The final dividend will be put to shareholders for approval at the AGM on 10 May, and the final dividend and the special dividend are to be paid on 17 May 2018 to shareholders on the register on 6 April 2018. The ex-dividend date will be 5 April 2018.

https://www.investegate.co.uk/direct-li ... 00059837F/

[idpickering]

I hold these, along with Admiral Group in the sector. A very nice dividend thank you.

Ian.

[UncleEbenezer]

Comfortable reading. But share price down - market evidently expected better.

Anyone following the sector? Have other insurers outperformed DLG?

[blobby]

I’ve held Direct Line shares for a long time now and it is hard not to like them. They are still well within HYP territory, with good asset cover, P/E, a great dividend and a little growth. Within the sector Direct Line seems to be a quality outfit to me with good investment in technology, brand awareness and competitive edge.

I think some people think that car insurance will become less of an expense as automated vehicles take to the roads and there are fewer accidents. However, I suspect that we will end up paying about the same proportion of our incomes on insurance of one form or another no matter what (pets, houses, breakdown etc).