American Financial Group, Inc. Announces First Quarter Results, Redemption of Debt and Declares Special Dividend
American Financial Group (AFG) reported Q1 2022 net earnings of $290 million ($3.40 per share), down from $419 million ($4.84) in Q1 2021, affected by non-core losses. The company achieved core net operating earnings of $303 million ($3.56 per share), a 50% year-over-year increase, driven by strong underwriting profits in Specialty Property and Casualty insurance. AFG's annualized return on equity was 23.5%, and it announced a special cash dividend of $8.00 per share payable on May 27, 2022, increasing its core earnings guidance for 2022 to $10.50 - $11.50 per share.
- Core net operating earnings of $303 million ($3.56 per share), a 50% increase year-over-year.
- Special cash dividend of $8.00 per share payable May 27, 2022.
- Annualized ROE of 23.5% and core operating ROE of 24.6%.
- Record underwriting profit of $208 million in Specialty P&C insurance operations.
- Net earnings down from $419 million in Q1 2021 to $290 million in Q1 2022.
- Realized losses on securities of $12 million ($0.14 per share loss) in Q1 2022.
-
Net earnings per share of
; includes ($3.40 ) per share from after-tax non-core items$0.16 -
First quarter core net operating earnings per share of
, a$3.56 50% increase from the prior year period -
First quarter annualized ROE of
23.5% ; core operating ROE of24.6% -
Parent company cash and investments of approximately
; excess capital of$1.7 billion at$2.0 billion March 31, 2022 -
Full year 2022 core net operating earnings guidance increased to
-$10.50 per share, from previous guidance of$11.50 -$9.75 per share$10.75 -
Announces
June 2022 redemption of principal amount of$375 million 3.50% Senior Notes due 2026 -
Announces special cash dividend of
per share, payable$8.00 May 27, 2022
Core net operating earnings were a record
|
Three Months Ended |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Components of Pretax Core Operating Earnings |
2022 |
2021 |
2022 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
2021 |
|||||||||||||||
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 |
$ |
283 |
|
$ |
211 |
|
$ |
139 |
$ |
77 |
$ |
422 |
|
$ |
288 |
|
||||||
Real estate entities and other acquired from Annuity operations |
|
- |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
- |
|
29 |
|
- |
|
|
28 |
|
||||||
Other expenses |
|
(21 |
) |
|
(34 |
) |
|
- |
|
- |
|
(21 |
) |
|
(34 |
) |
||||||
Holding company interest expense |
|
(23 |
) |
|
(24 |
) |
|
- |
|
- |
|
(23 |
) |
|
(24 |
) |
||||||
Pretax Core Operating Earnings |
|
239 |
|
|
152 |
|
|
139 |
|
106 |
|
378 |
|
|
258 |
|
||||||
Related provision for income taxes |
|
46 |
|
|
30 |
|
|
29 |
|
22 |
|
75 |
|
|
52 |
|
||||||
Core Net Operating Earnings |
$ |
193 |
|
$ |
122 |
|
$ |
110 |
$ |
84 |
$ |
303 |
|
$ |
206 |
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Core Operating Earnings Per Share |
$ |
2.27 |
|
$ |
1.41 |
|
$ |
1.29 |
$ |
0.97 |
$ |
3.56 |
|
$ |
2.38 |
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Weighted Avg Diluted Shares Outstanding |
|
85.2 |
|
|
86.6 |
|
|
85.2 |
|
86.6 |
|
85.2 |
|
|
86.6 |
|
Book value per share, excluding unrealized gains (losses) related to fixed maturities, was
AFG’s net earnings attributable to shareholders, determined in accordance with
In millions, except per share amounts |
Three months ended
|
||||||
|
2022 |
2021 |
|||||
Components of net earnings: |
|
|
|||||
Core operating earnings before income taxes |
$ |
378 |
|
$ |
258 |
||
Pretax non-core items: |
|
|
|||||
Realized gains (losses) on securities |
|
(15 |
) |
|
77 |
||
Loss on retirement of debt |
|
(2 |
) |
|
- |
||
Earnings before income taxes |
|
361 |
|
|
335 |
||
Provision (credit) for income taxes: |
|
|
|||||
Core operating earnings |
|
75 |
|
|
52 |
||
Non-core items |
|
(4 |
) |
|
16 |
||
Total provision for income taxes |
|
71 |
|
|
68 |
||
Net earnings from continuing operations |
|
290 |
|
|
267 |
||
Net earnings from discontinued annuity operations |
|
- |
|
|
152 |
||
Net earnings |
$ |
290 |
|
$ |
419 |
||
|
|
|
|||||
Net earnings: |
|
|
|||||
Core net operating earnings(a) |
$ |
303 |
|
$ |
206 |
||
Non-core items: |
|
|
|||||
Realized gains (losses) on securities |
|
(12 |
) |
|
61 |
||
Loss on retirement of debt |
|
(1 |
) |
|
- |
||
Net earnings from continuing operations |
|
290 |
|
|
267 |
||
Net earnings from discontinued annuity operations |
|
- |
|
|
152 |
||
Net earnings |
$ |
290 |
|
$ |
419 |
||
|
|
|
|||||
Components of earnings per share: |
|
|
|||||
Core net operating earnings(a) |
$ |
3.56 |
|
$ |
2.38 |
||
Non-core items: |
|
|
|||||
Realized gains (losses) on securities |
|
(0.14 |
) |
|
0.70 |
||
Loss on retirement of debt |
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
- |
||
Diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations |
$ |
3.40 |
|
$ |
3.08 |
||
Net earnings from discontinued annuity operations |
|
- |
|
|
1.76 |
||
|
|
|
|||||
Diluted net earnings per share |
$ |
3.40 |
|
$ |
4.84 |
||
|
|
|
|||||
Footnote (a) is contained in the accompanying Notes to Financial Schedules at the end of this release. |
The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a special cash dividend of
“AFG had approximately
Messrs. Lindner continued, “Based on the strong results reported in the first quarter, we now expect AFG’s core net operating earnings per share in 2022 to be in the range of
Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance Operations
AFG’s Specialty P&C insurance operations generated a record underwriting profit of
The first quarter 2022 combined ratio was a very strong
Gross and net written premiums were up
Further details about AFG’s Specialty P&C operations may be found in the accompanying schedules.
The
First quarter 2022 gross and net written premiums in this group were
The
First quarter 2022 gross and net written premiums increased
The
First quarter 2022 gross written premiums were up
Carl Lindner III stated, “Underwriting profitability in our Specialty P&C businesses was excellent in the first quarter of 2022, with each of our Specialty P&C sub-segments producing combined ratios in the mid-eighties or lower for the second consecutive quarter, resulting in an overall improvement of 4.5 points year-over-year. We continued to achieve broad-based pricing increases well above prospective loss ratio trends in the vast majority of our businesses.”
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
P&C Net Investment Income – For the three months ended
Our guidance for 2022 assumes continued interest rate increases throughout the year, and an overall annual yield of approximately
Non-Core Net Realized Gains (Losses) – AFG recorded first quarter 2022 net realized losses on securities of
After-tax unrealized losses on 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.
Discontinued Annuity Operations
In
Optional Redemption of
The Company announced today its intention to redeem all of its approximately
About
Forward Looking Statements
This press release 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; 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: changes in financial, political and economic conditions, including changes in interest and inflation rates, currency fluctuations and extended economic recessions or expansions in 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 2022 first quarter results at
A replay will be available approximately two hours following the completion of the call and will remain available until
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.
An archived webcast will be available immediately after the call via the same link on our website until
(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
|
||||||
|
2022 |
2021 |
|||||
Revenues |
|
|
|||||
P&C insurance net earned premiums |
$ |
1,302 |
|
$ |
1,173 |
||
Net investment income |
|
230 |
|
|
188 |
||
Realized gains (losses) on securities |
|
(15 |
) |
|
77 |
||
Income of managed investment entities: |
|
|
|||||
Investment income |
|
46 |
|
|
46 |
||
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of assets/liabilities |
|
(5 |
) |
|
2 |
||
Other income |
|
30 |
|
|
23 |
||
Total revenues |
|
1,588 |
|
|
1,509 |
||
|
|
|
|||||
Costs and expenses |
|
|
|||||
P&C insurance losses & expenses |
|
1,107 |
|
|
1,047 |
||
Interest charges on borrowed money |
|
23 |
|
|
24 |
||
Expenses of managed investment entities |
|
39 |
|
|
39 |
||
Other expenses |
|
58 |
|
|
64 |
||
Total costs and expenses |
|
1,227 |
|
|
1,174 |
||
|
|
|
|||||
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes |
|
361 |
|
|
335 |
||
Provision for income taxes |
|
71 |
|
|
68 |
||
|
|
|
|||||
Net earnings from continuing operations |
|
290 |
|
|
267 |
||
|
|
|
|||||
Net earnings from discontinued operations |
|
- |
|
|
152 |
||
|
|
|
|||||
Net earnings |
$ |
290 |
|
$ |
419 |
||
|
|
|
|||||
Earnings per diluted common share: |
|
|
|||||
Continuing operations |
$ |
3.40 |
|
$ |
3.08 |
||
Discontinued operations |
|
- |
|
|
1.76 |
||
Diluted earnings |
$ |
3.40 |
|
$ |
4.84 |
||
|
|
|
|||||
Average number of diluted shares |
|
85.2 |
|
|
86.6 |
|
|
|
|
|||
Selected Balance Sheet Data: |
|
2022 |
2021 |
|||
Total cash and investments |
|
$ |
15,702 |
$ |
15,745 |
|
Long-term debt |
|
$ |
1,917 |
$ |
1,964 |
|
Shareholders’ equity(b) |
|
$ |
4,835 |
$ |
5,012 |
|
Shareholders’ equity (excluding unrealized gains/losses related to fixed maturities)(b) |
|
$ |
4,948 |
$ |
4,876 |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Book value per share |
|
$ |
56.81 |
$ |
59.02 |
|
Book value per share (excluding unrealized gains/losses related to fixed maturities) |
|
$ |
58.14 |
$ |
57.42 |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Common Shares Outstanding |
|
|
85.1 |
|
84.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
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 |
|
|||||||||
|
|
Change |
|||||||||
|
2022 |
2021 |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Gross written premiums |
$ |
1,936 |
|
$ |
1,616 |
|
20 |
% |
|||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Net written premiums |
$ |
1,368 |
|
$ |
1,205 |
|
14 |
% |
|||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Ratios (GAAP): |
|
|
|
||||||||
Loss & LAE ratio |
|
53.1 |
% |
|
56.8 |
% |
|
||||
Underwriting expense ratio |
|
30.9 |
% |
|
31.7 |
% |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Specialty Combined Ratio |
|
84.0 |
% |
|
88.5 |
% |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Combined Ratio – P&C Segment |
|
84.1 |
% |
|
88.6 |
% |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Supplemental Information:(c) |
|
|
|
||||||||
Gross Written Premiums: |
|
|
|
||||||||
Property & Transportation |
$ |
760 |
|
$ |
520 |
|
46 |
% |
|||
Specialty Casualty |
|
976 |
|
|
904 |
|
8 |
% |
|||
Specialty Financial |
|
200 |
|
|
192 |
|
4 |
% |
|||
|
$ |
1,936 |
|
$ |
1,616 |
|
20 |
% |
|||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Net Written Premiums: |
|
|
|
||||||||
Property & Transportation |
$ |
501 |
|
$ |
403 |
|
24 |
% |
|||
Specialty Casualty |
|
650 |
|
|
588 |
|
11 |
% |
|||
Specialty Financial |
|
159 |
|
|
161 |
|
(1 |
%) |
|||
Other |
|
58 |
|
|
53 |
|
9 |
% |
|||
|
$ |
1,368 |
|
$ |
1,205 |
|
14 |
% |
|||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Combined Ratio (GAAP): |
|
|
|
||||||||
Property & Transportation |
|
85.8 |
% |
|
85.6 |
% |
|
||||
Specialty Casualty |
|
80.6 |
% |
|
90.2 |
% |
|
||||
Specialty Financial |
|
82.0 |
% |
|
84.1 |
% |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
84.0 |
% |
|
88.5 |
% |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Three months ended |
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
2022 |
2021 |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Property & Transportation |
$ |
(34 |
) |
$ |
(43 |
) |
|
||||
Specialty Casualty |
|
(49 |
) |
|
(9 |
) |
|
||||
Specialty Financial |
|
(13 |
) |
|
(8 |
) |
|
||||
Other Specialty |
|
7 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
||||
|
$ |
(89 |
) |
$ |
(59 |
) |
|
||||
Other |
|
1 |
|
|
- |
|
|
||||
|
$ |
(88 |
) |
$ |
(59 |
) |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Points on Combined Ratio: |
|
|
|
||||||||
Property & Transportation |
|
(7.8 |
) |
|
(11.1 |
) |
|
||||
Specialty Casualty |
|
(7.6 |
) |
|
(1.7 |
) |
|
||||
Specialty Financial |
|
(8.1 |
) |
|
(5.4 |
) |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
(6.8 |
) |
|
(5.2 |
) |
|
||||
Total P&C Segment |
|
(6.7 |
) |
|
(5.1 |
) |
|
||||
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 (in millions): |
|
Three months ended
|
|||||||
2022 |
2021 |
|||||||
Core Operating Earnings before Income Taxes: |
|
|
||||||
P&C insurance segment | $ |
422 |
|
$ |
288 |
|
||
Real-estate entities and other acquired from Annuity operations* |
|
- |
|
|
28 |
|
||
Interest & other corporate expenses |
|
(44 |
) |
|
(58 |
) |
||
|
|
|||||||
Core operating earnings before income taxes |
|
378 |
|
|
258 |
|
||
Related income taxes |
|
75 |
|
|
52 |
|
||
|
|
|||||||
Core net operating earnings | $ |
303 |
|
$ |
206 |
|
||
* Income from real estate entities acquired from AFG’s Annuity operations through |
b) |
Shareholders’ Equity at |
|
c) | Supplemental Notes: |
|
|
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220504006060/en/
Vice President – Investor & Media Relations
(513) 369-5713
Websites:
www.AFGinc.com
www.GreatAmericanInsuranceGroup.com
Source:
FAQ
What were American Financial Group's (AFG) Q1 2022 earnings per share?
What is the special cash dividend amount declared by AFG?
What is the updated earnings guidance for AFG in 2022?
How did AFG's underwriting profit perform in Q1 2022?