Improved cost controls and business growth helped Desjardins Financial Security post a 31% jump in net earnings in the first quarter of this year, the company said Tuesday.

Desjardins Financial Security, a subsidiary of Desjardins Financial Corp. specializing in life and health insurance and retirement savings products, said Q1 profits increased to $21.9 million from $16.7 million recorded a year ago.

It said the share of earnings attributable to shareholders was up 44% to $19.9 million, corresponding to an 11.4% return on shareholder’s equity.
Income from insurance premiums and annuities rose “dramatically” by 13.5% to $504.8 million in Q1 vs $444.8 last year.

“Desjardins Financial Security’s results for the first quarter are very satisfactory with regard to increased profits and return on shareholders’ equity,” Monique Leroux, president of the Desjardins Financial and CEO of Desjardins Financial Security, said in a statement.
“This improvement is due to our efforts to control our operating costs as well as business growth.”

François Joly, president and COO of Desjardins Financial Security, said “all lines of business posted excellent results.”

“We are particularly proud to have gained considerable ground in our national development of group insurance with significant expansion in British Columbia and a marked improvement of our Individual Network’s profits. We also vigorously continued our caissassurance offer in Quebec.”