Increase marks sharp turnaround from $21 billion net underwriting loss a year earlier
JERSEY CITY, N.J., January 16, 2019 - Private U.S. property/casualty insurers reported a $4.7 billion net underwriting gain in nine-months 2018, a sharp turnaround from a $21.0 billion net underwriting loss a year earlier, helped by a rare decline in overall losses and loss adjustment expenses (LLAE) and significant premium growth, according to ISO, a Verisk (Nasdaq:VRSK) business, and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCI).
Overall LLAE decreased 0.5 percent to $310.2 billion in nine-months 2018, driven largely by a $13.1 billion decline in net LLAE from catastrophes.
Net written premiums grew 11.4 percent to $468.8 billion in nine-months 2018, affected in part by organic premium growth and changes that multiple insurers made to their reinsurance arrangements.
Net investment income grew to $40.9 billion in nine-months 2018 from $35.4 billion a year earlier, with the increase affected by large dividends from insurers' subsidiaries that do not operate in property/casualty insurance. Overall, insurers' net income after taxes more than doubled to $49.5 billion in nine-months 2018 from $22.4 billion in nine-months 2017.
| "The insurance industry performed well in nine-months 2018, helped by continued growth in premiums and investment income. The improvement in the industry results compared to 2017 was also helped by a rare decrease in overall losses and loss adjustment expenses. The last time overall LLAE decreased was in 2013, in the wake of the losses from Superstorm Sandy. As we look forward, catastrophes remain a major consideration, and the full-year industry results for 2018 will likely be affected by the losses from the California wildfires. In the coming years, insurers' underwriting results will critically depend on their ability to acquire and deploy the analytical and technological tools to help automate processes, improve decision making, and reduce costs." | "The industry financial operating results reflect several positive trends through the first nine months of the year but also foreshadow potential challenges for insurers in 2019. Insurers' combined ratio improved to 97.3 percent as net income and net written premiums grew from the previous year. However, insurers faced record-setting wildfires and severe hurricanes for the second straight year. Annualized investment return continues to underperform the industry average over the last ten years, and the stock market's precipitous decline in December may be a harbinger of increasing volatility. Insurers are well positioned to provide stability and expanded protection opportunities to consumers in the new year." |
| Neil Spector, President, ISO | Robert Gordon, APCI's Senior Vice President for Policy, Research and International |
Third-Quarter Results
Insurers' net income after taxes rose to $15.5 billion in third-quarter 2018 from $6.9 billion in third-quarter 2017, and their combined ratio improved to 99.7 percent in third-quarter 2018 from 110.7 percent a year earlier.
Their annualized rate of return on average surplus more than doubled to 8 percent in third-quarter 2018 from 3.8 percent a year earlier.
Net written premiums rose 8 percent in third-quarter 2018, compared with 4.2 percent in third-quarter 2017.
View the full report from ISO and APCI here.
About ISO
ISO, a Verisk (Nasdaq:VRSK) business, is a leading provider of advanced tools and analytics for the property/casualty insurance industry. Drawing on unique data assets and deep domain expertise, ISO products and services help insurers underwrite and price risks with greater precision and efficiency and manage claims more effectively across the spectrum of commercial and personal lines of insurance. For nearly 50 years, ISO has been a leader in developing innovative solutions and working with multiple stakeholders in the property/casualty insurance marketplace, including insurers, reinsurers, third-party administrators, agents and brokers, insurance regulators, and risk managers. For more information, please visit www.verisk.com/iso.
About APCI
Representing nearly 60 percent of the U.S. property casualty insurance industry, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCI) promotes and protects the viability of a competitive private insurance market for the benefit of consumers and insurers. APCI represents the broadest cross section of home, auto, and business insurers of any national trade association. APCI members represent all sizes, structures, and regions, which protect families, communities, and businesses in the U.S. and across the globe. For more information, visit www.pciaa.net.
Contact:
Eboni Thomas
Edelman (for Verisk)
212-642-7784
eboni.thomas@edelman.com
Jeffrey Brewer for APCI
847-553-3763
Michael Barry for I.I.I.
917-923-8245