* Q1 EPS $0.37 vs $0.53 yr-ago
* Q1 oper EPS $0.44 vs est $0.19
* Q1 book value rises
* Stock up 3 pct after the bell
May 4 (Reuters) - XL Capital Ltd, a large Bermuda-based reinsurer, posted a quarterly profit exceeding analysts' estimates and said its book value climbed sequentially during the period, sending its shares up 3 percent after the bell.
In the first quarter, the company earned $128 million, or 37 cents a share, compared with a profit of $178.4 million, or 53 cents a share, a year back.
On an operating basis, excluding investment losses and gains, XL earned 44 cents a share.
Analysts were looking for a profit of 19 cents a share, excluding items, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
The company's book value --a measure closely watched by investors -- grew 7 percent sequentially to $26.38 a share.
XL shares rose more than 3 percent to $17.75 after the bell. The shares, which closed at $17.17 Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange, were the highest percentage gainer in after market trading among stocks traded in the same exchange.
(Reporting by Anurag Kotoky in Bangalore; Editing by Aradhana Aravindan) Keywords: XLCAPITAL/ (anurag.kotoky@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800; Reuters Messaging: anurag.kotoky.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
* Q1 oper EPS $0.44 vs est $0.19
* Q1 book value rises
* Stock up 3 pct after the bell
May 4 (Reuters) - XL Capital Ltd, a large Bermuda-based reinsurer, posted a quarterly profit exceeding analysts' estimates and said its book value climbed sequentially during the period, sending its shares up 3 percent after the bell.
In the first quarter, the company earned $128 million, or 37 cents a share, compared with a profit of $178.4 million, or 53 cents a share, a year back.
On an operating basis, excluding investment losses and gains, XL earned 44 cents a share.
Analysts were looking for a profit of 19 cents a share, excluding items, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
The company's book value --a measure closely watched by investors -- grew 7 percent sequentially to $26.38 a share.
XL shares rose more than 3 percent to $17.75 after the bell. The shares, which closed at $17.17 Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange, were the highest percentage gainer in after market trading among stocks traded in the same exchange.
(Reporting by Anurag Kotoky in Bangalore; Editing by Aradhana Aravindan) Keywords: XLCAPITAL/ (anurag.kotoky@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800; Reuters Messaging: anurag.kotoky.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.