07:48 AM EDT, 03/12/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Sagicor Financial Company ( SGCFF ) overnight Wednesday reported core earnings to shareholders which rose in the fourth quarter, although it said that it swung to a net loss to shareholders in the quarter.

Fourth-quarter core earnings to shareholders was US$31.6 million, compared to $28 million in the corresponding year-ago quarter.

Core basic EPS for the fourth quarter was $0.233 per share, compared to $0.204 per share in the corresponding year-ago quarter.

The company posted a fourth-quarter net loss to shareholders of $14.4 million, compared to a net income to shareholders of $52.4 million in the year-ago quarter.

The company said that it is also updating its guidance on key measures which included targeted core return on shareholders' equity (ROE) for 2027 of 14%, targeted core return on shareholders' equity (ROE) over the medium-term of 15% and targeted core dividend payout ratio of 30% to 40%.

The company also said that, on March 11, 2026, its board of directors approved and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.075 per common share, an increase of 11% over the previous quarterly dividend of $0.0675 per common share. This quarterly dividend will be paid on April 17, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 26, 2026.

"In Q4 we made significant progress on our strategic initiatives, highlighted by the announcement of a definitive agreement to merge our two Caribbean operating segments under a single publicly-listed entity to be named Sagicor Group Caribbean Limited," said Andre Mousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe this combination will allow us to execute a robust digital transformation of these segments. This transformation, combined with continued organic growth of our North American segments, is informing our new guidance of 14% core ROE in 2027 and 15% core ROE in 2028."