American International Group's Third Quarter Earnings Report

American International Group Inc (NYSE:AIG) announced its results for the most recent quarter on November 1, 2012. American International Group is a holding company that is engaged in insurance and insurance-related activities in the global marketplace.

Investors should care about a company's quarterly earnings because it shows the state of the business over the past 90 days and provides guidance for the following 90 days. SEE: Everything Investors Need To Know About Earnings

The Numbers: American International Group announced $1.13 per share versus the 85 cents per share estimate. For the third quarter, the company reported profit of $1.9 billion.



Management Quote: "AIG again posted a solid quarter, reflecting the continued strength of our core insurance operations and strong investment returns," said Robert H. Benmosche, AIG President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are seeing continued momentum, and we're building for the future by creating a more streamlined, efficient, and nimble company."



Looking Ahead: For next quarter, analysts have a more positive outlook about the company's expected results. The average estimate for the fourth quarter is 77 cents per share, up from 73 cents 90 days ago. Increasing earnings estimate is a positive sign about the company and it typically leads a increase in the stock price. For the fiscal year, the average estimate has moved up from $3.78 a share to $4.43 over the last ninety days.