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Primerica (PRI)
NYSE:PRI
Risk Overview Q4, 2024
Risk Distribution
38% Legal & Regulatory
26% Finance & Corporate
13% Production
10% Macro & Political
8% Tech & Innovation
5% Ability to Sell
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.
Risk Change Over Time
S&P500 Average
Sector Average
Risks removed
Risks added
Risks changed
Primerica Risk Factors
New Risk (0)
Risk Changed (0)
Risk Removed (0)
No changes from previous report
The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
Risk Highlights Q4, 2024
Main Risk Category
Legal & Regulatory
With 15 Risks
Legal & Regulatory
With 15 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
39
-6
From last reportS&P 500 Average: 31
39
-6
From last reportS&P 500 Average: 31
Recent Changes
1Risks added
7Risks removed
11Risks changed
Since Dec 2024
1Risks added
7Risks removed
11Risks changed
Since Dec 2024
Number of Risk Changed
11
+11
From last reportS&P 500 Average: 3
11
+11
From last reportS&P 500 Average: 3
See the risk highlights of Primerica in the last period.
Risk Word Cloud
The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 39
Legal & Regulatory
Total Risks: 15/39 (38%)Above Sector Average
Regulation11 | 28.2%
Regulation - Risk 1
If heightened standards of conduct are imposed on us or the independent sales representatives by federal, state or provincial authorities, or selling compensation is reduced as a result of new legislation or regulations, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.Changed
Regulation - Risk 2
Licensing requirements will impact the size of the mortgage loan sales force, which could adversely affect our mortgage brokerage business.To offer mortgage loan products, independent sales representatives must be individually licensed as mortgage loan originators by the states in which they do business and, in some states, they must also be individually licensed as mortgage brokers. These licensing requirements include enrollment in the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System, application to state regulators for individual licenses, a minimum of 20 hours of pre-licensing education, an annual minimum of eight hours of CE, and the successful completion of both national and state tests or a national test with uniform state content. Compliance with these licensing regimes (including background and credit checks) have proven to be a barrier for many independent sales representatives. In addition, the tests have historically been challenging for the independent sales representatives to pass. Primerica Mortgage, LLC ("Primerica Mortgage") must also be licensed at the company level as a mortgage broker (or equivalent) and, in almost all states, representatives' offices must be licensed as branch offices. To offer mortgage loans in a state, independent sales representatives, offices, and Primerica Mortgage must be licensed as required by state law. These licenses must be renewed on an annual basis. Failure of independent sales representatives to obtain the required licenses and comply with ongoing licensing requirements would adversely affect the size of the mortgage loan sales force, which could adversely affect our mortgage brokerage business.
Regulation - Risk 3
Our mortgage brokerage business is highly regulated and subject to various federal, state and provincial laws and regulations in the U.S. and Canada. Changes in, non-compliance with, or violations of, such laws and regulations could affect the cost or our ability to distribute our products and could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.Our U.S. mortgage brokerage business is subject to a wide array of laws at the federal, state, and local levels. It is regulated by federal, state and local regulators, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, state mortgage and licensing regulators, state attorneys general, state and local consumer protection offices, the FTC, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Justice, which have the authority to examine, supervise, investigate, and enforce applicable laws, regulations and policies. Federal law and regulations impose prohibitions and restrictions on the manner and amount of compensation paid in connection with a mortgage loan transaction and establish a federal ability to repay standard for all mortgage loans. Other laws could have the effect of limiting the availability of certain loan products in the market and adversely impact the range of products offered and the volume of loan business.
Additionally, we must comply with various state and local laws and policies concerning the lender, compensation, fair lending, supervision, the provision of consumer disclosures, net branching, predatory lending and high cost loans and recordkeeping. Differing interpretations of, changes in, or violations of, any of these laws or regulations could subject us to damages, fines, or sanctions and could affect the cost or our ability to distribute our products, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Remediation for noncompliance with federal, state or local laws could be costly and significant fines may be incurred. Failure to comply with applicable laws could result in potential litigation liability. Further, the lender must comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and any noncompliance by such lender may adversely impact our U.S. mortgage brokerage business.
In Canada, independent sales representatives offer mortgage loans on a referral basis only. Various provincial mortgage brokerage laws strictly prescribe the requirements applicable to a mortgage referral program in order for individuals who make the referrals to be exempt from the requirement to be licensed as mortgage brokers. Differing interpretations of, changes in, or violations of, any of the applicable exemptions under mortgage brokerage laws could subject us to damages, fines or sanctions and could have a material adverse effect on our ability to offer mortgage loan referrals in Canada. In addition, independent sales representatives selling mutual funds must comply with the disclosure requirements of CIRO and applicable securities laws governing mortgage referral arrangements. Failure to comply with such disclosure requirements could result in regulatory sanctions, which could have an adverse effect on our ability to offer mortgage loan referrals in Canada.
Regulation - Risk 4
The Company's or the securities-licensed independent sales representatives' violations of, or non-compliance with, laws and regulations of the securities business could expose us to material liabilities.Our subsidiary broker-dealers, Primerica Brokerage Services, Inc. ("PBSI") and PFS Investments Inc. ("PFS Investments"), and the independent sales representatives, are subject to federal and state regulation of the securities business. PFS Investments is additionally a registered investment adviser and its investment adviser representatives likewise are held to a high standard of conduct. Our subsidiary, Primerica Shareholder Services, Inc. ("PSS"), is a registered transfer agent engaged in the recordkeeping business and is subject to regulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Violations of, or non-compliance with, laws or regulations applicable to the activities of PFS Investments or PSS, or violations by a third party with which PFS Investments or PSS contracts, could subject us to regulatory actions and/or litigation. Such events could result in the imposition of cease and desist orders, fines or censures, restitution to clients, suspension or revocation of SEC registration, suspension or expulsion from FINRA, reputational damage and legal expense, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our Canadian broker-dealer subsidiary, PFSL Investments Canada and the independent sales representatives are subject to the securities laws of the provinces and territories of Canada in which we sell our mutual fund products and to the rules of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization ("CIRO"), the self-regulatory organization governing mutual fund dealers (except in the province of Quebec, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers ("AMF")). PFSL Investments Canada is subject to periodic review by both the CIRO and the provincial and territorial securities commissions to assess its compliance with, among other things, applicable capital requirements and sales practices and procedures. These regulators have broad administrative powers and may impose sanctions that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Regulation - Risk 5
A number of laws and regulations could apply to our independent contractor distribution model, which could require us to modify our distribution structure.Changed
We have not been, and are not currently, subject to business opportunity laws because the amounts paid by the new independent sales representatives to us: (i) are less than the minimum thresholds set by many state statutes and (ii) are not fees paid for the right to participate in a business, but rather are for bona fide expenses such as state-required insurance examinations and pre-licensing training. We have not been, and are not currently, subject to franchise laws for similar reasons. However, there is a risk that a governmental agency or court could disagree with our assessment or that these laws and regulations could change. In addition, we do not believe that the Federal Trade Commission's ("FTC") current Business Opportunity Rule applies to the Company. January 13, 2025, the FTC announced proposed amendments to the Business Opportunity Rule that would expand the rule but also would exempt models like ours from its scope. Nonetheless, the rule ultimately could be amended or interpreted in a manner inconsistent with our current interpretation. Becoming subject to business opportunity or franchise laws or regulations could require us to provide additional disclosures and regulate the manner in which we recruit independent sales representatives that may increase the expense of, or adversely impact our recruitment of, new independent sales representatives.
There are various laws and regulations, including laws of general application such as the Federal Trade Commission Act ("FTC Act"), which prohibit fraudulent or deceptive practices, including but not limited to, pyramid schemes and misrepresentations regarding distributors' earnings potential. On January 13, 2025, the FTC announced a proposed Earnings Claims Rule Regarding Multi-Level Marketing with an embedded Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding earnings claims. Likewise, the FTC has exercised its Penalty Offense Authority found in Section 5(m)1(B) of the FTC Act by issuing Notices of Penalty Offenses as a reminder of the law on earnings claims and as a deterrence against violations. The application of these laws and regulations to a given set of business practices is inherently fact-based and, therefore, is subject to interpretation by applicable enforcement authorities. Although we believe that our business practices comply with applicable laws and regulations, there is a risk that a governmental agency or court could disagree with our assessment, or that these laws and regulations could change in actuality or in application, which could require us to restructure our operations or result in regulatory fines, penalties or other costs, or reputational harm, or could otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, if an earnings claims rule like that proposed by the FTC were to become final, it could have an adverse impact on our recruitment and sales.
Various unfair and deceptive trade practices laws and regulations could potentially be invoked to challenge aspects of our recruiting of independent sales representatives. In particular, we and the independent sales representatives use promotional materials in recruiting that describe the potential business opportunity of becoming an independent sales representative and information with respect to earnings and lifestyle statements. These materials and statements made by us or the independent sales representatives may be deemed to be unfair, deceptive, or misleading under the FTC Act or other federal, state and provincial laws or regulations and could result in regulatory fines, penalties or other costs, or reputational harm. Being out of compliance with the aforementioned laws and regulations could require changes to the recruiting of independent sales representatives, which could have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Regulation - Risk 6
The Company's or the independent sales representatives' violation of, or non-compliance with, laws and regulations and related claims and proceedings could expose us to material liabilities.Changed
Extensive federal, state, provincial and territorial laws regulate our product offerings, imposing certain requirements that independent sales representatives must follow in dealing with clients. Instances of non-compliance or violations on the part of the independent sales representatives could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition to imposing requirements on independent sales representatives when dealing with clients, federal, state, provincial and territorial laws and regulations generally require us to maintain a system of controls and supervision reasonably designed to ensure that independent sales representatives comply with the requirements to which they are subject. We have policies and procedures to comply with these laws and regulations. Further, at any given time, we may have pending state, federal or provincial examinations or inquiries of our investment and savings products, insurance, mortgage, and other businesses. However, despite these compliance and supervisory efforts, the breadth of our operations and the broad regulatory requirements could result in oversight failures and instances of non-compliance or violations on the part of the Company or independent sales representatives.
From time to time, we are subject to private litigation as a result of alleged misconduct by independent sales representatives. Non-compliance with or violations of laws or regulations could result in adverse findings in either examinations or litigation and could subject us to sanctions, monetary liabilities, restrictions on or the loss of the operation of our business, or reputational harm, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Regulation - Risk 7
Our life insurance business is highly regulated, and statutory and regulatory changes may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.Life insurance statutes and regulations are generally designed to protect the interests of the public and policyholders. Those interests may conflict with the interests of our stockholders. Currently, in the United States, the power to regulate insurance resides almost exclusively with the states, which grant state insurance regulators broad powers to regulate almost all aspects of our insurance business. Much of this state regulation follows model statutes or regulations developed or amended by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC"), which is composed of the insurance commissioners of each U.S. jurisdiction. The NAIC re-examines and amends existing model laws and regulations (including holding company regulations), in addition to determining whether new ones are needed.
The Federal Insurance Office is authorized to, among other things, study methods to modernize and improve insurance regulation. We cannot predict with certainty whether, or in what form, reforms will be enacted and, if so, whether the enacted reforms will materially affect our business. Changes in federal statutes, financial services regulation and federal taxation, in addition to changes to state statutes and regulations, may be more restrictive than current requirements or may result in higher costs, and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Most U.S. states have adopted, and others are proposing to adopt, NAIC-approved rules requiring insurance producers to act in the "best interest" of consumers when recommending an annuity. In addition, the New York Department of Financial Services as amended its "best interest" rules that apply to both life insurance and annuities. These rules impose a higher standard of care than previously required, as well as enhanced disclosures and other obligations with respect to recommendations, which may increase our regulatory or litigation risk.
Federal and provincial insurance laws regulate all aspects of our Canadian insurance business. Changes to federal or provincial statutes and regulations may be more restrictive than current requirements or may result in higher costs, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions ("OSFI") determines that our corporate actions do not comply with applicable Canadian law, Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada ("Primerica Life Canada") could face sanctions or fines, and be subject to increased capital requirements or other requirements.
The Minister of Finance (Canada) approved our indirect acquisition of Primerica Life Canada in 2010 with the expectation that we will provide ongoing financial, managerial or operational support to this subsidiary as necessary. If OSFI determines Primerica Life Canada is not receiving adequate support from the Parent Company under applicable Canadian law, Primerica Life Canada may be subject to increased capital requirements or other requirements deemed appropriate by OSFI.
If there are extraordinary changes to U.S. or Canadian statutory or regulatory requirements, we may be unable to fully comply with or maintain all required insurance licenses and approvals. As a result, the regulatory authorities could preclude or temporarily suspend us from conducting some or all of our insurance activities or impose fines or penalties on us, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We cannot predict with certainty the effect any proposed or future legislation or regulatory initiatives may have on the conduct of our business.
Regulation - Risk 8
A decline in the regulatory capital ratios of our insurance subsidiaries could result in increased scrutiny by insurance regulators and ratings agencies and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.Each of our U.S. insurance subsidiaries is subject to Risk-Based Capital ("RBC") standards (imposed under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of domicile). The RBC formula for U.S. life insurance companies generally establishes capital requirements relating to asset, insurance, interest rate and business risks. Our U.S. insurance subsidiaries are required to report RBC calculations annually to the applicable state department of insurance and the NAIC. Our Canadian life insurance subsidiary is subject to the Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test Guideline ("LICAT") and is required to provide its capital ratio calculations to the Canadian regulators. The capitalization of our insurance subsidiaries is maintained at levels in excess of the effective minimum requirements of the NAIC in the United States and OSFI in Canada. In any particular year, statutory capital and surplus amounts and RBC and LICAT ratios may increase or decrease depending on a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control.
Our financial strength and credit ratings are significantly influenced by the statutory surplus amounts and RBC and LICAT ratios of our insurance company subsidiaries. Ratings agencies may change their internal models, effectively increasing or decreasing the amount of statutory capital our insurance subsidiaries must hold to maintain their current ratings. Ratings agencies also may downgrade the ratings of securities held in our insurance subsidiaries' portfolios, which could result in a reduction of our insurance subsidiaries' statutory capital and surplus and RBC. Our insurance subsidiaries may need additional capital and, if needed, we may not be able to provide it to maintain the targeted RBC and LICAT levels to support their business operations, either of which may impact our financial strength and credit ratings.
The failure of any of our insurance subsidiaries to meet its applicable RBC and LICAT requirements or minimum capital and surplus requirements could subject it to further examination or corrective action imposed by insurance regulators, including limitations on its ability to write additional business, supervision by regulators or seizure or liquidation. Any corrective action imposed could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. A decline in RBC or LICAT also limits the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions and could be a factor in causing ratings agencies to downgrade the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries. Such downgrades would have an adverse effect on our ability to write new insurance policies and, therefore, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Regulation - Risk 9
Non-compliance with applicable regulations could lead to revocation of our subsidiary's status as a non-bank custodian, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.Changed
PFS Investments is a non-bank custodian of retirement accounts, as permitted under Treasury Regulation 1.408-2. A non-bank custodian is an entity that is not a bank and that is permitted by the IRS to act as a custodian for retirement plan account assets of our clients. The IRS retains authority to revoke or suspend that status if it finds that PFS Investments is unwilling or unable to administer retirement accounts in a manner consistent with the requirements of the applicable regulations. Revocation of PFS Investments' non-bank custodian status would affect its ability to earn revenue for providing such services and, consequently, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Regulation - Risk 10
We are subject to various federal, state and provincial laws and regulations in the United States and Canada, changes in which may require us to alter our business practices and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.Our business is subject to many regulations that relate to, among other things, consumer protection, fair credit reporting, financial privacy, consumer fraud, anti-money laundering, worker classification standards, corporate taxation, artificial intelligence or algorithmic underwriting, and transactions with certain countries. These laws and regulations often are subject to the political climate.
Changes in any of these laws or regulations may require additional compliance procedures, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Regulation - Risk 11
The current legislative and regulatory climate with regard to financial services may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.The volume of legislative and regulatory activity relating to financial services has increased substantially in recent years, and the level of enforcement actions and investigations by federal, state and provincial regulators may increase correspondingly. Legislative, regulatory and enforcement activity at the federal level may contribute to heightened activity at the state and provincial level. If we or the independent sales representatives become subject to new requirements or regulations, it could result in increased litigation, regulatory risks, changes to our business model, a decrease in the number of securities-licensed representatives, increased compliance costs, or a reduction in the products we offer to our clients or the profits we earn, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Regulators could also adopt laws or interpret existing laws in a way that would require retroactive changes to our business, accounting practices, or redundant reserve financing structure. Any such retroactive changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Litigation & Legal Liabilities1 | 2.6%
Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1
Litigation and regulatory investigations and actions may result in financial losses and harm our reputation.Taxation & Government Incentives1 | 2.6%
Taxation & Government Incentives - Risk 1
There may be adverse tax, legal or financial consequences if the classification of the independent contractor sales representatives is changed.Changed
Environmental / Social2 | 5.1%
Environmental / Social - Risk 1
The current legislative and regulatory climate with regard to privacy and cybersecurity could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.Environmental / Social - Risk 2
The current regulatory climate with regard to climate change may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.Activity by federal, state and provincial regulators relating to the possible impacts of climate change on companies and their constituents has resulted in heightened legislative and regulatory activity at the federal, state and provincial levels. For example, on March 6, 2024, the SEC issued a final rule aimed at enhancing and standardizing climate-related disclosures (the "SEC Climate-Related Disclosures rule"). Multiple legal challenges led the SEC to stay the SEC Climate-Related Disclosures rule pending completion of judicial review of the consolidated lawsuits in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The outcome of the pending judicial review is uncertain. Depending on the outcome of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit's review or a potential withdrawal of the rule by the SEC, preparation of new disclosures may require significant assistance from third-party vendor(s), for which there may be high demand and limited availability.
On October 7, 2023, California enacted The Climate Corporate Accountability Act ("SB 253") and The Climate-Related Financial Risk Act ("SB 261"), which impose extensive new climate-related reporting requirements on any U.S. business entity with annual revenues over $1 billion and $500 million (for SB 253 and SB 261, respectively) doing business in California. SB 253 requires disclosure of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions beginning in 2026 and Scope 3 GHG emissions beginning in 2027. SB 261 requires covered entities to biennially report on climate-related financial risk and measures adopted to reduce and adapt to such risk; however, the Company appears to be exempt from SB 261 because it already completes the Climate Risk Disclosure Survey, an annual survey administered by the California Department of Insurance. The Company is awaiting clarification as to whether the Company is exempt from SB 261. On September 27, 2024, California enacted Senate Bill 219 ("SB 219"), amending SB 253 and SB 261 by, among other things, (i) extending the deadline for the California Air Resources Board ("CARB") to implement regulations from January 1, 2025 to July 1, 2025; (ii) authorizing reporting entities to consolidate emissions disclosures at the parent company level; and (iii) granting CARB discretion to set Scope 3 GHG emissions disclosure in 2027. In addition, on March 7, 2023, OSFI issued its final Guideline B-15, which sets out expectations for the management and disclosure of climate-related risks for federally regulated financial institutions in Canada, including disclosure of Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions by the end of 2025. Guideline B-15 also includes OSFI's expectation that applicable entities to conduct internal and standardized climate scenario analyses and report the results to OSFI periodically. OSFI's Standardized Climate Scenario Exercise, which was due in December 2024, was intended to help OSFI assess exposure to climate-related risks among the entities it regulates for future reporting to OSFI. Compliance with SB 253, SB 261, SB 219, Guideline B-15 and any other climate disclosure rules applicable to the Company may require significant assistance from third-party vendor(s). Factors that could adversely impact our ability to comply with any new climate disclosure rules include, but are not limited to, failure to secure the assistance of a third-party vendor(s), inability to gather the requisite data in a timely manner or at all, and/or significant associated financial costs.
Finance & Corporate
Total Risks: 10/39 (26%)Below Sector Average
Share Price & Shareholder Rights1 | 2.6%
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1
The market price of our common stock may fluctuate.Accounting & Financial Operations2 | 5.1%
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1
Changes in accounting standards can be difficult to predict and could adversely impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations.Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2
The inability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions or other payments to us in sufficient amounts would impede our ability to meet our obligations and return capital to our stockholders.Operations of the Company are conducted by its subsidiaries. As such, Primerica, Inc. is a holding company that has no significant operations. Our primary asset is the capital stock of our subsidiaries and our primary liability is our senior unsecured notes (the "Senior Notes"). We rely primarily on dividends and other payments from our subsidiaries to meet our operating costs, other corporate expenses, and Senior Notes obligations, as well as to return capital to our stockholders. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us depends on their earnings, covenants contained in existing and future financing or other agreements and on regulatory restrictions. The ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends will further depend on their statutory income and surplus. If the cash we receive from our subsidiaries is insufficient for us to fund our obligations or if a subsidiary is unable to pay dividends to us, we may be required to raise cash through the incurrence of debt, the issuance of equity or the sale of assets. However, given the risk of volatility in the capital markets, there is no assurance that we would be able to raise cash by these means.
The jurisdictions in which our insurance subsidiaries are domiciled impose certain restrictions on their ability to pay dividends to us. In the United States, these restrictions are based, in part, on the prior year's statutory income and surplus. In general, dividends up to specified levels are considered ordinary and may be paid without prior approval. Dividends in larger amounts are subject to approval by the insurance commissioner of the state of domicile. In Canada, dividends can be paid, subject to the paying insurance company continuing to meet the regulatory requirements for capital adequacy and liquidity and upon 15 days' minimum notice to OSFI. More stringent restrictions could be adopted from time to time by jurisdictions in which our insurance subsidiaries are domiciled, and such restrictions could have the effect, under certain circumstances, of significantly reducing dividends or other amounts payable to us by our subsidiaries without prior approval by regulatory authorities. In addition, in the future, we may become subject to debt covenants or other agreements that limit our ability to return capital to our stockholders. The ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends to us is also limited by our need to maintain the financial strength ratings of our subsidiaries assigned by the ratings agencies.
If any of our subsidiaries were to become insolvent, liquidate, or otherwise reorganize, we, as sole stockholder, will have no right to proceed against the assets of that subsidiary. Furthermore, with respect to our insurance subsidiaries, we, as sole stockholder, will have no right to cause the liquidation, bankruptcy, or winding-up of the subsidiary under the applicable liquidation, bankruptcy or winding-up laws, although, in Canada, we could apply for permission to cause liquidation. The applicable insurance laws of the jurisdictions in which each of our insurance subsidiaries is domiciled would govern any proceedings relating to that subsidiary. The insurance authority of that jurisdiction would act as a liquidator or rehabilitator for the subsidiary. Both creditors of the subsidiary and policyholders (if an insurance subsidiary) would be entitled to payment in full from the subsidiary's assets before we, as the sole stockholder, would be entitled to receive any distribution from the subsidiary.
If the ability of our insurance or non-insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions or payments to us is materially restricted by regulatory requirements, bankruptcy, or insolvency, or our need to maintain our financial strength ratings, or is limited due to operating results or other factors, it could materially adversely affect our ability to fund our obligations and return capital to our stockholders.
Debt & Financing6 | 15.4%
Debt & Financing - Risk 1
Credit deterioration in, and the effects of interest rate fluctuations on, our invested asset portfolio and other assets that are subject to changes in credit quality and interest rates could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.Debt & Financing - Risk 2
Our U.S. mortgage brokerage business is impacted by U.S. mortgage interest rates. Changes in prevailing mortgage interest rates or U.S. monetary policies that affect mortgage interest rates could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.Added
The U.S. Federal Reserve, which serves as the primary driver of U.S. monetary policies impacting mortgage interest rates, implemented multiple interest rate increases over recent years to address continued elevated inflation. Elevated mortgage interest rates lowered the demand for refinance mortgages and purchase-money mortgages offered by Primerica Mortgage. Continued elevated mortgage interest rates could continue to impact consumer demand for refinance mortgages and purchase-money mortgages, which could have an adverse impact on our mortgage brokerage business in the U.S.
Debt & Financing - Risk 3
In the United States, we broker mortgage loans based on contractual agreements with a very limited number of mortgage lenders. A significant change to or disruption in the mortgage lenders' mortgage businesses or an inability of the mortgage lenders to satisfy their contractual obligations to us could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.Changed
Through a contractual agreement with Rocket Mortgage, LLC, Primerica Mortgage offers mortgage loans through the independent sales representatives who are licensed as mortgage loan originators. Primerica Mortgage also offers, through its mortgage loan originators, second mortgages and home equity lines of credit based on a contractual agreement with Spring EQ LLC. A significant change to or disruption in the lenders' businesses or their inability to satisfy their contractual obligations to Primerica Mortgage could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Debt & Financing - Risk 4
Valuation of our investments and the determination of expected credit losses when the fair value of our available-for-sale invested assets is below amortized cost are both based on estimates that may prove to be incorrect, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.Changed
Our portfolio of invested assets primarily consists of fixed-maturity securities that are classified as available-for-sale. When the fair value of any of our available-for-sale invested assets declines below amortized cost, an impairment exists and we recognize a loss in either our consolidated statement of income or in other comprehensive income based on our assessment of expected credit losses. The determination of the fair value of certain invested assets, particularly those that do not trade on a regular basis, requires an assessment of available data and the use of assumptions and estimates. Once it is determined that the fair value of an available-for-sale security is below its carrying value, we first determine if we intend to sell or will more-likely-than-not be required to sell the security before the expected recovery of its amortized cost. If we intend to sell or will more-likely-than-not be required to sell the security, then we recognize the impairment as a credit loss in our consolidated statement of income by writing down the security's amortized cost to its fair value. If we do not intend to sell or it is not more-likely-than-not that we will be required to sell the security before the expected recovery of its amortized cost, we recognize the portion of the impairment that is due to a credit loss, if any, in our consolidated statement of income through an allowance. The portion of the impairment that is due to factors other than a credit loss is recognized in other comprehensive income in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as an unrealized loss. The determination of whether an impairment is due to credit factors is subjective and involves a variety of assumptions and estimates.
There are various risks and uncertainties associated with determining whether an impairment is due to credit factors when the fair value of available-for-sale securities declines below amortized cost. To the extent that we are incorrect in our determination of the fair value of our investment securities or our determination of whether an impairment is due to credit factors for available-for-sale securities, we may realize losses that never actually materialize and are subsequently reversed, or we may fail to recognize losses within the appropriate reporting period.
Debt & Financing - Risk 5
A significant ratings downgrade by a ratings organization could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.Each of our non-captive life insurance subsidiaries has been assigned a financial strength rating by A.M. Best. Primerica Life currently also has an insurer financial strength rating from each of Standard & Poor's ("S&P") and Moody's.
The financial strength ratings of our rated insurance subsidiaries are subject to periodic review using, among other things, the ratings agencies' proprietary capital adequacy models and are subject to revision or withdrawal at any time. Insurance financial strength ratings are directed toward the concerns of policyholders and are not intended for the protection of stockholders or as a recommendation to buy, hold or sell securities. Our financial strength ratings will affect our competitive position relative to other insurance companies. If the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries fall below certain levels, some of our policyholders may move their business to our competitors. In addition, the models used by ratings agencies to determine financial strength are different from the capital requirements set by insurance regulators.
Ratings organizations review the financial performance and financial conditions of insurance companies and provide opinions regarding financial strength, operating performance and ability to meet obligations to policyholders. A significant downgrade in the financial strength ratings of any of our insurance subsidiaries, or the announced potential for a downgrade, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If the rating agencies or regulators change their approach to financial strength ratings and statutory capital requirements, we may need to take action to maintain current ratings and capital adequacy ratios, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Parent Company currently has investment grade credit ratings from S&P, Moody's, and A.M. Best. These ratings are indicators of a debt issuer's ability to meet the terms of debt obligations and are important factors in its ability to access liquidity in the debt markets. A rating downgrade by a rating agency can occur at any time if the rating agency perceives an adverse change in our financial condition, results of operations or ability to service debt. If such a downgrade occurs, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations in many ways, including adversely limiting our access to capital in the unsecured debt market and potentially increasing the cost of such debt.
Debt & Financing - Risk 6
Our Investment and Savings Products segment is heavily dependent on a limited platform of mutual fund and annuity products offered by a relatively small number of companies and managers. If these products fail to remain competitive with other investment options, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.We offer mutual funds and annuities through our U.S. retail broker-dealer, but not exchange traded funds, individual stocks and bonds, or alternative investments. Our advisory program in the U.S. offers a wider menu of investment types; however, fewer of the independent sales representatives are eligible to offer the program. Our current investment products in Canada consist of two families of mutual funds that include a diversified offering of equity, fixed-income and money market funds. Because of these limitations, our business could be materially adversely impacted if consumer demand were to shift toward products we do not offer. In addition, if any of our investment and savings products fail to achieve satisfactory investment performance, our clients may seek higher yielding or lower cost investment options, and we could experience higher redemption rates.
Corporate Activity and Growth1 | 2.6%
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1
We may not be able to effectively execute our corporate strategy, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.Changed
Production
Total Risks: 5/39 (13%)Above Sector Average
Employment / Personnel2 | 5.1%
Employment / Personnel - Risk 1
Our failure to continue to attract new recruits, retain independent sales representatives or license or maintain the licensing of independent sales representatives would materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.Employment / Personnel - Risk 2
Primerica's continued success requires a high-performing and stable team of employees across all levels, and the loss of key employees could negatively affect our financial condition and impair our ability to implement our business strategy.Changed
In addition to intense competition for talent, workforce dynamics are constantly evolving. A disproportionate loss of staff can negatively impact morale, productivity and service levels. If the Company does not manage these changing workforce dynamics effectively, leading to prolonged employee attrition, or reasonable security measures with respect to senior management when traveling on behalf of the Company fail, it could materially adversely affect the Company's financial condition, results of operations, and inhibit our long-term business strategy.
Further, our success substantially depends on our ability to attract and retain members of our senior management team. The efforts, level of engagement, and leadership of our senior managers have been, and will continue to be, critical to our success. Many of our most senior managers are very tenured and we expect instances of retirement in 2025. The loss of service of members of our senior management team for any reason and without adequate succession planning and talent management could reduce our ability to successfully motivate the independent sales representatives or implement our business plan, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Although our executive officers have entered into employment agreements with us, there is no assurance that they will complete the term of their employment agreements or that such agreements will be renewed.
Supply Chain2 | 5.1%
Supply Chain - Risk 1
If our relationship with one or more of the manufacturers of the funds and annuities we distribute or investment managers we make available is significantly altered or terminated or there is a shift in the business mix, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.Changed
Supply Chain - Risk 2
The failure by any of our reinsurers or reserve financing counterparties to perform its obligations to us could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.We rely on a limited number of reinsurers in the United States and Canada to diversify our risk and to manage our loss exposure to mortality risk. Reinsurance does not relieve us of our direct liability to our policyholders, even when the reinsurer is liable to us. We, as the insurer, are required to pay the full amount of death benefits even in circumstances where we are entitled to receive payments from the reinsurer. Our reinsurers may be unable to pay the amounts they owe us on a timely basis or at all. Further, reinsurers might refuse or fail to pay losses that we cede to them or might delay payment. Since death benefit claims may be paid long after a policy is issued, we bear credit risk with respect to our reinsurers. The creditworthiness of our reinsurers may change before we can recover amounts to which we are entitled. Any such failure to pay by our reinsurers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We also have in place coinsurance agreements that we originally entered into at the time of our initial public offering (the "IPO") in 2010, pursuant to which we ceded between 80% and 90% of the risks and rewards of our term life insurance policies that were in force at year-end 2009. Under this arrangement, our existing reinsurance agreements remain in place. Each coinsurer entered into trust agreements with our respective insurance subsidiaries and a trustee pursuant to which the coinsurer placed assets (primarily treasury and fixed-income securities) in trust for such subsidiary's benefit to secure the coinsurer's obligations to such subsidiary. Each such coinsurance agreement requires the relevant coinsurer to maintain assets in trust, the amount of which will not be less than the amount of the statutory reserves for the coinsured liabilities. In Canada, the IPO coinsurer must hold pledged assets in an amount sufficient for us to take credit for reinsurance in a Canadian financial institution, not affiliated with the IPO coinsurer. Our Canadian insurance company has an enforceable security interest that has priority over any other security interest for the pledged assets. Furthermore, our insurance subsidiaries have the right to recapture the business upon the occurrence of an event of default under their respective coinsurance agreement subject to any applicable cure periods. While any such recapture would be at no cost to us, such recapture would result in a substantial increase in our insurance exposure and require us to be fully responsible for the management of the assets set aside to support statutory reserves. The type of assets we might obtain as a result of a recapture may not be as liquid as our current invested asset portfolio and could result in an unfavorable impact on our risk profile.
There is no assurance that the relevant coinsurer will pay the coinsurance obligations owed to us now or in the future or that it will pay these obligations on a timely basis. If any of the coinsurers becomes insolvent and the trust account to support the obligations of such coinsurer is insufficient to pay such coinsurer's obligations to us and we fail to enforce our right to recapture the business, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We finance redundant statutory reserves of certain issue years of our term life insurance business. Under this transaction, we pay a fee to a financial counterparty for its commitment to support redundant reserves and provide corresponding statutory reinsurance credit, allowing us to more efficiently manage our capital. If the financial strength of this counterparty was significantly impaired to the extent that its support of our redundant reserves could no longer be relied upon, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Costs1 | 2.6%
Costs - Risk 1
Our life insurance business may face significant losses or volatility if our actual experience differs from our expectations regarding mortality, persistency, disability or reinsurance.Macro & Political
Total Risks: 4/39 (10%)Above Sector Average
Economy & Political Environment1 | 2.6%
Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1
The effects of economic downcycles, issues affecting the national, regional and/or global economy or geopolitical event(s), or any combination thereof, could impact the cost of living for our middle-income clients and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.Changed
Natural and Human Disruptions2 | 5.1%
Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 1
Major public health pandemics, epidemics or outbreaks (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) or other catastrophic events, have impacted and could again materially adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 2
In the event of a disaster, our business continuity plan may not be sufficient, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.Our infrastructure supports a combination of local and remote recovery solutions for business resumption in the event of a disaster, including a security incident. Our Canadian and U.S. operations utilize a data center located in our main campus in Duluth, Georgia. In the event of either a main campus destruction or the inability to access our data center or main campus in Duluth, Georgia, our business recovery plan provides for our employees to perform their work functions via a dedicated business backup/recovery site located about 20 miles from our main campus or by remote access from an employee's home. In addition to this site, the Company uses a business resumption vendor that will provide the hardware required for recovery within a reasonable timeframe in the event of a disaster. However, in the event of main campus destruction, our business recovery plan may be inadequate, and our employees and the independent sales representatives may be unable to carry out their work immediately, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Capital Markets1 | 2.6%
Capital Markets - Risk 1
We may be materially adversely affected by currency fluctuations in the United States dollar versus the Canadian dollar.Tech & Innovation
Total Risks: 3/39 (8%)Above Sector Average
Innovation / R&D1 | 2.6%
Innovation / R&D - Risk 1
We regularly undertake business initiatives to enhance our technology, products, and services. The efficiency and success of these initiatives may vary significantly and may cause unanticipated costs, errors, or disruptions which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.Trade Secrets1 | 2.6%
Trade Secrets - Risk 1
Any failure to protect the confidentiality of client information could adversely affect our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.Technology1 | 2.6%
Technology - Risk 1
If one of our, or a third-party partner's, significant information technology systems fails, if its security is compromised, or if the Internet becomes disabled or unavailable, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.Ability to Sell
Total Risks: 2/39 (5%)Below Sector Average
Competition2 | 5.1%
Competition - Risk 1
If our suitability policies and procedures, or our policies and procedures for compliance with federal, state or provincial regulations governing standards of care, were deemed inadequate, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.Competition - Risk 2
A significant change in the competitive environment in which we operate could negatively affect our ability to maintain or increase our market share and profitability.We face competition in all of our business lines. Our competitors include financial services companies, banks, investment management firms, broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, insurance companies, insurance brokers, direct sales companies, and technology companies. In many of our product offerings, we face competition from competitors that may have greater market share or breadth of distribution, offer a broader range of products, services or features, assume a greater level of risk, have lower profitability expectations, have lower fee and expense ratios, have higher financial strength ratings, offer more robust digital tools and self-service capabilities than we do or made use of emerging technologies more fully or rapidly than us. More recently, significant capital has been invested in direct-to-consumer offerings, including wealth management, retirement and life insurance products. In addition, regulatory changes and competitive factors are leading to innovations in product offerings and compensation structures. To the extent these entrants create a significant change in the competitive environment, our ability to maintain or increase our market share and profitability could be materially adversely affected.
See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.
FAQ
What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.
They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.
It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
How do companies disclose their risk factors?
Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.
Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.
Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.
According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.
You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.
Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.
A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
What are all the risk factor categories?
TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.
1. Financial & Corporate
- Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
- Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
- Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.
2. Legal & Regulatory
- Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
- Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
- Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
- Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.
3. Production
- Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
- Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
- Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
- Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.
4. Technology & Innovation
- Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
- Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
- Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
- Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.
5. Ability to Sell
- Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
- Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
- Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
- Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.
6. Macro & Political
- Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
- Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
- International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
- Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.