UPDATE: Credit Suisse Raises PT to $39 on Allstate Corporation; Improved Homeowners' Profitability Thesis

Credit Suisse increases its price target on Allstate Corporation

from $35 to $39 as it reiterates its rating of Outperform on shares. Credit Suisse says, "Allstate has exhibited two straight quarters of high 60's accident year (ex. CAT) combined ratios versus its low 60's target and 2011's low 70's experience. Management attributed roughly 250bps of the recent improvement to more benign weather (i.e. less "unusual non-CAT" costs) relative to previous year quarters, with the remaining 200bps attributed to pricing increases. Given our thesis that homeowners' rate increases remain in their earlier innings combined with long overdue changes to policy terms & conditions, we believe Allstate will consistently post accident year combined ratios in the 60's by 4Q'12, in addition to experiencing lower CAT loads by mid 2013 (due to terms & conditions changes)." ALL closed at $34.40 on Monday.