New York, NY – The Travelers Companies, Inc. recently reported net income of $819 million, or $3.44 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, compared to $1.333 billion, or $5.37 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. Core income in the current quarter was $810 million, or $3.40 per diluted share, compared to $1.289 billion, or $5.20 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. Core income decreased primarily due to higher catastrophe losses, a lower underlying underwriting gain (i.e., excluding net prior year reserve development and catastrophe losses) and lower net investment income, partially offset by higher net favorable prior year reserve development. Net realized investment gains in the current quarter were $7 million pre-tax ($9 million after-tax), compared to $58 million pre-tax ($44 million after-tax) in the prior year quarter. Per diluted share amounts benefited from the impact of share repurchases.
“We are pleased to report solid fourth quarter 2022 results, particularly in light of the significant winter storm that swept across the U.S. and Canada in the last week of the year,” said Alan Schnitzer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Results in our commercial businesses were exceptional, with another quarter of strong growth at very attractive margins. Underlying results in Personal Insurance remain challenged by elevated industrywide loss costs. We recorded another quarter of progress with strong pricing and other actions to address these challenges.
“Core income for the fourth quarter was $810 million, or $3.40 per diluted share, generating core return on equity of 12.3%. This result includes $459 million of pre-tax catastrophe losses ($362 million after-tax). Core income benefited from record net earned premiums of $8.8 billion, up 10% compared to the prior year period, and a solid underlying combined ratio of 91.4%.
“Our best-in-class marketplace execution produced 10% growth in net written premiums this quarter to almost $9 billion, with all three segments contributing. In Business Insurance, net written premiums grew by 11% to $4.4 billion. Renewal premium change remained very strong at an historically high 10.1%, with record-high retention of 88%. New business in Business Insurance of $558 million increased 10% from the prior year period. Given the attractive returns, we are pleased with the very strong retention of our high-quality book of business and the strong new business growth. In Bond & Specialty Insurance, net written premiums increased 5% on a constant currency basis, driven by excellent production in our market-leading surety business. Production was also strong in our management liability business, with renewal premium change of 6.3%, retention of 90% and 23% growth in new business. In Personal Insurance, top-line growth was driven by higher pricing. Renewal premium change was meaningfully higher both year over year and sequentially.
“Our full year 2022 results benefited from higher core income from our commercial businesses, driven by record net earned premiums and strong profitability, including our best-ever underlying combined ratio in Business Insurance. Our high-quality investment portfolio generated after-tax net investment income of $2.2 billion for the year. Our underwriting and investment results, together with our strong balance sheet, enabled us to return nearly $3 billion of excess capital to shareholders, including more than $2 billion of share repurchases, while also growing adjusted book value per share and making important investments in our business.
“Our results this year cap off a decade of terrific performance. Over that period, we have significantly accelerated premium growth while generating superior returns with industry low volatility. Given our track record of successfully investing in differentiating capabilities and our ambitious roadmap, we are confident in the outlook for Travelers.”
The complete results release is available here: Travelers Reports Fourth Quarter 2022 Results
Source: Travelers