Record investment returns push Chubb earnings up sharply

Chubb Ltd. reported second-quarter net income of $1.79 billion, up 50.7% from the year-earlier period, as record investment returns and strong commercial premium growth offset higher catastrophe losses.

The outlook for growth across its businesses in Asia-Pacific is “significant,” and in North America and other parts of the world Chubb sees opportunities to take on more property exposure amid the favorable rate environment, the insurer’s top executive said Wednesday while discussing the company’s second-quarter results with analysts.

“We had a simply outstanding quarter — in fact, another record quarter performance with double-digit premium revenue and earnings growth as a result of world-class P&C underwriting results,” Evan G. Greenberg, Chubb’s chairman and CEO, said on the call.

“As I look ahead, we again are confident in our ability to continue this pattern of growth in revenue and earnings and in turn drive double-digit EPS growth,” Mr. Greenberg said.

Chubb reported second-quarter pre-tax net investment income of $1.15 billion, up 28.9%, and adjusted net investment income of $1.24 billion, up 30.6%, in its earnings statement released Tuesday after markets closed. Both were records, Chubb said.

Second-quarter pre-tax catastrophe losses totaled $400 million, compared with $291 million in the year-earlier period, mainly due to weather-related events in the U.S.

Chubb’s property/casualty combined ratio was 85.4%, compared with 84.0% in the year-earlier period.

Consolidated net premiums written were $11.95 billion, up 16.1% from the second quarter of 2022. Property/casualty net premiums written increased 9.8% to $10.68 billion, with commercial lines up 10.5%.

North America net premiums written increased 9.9%, with growth of 10.5% in commercial lines.

Rates and price increases in property and casualty lines were strong and accelerated in the quarter in both North America and internationally, while financial lines globally continued to soften, Mr. Greenberg said.

Overall pricing for total North America commercial lines increased 12.8%, including rate of 8.7% and exposure change of 3.8%. Pricing for commercial property and casualty excluding financial lines was up 17.7%, Mr. Greenberg said.

Property pricing was up 31.5%, with rates up 22% and exposure change of 7.8%. Major accounts and excess and surplus property together grew premiums over 40% in the quarter, while middle-market property grew 11.4%, Mr. Greenberg said.

Casualty pricing in North America was up 11.3%, with rates up almost 9% and exposure up 2.2%. In workers compensation, rates increased 5%, Mr. Greenberg said.

“For financial lines the competitive environment remains aggressive, particularly in D&O, and rates have continued to decline in the quarter,” Mr. Greenberg said.

On mergers and acquisitions, Chubb is “not on the acquisition hunt,” Mr. Greenberg said. “We are focused on what we’ve got.”

On July 1, Chubb completed the acquisition of additional shares in Huatai Insurance Group Co. Ltd., a China-based financial services holding company, increasing its aggregate ownership to 69.6%.

The insurer expects to boost its ownership stake to 83.2% in the current quarter, said Chubb CFO Peter Enns. Huatai’s results will be consolidated within Chubb’s financials beginning in the third quarter.