Abacus Life’s CEO on Cracking the Code of Longevity Returns

Abacus Life, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABL) is a global alternative asset manager specializing in a unique niche within the financial markets. The company acquires and manages life insurance policies.

The company's core mission is to generate financial returns for investors and educate consumers on the often-overlooked value inherent in their life insurance policies. This dual focus positions Abacus Life at the intersection of financial innovation and consumer empowerment.

Life Insurance as an Undervalued Asset

The life insurance industry is a $13 trillion market sector that presents a compelling investment opportunity due to a significant and often overlooked market inefficiency. In a recent interview with MarketBeat’s Bridget Bennett, CEO Jay Jackson revealed this inefficiency stems from the fact that: "90% of those policies, or nine out of ten, never pay a claim to the beneficiaries." This statement underscores the inefficiency within the current system. He goes on to explain that this isn't a result of wrongdoing by insurance companies but rather a widespread misunderstanding of life insurance as a tangible asset that is similar to owning a home. 

Many policyholders are unaware of the potential cash value locked within their policies, so they lapse on payments and forfeit a significant financial resource. This creates a market where policies can be acquired at a discount to their intrinsic value. Abacus Life capitalizes on this opportunity by purchasing these undervalued policies, providing liquidity to policyholders while simultaneously creating an asset class for investors. This process bridges the gap between the perceived and actual value of life insurance policies. 

Abacus Life's Strategic Approach

Abacus Life operates on a distinctive business model centered around acquiring, managing, and monetizing life insurance policies often perceived as undervalued. The company employs a data-driven approach, leveraging proprietary actuarial technology and lifespan data to assess the market value of these policies. This process involves re-underwriting policyholders by obtaining updated medical information, which allows for a more accurate prediction of lifespan and informs the valuation process. 

Factors considered include the policyholder's updated health status, age, and remaining premium payments. This data-driven methodology sets Abacus Life apart in the life settlement industry. As CEO Jay Jackson explains, "We are the only publicly traded company in our entire industry. There are other companies in our business that focus on different areas of the origination piece, but we're the only company that's taken it and gone the step further and said, 'Let's make this available and transparent and validate that everybody can now look at our assets and our balance sheet and potentially invest in it.'" This transparency, coupled with its unique public market presence, provides investors with a distinct opportunity to participate in this specialized market sector.

Further amplifying Abacus Life's strategic advantage is its proprietary technology platform, ABL Tech. This platform extends the company's reach beyond individual policy acquisitions by providing data-driven financial planning services to institutions. ABL Tech offers sophisticated data analysis and longevity forecasting, empowering organizations like pension funds and government agencies to more effectively manage their long-term financial obligations. This diversification of services not only creates additional revenue streams for Abacus Life but also positions the company as a technology leader within the broader longevity-linked financial planning market.

Financial Performance: A History of Consistent Growth

Abacus Life has demonstrated impressive financial performance over its two decades of operation. This consistency is particularly remarkable considering the volatility seen in broader financial markets. The company has consistently achieved mid-teen year-over-year growth rates and maintained a return on equity surpassing 18%, with profit margins exceeding 50%. To emphasize the rarity of these results, Jackson made a compelling statement: "Consider all the companies that trade on the Nasdaq…It's just us. We're the only company on all of Nasdaq that can state that." This highlights the remarkable financial health and consistent profitability of Abacus Life in its niche market. 

Recently, Abacus Life’s earnings report for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 (Q3 FY2024) significantly exceeded analyst expectations. The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.20, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.06 and posting revenue of $28.15 million, surpassing the estimated $26.08 million.

Despite this positive financial performance, it's crucial to acknowledge the presence of Abacus Life’s short interest. The recently reported increase of 14.7% in short interest represents a sector of the market betting against the continued success of Abacus Life. 

Looking Ahead: A Vast and Expanding Market

Abacus Life's long-term growth prospects remain considerable. The immense size of the life insurance market, coupled with the company’s pioneering approach to asset management, presents a significant opportunity. The growing awareness of life insurance as a liquid asset and the expansion of ABL Tech into new financial applications further enhance this outlook. The pro-consumer nature of Abacus Life's business, which results in payouts to policyholders who are all largely over the age of 70, aligns positively with regulatory objectives. Jackson’s positive outlook captures the company’s potential: “Frankly, this is a pro-consumer transaction. So the regulators…really like this transaction…we have a lot of run room still left to go.”

A Unique Opportunity in a Growing Market

Abacus Life presents a unique investment opportunity for those seeking exposure to a dynamic and growing sector of the financial markets. The company’s solid financial performance, its innovative business model, its strong leadership position, and the substantial addressable market all contribute to its appeal. Abacus Life’s focus on improving the quality of life for seniors adds a compelling social impact angle. Ultimately, Abacus Life's future success will depend on its continued ability to execute its strategic initiatives, effectively manage risks, and capitalize on the growing awareness of its innovative approach to longevity-based financial products.