How did AIZ's Q4 earnings surprise impact its annual performance?

Assurant (AIZ) reported a Q4 earnings per share (EPS) of $3.87, which surpassed estimates by 13%. This positive surprise had a significant impact on AIZ's annual performance: 1. **Annual EPS Improvement**: The annual EPS of $14.46 for 2024 represents a substantial increase from the previous year. This indicates that the positive momentum from Q4 extended throughout the year, contributing to a stronger annual performance. |code|Ticker|Name|Date|Net Income YoY|Net Income|market_code| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2020 Q1|-7.591933570581258|1.558E8|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2020 Q2|25.105189340813467|1.784E8|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2020 Q3|42.66917293233083|-3.05E7|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2020 Q4|7.142857142857142|1.38E8|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2021 Q1|4.492939666238768|1.628E8|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2021 Q2|15.47085201793722|2.06E8|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2021 Q3|2984.590163934426|8.798E8|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2021 Q4|-12.391304347826088|1.209E8|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2022 Q1|-8.476658476658477|1.49E8|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2022 Q2|-74.66019417475728|5.22E7|169| |code|Ticker|Name|Date|Diluted EPS YoY|Diluted EPS|market_code| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2020 Q1|-3.571428571428566|2.43|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2020 Q2|27.14932126696833|2.81|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2020 Q3|39.583333333333336|-0.58|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2021 Q1|8.641975308641973|2.64|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2021 Q2|19.572953736654796|3.36|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2021 Q3|2650|14.79|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2022 Q1|0.3787878787878707|2.65|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2022 Q2|-71.72619047619048|0.95|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2022 Q3|-99.05341446923597|0.14|169| |AIZ|AIZ.N|Assurant|2023 Q1|-19.999999999999993|2.12|169| 2. **Revenue Growth**: AIZ's revenue for the quarter ended December 2024, was $3.13 billion, marking a year-over-year increase of 4.4%. This growth, although more modest than the EPS surprise, still contributed positively to the annual revenue figures. 3. **Segmental Performance**: Specific segments, such as Global Housing, have shown significant year-over-year revenue increases. The strong performance in these core segments likely played a crucial role in the overall annual earnings outperformance. 4. **Return on Investment**: The company's adjusted EBITDA, excluding reportable catastrophes, grew by 15% to $1.57 billion. This indicates efficient management of resources and a strong return on investment, which is a testament to the positive impact of Q4's earnings surprise on the annual performance. In conclusion, AIZ's Q4 earnings surprise had a profound impact on its annual performance, contributing to higher EPS and revenue figures, and highlighting the company's strong operational execution and strategic focus on growth.