(ACE) - Consensus estimate for this quarter currently sits at $1.58. When compared to the consensus 60 days earlier, it has risen 7.5%

ACE limited (ACE) exceeded analysts' earnings expectations in 12 out of the past 14 quarters, most recently by 10.8%. Earnings per share are projected to grow 12% over the next 3-5 years. The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 25 cents per share on Aug 18. ACE has a current dividend yield of 1.8% and a five-year average dividend yield of 1.9%. Full Analysis ACE Limited, the Bermuda-based holding company of the ACE Group of Companies, provides a range of insurance and reinsurance products to insureds through operations in more than 50 countries around the world. ACE has been a rather dependable company when it comes to exceeding analysts' earnings expectations. Over the past 14 quarters, the company topped the Street's estimate on 12 occasions by an average margin of 8.9%. On Jul 25, ACE posted second-quarter profits of $579 million, or $1.74 per share, compared with $443 million, or $1.50 per share, in the prior-year period. With analysts expecting $1.57, the company surprised to the upside by 10.8%. Net premiums written jumped 6%, while net premiums earned advanced 1% when compared to the second quarter of 2005. President and Chief Executive Officer Evan Greenberg stated, “This was another excellent quarter for ACE, marked by both record net and operating income.” With fewer hurricanes this year, and with forecasters revising their predictions, ACE may be poised for a better-than-expected third quarter. This compares to the last two years when seven major storms led to 5.5 million claims and more than $80 billion in insured losses, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The company is expected to release results for the third quarter on Oct 25. The consensus estimate for this quarter currently sits at $1.58. When compared to the consensus 60 days earlier, it has risen 7.5%. Profit forecasts for the full year increased 13 cents to $6.57 over the same period of time. Four analysts boosted their estimates for this quarter while five did so for the full year. Earnings per share are projected to grow 12% over the next 3-5 years—in line with the expected growth rate of the industry. The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 25 cents per share on Aug 18. The current dividend was increased by 8.7% from 23 cents per share in mid May. The company has a current dividend yield of 1.8% and a five-year average dividend yield of 1.9%. ACE is a Zacks #2 Rank (Buy) stock. Zacks #2 Rank stocks have generated an average annual return of 21.6% since 1988. Because the Zacks Rank has a market cap bias, Growth & Income investors may find a greater number of large-cap stocks by considering both Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) and Zacks #2 Rank (Buy) stocks in their selection criteria. #1 Ranked Stocks Highlight Archive To truly take advantage of the Zacks Rank, you need to first understand how it works. That is why we created the free special report: Zacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions. | Blog Home| VitalStocks Home Tags: TICKER, ACE Limited, Stock-market, Stocks, Investing, Stock Trading, Business, Finance, Trading, Investing Newsletter, Stock Picks, earnings, analysts, analysts estimates