Horace Mann Profit Slides

Horace Mann Educators(HMN Quote), the largest national multi-line insurance company, said its fourth-quarter earnings fell 43.1% from a year ago, due to a $13.2 million catastrophe cost.

The company earned $16.1 million, or 35 cents a share, in the quarter, compared with $28.3 million, or 61 cents a share, a year ago. Adjusted for an after-tax net realized gain on securities of $400,000 , or 1 cent a share, earnings were $15.7 million, or 34 cents a share, in the most recent quarter. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call were expecting earnings of 38 cents a share in the most recent quarter.

Fourth-quarter revenue fell 1.5% from a year ago to $220.4 million. ...