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Travelers Reports Third Quarter Net Income per Diluted Share of $2.69, Up 17% from Prior Year QuarterNEW YORK --(Business Wire)-- The Travelers Companies, Inc. today 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.
"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
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
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.
Third Quarter 2014 Results (All comparisons vs. third quarter 2013, unless noted otherwise) Operating income of $552 million after-tax decreased $14 million, or 2%, as higher net investment income was more than offset by a lower underwriting gain. Underwriting results
Net written premiums of $3.560 billion increased 10% primarily driven by the inclusion of Dominion. Domestic net written premiums of $3.079 billion increased 2% driven by continued positive renewal premium changes. Retention remained strong and improved from recent quarters. Year-to-Date 2014 Results (All comparisons vs. year-to-date 2013, unless noted otherwise) Operating income of $1.717 billion after-tax decreased $56 million, or 3%, as higher net investment income was more than 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, the inclusion in the prior year period of a $43 million benefit from a favorable tax settlement, as well as a lower underwriting gain. 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
Net written premiums of $11.061 billion increased 9% primarily driven by the inclusion of Dominion. Domestic net written premiums of $9.484 billion increased 1% driven by continued positive renewal premium changes and high retention levels.
Third Quarter 2014 Results (All comparisons vs. third quarter 2013, unless noted otherwise) Operating income of $165 million after-tax increased $45 million, or 38%, primarily due to a higher underwriting gain. Underwriting results
Bond & Specialty Insurance net written premiums of $556 million increased 1%. Year-to-Date 2014 Results (All comparisons vs. year-to-date 2013, unless noted otherwise) Operating income of $511 million after-tax increased $112 million, or 28%, primarily due to a higher underwriting gain. The prior year period operating income included a $15 million after-tax favorable tax settlement. Underwriting results
Bond & Specialty Insurance net written premiums of $1.578 billion increased 7% as a result of lower reinsurance costs and higher business volumes in Surety.
Third Quarter 2014 Results (All comparisons vs. third quarter 2013, unless noted otherwise) Operating income of $239 million after-tax decreased $23 million, or 9%, as the benefit of a higher underlying underwriting gain was more than offset by lower net favorable prior year reserve development and higher catastrophe losses. Underwriting results
Personal Insurance net written premiums of $1.917 billion were slightly above the prior year period, due to increased new business from the company's new auto product, Quantum 2.0. Year-to-Date 2014 Results (All comparisons vs. year-to-date 2013, unless noted otherwise) Operating income of $582 million after-tax decreased $19 million, or 3%, as higher net investment income was more than offset by a lower underwriting gain. The prior year period operating income included a $5 million after-tax favorable tax settlement. Underwriting results
Personal Insurance net written premiums of $5.429 billion decreased 1%. Financial Supplement and Conference Call The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with a financial supplement that is available on our website at www.travelers.com. Travelers management will discuss the contents of this release and other relevant topics via webcast at 9 a.m. Eastern (8 a.m. Central) on Tuesday, October 21, 2014. Investors can access the call via webcast at http://investor.travelers.com or by dialing 1-800-754-1382 within the U.S. and 1-212-231-2932 outside the U.S. (use passcode 14788 for both the U.S. and international calls). Prior to the webcast, a slide presentation pertaining to the quarterly earnings will be available on the company's website. Following the live event, an audio playback of the webcast and the slide presentation will be available at the same website. An audio playback can also be accessed by phone at 1-800-633-8284 within the U.S. and 1-402-977-9140 outside the U.S. (use reservation 21733237 for both the U.S. and international calls). About Travelers The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has approximately 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $26 billion in 2013. For more information, visit www.travelers.com. From time to time, Travelers may use its website and/or social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, as distribution channels of material company information. Financial and other important information regarding the company is routinely accessible through and posted on our website at http://investor.travelers.com, our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/travelers and our Twitter account (@TRV_Insurance) at https://twitter.com/TRV_Insurance. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about Travelers when you enroll your email address by visiting the "Email Alert Service" section at http://investor.travelers.com. Travelers is organized into the following reportable business segments: Business and International Insurance: The Business and International Insurance segment offers a broad array of property and casualty insurance and insurance related services to its clients, primarily in the United States, as well as in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and throughout other parts of the world as a corporate member of Lloyd's. Bond & Specialty Insurance: The Bond & Specialty Insurance segment includes surety and financial liability coverages, which primarily use credit-based underwriting processes, and provide a wide range of primarily domestic customers with bond and insurance products and risk management services. Personal Insurance: The Personal Insurance segment writes a broad range of property and casualty insurance covering individuals' personal risks. The primary products of automobile and homeowners insurance are complemented by a broad suite of related coverages. On June 10, 2014, the company announced a realignment of its management team, effective July 1, 2014, that gave rise to a realignment of two of its three reportable business segments. The company's International Insurance group, which had previously been included in the Financial, Professional & International Insurance segment, was combined with the company's previous Business Insurance segment to create a new Business and International Insurance segment. The Bond & Financial Products group, which comprised the remaining businesses in the Financial, Professional & International Insurance segment, now comprises the new Bond & Specialty Insurance segment. The Personal Insurance segment was not impacted by these changes. The realignment of segments described above was made to reflect the realignment of the company's senior management responsibilities and the manner in which the company's businesses have been managed starting July 1, 2014, and the aggregation of products and services based on the type of customer, how the business is marketed and the manner in which risks are underwritten. In connection with these changes, the company has realigned and revised the names of several businesses that comprise the Business and International Insurance segment. * * * * * Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains, and management may make, certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements. Words such as "may", "will", "should", "likely", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "projects", "believes", "estimates" and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. Specifically, statements about the company's outlook, share repurchase plans, expected margin improvement, potential returns, future pension plan contributions and the potential impact of investment markets and other economic conditions on the company's investment portfolio and underwriting results, among others, are forward looking, and the company may also make forward-looking statements about, among other things:
The company cautions investors that such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the company's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the following:
Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release or as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of these factors, see the information under the captions "Risk Factors" in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 13, 2014 and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K as updated by our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 10, 2014 and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. ***** GLOSSARY OF FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO GAAP MEASURES The following measures are used by the company's management to evaluate financial performance against historical results and establish targets on a consolidated basis. In some cases, these measures are considered non-GAAP financial measures under applicable SEC rules because they are not displayed as separate line items in the consolidated financial statements or are not required to be disclosed in the notes to financial statements or, in some cases, include or exclude certain items not ordinarily included or excluded in the most comparable GAAP financial measure. Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures also follow. In the opinion of the company's management, a discussion of these measures provides investors, financial analysts, rating agencies and other financial statement users with a better understanding of the significant factors that comprise the company's periodic results of operations and how management evaluates the company's financial performance. Internally, the company's management uses these measures to evaluate performance against historical results, to establish financial targets on a consolidated basis and for other reasons, which are discussed below. Some of these measures exclude net realized investment gains (losses), net of tax, and/or net unrealized investment gains (losses), net of tax, which can be significantly impacted by both discretionary and other economic factors and are not necessarily indicative of operating trends. Other companies may calculate these measures differently, and, therefore, their measures may not be comparable to those used by the company's management. RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING INCOME AND CERTAIN OTHER NON-GAAP MEASURES TO NET INCOME Operating income is net income excluding the after-tax impact of net realized investment gains (losses) and discontinued operations. Management uses operating income to analyze each segment's performance and as a tool in making business decisions. Financial statement users also consider operating income when analyzing the results and trends of insurance companies. Operating earnings per share is operating income on a per common share basis.
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY TO SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND OPERATING RETURN ON EQUITY TO RETURN ON EQUITY Average shareholders' equity is (a) the sum of total shareholders' equity excluding preferred stock at the beginning and end of each of the quarters for the period presented divided by (b) the number of quarters in the period presented times two. Adjusted shareholders' equity is shareholders' equity excluding net unrealized investment gains (losses), net of tax, net realized investment gains (losses), net of tax, for the period presented, preferred stock and discontinued operations. Adjusted average shareholders' equity is average shareholders' equity excluding net unrealized investment gains (losses), net of tax, for all quarters included in the calculation and, for each quarterly period included in the calculation, that quarter's net realized investment gains (losses), net of tax and discontinued operations.
Return on equity is the ratio of annualized net income less preferred dividends to average shareholders' equity for the periods presented. Operating return on equity is the ratio of annualized operating income less preferred dividends to adjusted average shareholders' equity for the periods presented. In the opinion of the company's management, these are important indicators of how well management creates value for its shareholders through its operating activities and its capital management.
Average annual operating return on equity over a period is the ratio of: a) the sum of operating income less preferred dividends for the periods presented to b) the sum of: 1) the sum of the adjusted average shareholders' equity for all full years in the period presented, and 2) for partial years in the period presented, the number of quarters in that partial year divided by four, multiplied by the adjusted average shareholders' equity of the partial year.
RECONCILIATION OF PRE-TAX UNDERWRITING GAIN EXCLUDING CERTAIN ITEMS TO NET INCOME Underwriting gain is net earned premiums and fee income less claims and claim adjustment expenses and insurance-related expenses. In the opinion of the company's management, it is important to measure the profitability of each segment excluding the results of investing activities, which are managed separately from the insurance business. This measure is used to assess each segment's business performance and as a tool in making business decisions. Pre-tax underwriting gain, excluding the impact of catastrophes and net favorable prior year loss reserve development, is the underwriting gain adjusted to exclude claims and claim adjustment expenses, reinstatement premiums and assessments related to catastrophes and loss reserve development related to time periods prior to the current year. In the opinion of the company's management, this measure is meaningful to users of the financial statements to understand the company's periodic earnings and the variability of earnings caused by the unpredictable nature (i.e., the timing and amount) of catastrophes and loss reserve development. This measure is also referred to as underlying underwriting margin or underlying underwriting gain. A catastrophe is a severe loss, resulting from natural and man-made events, including risks such as fire, earthquake, windstorm, explosion, terrorism and other similar events. Each catastrophe has unique characteristics, and catastrophes are not predictable as to timing or amount. Their effects are included in net and operating income and claims and claim adjustment expense reserves upon occurrence. A catastrophe may result in the payment of reinsurance reinstatement premiums and assessments from various pools. In the opinion of the company's management, a discussion of the impact of catastrophes is meaningful to users of the financial statements to understand the company's periodic earnings and the variability in periodic earnings caused by the unpredictable nature of catastrophes. Net favorable (unfavorable) prior year loss reserve development is the increase or decrease in incurred claims and claim adjustment expenses as a result of the re-estimation of claims and claim adjustment expense reserves at successive valuation dates for a given group of claims, which may be related to one or more prior years. In the opinion of the company's management, a discussion of loss reserve development is meaningful to users of the financial statements as it allows them to assess the impact between prior and current year development on incurred claims and claim adjustment expenses, net and operating income (loss), and changes in claims and claim adjustment expense reserve levels from period to period. Reconciliation of Pre-tax Underwriting Gain (Excluding the Impact of Catastrophes and Net Favorable Prior Year Loss Reserve Development) to Net Income
COMBINED RATIO AND ADJUSTMENTS FOR UNDERLYING COMBINED RATIO Combined ratio: For Statutory Accounting Practices (SAP), the combined ratio is the sum of the SAP loss and LAE ratio and the SAP underwriting expense ratio as defined in the statutory financial statements required by insurance regulators. The combined ratio as used in this earnings release is the equivalent of, and is calculated in the same manner as, the SAP combined ratio except that the SAP underwriting expense ratio is based on net written premium and the underwriting expense ratio as used in this earnings release is based on net earned premiums. For SAP, loss and LAE ratio is the ratio of incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses less certain administrative services fee income to net earned premiums as defined in the statutory financial statements required by insurance regulators. The loss and LAE ratio as used in this earnings release is calculated in the same manner as the SAP ratio. For SAP, the underwriting expense ratio is the ratio of underwriting expenses incurred (including commissions paid), less certain administrative services fee income and billing and policy fees, to net written premiums as defined in the statutory financial statements required by insurance regulators. The underwriting expense ratio as used in this earnings release, is the ratio of underwriting expenses (including the amortization of deferred acquisition costs), less certain administrative services fee income and billing and policy fees, to net earned premiums. The combined ratio, loss and LAE ratio, and underwriting expense ratio are used as indicators of the company's underwriting discipline, efficiency in acquiring and servicing its business and overall underwriting profitability. A combined ratio under 100% generally indicates an underwriting profit. A combined ratio over 100% generally indicates an underwriting loss. Other companies' method of computing similarly titled measures may not be comparable to the company's method of computing these ratios. Underlying combined ratio represents the combined ratio excluding the impact of net prior year reserve development and catastrophes. The underlying combined ratio is an indicator of the company's underwriting discipline and underwriting profitability for the current accident year.
ADJUSTMENT TO NET WRITTEN PREMIUMS FOR THE IMPACT OF CHANGES IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES Adjusting for the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates allows the effect of foreign exchange rate differences to be isolated in the analysis of changes in various financial statement line items that are translated from a local currency to the company's reporting currency, U.S. dollars. The impact is determined by assuming constant foreign exchange rates between periods as illustrated in the reconciliation below. In the opinion of the company's management, this is useful to an analysis of the results of the International market and the Business and International Insurance segment. Reconciliation of the Impact of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates on International Net Written Premiums to International Net Written Premiums
Reconciliation of the Impact of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates on Business and International Insurance Net Written Premiums to Business and International Insurance Net Written Premiums
RECONCILIATION OF CERTAIN NON-GAAP MEASURES TO BOOK VALUE PER SHARE AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Book value per share is total common shareholders' equity divided by the number of common shares outstanding. Adjusted book value per share is total common shareholders' equity excluding the after-tax impact of net unrealized investment gains and losses, divided by the number of common shares outstanding. In the opinion of the company's management, adjusted book value per share is useful in an analysis of a property casualty company's book value per share as it removes the effect of changing prices on invested assets (i.e., net unrealized investment gains (losses), net of tax), which do not have an equivalent impact on unpaid claims and claim adjustment expense reserves. Tangible book value per share is adjusted book value per share excluding the after-tax value of goodwill and other intangible assets divided by the number of common shares outstanding. In the opinion of the company's management, tangible book value per share is useful in an analysis of a property casualty company's book value on a nominal basis as it removes certain effects of purchase accounting (i.e., goodwill and other intangible assets), in addition to the effect of changing prices on invested assets. Reconciliation of Tangible and Adjusted Shareholders' Equity to Shareholders' Equity
RECONCILIATION OF CERTAIN NON-GAAP MEASURES TO TOTAL CAPITALIZATION Total capitalization is the sum of total shareholders' equity and debt. Debt-to-capital ratio excluding net unrealized gain on investments is the ratio of debt to total capitalization excluding the after-tax impact of net unrealized investment gains and losses. In the opinion of the company's management, the debt to capital ratio is useful in an analysis of the company's financial leverage. Reconciliation of Total Debt and Equity Excluding Net Unrealized Investment Gain to Total Capitalization
OTHER DEFINITIONS Gross written premiums reflect the direct and assumed contractually determined amounts charged to policyholders for the effective period of the contract based on the terms and conditions of the insurance contract. Net written premiums reflect gross written premiums less premiums ceded to reinsurers. These are GAAP measures. For the Business and International Insurance and Bond & Specialty Insurance segments, retention is the amount of premium available for renewal that was retained, excluding rate and exposure changes. For the Personal Insurance segment, retention is the ratio of the expected number of renewal policies that will be retained throughout the annual policy period to the number of available renewal base policies. For all of the segments, renewal rate change represents the estimated change in average premium on policies that renew, excluding exposure changes. Exposure is the measure of risk used in the pricing of an insurance product. The change in exposure is the amount of change in premium on policies that renew attributable to the change in portfolio risk. Renewal premium change represents the estimated change in average premium on policies that renew, including rate and exposure changes. New business volume is the amount of written premium related to new policyholders and additional products sold to existing policyholders. These are operating statistics, which are subject to change based upon a number of factors, including changes in actuarial estimates. For the Business and International Insurance segment, retention, renewal premium change and new business volumes exclude National Accounts and Surety. An insurance company's statutory surplus represents the excess of its assets over its liabilities in accordance with the statutory accounting practices required by state laws and regulations. Holding company liquidity is the total funds available at the holding company level to fund general corporate purposes, primarily the payment of shareholder dividends and debt service. These funds consist of total cash, short-term invested assets and other readily marketable securities held by the holding company. For a glossary of other financial terms used in this press release, we refer you to the company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as updated by the company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 10, 2014.
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