Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB) reported fourth-quarter 2019 core operating income of $2.28 per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.6%. This upside was driven by higher premium revenues. The bottom line also improved 12.9% from the year-ago quarter.
Quarter in Detail
Net premiums written improved 9% year over year to $7.9 billion in the quarter. Net premiums earned rose 6.3% to $7.9 billion.
Net investment income was $858 million, up 1.2%.
Property and casualty (P&C) underwriting income was $533 million, up 12% from the year-ago quarter. Global P&C underwriting income excluding Agriculture was $556 million, up 76.3%.
Chubb incurred after-tax catastrophe loss of $353 million in the fourth quarter, plunging 30.2% year over year.
Segmental Update
North America Commercial P&C Insurance: Net premiums written increased 9.4% year over year to $3.4 billion. Combined ratio contracted 870 bps to 82.6%.
North America Personal P&C Insurance: Net premiums written climbed 9.2% year over year to $1.1 billion. Combined ratio expanded 580 bps to 99.6%.
North America Agricultural Insurance: Net premiums written improved 40.4% from the year-ago quarter to $276 million. Combined ratio expanded 5590 bps to 105.4%.
Overseas General Insurance: Net premiums written rose 6.3% year over year to $2.3 billion. Combined ratio expanded 100 bps to 93.1%.
Global Reinsurance: Net premiums written declined 6% from the year-ago quarter to $109 million. Combined ratio of 94.6% contracted 7230 bps.
Life Insurance: Net premiums written were up 6.9% year over year to $622 million on the back of growth in the Asian international life operations.
Financial Update
Cash balance of $1.5 billion as of Dec 31, 2019 augmented 23.3% from the 2018-end level.
Total shareholders’ equity increased 10% from the level at 2018 end to $55.3 billion as of Dec 31, 2019.
Book value per share as of Dec 31, 2019 was up 11.7% from the figure as of Dec 31, 2018.
Core operating ROE was 7.9%.
Operating cash flow was $1.4 billion in the quarter under consideration.
Share Repurchase Update
In the quarter, the company bought back shares worth $310 million.
Full-Year Update
Core operating income of the year came in at $10.11 for 2019, up 7.1% year over year.
P&C net premiums written were $29.9 billion, up 5.6% year over year.
Zacks Rank
Chubb carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Insurers
Among other players from the insurance industry having reported fourth-quarter earnings so far, the bottom-line results of Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) and RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) beat estimates while that of Principal Financial (NASDAQ:PFG) came in line.
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Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO): Free Stock Analysis Report
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RLI Corp. (RLI): Free Stock Analysis Report
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