To: Earlie who wrote (215067 ) 1/16/2003 4:34:10 PM From: mishedlo Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 436258 LNC - From PCIG on the FOOLtinyurl.com From VL in October: Tumbling equity markets are taking a toll on Lincoln's earnings. In August, the company issued a report detailing the estimated effect of equity market volatility on the insurer's operating income. Price changes of the equity markets have different impacts on different company units, and also vary according to the extent to which they affect current-quarter or coming-quarter earnings. However, indications are that the roughly 25% and 45% declines by the broad markets year to date and since the 2000 market peak have hurt annual earnings by approximately $1.55 and $0.85 a share, respectively. These factors, as well as the market's nearly 20% decline over the past three months, are the primary drivers behind our $0.60- and $0.65-a-share reductions of Lincoln's 2002 and 2003 earnings estimates, respectively, since our July report. The high correlation between the company's earnings and its stock price movements is partially due to last year's divestiture of the reinsurance business. The move resulted in Lincoln's sharply lower premium income this year, and was one the company's final touches on an evolution from a multiline insurer to a financial services company providing products and services focused on wealth accumulation and protection. Although the transaction removed an otherwise more volatile and unpredictable group, it did heighten Lincoln's exposure to stock-market volatility. Proceeds from the $2 billion sale have left the company in a strong financial condition, with which it will likely pursue acquisition targets complementary to its other financial services units, and/or repurchase shares of its own stock.