Chubb reports Q2 core EPS $6.14, consensus $5.97

Evan Greenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chubb (CB) Limited, commented: “We had a great second quarter. Most all of our businesses and regions of the world contributed to record quarterly results, illustrating the distinctive, diversified nature of our company. Our balance of business, geographically by customer segment and product, is a distinguishing feature of our company. We produced a record $2.5 billion in core operating income, up nearly 13% from a year ago, with operating EPS up 14%, driven by record underwriting and strong investment income, and double-digit growth in life income. In the quarter, tangible book value growth, our primary measure of shareholder wealth creation, was 23.7% per share from a year ago, while our annualized core operating return on tangible equity was 21% for the quarter. Record underwriting income on both a published and current accident year basis was supported by good premium growth and underwriting margin improvement. We produced underwriting income of $1.6 billion, up 15% from a year ago, leading to a combined ratio of 85.6%, more than a percentage point better than last year and supported by a 1.5-point improvement in the current accident year loss ratio. Adjusted investment income of nearly $1.7 billion was up almost 8%. Global P&C premiums grew 5.8%, or 6.4% in constant dollars. Premiums in North America were up 5.3%, excluding agriculture, with 9.1% growth in personal insurance and 4.1% growth in commercial. In our Overseas General division, premiums were up 10.2% in constant dollars, with commercial business up about 7% and consumer lines up more than 15%. Our international regions all performed well, with Asia up 12.7%, Latin America up 17.3% and Europe up 8.2%. The commercial P&C underwriting environment for large account retail and E&S property-related business has grown much more competitive with rates dropping though terms and conditions remain steady. On the other hand, in the middle market and small commercial P&C segment, where we are a market leader, property market conditions remain disciplined and orderly. Casualty continues to firm in all areas that require rate – retail and E&S, both large account and middle-market. We are disciplined underwriters, and our growth patterns reflect market conditions. As I observed at the beginning of the year, about 80% of our businesses globally have good growth prospects, and we are capitalizing on a wide range of opportunities. I have great confidence in our ability to grow revenue and operating income at a superior rate, CATs and FX notwithstanding.”