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Travelers Reports Second Quarter Net and Operating Income per Diluted Share of $2.24 and $2.20, RespectivelyThe Travelers Companies, Inc. today reported net income of $664 million, or $2.24 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, compared to $812 million, or $2.53 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. Operating income in the current quarter was $649 million, or $2.20 per diluted share, compared to $806 million, or $2.52 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. These declines were primarily driven by catastrophe and certain non-catastrophe weather-related losses (i.e., losses from events designated by Property Claim Services (PCS) as catastrophes that did not meet the Company's reporting thresholds for catastrophe losses) that were higher by $135 million after-tax ($200 million pre-tax) and net investment income that was lower by $61 million after-tax ($83 million pre-tax), partially offset by net favorable prior year reserve development that was higher by $59 million after-tax ($81 million pre-tax). The prior year quarter also included a $32 million tax benefit. Per diluted share amounts benefited from the impact of share repurchases.
"Our second quarter results were solid, with operating income of $649 million and operating return on equity of 11.6%," commented Alan Schnitzer, Chief Executive Officer. "We were particularly pleased with our operating return on equity relative to the persistent and increasingly low interest rate environment, which highlights our ability to continue to generate attractive underwriting returns. Our underwriting results remained strong, as reflected in a 93.1% combined ratio, despite catastrophe and other PCS weather-related losses being higher by $135 million after-tax as compared to the prior year quarter. As a consequence of the interest rate environment, returns from our high-quality fixed income portfolio declined by $21 million after-tax, in line with our expectations. Returns from our non-fixed income portfolio declined from the prior year period but remained positive and improved from recent quarters. In terms of capital management, we returned $747 million of excess capital to shareholders in the quarter, including $550 million of share repurchases, bringing the total capital returned to shareholders year-to-date to more than $1.5 billion. "We continue to be very pleased with the execution of our marketplace strategies, both in terms of the record volume of premium we wrote in the quarter and the modeled returns on that business. In our commercial businesses, retentions remained at historically high levels, with positive renewal premium change and strong new business growth, including 10% new business growth in domestic Business Insurance. Personal Insurance net written premiums grew 9% from the prior year quarter to a record of over $2.1 billion, driven by accelerating growth in both auto and homeowners policies in force. "Our results this quarter again demonstrate the value of our significant competitive advantages, our strong balance sheet, the best talent in the business and our return-focused underwriting culture. With these strengths and our active capital management philosophy, we remain well-positioned to continue to deliver superior shareholder value over time."
Second Quarter 2016 Results Net income of $664 million after-tax decreased $148 million, or 18%. Within net income, operating income of $649 million after-tax decreased by $157 million, or 19%, primarily driven by catastrophe and certain non-catastrophe weather-related losses that were higher by $135 million after-tax ($200 million pre-tax) and net investment income that was lower by $61 million after-tax ($83 million pre-tax), partially offset by net favorable prior year reserve development that was higher by $59 million after-tax ($81 million pre-tax). The prior year quarter also included a $32 million tax benefit. In addition, net income benefited from net realized investment gains of $15 million after-tax ($19 million pre-tax) in the current quarter compared to net realized investment gains of $6 million after-tax ($10 million pre-tax) in the prior year quarter. Underwriting results
Net investment income of $549 million pre-tax ($442 million after-tax) decreased due to lower returns in both the non-fixed income and fixed-income portfolios. Non-fixed income returns declined due to lower private equity and real estate partnership returns but remained positive and improved from recent quarters. As a consequence of the low interest rate environment, returns from our high-quality fixed-income portfolio declined in line with our expectations. Record net written premiums of $6.345 billion increased 3%, primarily driven by growth in Personal Insurance and domestic Business Insurance net written premiums.
Year-to-Date 2016 Results Net income of $1.355 billion after-tax decreased $290 million due to lower operating income and lower after-tax net realized investment gains. Operating income of $1.347 billion after-tax decreased $286 million, primarily driven by higher catastrophe losses and lower net investment income. The prior year period also included a $32 million tax benefit. Underwriting results
Net investment income of $1.093 billion pre-tax ($881 million after-tax) decreased primarily due to the same factors discussed above, as well as lower hedge fund returns. Other income/(expense) included proceeds from the favorable settlement of a claims-related legal matter in the first quarter of 2016. Record net written premiums of $12.511 billion increased 4%, benefiting from strong retention, positive renewal premium changes and increases in new business volumes in each segment. Shareholders' Equity Shareholders' equity of $24.714 billion increased 5% from year-end 2015, primarily due to an increase in after-tax net unrealized investment gains. After-tax net unrealized investment gains were $2.341 billion ($3.585 billion pre-tax), compared to $1.289 billion after-tax ($1.974 billion pre-tax) at year-end 2015. Book value per share of $85.73 and adjusted book value per share of $77.61 increased 7% and 3%, respectively, from year-end 2015. The Company repurchased 4.9 million shares during the second quarter at an average price of $112.12 per share for a total cost of $550 million, leaving $2.234 billion of remaining capacity under the existing share repurchase authorization at the end of the quarter. At the end of second quarter 2016, statutory capital and surplus was $20.634 billion and the ratio of debt-to-capital was 20.7%. The ratio of debt-to-capital excluding after-tax net unrealized investment gains was 22.3%, well within the Company's target range of 15% to 25%. The Board of Directors today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.67 per share. This dividend is payable on September 30, 2016, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 9, 2016.
Second Quarter 2016 Results Operating income for Business and International Insurance was $393 million after-tax, a decrease of $150 million, primarily driven by higher catastrophe losses, higher non-catastrophe weather-related losses and lower net investment income, partially offset by higher net favorable prior year reserve development. The prior year quarter also included a $12 million tax benefit. Underwriting results
Net written premiums of $3.680 billion were comparable with the prior year quarter. Domestic net written premiums increased 2%, primarily driven by an increase in retention rates, positive renewal premium changes and an increase in new business volume. International net written premiums decreased 12%, primarily driven by the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the impacts of disciplined underwriting and lower levels of economic activity impacting insured exposures in the Company's European operations, including Lloyd's.
Year-to-Date 2016 Results Operating income for Business and International Insurance was $869 million after-tax, a decrease of $189 million, primarily driven by higher catastrophe losses and lower net investment income. The prior year period also included a $12 million tax benefit. Underwriting results
Other income included proceeds from the favorable settlement of a claims-related legal matter in the first quarter of 2016. Net written premiums of $7.594 billion increased 2% due to the same factors discussed above for the second quarter.
Second Quarter 2016 Results Operating income for Bond & Specialty Insurance was $202 million after-tax, an increase of $51 million, primarily driven by higher net favorable prior year reserve development. The prior year quarter included a $16 million tax benefit. Underwriting results
Net written premiums of $536 million were comparable to the prior year quarter.
Year-to-Date 2016 Results Operating income for Bond & Specialty Insurance was $346 million after-tax, an increase of $71 million, primarily driven by the same factors discussed above for the second quarter. Underwriting results
Net written premiums of $1.028 billion increased 2%, primarily driven by an increase in retention rates, positive renewal premium changes and an increase in new business volume in Management Liability, as well as higher volume in Surety.
Second Quarter 2016 Results Operating income for Personal Insurance was $116 million after-tax, a decrease of $58 million, primarily driven by lower net favorable prior year reserve development. The prior year quarter included a $4 million tax benefit. Underwriting results
Record net written premiums of $2.129 billion increased 9%. Agency Automobile net written premiums grew 14% with an increase in policies in force of 11% from the prior year period, driven by the success of Quantum Auto 2.0. Agency Homeowners & Other net written premiums grew 3% with an increase in policies in force of 2% from the prior year period.
Year-to-Date 2016 Results Operating income for Personal Insurance was $255 million after-tax, a decrease of $171 million, primarily due to lower net favorable prior year reserve development, higher catastrophe losses and lower net investment income, partially offset by a higher underlying underwriting gain (i.e., excluding net favorable prior year reserve development and catastrophe losses). The prior year period included a $4 million tax benefit. Underwriting results
Record net written premiums of $3.889 billion increased 9% due to the same factors as discussed above for second quarter 2016. 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 Thursday, July 21, 2016. Investors can access the call via webcast at http://investor.travelers.com or by dialing 1-800-763-5615 within the U.S. and 1-212-231-2926 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 21811916 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 $27 billion in 2015. 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 (@Travelers) at https://twitter.com/travelers. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about Travelers when you enroll your email address by visiting the Email Notifications 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 and in Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Brazil and throughout other parts of the world as a corporate member of Lloyd's. Bond & Specialty Insurance - The Bond & Specialty Insurance segment provides surety, crime, management and professional liability, and cyber risk coverages and related risk management services to a wide range of primarily domestic customers, utilizing various degrees of financially-based underwriting approaches. 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. * * * * * Forward-Looking Statements 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. These statements include, among other things, the Company's statements about:
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" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 11, 2016, as updated by our periodic filings 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 Operating Income less Preferred Dividends to Net Income
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY TO SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND OPERATING RETURN ON EQUITY TO RETURN ON EQUITY 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.
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 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 average shareholders' equity is (a) the sum of adjusted shareholders' equity 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.
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. Calculation of Average Annual Operating Return on Equity from January 1, 2005 through June 30, 2016
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.
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, the 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, billing and policy fees and other, 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.
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 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.
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. 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 is the amount of written premium related to new policyholders and additional products sold to existing policyholders. These are operating statistics, which are in part dependent on the use of estimates and are therefore subject to change. For the Business and International Insurance segment, retention, renewal premium change and new business exclude National Accounts and surety. For the Bond & Specialty Insurance segment, retention, renewal premium change and new business exclude surety. Statutory capital and surplus represents the excess of an insurance company's admitted assets over its liabilities, including loss reserves, as determined in accordance with statutory accounting practices (SAP). 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 SEC on February 11, 2016.
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