The U.S. property/casualty industry is increasingly profitable, with a Q1 net income of $10.1 billion, compared with $7.8 billion for the same quarter last year; profitability as measured by the cumulative annualized rate of return on average policyholders’ surplus increased to 7.2 percent from 5.6 percent for the same quarter last year, according to the
Net losses on underwriting declined to $0.2 billion for the quarter, compared with $4.5 billion for the same quarter last year; and the combined ratio, a critical measure of losses and other underwriting expenses per dollar of premium, improved to 99 percent from 103.3 percent for the same quarter last year. Those improvements are largely due fewer catastrophic losses this year, losses and loss adjustment expenses from catastrophes fell to $3.4 billion from $6.6 billion, for the quarter.
“The 99-percent combined ratio for first-quarter 2012 is the best first-quarter underwriting result since the 91.6-percent combined ratio for first-quarter 2007,” said Michael Murray, AVP for financial analysis at ISO. “The improvement in underwriting results is especially welcome given the toll that long-term declines in interest rates and investment leverage have taken on insurers’ ability to use investment earnings to balance underwriting losses.”
Net investment gains for the quarter, however, declined by $1.2 billion to $12.3 billion, from $13.6 billion last year, and miscellaneous income fell to $0.4 billion from $0.5 billion; federal and foreign income taxes rose to $2.3 billion from $1.8 billion.
“Based on daily data since the start of 1962, the yield on 10-year Treasury notes fell from a record-high 15.84 percent on Sept. 30, 1981, to a record-low 1.47 percent on June 1, 2012, and has changed little since,” Murray said. “Reflecting the high interest rates of the 1980s and insurers’ investment leverage at the time, insurers’ overall rate of return during the decade averaged 10.3 percent, even though the combined ratio averaged 109.3 percent. Because of today’s interest rates and investment leverage, insurers’ 7.2 percent annualized overall rate of return for first-quarter 2012 was a full 3 percentage points less than their average rate of return during the 1980s, even though the 99 percent combined ratio for first-quarter 2012 was more than 10 percentage points better than the average combined ratio during the 1980s.”
Pretax operating income grew to $11.8 billion from $8.6 billion in first-quarter 2011, and policyholders’ surplus increased by $20.4 billion to $570.7 billion, a record-high, as of March 31, compared with $550.3 billion as of Dec. 31, 2011.
“The insurance industry’s record-high $570.7 billion in policyholders’ surplus as of March 31 is a testament to the resilience of property/casualty insurers throughout the financial crisis and the strength and safety of our commitment to policyholders,” said Robert Gordon, PCI’s senior VP for policy development and research. “The $20.4 billion increase in policyholders’ surplus in first-quarter 2012 underscores that insurers are strong, well capitalized, and well prepared to pay future claims. Policyholders and regulators can rely on the insurance industry to fulfill its obligations when catastrophes strike, even if the economy remains difficult.”
Underwriting Results
According to the release, net losses on underwriting shrank by $4.3 billion to $0.2 billion from $4.5 billion for the same quarter last year, as premiums rose and losses and loss adjustment expenses (LLAE) declined. Net written premiums increased by $3.3 billion, or 3.1 percent, to $112.4 billion for the quarter, from $109 billion in Q1 2011, as net earned premiums rose by $2.7 billion, or 2.6 percent, to $107.9 billion from $105.2 billion.
“Growth in overall net written premiums slowed to 3.1 percent in first-quarter 2012 from 3.5 percent in first-quarter 2011,” Murray said. “Premium growth also slowed compared with the growth rates for the last two quarters of 2011, receding to 3.1 percent in first-quarter 2012 from 3.8 percent in fourth-quarter 2011 and 4.1 percent in third-quarter 2011. But growth didn’t slow for all sectors of the insurance industry.”
Net LLAE (after reinsurance recoveries) dropped $3.1 billion, or 4 percent, to $75.6 billion in first-quarter 2012 from $78.7 billion in first-quarter 2011.
“The drop in net LLAE from catastrophes accounts for the bulk of the improvement in underwriting results in first-quarter 2012,” Gordon said. “If net LLAE from catastrophes remained at the same level experienced in first-quarter 2011, the combined ratio would have improved by only 1.3 percentage points to 102 percent instead of improving by 4.2 percentage points.”
Investment Results
According to the release, insurers’ net investment income fell 7.5 percent to $11.7 billion from $12.6 billion in first-quarter 2011. Realized capital gains on investments declined $0.3 billion to $0.7 billion from $1 billion a year earlier. Combining net investment income and realized capital gains, net investment gains dropped $1.2 billion, or 9.2 percent, to $12.3 billion for Q1 2012, from $13.6 billion for the same quarter last year.
“The decline in insurers’ investment income reflects declines in market yields, with the annualized yield on insurers’ investments falling to 3.6 percent in first-quarter 2012 from 3.9 percent in first-quarter 2011, as the average yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury notes dropped to 2 percent from 3.5 percent,” Murray said. “Insurers’ average holdings of cash and invested assets — the assets on which insurers earn investment income — actually rose 0.2 percent in first-quarter 2012 compared with their level a year earlier.”
Pretax Operating Income
According to the release, Q1 2012 pretax operating income climbed by $3.2 billion, or 36.6 percent, to $11.8 billion from $8.6 billion for first-quarter 2011; the increase was the net result of the $4.3 billion decline in net losses on underwriting, the $0.9 billion drop in net investment income, and the $0.2 billion decrease in miscellaneous other income. Mortgage and financial guaranty insurers’ operating income deteriorated to negative $1.2 billion for the quarter from negative $0.7 billion in the same quarter last year. Excluding mortgage and financial guaranty insurers, the insurance industry’s operating income climbed $3.6 billion, or 38.6 percent, to $13 billion for the quarter, from $9.4 billion in Q1 2011.
Net Income after Taxes
According to the release, net income after taxes for the quarter were $10.1 billion, an increase of $2.3 billion, or 29.6 percent, from $7.8 billion for Q1 2011. The increase was the net result of the $3.2 billion increase in operating income, the $0.3 billion decrease in realized capital gains and the $0.5 billion increase in federal and foreign income taxes.
Mortgage and financial guaranty insurers’ net income after taxes fell to negative $1.1 billion for first-quarter 2012 from negative $0.5 billion for first-quarter 2011. Excluding mortgage and financial guaranty insurers, the insurance industry’s net income after taxes rose $2.8 billion to $11.2 billion for first-quarter 2012 from $8.4 billion for first-quarter 2011.
Policyholders’ Surplus
According to the release, policyholders’ surplus climbed $20.4 billion, or 3.7 percent, to $570.7 billion as of March 31, 2012, from $550.3 billion at year-end 2011. Additions to surplus in first-quarter 2012 included insurers’ $10.1 billion in net income after taxes, $13.7 billion in unrealized capital gains on investments (not included in net income), $0.3 billion in new funds paid in, and $2.7 billion in miscellaneous other changes in surplus. Those additions were partially offset by $6.5 billion in dividends to shareholders.
Insurers’ $13.7 billion in unrealized capital gains on investments in first-quarter 2012 was more than three times insurers’ $3.9 billion in unrealized capital gains in first-quarter 2011. The $0.3 billion in new funds paid in during first-quarter 2012 was down from $1.5 billion in first-quarter 2011, according to the report.
The $2.7 billion in miscellaneous additions to surplus in first-quarter 2012 compares with $0.2 billion in miscellaneous charges against surplus in first-quarter 2011. Dividends to shareholders rose to $6.5 billion in first-quarter 2012 from $5.7 billion in first-quarter 2011, according to the report.
Mortgage and financial guaranty insurers’ surplus fell to $11.1 billion as of March 31, 2012, from $11.4 billion at year-end 2011. Excluding mortgage and financial guaranty insurers, industry surplus increased $20.7 billion to $559.6 billion as of March 31, 2012, from $538.9 billion as of Dec. 31, 2011, according to the report.
