American Financial Group, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results
-
Net earnings per share of
in the fourth quarter; full year net earnings per share of$3.03 $10.57 -
Core net operating earnings per share of
in the fourth quarter; full year core net operating earnings per share of$3.12 $10.75 -
Full year 2024 ROE of
19.0% ; 2024 core operating ROE of19.3% -
Overall average renewal rate increases excluding workers’ compensation of
8% -
Full year total capital returned to shareholders approximately
, includes$791 million ($545 million per share) in special dividends$6.50
Core net operating earnings were
|
Three Months Ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||||
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 S. Craig Lindner, AFG’s Co-Chief Executive Officers, issued this statement: “We are very pleased with AFG’s performance in the 2024 fourth quarter and full year. In addition to producing an annual core operating return on equity in excess of
Messrs. Lindner continued: “AFG continued to have significant excess capital at December 31, 2024. Returning capital to shareholders in the form of regular and special cash dividends and through opportunistic share repurchases is an important and effective component of our capital management strategy. In addition, our capital will be deployed into AFG’s core businesses as we identify potential for healthy, profitable organic growth, and opportunities to expand our specialty niche businesses through acquisitions and start-ups that meet our target return thresholds. Over the past year, we increased our quarterly dividend by
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
Fourth quarter 2024 gross and net written premiums were up
Average renewal pricing across our P&C Group, excluding workers’ compensation, was up approximately
The Property and Transportation Group reported an underwriting profit of
Fourth quarter 2024 gross and net written premiums in this group were both down
The Specialty Casualty Group reported an underwriting profit of
Fourth quarter 2024 gross and net written premiums in this group increased
The Specialty Financial Group reported an underwriting profit of
Gross and net written premiums in this group increased by
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
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 December 31, 2024, property and casualty net investment income was approximately
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, P&C net investment income was approximately
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 American Financial Group, Inc.
American Financial Group is an insurance holding company, based in
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 Securities and Exchange Commission; 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 2024 fourth quarter and full year results at 11:30 a.m. (ET) tomorrow, Wednesday, February 5, 2025. There are two ways to access the call.
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.
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES 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: |
December 31, 2024 |
December 31, 2023 |
||||
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. |
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 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 |
% |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Aggregate Specialty Group |
|
89.0 |
% |
|
87.7 |
% |
|
|
91.2 |
% |
|
90.3 |
% |
|
||
|
|
Three months ended
|
Twelve months ended
|
||||||||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Reserve Development (Favorable)/Adverse: |
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Property & Transportation |
$ |
(3 |
) |
$ |
(12 |
) |
$ |
(94 |
) |
$ |
(84 |
) |
||
Specialty Casualty |
|
36 |
|
|
(37 |
) |
|
(10 |
) |
|
(110 |
) |
||
Specialty Financial |
|
(8 |
) |
|
(8 |
) |
|
(11 |
) |
|
(32 |
) |
||
Other Specialty |
|
9 |
|
|
- |
|
|
45 |
|
|
- |
|
||
Specialty Group |
|
34 |
|
|
(57 |
) |
|
(70 |
) |
|
(226 |
) |
||
Other |
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
2 |
|
||
Total Reserve Development |
$ |
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 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Aggregate Specialty Group |
|
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. |
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. |
|
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 December 31, 2024, includes ( |
|
|
c) |
Supplemental Notes: |
|
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250204126591/en/
Diane P. Weidner, IRC, CPA (inactive)
Vice President - Investor & Media Relations
513-369-5713
Source: American Financial Group, Inc.