NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Loews Corporation (NYSE:L) today reported net income for the three months ended September 30, 2015 of $182 million, or $0.50 per share, compared to $208 million, or $0.55 per share, in the prior year period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, net income was $461 million, or $1.25 per share, compared to $383 million, or $1.00 per share, in the prior year period. In 2014, net income for the three month period included income from discontinued operations of $29 million while the nine month period included a loss from discontinued operations of $364 million reflecting the disposition by Loews of HighMount Exploration & Production, LLC and by CNA Financial Corporation of its former life insurance subsidiary.
Book value per share excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) increased to $52.59 at September 30, 2015 from $50.95 at December 31, 2014 and $50.32 at September 30, 2014.
CONSOLIDATED HIGHLIGHTS
|
(In millions, except per share data)
|
September 30,
|
|
Three Months
|
Nine Months
|
|
2015
|
2014
|
2015
|
2014
|
|
Income before net investment gains (losses)
|
$ 211
|
$ 155
|
$ 479
|
$ 708
|
|
Net investment gains (losses)
|
(29)
|
24
|
(18)
|
39
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
182
|
179
|
461
|
747
|
|
Discontinued operations, net
|
̶
|
29
|
̶
|
(364)
|
|
Net income attributable to Loews Corporation
|
$ 182
|
$ 208
|
$ 461
|
$ 383
|
|
Net income per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
$ 0.50
|
$ 0.47
|
$ 1.25
|
$ 1.94
|
|
Discontinued operations, net
|
̶
|
0.08
|
̶
|
(0.94)
|
|
Net income per share
|
$ 0.50
|
$ 0.55
|
$ 1.25
|
$ 1.00
|
|
|
September 30,
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2014
|
|
2015
|
2014
|
|
Book value per share
|
$ 52.52
|
$ 52.01
|
$ 51.70
|
|
Book value per share excluding AOCI
|
52.59
|
50.32
|
50.95
|
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 Compared to 2014
Income from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2015 was $182 million, or $0.50 per share, compared to $179 million, or $0.47 per share, in the 2014 third quarter. Income from continuing operations increased primarily due to higher earnings at Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP.
CNA's earnings declined primarily due to lower limited partnership investment results and realized investment losses versus realized gains in the prior year quarter. Improved underwriting results driven by higher favorable net prior year development partially offset the negative related to the investment portfolio.
Diamond Offshore's earnings increase stemmed from the absence in 2015 of the $55 million asset impairment charge (after tax and noncontrolling interests) in 2014 related to the carrying value of six drilling rigs. Excluding this charge, earnings declined primarily due to lower rig utilization and increased depreciation and interest expense. In addition, earnings were impacted by a $20 million impairment charge to write-off all goodwill associated with the Company's investment in Diamond Offshore. These decreases were partially offset by significantly reduced contract drilling expenses.
Boardwalk Pipeline's earnings increased primarily due to new rates taking effect as a result of the Gulf South rate case and a franchise tax refund related to settlement of prior tax periods, partially offset by increased depreciation and interest costs.
Loews Hotels' earnings increased primarily due to higher income from Universal Orlando joint venture properties.
Discontinued operations in 2014 included a favorable adjustment to the impairment charge at HighMount.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 Compared to 2014
Income from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $461 million, or $1.25 per share, compared to $747 million, or $1.94 per share, in the prior year period. Income from continuing operations decreased primarily due to lower earnings at CNA and Diamond Offshore and lower parent company investment income as a result of lower performance of equities and derivative related securities in the trading portfolio and decreased results from limited partnership investments.
CNA's earnings declined year-over-year because of lower limited partnership results and an $84 million charge ($49 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) in the second quarter of 2015 related to a retroactive reinsurance agreement to cede its legacy asbestos and environmental pollution liabilities. The year-over-year earnings comparison was also impacted by a gain of $86 million ($50 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) in 2014 from a postretirement plan curtailment. The decline in the nine months of 2015 as compared to the prior year was partially offset by improved underwriting results driven by higher favorable net prior year development.
Diamond Offshore's earnings decreased primarily due to an asset impairment charge of $158 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) in the first quarter of 2015 related to the carrying value of eight drilling rigs as well as lower rig utilization, the goodwill charge discussed above and increased depreciation and interest expense. Diamond Offshore recognized a $55 million asset impairment charge (after tax and noncontrolling interests) in the 2014 period.
Boardwalk Pipeline's earnings increase stemmed from the impact of a $55 million charge (after tax and noncontrolling interests) in 2014 related to the write off of all capitalized costs associated with the terminated Bluegrass project as well as for the reasons discussed in the three month comparison above. Absent this charge, earnings decreased primarily due to the unusually cold and sustained winter of 2014 as compared to the relatively normal 2015 winter season and lower natural gas storage revenues.
Loews Hotels' earnings increased primarily due to higher income from Universal Orlando joint venture properties partially offset by higher interest expense.
Discontinued operations in 2014 included impairment charges related to the sale of both CNA's former life insurance subsidiary and HighMount.
SHARE REPURCHASES
At September 30, 2015, there were 356.9 million shares of Loews common stock outstanding. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company repurchased 8.7 million and 16.3 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $328 million and $633 million. From October 1, 2015 to October 30, 2015, the Company repurchased an additional 3.3 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $120 million. Depending on market conditions, the Company may from time to time purchase shares of its and its subsidiaries' outstanding common stock in the open market or otherwise.
CONFERENCE CALLS
A conference call to discuss the third quarter results of Loews Corporation has been scheduled for today at 11:00 a.m. ET. A live webcast of the call will be available online at the Loews Corporation website (www.loews.com). Please go to the website at least ten minutes before the event begins to register and to download and install any necessary audio software. Those interested in participating in the question and answer session should dial (877) 692-2592, or for international callers, (973) 582-2757. The conference ID number is 54504982. An online replay will also be available on the Loews Corporation's website following the call.
A conference call to discuss the third quarter results of CNA has been scheduled for today at 10:00 a.m. ET. A live webcast will be available at www.cna.com. Those interested in participating in the question and answer session should dial (888) 299-7209, or for international callers, (719) 325-2494.
A conference call to discuss the third quarter results of Boardwalk Pipeline has been scheduled for today at 9:30 a.m. ET. A live webcast will be available at www.bwpmlp.com. Those interested in participating in the question and answer session should dial (855) 793-3255 or for international callers, (631) 485-4925. The conference ID number is 54271918.
A conference call to discuss the third quarter results of Diamond Offshore has been scheduled for today at 8:30 a.m. ET. A live webcast will be available at www.diamondoffshore.com. Those interested in participating in the question and answer session should dial (800) 247-9979, or for international callers, (973) 321-1100. The conference ID number is 60130700.
ABOUT LOEWS CORPORATION
Loews Corporation is a diversified company with three publicly-traded subsidiaries: CNA Financial Corporation (NYSE: CNA), Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE: DO) and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (NYSE: BWP); and one wholly owned subsidiary, Loews Hotels & Resorts. For more information please visit www.loews.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected by management of the Company. A discussion of the important risk factors and other considerations that could materially impact these matters as well as the Company's overall business and financial performance can be found in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and readers of this release are urged to review those reports carefully when considering these forward-looking statements. Copies of these reports are available through the Company's website (www.loews.com). Given these risk factors, investors and analysts should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.
|
Loews Corporation and Subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selected Financial Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
Three Months
|
Nine Months
|
|
(In millions)
|
2015
|
2014
|
2015
|
2014
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
CNA Financial
|
$ 2,203
|
$ 2,374
|
$ 6,874
|
$ 7,249
|
|
Diamond Offshore
|
608
|
737
|
1,867
|
2,148
|
|
Boardwalk Pipeline
|
296
|
279
|
925
|
931
|
|
Loews Hotels
|
146
|
126
|
452
|
343
|
|
Investment income (loss) and other
|
(34)
|
(30)
|
6
|
68
|
|
|
3,219
|
3,486
|
10,124
|
10,739
|
|
Investment gains (losses) - CNA Financial
|
(50)
|
37
|
(42)
|
65
|
|
Total
|
$ 3,169
|
$ 3,523
|
$ 10,082
|
$ 10,804
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (Loss) Before Income Tax:
|
|
|
|
|
|
CNA Financial (a)
|
$ 284
|
$ 258
|
$ 755
|
$ 896
|
|
Diamond Offshore (b)
|
139
|
82
|
(42)
|
362
|
|
Boardwalk Pipeline (c)
|
48
|
28
|
163
|
105
|
|
Loews Hotels
|
1
|
-
|
25
|
14
|
|
Investment income (loss), net
|
(35)
|
(29)
|
4
|
68
|
|
Other (d)
|
(39)
|
(37)
|
(115)
|
(111)
|
|
|
398
|
302
|
790
|
1,334
|
|
Investment gains (losses) - CNA Financial
|
(50)
|
37
|
(42)
|
65
|
|
Total
|
$ 348
|
$ 339
|
$ 748
|
$ 1,399
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Loews Corporation:
|
|
|
|
|
|
CNA Financial (a)
|
$ 190
|
$ 164
|
$ 513
|
$ 584
|
|
Diamond Offshore (b)
|
47
|
25
|
(34)
|
136
|
|
Boardwalk Pipeline (c)
|
18
|
8
|
55
|
7
|
|
Loews Hotels
|
2
|
-
|
15
|
8
|
|
Investment income (loss), net
|
(22)
|
(18)
|
4
|
46
|
|
Other (d)
|
(24)
|
(24)
|
(74)
|
(73)
|
|
|
211
|
155
|
479
|
708
|
|
Investment gains (losses) - CNA Financial
|
(29)
|
24
|
(18)
|
39
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
182
|
179
|
461
|
747
|
|
Discontinued operations, net (e)
|
-
|
29
|
-
|
(364)
|
|
Net income attributable to Loews Corporation
|
$ 182
|
$ 208
|
$ 461
|
$ 383
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Includes a charge of $84 million ($49 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 related to retroactive reinsurance accounting for the Loss Portfolio Transfer. Includes a loss of $31 million (after noncontrolling interests) related to a coinsurance agreement entered into on a separate small block of annuity business outside of Continental Assurance Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and an $86 million curtailment gain ($50 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) related to a negative plan amendment and the re-measurement of postretirement benefit obligations at CNA for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
|
|
(b)
|
Includes an asset impairment charge of $361 million ($159 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 related to the carrying value of eight drilling rigs and an asset impairment charge of $109 million ($55 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 related to the carrying value of six drilling rigs.
|
|
(c)
|
Includes a loss of $94 million ($55 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to write off all capitalized costs associated with the terminated Bluegrass project.
|
|
(d)
|
Consists primarily of corporate interest expense and other unallocated expenses.
|
|
(e)
|
See table on page six for a summary of items comprising discontinued operations for 2014.
|
|
Loews Corporation and Subsidiaries
|
|
Consolidated Financial Review
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
Three Months
|
Nine Months
|
|
(In millions, except per share data)
|
2015
|
2014
|
2015
|
2014
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Insurance premiums
|
$ 1,751
|
$ 1,810
|
$ 5,173
|
$ 5,427
|
|
Net investment income
|
321
|
451
|
1,419
|
1,625
|
|
Investment gains (losses)
|
(50)
|
37
|
(42)
|
65
|
|
Contract drilling revenues
|
599
|
728
|
1,816
|
2,063
|
|
Other
|
548
|
497
|
1,716
|
1,624
|
|
Total
|
3,169
|
3,523
|
10,082
|
10,804
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Insurance claims & policyholders' benefits (a)
|
1,200
|
1,354
|
4,008
|
4,241
|
|
Contract drilling expenses
|
276
|
400
|
971
|
1,165
|
|
Other (b) (c) (d)
|
1,345
|
1,430
|
4,355
|
3,999
|
|
Total
|
2,821
|
3,184
|
9,334
|
9,405
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income tax
|
348
|
339
|
748
|
1,399
|
|
Income tax expense
|
(66)
|
(99)
|
(170)
|
(347)
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
282
|
240
|
578
|
1,052
|
|
Discontinued operations, net of income tax
|
-
|
29
|
-
|
(384)
|
|
Net income
|
282
|
269
|
578
|
668
|
|
Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests
|
(100)
|
(61)
|
(117)
|
(285)
|
|
Net income attributable to Loews Corporation
|
$ 182
|
$ 208
|
$ 461
|
$ 383
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income attributable to Loews Corporation:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
$ 182
|
$ 179
|
$ 461
|
$ 747
|
|
Discontinued operations, net (e)
|
-
|
29
|
-
|
(364)
|
|
Net income
|
$ 182
|
$ 208
|
$ 461
|
$ 383
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted income per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
$ 0.50
|
$ 0.47
|
$ 1.25
|
$ 1.94
|
|
Discontinued operations, net
|
-
|
0.08
|
-
|
(0.94)
|
|
Diluted income per share attributable to Loews Corporation
|
$ 0.50
|
$ 0.55
|
$ 1.25
|
$ 1.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted diluted number of shares
|
361.10
|
381.19
|
368.03
|
385.19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Includes a charge of $84 million ($49 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 related to retroactive reinsurance accounting for the Loss Portfolio Transfer.
|
|
(b)
|
Includes a loss of $31 million (after noncontrolling interests) related to a coinsurance agreement entered into on a separate small block of annuity business outside of Continental Assurance Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and an $86 million curtailment gain ($50 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) related to a negative plan amendment and the re-measurement of postretirement benefit obligations at CNA for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
|
|
(c)
|
Includes an asset impairment charge of $361 million ($159 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 related to the carrying value of eight drilling rigs and an asset impairment charge of $109 million ($55 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 related to the carrying value of six drilling rigs.
|
|
(d)
|
Includes a loss of $94 million ($55 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to write off all capitalized costs associated with the terminated Bluegrass project.
|
|
(e)
|
See table on page six for a summary of items comprising discontinued operations for 2014.
|
|
Loews Corporation and Subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
Discontinued Operations Review
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2014
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
Three Months
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
CNA Financial
|
|
|
|
|
Continental Assurance Company (῝CAC῞) operations
|
-
|
$ 12
|
|
|
Impairment loss on sale of CAC
|
$ 4
|
(189)
|
|
|
CNA Financial - Discontinued operations, net
|
4
|
(177)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HighMount
|
|
|
|
|
Operations
|
(5)
|
(31)
|
|
|
Ceiling test impairment
|
-
|
(19)
|
|
|
Impairment loss on sale
|
|
30
|
(137)
|
|
|
HighMount - Discontinued operations, net
|
25
|
(187)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discontinued operations, net
|
$ 29
|
$ (364)
|
|
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/loews-corporation-reports-net-income-of-182-million-for-the-third-quarter-of-2015-300169950.html
SOURCE Loews Corporation