American Financial Group, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results
-
Net earnings per share of
$3.03 in the fourth quarter; full year net earnings per share of$10.57 -
Core net operating earnings per share of
$3.12 in the fourth quarter; full year core net operating earnings per share of$10.75 - Full year 2024 ROE of 19.0%; 2024 core operating ROE of 19.3%
- Overall average renewal rate increases excluding workers’ compensation of 8%
-
Full year total capital returned to shareholders approximately
$791 million , includes$545 million ($6.50 per share) in special dividends
Core net operating earnings were
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Components of Pretax Core Operating Earnings |
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
In millions, except per share amounts |
Before Impact of |
Alternative |
Core Net Operating |
|||||||||||||||
|
|
Alternative Investments |
Investments |
Earnings, as reported |
|||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
P&C Pretax Core Operating Earnings |
$ |
345 |
|
$ |
352 |
|
$ |
33 |
$ |
5 |
$ |
378 |
|
$ |
357 |
|
||
|
Other expenses |
|
(29 |
) |
|
(34 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(29 |
) |
|
(34 |
) |
|
Holding company interest expense |
|
(19 |
) |
|
(19 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(19 |
) |
|
(19 |
) |
|
Pretax Core Operating Earnings |
|
297 |
|
|
299 |
|
|
33 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
330 |
|
|
304 |
|
|
Related provision for income taxes |
|
61 |
|
|
65 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
68 |
|
|
66 |
|
|
Core Net Operating Earnings |
$ |
236 |
|
$ |
234 |
|
$ |
26 |
|
$ |
4 |
|
$ |
262 |
|
$ |
238 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Core Operating Earnings Per Share |
$ |
2.81 |
|
$ |
2.79 |
|
$ |
0.31 |
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
$ |
3.12 |
|
$ |
2.84 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Weighted Avg Diluted Shares Outstanding |
|
84.0 |
|
|
83.8 |
|
|
84.0 |
|
|
83.8 |
|
|
84.0 |
|
|
83.8 |
|
AFG’s book value per share was
Book value per share excluding AOCI was
AFG’s net earnings, determined in accordance with
|
In millions, except per share amounts |
Three months ended
|
Twelve months ended
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Components of net earnings: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Core operating earnings before income taxes |
$ |
330 |
|
$ |
304 |
$ |
1,138 |
|
$ |
1,127 |
|
|
|
Pretax non-core items: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Realized gains (losses) |
|
(10 |
) |
|
31 |
|
|
- |
|
|
(40 |
) |
|
Gain on retirement of debt |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Special A&E charges |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(14 |
) |
|
(15 |
) |
|
Earnings before income taxes |
|
320 |
|
|
335 |
|
|
1,124 |
|
|
1,073 |
|
|
Provision (credit) for income taxes: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Core operating earnings |
|
68 |
|
|
66 |
|
|
236 |
|
|
232 |
|
|
Non-core items |
|
(3 |
) |
|
6 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
(11 |
) |
|
Total provision for income taxes |
|
65 |
|
|
72 |
|
|
237 |
|
|
221 |
|
|
Net earnings |
$ |
255 |
|
$ |
263 |
|
$ |
887 |
|
$ |
852 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Net earnings: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Core net operating earnings(a) |
$ |
262 |
|
$ |
238 |
|
$ |
902 |
|
$ |
895 |
|
|
Non-core items: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Realized gains (losses) |
|
(7 |
) |
|
25 |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
(32 |
) |
|
Gain on retirement of debt |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Special A&E charges |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(11 |
) |
|
(12 |
) |
|
Net earnings |
$ |
255 |
|
$ |
263 |
|
$ |
887 |
|
$ |
852 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Components of earnings per share: |
||||||||||||
|
Core net operating earnings(a) |
$ |
3.12 |
|
$ |
2.84 |
|
$ |
10.75 |
|
$ |
10.56 |
|
|
Non-core Items: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Realized gains (losses) |
|
(0.09 |
) |
|
0.29 |
|
|
(0.05 |
) |
|
(0.37 |
) |
|
Gain on retirement of debt |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
Special A&E Charges |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(0.13 |
) |
|
(0.15 |
) |
|
Diluted net earnings per share |
$ |
3.03 |
|
$ |
3.13 |
|
$ |
10.57 |
|
$ |
10.05 |
|
|
Footnote (a) is contained in the accompanying Notes to Financial Schedules at the end of this release. |
Carl H. Lindner III and
Messrs. Lindner continued: “AFG continued to have significant excess capital at
While AFG does not provide earnings guidance, for 2025 we expect that performance in line with the assumptions underlying our 2025 business plan would result in core operating earnings per share of approximately
Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance Operations
The Specialty P&C insurance operations generated a strong 89.0% combined ratio in the fourth quarter of 2024, 1.3 points higher than the 87.7% reported in the prior year quarter. Fourth quarter results include 1.1 points related to catastrophe losses (primarily the result of Hurricane Milton), compared to 1.4 points in the 2023 fourth quarter. Fourth quarter 2024 results include 1.8 points of adverse prior year reserve development, compared to 3.3 points of favorable prior year reserve development in the fourth quarter of 2023. Underwriting profit was
Fourth quarter 2024 gross and net written premiums were up 3% and 1%, respectively, when compared to the same period in 2023. Gross and net written premiums increased 9% and 7%, respectively, for the full year in 2024 and established new records for premium production for AFG. We continue to achieve year-over-year premium growth as a result of a combination of new business opportunities, a good renewal rate environment, and increased exposures in many of our businesses.
Average renewal pricing across our
The
Fourth quarter 2024 gross and net written premiums in this group were both down 6% from the comparable prior year period. The decrease was primarily due to the impact of lower year-over-year commodity pricing on winter wheat premiums, coupled with elevated pricing competition and the non-renewal of certain under-performing accounts in our transportation businesses. Overall renewal rates in this group increased 7% on average for the fourth quarter of 2024, in line with pricing the previous quarter. Pricing for the full year for this group was up 8% overall.
The
Fourth quarter 2024 gross and net written premiums in this group increased 5% and 4%, respectively, when compared to the same prior year period. The primary drivers of growth were new business opportunities and favorable renewal pricing in several of our targeted markets businesses and in our excess & surplus lines business. Our mergers & acquisitions business also benefited from an increase in M&A activity. This growth was tempered by lower year-over-year workers’ compensation premiums. Excluding workers’ compensation, fourth quarter gross and net written premiums in this group both grew 8% year over year. Excluding workers’ compensation, renewal pricing for this group was up 11% in the fourth quarter, an improvement of about a point from the previous quarter. Pricing in this group, including workers’ compensation, was up 8%, in line with the third quarter. For the full year, pricing in this group excluding workers’ compensation was 9%.
The
Gross and net written premiums in this group increased by 11% and 12%, respectively, in the 2024 fourth quarter when compared to the same 2023 period, primarily due to growth in our financial institutions business. Renewal pricing in this group was up 3% in the fourth quarter and up 6% for the full year of 2024.
Carl Lindner III stated, “We closed 2024 on a strong note, with each of our Specialty P&C businesses reporting fourth quarter calendar year combined ratios less than 90%. In addition to these strong underwriting margins, we are finding opportunities to grow through new business opportunities, a continued favorable pricing environment and increased exposures. Nearly all the businesses in our diversified Specialty P&C portfolio continue to meet or exceed targeted returns, and we set new records for premium production in 2024. We continue to feel confident about the strength of our reserves, and I am especially pleased that we achieved a fourth quarter average renewal rate increase of 11% in our
Further details about AFG’s Specialty P&C operations may be found in the accompanying schedules and in our Quarterly Investor Supplement, which is posted on our website.
Investments
Net Investment Income – For the quarter ended
For the twelve months ended
Non-Core Net Realized Gains (Losses) – AFG recorded fourth quarter 2024 net realized losses of
After-tax unrealized losses related to fixed maturities were
More information about the components of our investment portfolio may be found in our Quarterly Investor Supplement, which is posted on our website.
About
Forward Looking Statements
This press release, and any related oral statements, contains certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements in this press release not dealing with historical results are forward-looking and are based on estimates, assumptions, and projections. Examples of such forward-looking statements include statements relating to: the Company's expectations concerning market and other conditions and their effect on future premiums, revenues, earnings, investment activities and the amount and timing of share repurchases or special dividends; recoverability of asset values; expected losses and the adequacy of reserves for asbestos, environmental pollution and mass tort claims; rate changes; and improved loss experience.
Actual results and/or financial condition could differ materially from those contained in or implied by such forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to: the risks and uncertainties AFG describes in the “Risk Factors” section of its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by its other reports filed with the
The forward-looking statements herein are made only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.
Conference Call
The Company will hold a conference call to discuss 2024 fourth quarter and full year results at
Participants should register for the call here now, or any time up to and during the time of the call, and will immediately receive the dial-in number and a unique pin to access the call. While you may register at any time up to and during the time of the call, you are encouraged to join the call 10 minutes prior to the start of the event.
The conference call and accompanying webcast slides will also be broadcast live over the internet. To access the event, click the following link: https://www.afginc.com/news-and-events/event-calendar. Alternatively, you can choose Events from the Investor Relations page at www.AFGinc.com.
A replay of the webcast will be available via the same link on our website approximately two hours after the completion of the call.
Websites:
www.AFGinc.com
www.GreatAmericanInsuranceGroup.com
(Financial summaries follow)
This earnings release and AFG’s Quarterly Investor Supplement are available in the Investor Relations section of AFG’s website: www.AFGinc.com.
|
SUMMARY OF EARNINGS AND SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA (In Millions, Except Per Share Data) |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
Three months ended
|
Twelve months ended
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
P&C insurance net earned premiums |
$ |
1,850 |
|
$ |
1,732 |
$ |
7,036 |
$ |
6,531 |
|
||
|
Net investment income |
|
194 |
|
|
159 |
|
|
780 |
|
|
742 |
|
|
Realized gains (losses) on: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Securities |
|
(10 |
) |
|
31 |
|
|
- |
|
|
(36 |
) |
|
Subsidiaries |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
Income of managed investment entities: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Investment income |
|
84 |
|
|
100 |
|
|
380 |
|
|
421 |
|
|
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
assets/liabilities |
|
(1 |
) |
|
15 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
27 |
|
|
Other income |
|
32 |
|
|
46 |
|
|
124 |
|
|
146 |
|
|
Total revenues |
|
2,149 |
|
|
2,083 |
|
|
8,324 |
|
|
7,827 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Costs and expenses |
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
P&C insurance losses & expenses |
|
1,661 |
|
|
1,549 |
|
|
6,467 |
|
|
5,968 |
|
|
Interest charges on borrowed money |
|
19 |
|
|
19 |
|
|
76 |
|
|
76 |
|
|
Expenses of managed investment entities |
|
71 |
|
|
102 |
|
|
338 |
|
|
405 |
|
|
Other expenses |
|
78 |
|
|
78 |
|
|
319 |
|
|
305 |
|
|
Total costs and expenses |
|
1,829 |
|
|
1,748 |
|
|
7,200 |
|
|
6,754 |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Earnings before income taxes |
|
320 |
|
|
335 |
|
|
1,124 |
|
|
1,073 |
|
|
Provision for income taxes |
|
65 |
|
|
72 |
|
|
237 |
|
|
221 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Net earnings |
$ |
255 |
|
$ |
263 |
|
$ |
887 |
|
$ |
852 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Diluted earnings per common share |
$ |
3.03 |
|
$ |
3.13 |
|
$ |
10.57 |
|
$ |
10.05 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Average number of diluted shares |
|
84.0 |
|
|
83.8 |
|
|
83.9 |
|
|
84.8 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Selected Balance Sheet Data: |
|
|
||||
|
Total cash and investments |
$ |
15,852 |
$ |
15,263 |
||
|
Long-term debt |
$ |
1,475 |
|
$ |
1,475 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Shareholders’ equity(b) |
$ |
4,466 |
|
$ |
4,258 |
|
|
Shareholders’ equity (excluding AOCI) |
$ |
4,706 |
|
$ |
4,577 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Book value per share(b) |
$ |
53.18 |
|
$ |
50.91 |
|
|
Book value per share (excluding AOCI) |
$ |
56.03 |
|
$ |
54.72 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Common Shares Outstanding |
|
84.0 |
|
|
83.6 |
|
| Footnote (b) is contained in the accompanying Notes to Financial Schedules at the end of this release. |
|
SPECIALTY P&C OPERATIONS (Dollars in Millions) |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Three months ended
|
Pct.
|
Twelve months ended
|
Pct.
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Gross written premiums |
$ |
2,043 |
|
$ |
1,992 |
|
3 |
% |
$ |
10,533 |
|
$ |
9,656 |
|
9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Net written premiums |
$ |
1,460 |
|
$ |
1,445 |
|
1 |
% |
$ |
7,139 |
|
$ |
6,692 |
|
7 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Ratios (GAAP): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Loss & LAE ratio |
|
63.7 |
% |
|
60.7 |
% |
|
|
63.3 |
% |
|
61.5 |
% |
|
||
|
Underwriting expense ratio |
|
25.3 |
% |
|
27.0 |
% |
|
|
27.9 |
% |
|
28.8 |
% |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Specialty Combined Ratio |
|
89.0 |
% |
|
87.7 |
% |
|
|
91.2 |
% |
|
90.3 |
% |
|
||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Combined Ratio – P&C Segment |
|
89.1 |
% |
|
87.8 |
% |
|
|
91.2 |
% |
|
90.4 |
% |
|
||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Supplemental Information:(c) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Gross Written Premiums: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Property & Transportation |
$ |
585 |
|
$ |
623 |
|
(6 |
%) |
$ |
4,735 |
|
$ |
4,146 |
|
14 |
% |
|
Specialty Casualty |
|
1,126 |
|
|
1,069 |
|
5 |
% |
|
4,543 |
|
|
4,368 |
|
4 |
% |
|
Specialty Financial |
|
332 |
|
|
300 |
|
11 |
% |
|
1,255 |
|
|
1,142 |
|
10 |
% |
|
|
$ |
2,043 |
|
$ |
1,992 |
|
3 |
% |
$ |
10,533 |
|
$ |
9,656 |
|
9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Net Written Premiums: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Property & Transportation |
$ |
399 |
|
$ |
426 |
|
(6 |
%) |
$ |
2,811 |
|
$ |
2,551 |
|
10 |
% |
|
Specialty Casualty |
|
725 |
|
|
700 |
|
4 |
% |
|
3,043 |
|
|
2,944 |
|
3 |
% |
|
Specialty Financial |
|
279 |
|
|
250 |
|
12 |
% |
|
1,045 |
|
|
935 |
|
12 |
% |
|
Other |
|
57 |
|
|
69 |
|
(17 |
%) |
|
240 |
|
|
262 |
|
(8 |
%) |
|
|
$ |
1,460 |
|
$ |
1,445 |
|
1 |
% |
$ |
7,139 |
|
$ |
6,692 |
|
7 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Combined Ratio (GAAP): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Property & Transportation |
|
89.2 |
% |
|
90.3 |
% |
|
|
92.4 |
% |
|
92.8 |
% |
|
||
|
Specialty Casualty |
|
89.0 |
% |
|
84.6 |
% |
|
|
88.5 |
% |
|
87.0 |
% |
|
||
|
Specialty Financial |
|
80.7 |
% |
|
81.3 |
% |
|
|
87.1 |
% |
|
87.3 |
% |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
89.0 |
% |
|
87.7 |
% |
|
|
91.2 |
% |
|
90.3 |
% |
|
||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Three months ended
|
Twelve months ended
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Property & Transportation |
$ |
(3 |
) |
$ |
(12 |
) |
$ |
(94 |
) |
$ |
(84 |
) |
||
|
Specialty Casualty |
|
36 |
|
|
(37 |
) |
|
(10 |
) |
|
(110 |
) |
||
|
Specialty Financial |
|
(8 |
) |
|
(8 |
) |
|
(11 |
) |
|
(32 |
) |
||
|
Other Specialty |
|
9 |
|
|
- |
|
|
45 |
|
|
- |
|
||
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
(57 |
) |
|
(70 |
) |
|
(226 |
) |
||
|
Other |
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
2 |
|
||
|
|
$ |
36 |
|
$ |
(56 |
) |
$ |
(64 |
) |
$ |
(224 |
) |
||
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Points on Combined Ratio: |
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Property & Transportation |
|
(0.5 |
) |
|
(1.8 |
) |
|
(3.4 |
) |
|
(3.3 |
) |
||
|
Specialty Casualty |
|
4.8 |
|
|
(5.0 |
) |
|
(0.4 |
) |
|
(3.8 |
) |
||
|
Specialty Financial |
|
(2.9 |
) |
|
(3.4 |
) |
|
(1.1 |
) |
|
(3.7 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
1.8 |
|
|
(3.3 |
) |
|
(1.0 |
) |
|
(3.4 |
) |
||
|
Total P&C Segment |
|
1.9 |
|
|
(3.2 |
) |
|
(0.9 |
) |
|
(3.4 |
) |
||
| Footnote (c) is contained in the accompanying Notes to Financial Schedules at the end of this release. |
|
|
|
|
Notes to Financial Schedules |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
a) |
Components of core net operating earnings (dollars in millions): |
|
|
Three months ended
|
Twelve months ended
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Core Operating Earnings before Income Taxes: |
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
P&C insurance segment |
$ |
378 |
|
$ |
357 |
|
$ |
1,328 |
|
$ |
1,304 |
|
|
Interest and other corporate expenses |
|
(48 |
) |
|
(53 |
) |
|
(190 |
) |
|
(177 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Core operating earnings before income taxes |
|
330 |
|
|
304 |
|
|
1,138 |
|
|
1,127 |
|
|
Related income taxes |
|
68 |
|
|
66 |
|
|
236 |
|
|
232 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Core net operating earnings |
$ |
262 |
|
$ |
238 |
|
$ |
902 |
|
$ |
895 |
|
|
b) |
Shareholders’ Equity at |
|
|
|
|
c) |
Supplemental Notes: |
|
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250204126591/en/
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Source: