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W. R. Berkley Corporation Reports Second Quarter Results

July 20, 2023 4:10 PM

Return on Equity of 21.1%;

Quarterly Net Income Doubles to $356 Million

GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) today reported its second quarter 2023 results.

Summary Financial Data

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Second Quarter

Six Months

2023

2022

2023

2022

Gross premiums written

$

3,336,773

$

3,052,401

$

6,386,091

$

5,912,237

Net premiums written

2,811,515

2,585,635

5,386,339

4,998,889

Net income to common stockholders

356,308

179,322

650,434

769,960

Net income per diluted share

1.30

0.64

2.36

2.76

Operating income (1)

310,862

313,359

586,531

619,827

Operating income per diluted share

1.14

1.12

2.13

2.22

Return on equity (2)

21.1

%

10.8

%

19.3

%

23.1

%

Operating return on equity (1) (2)

18.4

%

18.8

%

17.4

%

18.6

%

(1)

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.

(2)

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.

Second quarter highlights included:

The Company commented:

The Company reported excellent results for the second quarter of 2023, with an annualized return on equity of 21.1%.

As anticipated, growth in premiums written accelerated compared to the first quarter of 2023, setting premium on pace for another record year. We continue to selectively expand in areas that we anticipate will meet or exceed our targeted risk-adjusted return, as distinct market segments and lines of business move independently. We maintained our rate momentum and reported a strong combined ratio, though the industry experienced another quarter of elevated natural catastrophe losses.

Net investment income grew 42.9% during the quarter as an increasingly greater portion of our fixed-maturity portfolio was (re)invested at higher interest rates. The short duration and high quality of our fixed-maturity portfolio has enabled us to simultaneously benefit from improved yields and grow book value as interest rates have risen. In addition, during the quarter, our investment results continued to benefit from our total return approach.

The Company’s focus on risk-adjusted return in all aspects of our business continues to generate superior results for our shareholders. Having a decentralized model allows us to navigate risks and embrace opportunities in a wide range of economic and operating environments. We have positive momentum as we head into the second half of the year and are very optimistic about the remainder of 2023 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 July 20, 2023, 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 2023 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 cybersecurity-related risks; natural and man-made catastrophic losses, including as a result of terrorist activities; the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; 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, on our results and financial condition; foreign currency and political risks (including those associated with the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, or "Brexit") 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; potential difficulties with technology and/or cyber security issues; 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 2023 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)

Second Quarter

Six Months

2023

2022

2023

2022

Revenues:

Net premiums written

$

2,811,515

$

2,585,635

$

5,386,339

$

4,998,889

Change in unearned premiums

(258,788

)

(228,477

)

(342,180

)

(392,645

)

Net premiums earned

2,552,727

2,357,158

5,044,159

4,606,244

Net investment income

245,152

171,574

468,551

345,086

Net investment gains (losses):

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

68,647

(163,935

)

91,258

205,947

Change in allowance for credit losses on investments

(9,993

)

(7,620

)

(9,594

)

(11,237

)

Net investment gains (losses)

58,654

(171,555

)

81,664

194,710

Revenues from non-insurance businesses

113,910

128,421

238,110

226,197

Insurance service fees

25,471

26,393

58,328

54,344

Other Income

896

106

1,716

Total Revenues

2,995,914

2,512,887

5,890,918

5,428,297

Expenses:

Loss and loss expenses

1,569,654

1,435,817

3,108,409

2,775,069

Other operating costs and expenses

823,682

699,819

1,649,255

1,413,718

Expenses from non-insurance businesses

113,538

122,966

236,306

217,822

Interest expense

31,856

31,723

63,692

66,693

Total expenses

2,538,730

2,290,325

5,057,662

4,473,302

Income before income tax

457,184

222,562

833,256

954,995

Income tax expense

(101,460

)

(43,095

)

(181,803

)

(182,499

)

Net Income before noncontrolling interests

355,724

179,467

651,453

772,496

Noncontrolling interest

584

(145

)

(1,019

)

(2,536

)

Net income to common stockholders

$

356,308

$

179,322

$

650,434

$

769,960

Net income per share:

Basic

$

1.32

$

0.65

$

2.38

$

2.78

Diluted

$

1.30

$

0.64

$

2.36

$

2.76

Average shares outstanding (1):

Basic

270,864

276,815

272,909

276,794

Diluted

273,095

279,525

275,213

279,327

(1)

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)

Second Quarter

Six Months

2023

2022

2023

2022

Insurance:

Gross premiums written

$

3,016,024

$

2,771,665

$

5,668,259

$

5,256,464

Net premiums written

2,527,198

2,326,125

4,738,033

4,399,416

Net premiums earned

2,246,394

2,070,157

4,428,269

4,032,991

Pre-tax income

386,264

347,461

738,463

729,873

Loss ratio

63.1

%

61.0

%

62.9

%

60.3

%

Expense ratio

28.0

%

27.7

%

28.4

%

27.9

%

GAAP Combined ratio

91.1

%

88.7

%

91.3

%

88.2

%

Reinsurance & Monoline Excess:

Gross premiums written

$

320,749

$

280,736

$

717,832

$

655,773

Net premiums written

284,317

259,510

648,306

599,473

Net premiums earned

306,333

287,001

615,890

573,253

Pre-tax income

105,506

92,177

207,218

149,805

Loss ratio

49.7

%

60.4

%

52.1

%

60.2

%

Expense ratio

29.0

%

27.4

%

29.2

%

28.4

%

GAAP Combined ratio

78.7

%

87.8

%

81.3

%

88.6

%

Corporate and Eliminations:

Net investment gains (losses)

$

58,654

$

(171,555

)

$

81,664

$

194,710

Interest expense

(31,856

)

(31,723

)

(63,692

)

(66,693

)

Other expenses

(61,384

)

(13,798

)

(130,397

)

(52,700

)

Pre-tax (loss) income

(34,586

)

(217,076

)

(112,425

)

75,317

Consolidated:

Gross premiums written

$

3,336,773

$

3,052,401

$

6,386,091

$

5,912,237

Net premiums written

2,811,515

2,585,635

5,386,339

4,998,889

Net premiums earned

2,552,727

2,357,158

5,044,159

4,606,244

Pre-tax income

457,184

222,562

833,256

954,995

Loss ratio

61.5

%

60.9

%

61.6

%

60.2

%

Expense ratio

28.1

%

27.7

%

28.5

%

28.0

%

GAAP Combined ratio

89.6

%

88.6

%

90.1

%

88.2

%

(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.

Supplemental Information

(Amounts in thousands)

Second Quarter

Six Months

2023

2022

2023

2022

Net premiums written:

Other liability

$

988,393

$

878,120

$

1,890,272

$

1,708,187

Short-tail lines (1)

575,050

484,849

1,019,162

878,767

Workers' compensation

325,170

330,721

635,154

634,141

Commercial automobile

356,293

335,451

657,519

614,978

Professional liability

282,292

296,984

535,926

563,343

Total Insurance

2,527,198

2,326,125

4,738,033

4,399,416

Casualty reinsurance

185,554

189,983

388,891

388,138

Monoline excess

25,104

24,228

129,621

116,764

Property reinsurance

73,659

45,299

129,794

94,571

Total Reinsurance & Monoline Excess

284,317

259,510

648,306

599,473

Total

$

2,811,515

$

2,585,635

$

5,386,339

$

4,998,889

Current accident year losses from catastrophes (including COVID-19 related losses):

Insurance

$

48,007

$

39,891

$

93,249

$

50,658

Reinsurance & Monoline Excess

5,540

18,000

8,167

36,065

Total

$

53,547

$

57,891

$

101,416

$

86,723

Net Investment income:

Core portfolio (2)

$

229,302

$

133,587

$

432,265

$

245,899

Investment funds

(1,187

)

33,861

993

85,874

Arbitrage trading account

17,037

4,126

35,293

13,313

Total

$

245,152

$

171,574

$

468,551

$

345,086

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments:

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

$

47,387

$

(32,405

)

$

26,594

$

244,264

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities

21,260

(131,530

)

64,664

(38,317

)

Total

$

68,647

$

(163,935

)

$

91,258

$

205,947

Other operating costs and expenses:

Policy acquisition and insurance operating expenses

$

718,234

$

653,093

$

1,436,510

$

1,288,547

Insurance service expenses

23,931

23,890

49,111

46,356

Net foreign currency losses (gains)

11,226

(39,827

)

20,721

(43,995

)

Other costs and expenses

70,291

62,663

142,913

122,810

Total

$

823,682

$

699,819

$

1,649,255

$

1,413,718

Cash flow from operations

$

708,745

$

527,971

$

1,154,069

$

1,005,653

Reconciliation of net income to operating income:

Net income

$

356,308

$

179,322

$

650,434

$

769,960

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

(57,862

)

171,555

(81,250

)

(190,056

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

12,416

(37,518

)

17,347

39,923

Operating income after-tax (3)

$

310,862

$

313,359

$

586,531

$

619,827

(1)

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

(2)

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

(3)

Operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income excluding after-tax net investment gains. Net investment gains 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)

June 30,
2023

December
31, 2022

Net invested assets (1)

$

25,293,717

$

24,545,672

Total assets

35,308,694

33,815,103

Reserves for losses and loss expenses

17,919,996

17,011,223

Senior notes and other debt

1,827,080

1,828,823

Subordinated debentures

1,008,730

1,008,371

Common stockholders' equity (2)

6,887,185

6,748,332

Common stock outstanding (3)

257,517

264,546

Book value per share (4)

26.74

25.51

Tangible book value per share (4)

25.85

24.58

(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 June 30, 2023, reflected in common stockholders' equity are after-tax unrealized investment losses of $825 million and unrealized currency translation losses of $356 million. As of December 31, 2022, after-tax unrealized investment losses were $893 million and unrealized currency translation losses were $372 million.

(3)

During the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company repurchased 7,098,959 shares of its common stock for $427.6 million. During the three months ended June 30, 2023, the Company repurchased 5,060,568 shares of its common stock for $292.5 million. The number of shares of common stock outstanding excludes shares held in a grantor trust.

(4)

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

June 30, 2023

(Amounts in thousands, except percentages)

Carrying Value

Percent of Total

Fixed maturity securities:

United States government and government agencies

$

1,238,117

4.9%

State and municipal:

Special revenue

1,641,909

6.5%

Local general obligation

412,160

1.6%

State general obligation

402,251

1.6%

Corporate backed

188,741

0.7%

Pre-refunded

107,086

0.4%

Total state and municipal

2,752,147

10.8%

Mortgage-backed securities:

Agency

1,081,894

4.3%

Commercial

604,096

2.4%

Residential - Prime

217,690

0.9%

Residential - Alt A

3,200

0.0%

Total mortgage-backed securities

1,906,880

7.6%

Asset-backed securities

3,743,803

14.8%

Corporate:

Industrial

3,299,928

13.0%

Financial

2,618,100

10.4%

Utilities

621,425

2.5%

Other

467,615

1.8%

Total corporate

7,007,068

27.7%

Foreign government

1,407,608

5.6%

Total fixed maturity securities (1)

18,055,623

71.4%

Equity securities available for sale:

Common stocks

1,014,820

4.0%

Preferred stocks

224,892

0.9%

Total equity securities available for sale

1,239,712

4.9%

Cash and cash equivalents (2)

2,207,220

8.7%

Investment funds (3)

1,593,433

6.3%

Real estate

1,292,200

5.1%

Arbitrage trading account

723,967

2.9%

Loans receivable

181,562

0.7%

Net invested assets

$

25,293,717

100.0%

(1)

Total fixed maturity securities had an average rating of AA- and an average duration of 2.3 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.

(3)

Investment funds are net of related liabilities of $0.8 million.

Karen A. Horvath

Vice President - External

Financial Communications

(203) 629-3000

Source: W. R. Berkley Corporation

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