Flagstone Reinsurance Shares Plunged: What You Need to Know

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of insurer Flagstone Reinsurance (NYSE: FSR  ) were quaking today, losing as much as 11% after an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and a huge tsunami hit Japan.

So what: There are plenty of reasons to be upset about the disaster in Japan, but investors in insurers that cover catastrophes will almost certainly have to brace themselves for losses. Flagstone's annual report notes that it does "a significant amount of catastrophe business in Japan," so there is good reason for investors to prepare themselves for a hit. Platinum Underwriters (NYSE: PTP  ) and Montpelier Re (NYSE: MRH  ) are among the other catastrophe insurers with exposure to Japan. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A  ) (NYSE: BRK-B  ) may also have exposure through General Re and Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance, as well as its investment in Munich Re.

Now what: The extent to which any particular insurer will get whacked is still conjecture at this point. However, the best insurers should be able to handle the fallout and keep both customers and shareholders happy. I'd keep an eye out for market overreactions here that could make some insurers' stocks attractive.

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