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W. R. Berkley Corporation Reports Third Quarter Results

WRB

Return on Equity of 19.6% and Operating Return on Equity of 20.0%;
Record Third Quarter Net Income Increased to $366 Million

W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) today reported its third quarter 2024 results.

Summary Financial Data

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Third Quarter

Nine Months

2024

2023

2024

2023

Gross premiums written

$

3,633,278

$

3,353,205

$

10,713,806

$

9,739,296

Net premiums written

3,057,276

2,848,459

9,035,346

8,234,799

Net income to common stockholders

365,634

333,586

1,180,014

984,020

Net income per diluted share (1)

0.91

0.82

2.92

2.39

Operating income (2)

373,677

366,608

1,215,022

952,868

Operating income per diluted share (1)

0.93

0.90

3.01

2.32

Return on equity (3)

19.6

%

19.8

%

21.1

%

19.4

%

Operating return on equity (2) (3)

20.0

%

21.7

%

21.7

%

18.8

%

(1)

The 2024 per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 common stock split effected on July 10, 2024, and the 2023 per share amounts were restated for comparative purposes to reflect such common stock split.

(2)

Operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income excluding after-tax net investment gains (losses) and related expenses.

(3)

Return on equity and operating return on equity represent net income and operating income, respectively, expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of beginning of year common stockholders’ equity.

Third quarter highlights included:

  • Return on equity and operating return on equity of 19.6% and 20.0%, respectively.
  • Net investment income grew 19.5% to $323.8 million compared to the prior year.
  • The current accident year combined ratio before catastrophe losses of 3.3 loss ratio points was 87.6%, and the reported combined ratio was 90.9%.
  • Average rate increases excluding workers' compensation were approximately 8.4%.
  • Book value per share grew 10.0%, before dividends and share repurchases.
  • Total capital returned to shareholders was $138.3 million, consisting of $95.3 million of special dividends, $30.5 million of regular dividends and $12.5 million of share repurchases.
  • Record operating cash flow increased 15.2% to $1.2 billion.

The Company commented:

The Company reported record third quarter net income in 2024. Continued strong underwriting margins and increasing investment income drove our 19.6% annualized return on beginning of year common stockholders’ equity.

We continue to grow thoughtfully by focusing on business we expect to achieve or exceed our targeted risk-adjusted return, being ever mindful of rate adequacy, loss trend, and exposure management. Our 90.9% calendar year combined ratio again demonstrated below average volatility, with a modest 3.3 loss ratio points of catastrophe losses, despite the frequency of severe market-wide events.

Net investment income increased 19.5% over the prior year third quarter, driven by an increase in fixed-maturity income. We anticipate that the Company’s new money rate will remain above the current yield of our U.S. fixed-maturity securities, notwithstanding the recent and expected decreases in short-term rates. Coupled with increases in invested assets from continuing record cash flow, we remain well-positioned for further investment income growth.

Our success in navigating a wide variety of underwriting and investment environments has resulted in best-in-class returns on equity and below-average volatility that has generated significant shareholder value over many years. Fueled by knowledge and expertise, our decentralized structure allows us to take a flexible, proactive, and innovative approach to whatever risks and opportunities the market may present. We expect to continue to deliver outstanding risk-adjusted returns to our shareholders for the remainder of 2024 and beyond.

Webcast Conference Call

The Company will hold its quarterly conference call with analysts and investors to discuss its earnings and other information on October 21, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. eastern time. The conference call will be webcast live on the Company's website at https://ir.berkley.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx. Please log on early to register. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's website approximately two hours after the end of the conference call. Additional financial information can be found on the Company's website at https://ir.berkley.com/investor-relations/financial-information/quarterly-results/default.aspx.

About W. R. Berkley Corporation

Founded in 1967, W. R. Berkley Corporation is an insurance holding company that is among the largest commercial lines writers in the United States and operates worldwide in two segments of the property casualty business: Insurance and Reinsurance & Monoline Excess.

Forward Looking Information

This is a “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including statements related to our outlook for the industry and for our performance for the year 2024 and beyond, are based upon the Company’s historical performance and on current plans, estimates and expectations. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated by us will be achieved. They are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the cyclical nature of the property casualty industry; the impact of significant competition, including new entrants to the industry; the long-tail and potentially volatile nature of the insurance and reinsurance business; product demand and pricing; claims development and the process of estimating reserves; investment risks, including those of our portfolio of fixed maturity securities and investments in equity securities, including investments in financial institutions, municipal bonds, mortgage-backed securities, loans receivable, investment funds, including real estate, merger arbitrage, energy related and private equity investments; the effects of emerging claim and coverage issues; the uncertain nature of damage theories and loss amounts, including claims for cyber security-related risks; natural and man-made catastrophic losses, including as a result of terrorist activities; the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, or other epidemics and pandemics; the impact of climate change, which may alter the frequency and increase the severity of catastrophe events; general economic and market activities, including inflation, interest rates, and volatility in the credit and capital markets; the impact of the conditions in the financial markets and the global economy, and the potential effect of legislative, regulatory, accounting or other initiatives taken in response to such conditions, on our results and financial condition; foreign currency and political risks relating to our international operations; our ability to attract and retain key personnel and qualified employees; continued availability of capital and financing; the success of our new ventures or acquisitions and the availability of other opportunities; the availability of reinsurance; our retention under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019; the ability or willingness of our reinsurers to pay reinsurance recoverables owed to us; other legislative and regulatory developments, including those related to business practices in the insurance industry; credit risk related to our policyholders, independent agents and brokers; changes in the ratings assigned to us or our insurance company subsidiaries by rating agencies; the availability of dividends from our insurance company subsidiaries; cyber security breaches of our information technology systems and the information technology systems of our vendors and other third parties, or related processes and systems; the effectiveness of our controls to ensure compliance with guidelines, policies and legal and regulatory standards; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results for the year 2024 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement we make. Any projections of growth in our revenues would not necessarily result in commensurate levels of earnings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Consolidated Financial Summary

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Third Quarter

Nine Months

2024

2023

2024

2023

Revenues:

Net premiums written

$

3,057,276

$

2,848,459

$

9,035,346

$

8,234,799

Change in unearned premiums

(130,453

)

(206,545

)

(497,761

)

(548,726

)

Net premiums earned

2,926,823

2,641,914

8,537,585

7,686,073

Net investment income

323,756

270,944

1,015,723

739,494

Net investment (losses) gains:

Net realized and unrealized (losses) gains on investments

(23,362

)

(40,855

)

(72,165

)

50,403

Change in allowance for credit losses on investments

15,276

(1,571

)

31,347

(11,164

)

Net investment (losses) gains

(8,086

)

(42,426

)

(40,818

)

39,239

Revenues from non-insurance businesses

128,610

137,116

375,307

375,225

Insurance service fees

28,666

22,962

81,583

81,290

Other income

610

128

1,804

235

Total Revenues

3,400,379

3,030,638

9,971,184

8,921,556

Expenses:

Loss and loss expenses

1,825,960

1,636,193

5,270,334

4,744,602

Other operating costs and expenses

943,365

808,669

2,704,890

2,457,925

Expenses from non-insurance businesses

124,885

133,939

364,612

370,244

Interest expense

31,720

31,888

95,156

95,580

Total expenses

2,925,930

2,610,689

8,434,992

7,668,351

Income before income tax

474,449

419,949

1,536,192

1,253,205

Income tax expense

(109,135

)

(86,519

)

(356,958

)

(268,322

)

Net Income before noncontrolling interests

365,314

333,430

1,179,234

984,883

Noncontrolling interest

320

156

780

(863

)

Net income to common stockholders

$

365,634

$

333,586

$

1,180,014

$

984,020

Net income per share (1):

Basic

$

0.92

$

0.83

$

2.95

$

2.41

Diluted

$

0.91

$

0.82

$

2.92

$

2.39

Average shares outstanding (1) (2):

Basic

398,338

403,787

400,302

407,484

Diluted

401,817

407,158

404,053

411,219

(1)

The 2024 per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 common stock split effected on July 10, 2024, and the 2023 per share amounts were restated for comparative purposes to reflect such common stock split.

(2)

Basic shares outstanding consist of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period (including shares held in a grantor trust). Diluted shares outstanding consist of the weighted average number of basic and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period.

Business Segment Operating Results

(Amounts in thousands, except ratios) (1) (2)

Third Quarter

Nine Months

2024

2023

2024

2023

Insurance:

Gross premiums written

$

3,219,128

$

2,965,787

$

9,501,027

$

8,586,193

Net premiums written

2,673,275

2,484,626

7,929,439

7,175,904

Net premiums earned

2,564,490

2,291,917

7,447,828

6,650,027

Pre-tax income

469,421

410,909

1,437,623

1,149,886

Loss ratio

63.1

%

62.8

%

63.0

%

62.8

%

Expense ratio

28.4

%

28.2

%

28.4

%

28.2

%

GAAP Combined ratio

91.5

%

91.0

%

91.4

%

91.0

%

Reinsurance & Monoline Excess:

Gross premiums written

$

414,150

$

387,418

$

1,212,779

$

1,153,103

Net premiums written

384,001

363,833

1,105,907

1,058,895

Net premiums earned

362,333

349,997

1,089,757

1,036,046

Pre-tax income

105,225

110,442

357,299

317,146

Loss ratio

57.0

%

56.5

%

53.2

%

54.8

%

Expense ratio

29.7

%

28.8

%

29.5

%

29.6

%

GAAP Combined ratio

86.7

%

85.3

%

82.7

%

84.4

%

Corporate and Eliminations:

Net investment (losses) gains

$

(8,086

)

$

(42,426

)

$

(40,818

)

$

39,239

Interest expense

(31,720

)

(31,888

)

(95,156

)

(95,580

)

Other expenses

(60,391

)

(27,088

)

(122,756

)

(157,486

)

Pre-tax loss

(100,197

)

(101,402

)

(258,730

)

(213,827

)

Consolidated:

Gross premiums written

$

3,633,278

$

3,353,205

$

10,713,806

$

9,739,296

Net premiums written

3,057,276

2,848,459

9,035,346

8,234,799

Net premiums earned

2,926,823

2,641,914

8,537,585

7,686,073

Pre-tax income

474,449

419,949

1,536,192

1,253,205

Loss ratio

62.4

%

61.9

%

61.7

%

61.7

%

Expense ratio

28.5

%

28.3

%

28.6

%

28.4

%

GAAP Combined ratio

90.9

%

90.2

%

90.3

%

90.1

%

(1)

Loss ratio is losses and loss expenses incurred expressed as a percentage of premiums earned. Expense ratio is underwriting expenses expressed as a percentage of premiums earned. GAAP combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio.

(2)

Commencing with the first quarter of 2024, the Company reclassified a program management business from the Insurance segment to the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment. The reclassified business is a program management business offering support on a nationwide basis for commercial casualty and property program administrators. Reclassifications have been made to the Company's 2023 financial information to conform with this presentation.

Supplemental Information

(Amounts in thousands)

Third Quarter

Nine Months

2024

2023

2024

2023

Net premiums written:

Other liability

$

1,066,005

$

978,193

$

3,213,296

$

2,867,172

Short-tail lines (1)

592,913

534,567

1,768,355

1,519,345

Auto

413,260

383,730

1,170,020

1,030,172

Workers' compensation

302,179

302,701

939,243

937,854

Professional liability

298,918

285,435

838,525

821,361

Total Insurance

2,673,275

2,484,626

7,929,439

7,175,904

Casualty (2)

189,386

188,445

567,522

589,706

Property (2)

106,106

92,171

306,925

256,350

Monoline excess

88,509

83,217

231,460

212,839

Total Reinsurance & Monoline Excess

384,001

363,833

1,105,907

1,058,895

Total

$

3,057,276

$

2,848,459

$

9,035,346

$

8,234,799

Current accident year losses from catastrophes:

Insurance

$

76,848

$

46,160

$

190,931

$

139,409

Reinsurance & Monoline Excess

20,970

15,369

27,073

23,536

Total

$

97,818

$

61,529

$

218,004

$

162,945

Net Investment income:

Core portfolio (3)

$

301,146

$

248,618

$

962,293

$

680,883

Investment funds

4,741

4,450

868

5,443

Arbitrage trading account

17,869

17,876

52,562

53,168

Total

$

323,756

$

270,944

$

1,015,723

$

739,494

Net realized and unrealized (losses) gains on investments:

Net realized (losses) gains on investments

$

(21,825

)

$

(21,796

)

$

(29,723

)

$

4,798

Change in unrealized (losses) gains on equity securities

(1,537

)

(19,059

)

(42,442

)

45,605

Total

$

(23,362

)

$

(40,855

)

$

(72,165

)

$

50,403

Other operating costs and expenses:

Policy acquisition and insurance operating expenses

$

835,376

$

747,007

$

2,438,905

$

2,183,517

Insurance service expenses

21,786

21,225

66,309

70,336

Net foreign currency losses (gains)

24,619

(22,498

)

1,324

(1,777

)

Other costs and expenses

61,584

62,935

198,352

205,849

Total

$

943,365

$

808,669

$

2,704,890

$

2,457,925

Cash flow from operations

$

1,240,770

$

1,077,093

$

2,868,335

$

2,231,162

Reconciliation of net income to operating income:

Net income

$

365,634

$

333,586

$

1,180,014

$

984,020

Pre-tax investment losses (gains), net of related expenses

8,086

42,426

40,818

(39,170

)

Income tax (benefit) expense

(43

)

(9,404

)

(5,810

)

8,018

Operating income after-tax (4)

$

373,677

$

366,608

$

1,215,022

$

952,868

(1)

Short-tail lines include commercial multi-peril (non-liability), inland marine, accident and health, fidelity and surety, boiler and machinery, high net worth homeowners and other lines.

(2)

Includes reinsurance casualty and property and certain program management business.

(3)

Core portfolio includes fixed maturity securities, equity securities, cash and cash equivalents, real estate and loans receivable.

(4)

Operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income excluding after-tax net investment gains (losses). Net investment gains (losses) are computed net of related expenses, including performance-based compensatory costs associated with realized investment gains. Management believes this measurement provides a useful indicator of trends in the Company’s underlying operations.

Selected Balance Sheet Information

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

September 30, 2024

December 31,

2023

Net invested assets (1)

$

29,689,477

$

26,973,703

Total assets

40,359,298

37,111,830

Reserves for losses and loss expenses

20,155,310

18,739,652

Senior notes and other debt

1,827,788

1,827,951

Subordinated debentures

1,009,629

1,009,090

Common stockholders' equity (2)

8,426,264

7,455,431

Common stock outstanding (3) (4)

381,190

384,817

Book value per share (4) (5)

22.11

19.37

Tangible book value per share (4) (5)

21.47

18.72

(1)

Net invested assets include investments, cash and cash equivalents, trading accounts receivable from brokers and clearing organizations, trading account securities sold but not yet purchased and unsettled purchases, net of related liabilities.

(2)

As of September 30, 2024, reflected in common stockholders' equity are after-tax unrealized investment losses of $289 million and unrealized currency translation losses of $314 million. As of December 31, 2023, reflected in common stockholders' equity are after-tax unrealized investment losses of $586 million and unrealized currency translation losses of $340 million.

(3)

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company repurchased 4,537,130 shares of its common stock for $236.2 million. During the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company repurchased 238,620 shares of its common stock for $12.5 million. The number of shares of common stock outstanding excludes shares held in a grantor trust.

(4)

The 2024 per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 common stock split effected on July 10, 2024, and the 2023 per share amounts were restated for comparative purposes to reflect such common stock split.

(5)

Book value per share is total common stockholders’ equity divided by the number of common shares outstanding. Tangible book value per share is total common stockholders’ equity excluding the after-tax value of goodwill and other intangible assets divided by the number of common shares outstanding.

Investment Portfolio

September 30, 2024

(Amounts in thousands, except percentages)

Carrying Value

Percent of Total

Fixed maturity securities:

United States government and government agencies

$

2,070,985

7.0

%

State and municipal:

Special revenue

1,689,758

5.7

%

State general obligation

311,953

1.0

%

Local general obligation

304,114

1.0

%

Corporate backed

165,155

0.6

%

Pre-refunded

86,853

0.3

%

Total state and municipal

2,557,833

8.6

%

Mortgage-backed securities:

Agency

2,424,228

8.2

%

Commercial

600,881

2.0

%

Residential - Prime

212,909

0.7

%

Residential - Alt A

2,352

0.0

%

Total mortgage-backed securities

3,240,370

10.9

%

Asset-backed securities

4,107,321

13.8

%

Corporate:

Industrial

3,954,408

13.3

%

Financial

3,348,562

11.3

%

Utilities

774,398

2.6

%

Other

775,396

2.6

%

Total corporate

8,852,764

29.8

%

Foreign government

1,834,605

6.2

%

Total fixed maturity securities (1)

22,663,878

76.3

%

Equity securities available for sale:

Common stocks

701,667

2.3

%

Preferred stocks

346,459

1.2

%

Total equity securities available for sale

1,048,126

3.5

%

Cash and cash equivalents (2)

1,861,981

6.3

%

Investment funds

1,607,381

5.4

%

Real estate

1,297,314

4.4

%

Arbitrage trading account

820,928

2.8

%

Loans receivable

389,869

1.3

%

Net invested assets

$

29,689,477

100.0

%

(1)

Total fixed maturity securities had an average rating of AA- and an average duration of 2.4 years, including cash and cash equivalents.

(2)

Cash and cash equivalents includes trading accounts receivable from brokers and clearing organizations, trading account securities sold but not yet purchased and unsettled purchases.



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