New York, NY – The Travelers Companies, Inc. recently reported net income of $919 million, or $2.69 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, compared to net income of $864 million, or $2.30 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. Operating income in the current quarter was $893 million, or $2.61 per diluted share, compared to $883 million, or $2.35 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. The increase in net and operating income compared to the prior year quarter primarily resulted from higher net investment income and lower catastrophe losses, partially offset by lower net favorable prior year reserve development and a slightly lower underlying underwriting gain (i.e., excluding net favorable prior year reserve development and catastrophe losses), which was impacted by higher non-catastrophe weather-related losses. Net income also benefited from higher net realized investment gains while per diluted share amounts also benefited from the impact of share repurchases.
Highlights:
- Net income and operating income of $919 million and $893 million, increased 6% and 1%, respectively, from prior year quarter.
- Total revenues of $6.886 billion increased 7% and net written premiums of $6.033 billion increased 6% from the prior year quarter primarily due to the acquisition of Dominion of Canada in November 2013.
- Total capital returned to shareholders of $937 million in the quarter, including $751 million in share repurchases. Year-to-date total capital returned to shareholders of $2.885 billion.
- Increases in book value per share of 9% to $76.42 and adjusted book value per share of 6% to $70.64 from year-end 2013.
- Board of Directors approves quarterly dividend per share of $0.55.
“We are very pleased with our results this quarter,” commented Jay Fishman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Our results were driven by strong underwriting performance across all of our business segments, as reflected in our consolidated combined ratio of 90.0%, and higher investment returns driven by private equity performance. Our return on equity and per share results continue to benefit meaningfully from our ongoing strategy of returning excess capital to shareholders. Year-to-date, total capital returned to shareholders was almost $2.9 billion, including over $2.3 billion in share repurchases and $553 million in dividends.
“In addition to these strong financial results, we were also very pleased with our production metrics this quarter. Within Business and International Insurance, once again, we improved retention in our domestic businesses from already strong levels in recent quarters, while continuing to achieve meaningful rate and exposure increases. Bond & Specialty Insurance improved profitability from already high levels, and continued to achieve positive renewal premium change while maintaining strong retention. In Personal Insurance, Auto net written premiums were up 3% from the prior year quarter and policies in force were up 1% from the most recent quarter as a result of the very successful introduction of Quantum 2.0 beginning last fall.
“As we continue to face persistently low interest rates and uncertain weather patterns, we remain focused on delivering superior profitability and returns on equity. Consequently, we remain committed to our highly segmented pricing and underwriting strategies, executing on an account by account or class by class basis.”
Third Quarter 2014 Results
(All comparisons vs. third quarter 2013, unless noted otherwise)
Net income of $919 million after-tax increased $55 million, or 6%, due to an increase in both net realized investment gains and operating income. Current period net realized investment gains resulted from the sale of substantially all of one of the company’s real estate joint venture investments. Operating income of $893 million after-tax increased $10 million, or 1%, primarily driven by higher net investment income and a continued strong, but lower, underwriting gain.
Underwriting results
- The combined ratio increased 1.1 points to 90.0% as the benefit of lower catastrophe losses (0.3 points) was more than offset by lower net favorable prior year reserve development (0.9 points) and a higher underlying combined ratio (0.5 points).
- The underlying combined ratio increased 0.5 points to 90.5% as the benefit of earned pricing that exceeded loss cost trends was more than offset by higher non-catastrophe weather-related losses.
- Net favorable prior year reserve development occurred in all segments. Catastrophe losses were primarily due to wind and hail storms in several regions of the United States, as well as increases in estimated losses related to wind and hail storms that occurred in the second quarter.
Net investment income of $568 million after-tax ($719 million pre-tax) increased due to strong private equity performance, partially offset by lower reinvestment rates in the fixed income portfolio.
Net written premiums of $6.033 billion increased 6% primarily due to the inclusion of Dominion and domestic business insurance growth within Business and International Insurance.
Year-to-Date 2014 Results
(All comparisons vs. year-to-date 2013, unless noted otherwise)
Net income of $2.654 billion after-tax decreased $31 million, or 1%, due to lower net realized investment gains. Prior period net realized investment gains related to a short position in U.S. Treasury futures contracts. Operating income of $2.618 billion after-tax increased $32 million, or 1%, driven by higher net investment income and a higher underwriting gain, partially offset by a decline in other income due to the inclusion of a benefit in the prior year period of a $91 million pre-tax favorable legal settlement, as well as the inclusion in the prior year period of a $63 million benefit from a favorable tax settlement. The current period operating income included a $49 million after-tax benefit recorded in the first quarter resulting from a reduction in the estimated liability for state assessments to be paid by the company related to workers’ compensation premiums.
Underwriting results
- The combined ratio improved 0.3 points to 90.3% due to an improved underlying combined ratio (0.9 points), partially offset by higher catastrophe losses (0.5 points) and lower net favorable prior year reserve development (0.1 points).
- The underlying combined ratio improved 0.9 points to 89.9% as the benefits of earned pricing that exceeded loss cost trends and an improved expense ratio were partially offset by higher non-catastrophe weather-related losses. The expense ratio benefited from the above mentioned reduction in the estimated liability for state assessments.
- Net favorable prior year reserve development occurred in all segments. Catastrophe losses were primarily due to wind, hail and winter storms in several regions in the United States.
Net investment income of $1.703 billion after-tax ($2.150 billion pre-tax) increased primarily due to strong private equity performance and higher real estate partnership returns, partially offset by lower reinvestment rates in the fixed income portfolio.
Net written premiums of $18.068 billion increased 5% primarily due to the inclusion of Dominion and domestic business insurance growth within Business and International Insurance.
Shareholders’ Equity
Shareholders’equity of $25.321 billion decreased 1% and increased 2%, respectively, from the end of second quarter 2014 and year-end 2013. Included in shareholders’ equity were after-tax net unrealized investment gains of $1.914 billion, compared to $2.013 billion at the end of second quarter 2014 and $1.322 billion at year-end 2013. Book value per share of $76.42 increased 1% and 9%, respectively, from the end of second quarter 2014 and year-end 2013, while adjusted book value per share of $70.64 increased 2% and 6%, respectively, from the end of second quarter 2014 and year-end 2013.
The company repurchased 8.1 million shares during the third quarter and 26.1 million shares year-to-date at a total cost of $751 million and $2.332 billion, respectively. The company has $2.484 billion of remaining capacity under its existing share repurchase authorization. At the end of third quarter 2014, statutory surplus was $21.005 billion and the ratio of debt-to-capital (excluding after-tax net unrealized investment gains) was 21.3%, well within the company’s target range of 15% to 25%.
The Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend today of $0.55 per share. This dividend is payable on December 31, 2014 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 10, 2014.
The complete release is available here: Travelers Reports Q3 2014 Results (PDF)
Source: BusinessWire