Shares of Globe Life Inc. experienced one of their most significant drops on record this past Thursday, following a report by short seller Fuzzy Panda Research alleging fraudulent practices within the company and its subsidiary, American Income Life Insurance Company. The Texas-based life insurer's stock plunged over 50% in response to these claims.
The report accuses Globe Life management of ignoring fraudulent activities such as issuing policies for deceased individuals and utilizing fictitious bank accounts to finance counterfeit policies. It also alleges that Global Life executives received "illegal kickbacks" and urges management to "rectify past bad underwriting by reporting it to insurance regulators."
In response, Globe Life issued a statement on April 11 denouncing the report as "wildly misleading." The company accused Fuzzy Panda Research of misrepresenting facts and using unsubstantiated claims to paint a deliberately false and defamatory picture of Globe Life. The insurer stated its intention to explore all legal recourse against those responsible.
When asked for comment, a spokesperson for Globe Life referred back to the previously released statement refuting the short seller's allegations, adding that further commentary would be provided later in the day or early Monday morning.
American Income Life Insurance Co. (AIL) was also targeted in a 2022 lawsuit filed by a former sales agent alleging a hostile work environment and sexual harassment. While the claimant dismissed all claims before scheduled arbitration in March, Globe Life confirmed in a regulatory filing that it had received subpoenas from the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania amid these dismissals.
Morgan Stanley analyst Bob Jian Huang suggested that investor concerns over the share price decline could present a "headwind" for Globe Life's shares this year and possibly into 2025. He advised focusing more on the outcome of the Justice Department probe as an indicator of the current situation.
Piper Sandler analyst John Barnidge maintained an "overweight" rating for now, expecting improvement in underwriting margin and a "compelling valuation multiple." He noted that Globe Life's statement refuting allegations of fraud assuages concerns but does not entirely eliminate the need for broader communication with the investment community.
As of Friday afternoon, Globe Life shares had rebounded somewhat, recovering around 18% of their value.