American Financial Group, Inc. Announces Third Quarter Results and Declares Special Dividend
- Net earnings per share increased from $1.93 to $2.09 in the third quarter of 2023.
- Core net operating earnings per share increased by 9% year-over-year.
- The company declared a special dividend of $1.50 per share.
- Full year 2023 core net operating earnings guidance remains unchanged at $10.15 to $11.15 per share.
- None.
-
Net earnings per share of
; includes ($2.09 ) per share in after-tax non-core items$0.36 -
Core net operating earnings
per share, an increase of$2.45 9% from the prior year period -
Third quarter annualized ROE of
15.7% ; annualized core operating ROE of18.3% -
7% overall renewal rate increase excluding workers’ compensation -
Board of Directors declares
per share special dividend, payable November 22, 2023$1.50 -
Full year 2023 core net operating earnings guidance unchanged at
to$10.15 per share$11.15
Core net operating earnings were
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||||||||||||
Components of Pretax Core Operating Earnings |
2023 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||
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 |
$ |
273 |
|
$ |
253 |
|
$ |
25 |
$ |
36 |
$ |
298 |
|
$ |
289 |
|
|||||
Other expenses |
|
(22 |
) |
|
(26 |
) |
|
- |
|
- |
|
(22 |
) |
|
(26 |
) |
|||||
Holding company interest expense |
|
(19 |
) |
|
(19 |
) |
|
- |
|
- |
|
(19 |
) |
|
(19 |
) |
|||||
Pretax Core Operating Earnings |
|
232 |
|
|
208 |
|
|
25 |
|
36 |
|
257 |
|
|
244 |
|
|||||
Related provision for income taxes |
|
44 |
|
|
44 |
|
|
5 |
|
8 |
|
49 |
|
|
52 |
|
|||||
Core Net Operating Earnings |
$ |
188 |
|
$ |
164 |
|
$ |
20 |
$ |
28 |
$ |
208 |
|
$ |
192 |
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Core Operating Earnings Per Share |
$ |
2.21 |
|
$ |
1.91 |
|
$ |
0.24 |
$ |
0.33 |
$ |
2.45 |
|
$ |
2.24 |
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Weighted Avg Diluted Shares Outstanding |
|
84.7 |
|
|
85.4 |
|
|
84.7 |
|
85.4 |
|
84.7 |
|
|
85.4 |
|
AFG’s book value per share was
Adjusted book value per share, which excludes unrealized gains (losses) related to fixed maturities, was
AFG’s net earnings, determined in accordance with
In millions, except per share amounts |
Three months ended September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||
Components of net earnings: |
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Core operating earnings before income taxes |
$ |
257 |
|
$ |
244 |
|
$ |
823 |
|
$ |
930 |
|
|||
Pretax non-core items: |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) |
|
(23 |
) |
|
(35 |
) |
|
(71 |
) |
|
(143 |
) |
|||
Gain (loss) on retirement of debt |
|
- |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
(10 |
) |
|||
Special A&E charges |
|
(15 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(15 |
) |
|
- |
|
|||
Earnings before income taxes |
|
219 |
|
|
210 |
|
|
738 |
|
|
777 |
|
|||
Provision (credit) for income taxes: |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Core operating earnings |
|
49 |
|
|
52 |
|
|
166 |
|
|
192 |
|
|||
Non-core items |
|
(7 |
) |
|
(7 |
) |
|
(17 |
) |
|
(37 |
) |
|||
Total provision for income taxes |
|
42 |
|
|
45 |
|
|
149 |
|
|
155 |
|
|||
Net earnings |
$ |
177 |
|
$ |
165 |
|
$ |
589 |
|
$ |
622 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net earnings: |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Core net operating earnings(a) |
$ |
208 |
|
$ |
192 |
|
$ |
657 |
|
$ |
738 |
|
|||
Non-core items: |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) |
|
(19 |
) |
|
(28 |
) |
|
(57 |
) |
|
(113 |
) |
|||
Gain (loss) on retirement of debt |
|
- |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
(7 |
) |
|||
Special A&E charges |
|
(12 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(12 |
) |
|
- |
|
|||
Other |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
4 |
|
|||
Net earnings |
$ |
177 |
|
$ |
165 |
|
$ |
589 |
|
$ |
622 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Components of earnings per share: |
|||||||||||||||
Core net operating earnings(a) |
$ |
2.45 |
|
$ |
2.24 |
|
$ |
7.72 |
|
$ |
8.65 |
|
|||
Non-core Items: |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) |
|
(0.21 |
) |
|
(0.32 |
) |
|
(0.65 |
) |
|
(1.32 |
) |
|||
Gain (loss) on retirement of debt |
|
- |
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
(0.09 |
) |
|||
Special A&E charges |
|
(0.15 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(0.15 |
) |
|
- |
|
|||
Other |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
0.05 |
|
|||
Diluted net earnings per share |
$ |
2.09 |
|
$ |
1.93 |
|
$ |
6.93 |
|
$ |
7.29 |
|
|||
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
S. Craig Lindner and Carl H. Lindner III, AFG’s Co-Chief Executive Officers, issued this statement: “We are pleased with AFG’s performance during the third quarter. We achieved an annualized core operating return of over
“AFG had approximately
Craig and Carl Lindner continued, “Based on the results reported in the first nine months of the year and expectations for the remainder of the year, we continue to expect AFG’s 2023 core net operating earnings to be in the range of
AFG’s core earnings per share guidance excludes non-core items such as realized gains and losses and other significant items that are not able to be estimated with reasonable precision, or that may not be indicative of ongoing operations.
Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance Operations
The Specialty P&C insurance operations reported underwriting profit of
The third quarter 2023 combined ratio was a strong
Third quarter 2023 gross written premiums were flat and net written premiums were up
The Property and Transportation Group reported 2023 third quarter underwriting profit of
Gross and net written premiums for the third quarter of 2023 were
The Specialty Casualty Group reported a 2023 third quarter underwriting profit of
Third quarter 2023 gross and net written premiums increased
The Specialty Financial Group reported an underwriting profit of
Third quarter 2023 gross and net written premiums in this group were up
Carl Lindner III stated, "I’m pleased with our third quarter results, which included higher year-over-year operating earnings in our P&C Segment despite the higher frequency of catastrophe losses during the quarter. Underwriting margins continue to be strong, and we are seeing opportunities to grow our Specialty P&C businesses through increasing exposures, new opportunities, and a continued favorable pricing environment. Our diversified portfolio of Specialty P&C businesses continues to meet or exceed targeted returns.
Mr. Lindner added, “Based on results through the first nine months and the updated expectation of a below average crop year, we now expect an overall 2023 calendar year combined ratio in the range of
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.
A&E Reserves
During the third quarter of 2023, AFG conducted an in-depth comprehensive review of its asbestos and environmental (A&E) exposures relating to the run-off operations of its P&C Group. During the 2023 review, no new trends were identified, and recent claims activity was generally consistent with our expectations resulting from our in-depth reviews in 2022 and 2021 and our most recent external study in 2020. As a result, and consistent with the internal review in the third quarter of 2022, the 2023 review resulted in no net change to the P&C Group’s A&E reserves.
At September 30, 2023, the P&C Group’s insurance reserves include A&E reserves of
The 2023 in-depth comprehensive review also encompassed reserves for asbestos and environmental exposures of our former railroad and manufacturing operations. As a result of the study, AFG recorded a special non-core A&E charge to increase its liabilities for environmental exposures by
Investments
Net Investment Income – For the quarter ended September 30, 2023, property and casualty net investment income was approximately
Non-Core Net Realized Gains (Losses) – AFG recorded third quarter 2023 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 2023 third quarter results at 11:30 a.m. (ET) tomorrow, Thursday, November 2, 2023. Simplified event registration and access provides 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.
(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
|
Nine months ended
|
|||||||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
P&C insurance net earned premiums |
$ |
1,855 |
|
$ |
1,767 |
|
$ |
4,799 |
|
$ |
4,462 |
|
|||
Net investment income |
|
168 |
|
|
151 |
|
|
583 |
|
|
549 |
|
|||
Realized gains (losses) on: |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Securities |
|
(19 |
) |
|
(35 |
) |
|
(67 |
) |
|
(143 |
) |
|||
Subsidiaries |
|
(4 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
- |
|
|||
Income of managed investment entities: |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Investment income |
|
105 |
|
|
75 |
|
|
321 |
|
|
175 |
|
|||
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
assets/liabilities |
|
16 |
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
12 |
|
|
(25 |
) |
|||
Other income |
|
43 |
|
|
31 |
|
|
100 |
|
|
93 |
|
|||
Total revenues |
|
2,164 |
|
|
1,984 |
|
|
5,744 |
|
|
5,111 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Costs and expenses |
|
|
|
||||||||||||
P&C insurance losses & expenses |
|
1,736 |
|
|
1,621 |
|
|
4,419 |
|
|
3,934 |
|
|||
Interest charges on borrowed money |
|
19 |
|
|
19 |
|
|
57 |
|
|
65 |
|
|||
Expenses of managed investment entities |
|
105 |
|
|
62 |
|
|
303 |
|
|
148 |
|
|||
Other expenses |
|
85 |
|
|
72 |
|
|
227 |
|
|
187 |
|
|||
Total costs and expenses |
|
1,945 |
|
|
1,774 |
|
|
5,006 |
|
|
4,334 |
|
|||
|
|
||||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes |
|
219 |
|
|
210 |
|
|
738 |
|
|
777 |
|
|||
Provision for income taxes |
|
42 |
|
|
45 |
|
|
149 |
|
|
155 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net earnings |
$ |
177 |
|
$ |
165 |
|
$ |
589 |
|
$ |
622 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Diluted earnings per common share |
$ |
2.09 |
|
$ |
1.93 |
|
$ |
6.93 |
|
$ |
7.29 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Average number of diluted shares |
|
84.7 |
|
|
85.4 |
|
|
85.1 |
|
|
85.3 |
|
Selected Balance Sheet Data: |
September 30, 2023 |
December 31, 2022 |
|||||
Total cash and investments |
$ |
14,794 |
$ |
14,512 |
|||
Long-term debt |
$ |
1,474 |
$ |
1,496 |
|||
Shareholders’ equity(b) |
$ |
3,981 |
$ |
4,052 |
|||
Shareholders’ equity (excluding unrealized |
|
|
|||||
gains/losses related to fixed maturities)(b) |
$ |
4,536 |
$ |
4,578 |
|||
|
|
|
|||||
Book value per share(b) |
$ |
47.31 |
$ |
47.56 |
|||
Book value per share (excluding unrealized |
|
|
|||||
gains/losses related to fixed maturities)(b) |
$ |
53.90 |
$ |
53.73 |
|||
Common Shares Outstanding |
|
84.1 |
|
85.2 |
|||
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. Change |
Nine months ended
|
Pct. Change |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
2023 |
2022 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Gross written premiums |
$ |
3,140 |
|
$ |
3,153 |
|
|
- |
% |
$ |
7,664 |
|
$ |
7,212 |
|
6 |
% |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net written premiums |
$ |
2,061 |
|
$ |
1,984 |
|
|
4 |
% |
$ |
5,247 |
|
$ |
4,868 |
|
8 |
% |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Ratios (GAAP): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Loss & LAE ratio |
|
66.7 |
% |
|
66.4 |
% |
|
|
61.8 |
% |
|
59.1 |
% |
|
|||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio |
|
25.5 |
% |
|
24.7 |
% |
|
|
29.5 |
% |
|
28.3 |
% |
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Specialty Combined Ratio |
|
92.2 |
% |
|
91.1 |
% |
|
|
91.3 |
% |
|
87.4 |
% |
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Combined Ratio – P&C Segment |
|
92.3 |
% |
|
91.2 |
% |
|
|
91.3 |
% |
|
87.5 |
% |
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Supplemental Information:(c) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Gross Written Premiums: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Property & Transportation |
$ |
1,592 |
|
$ |
1,737 |
|
|
(8 |
%) |
$ |
3,523 |
|
$ |
3,459 |
|
2 |
% |
||||||
Specialty Casualty |
|
1,226 |
|
|
1,184 |
|
|
4 |
% |
|
3,299 |
|
|
3,108 |
|
6 |
% |
||||||
Specialty Financial |
|
322 |
|
|
232 |
|
|
39 |
% |
|
842 |
|
|
645 |
|
31 |
% |
||||||
|
$ |
3,140 |
|
$ |
3,153 |
|
|
- |
% |
$ |
7,664 |
|
$ |
7,212 |
|
6 |
% |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net Written Premiums: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Property & Transportation |
$ |
905 |
|
$ |
959 |
|
|
(6 |
%) |
$ |
2,125 |
|
$ |
2,092 |
|
2 |
% |
||||||
Specialty Casualty |
|
829 |
|
|
777 |
|
|
7 |
% |
|
2,244 |
|
|
2,073 |
|
8 |
% |
||||||
Specialty Financial |
|
261 |
|
|
176 |
|
|
48 |
% |
|
685 |
|
|
512 |
|
34 |
% |
||||||
Other |
|
66 |
|
|
72 |
|
|
(8 |
%) |
|
193 |
|
|
191 |
|
1 |
% |
||||||
|
$ |
2,061 |
|
$ |
1,984 |
|
|
4 |
% |
$ |
5,247 |
|
$ |
4,868 |
|
8 |
% |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Combined Ratio (GAAP): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Property & Transportation |
|
94.8 |
% |
|
95.4 |
% |
|
|
93.6 |
% |
|
92.2 |
% |
|
|||||||||
Specialty Casualty |
|
89.4 |
% |
|
82.6 |
% |
|
|
87.8 |
% |
|
81.1 |
% |
|
|||||||||
Specialty Financial |
|
87.6 |
% |
|
91.3 |
% |
|
|
89.6 |
% |
|
83.9 |
% |
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Aggregate Specialty Group |
|
92.2 |
% |
|
91.1 |
% |
|
|
91.3 |
% |
|
87.4 |
% |
|
|||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Three months ended September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2023 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Reserve Development (Favorable)/Adverse: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Property & Transportation |
$ |
(14 |
) |
$ |
(15 |
) |
$ |
(72 |
) |
$ |
(79 |
) |
|
|||||||||
|
Specialty Casualty |
|
(22 |
) |
|
(42 |
) |
|
(73 |
) |
|
(140 |
) |
|
|||||||||
|
Specialty Financial |
|
(10 |
) |
|
(11 |
) |
|
(24 |
) |
|
(39 |
) |
|
|||||||||
|
Other Specialty |
|
2 |
|
|
12 |
|
|
- |
|
|
27 |
|
|
|||||||||
|
Specialty Group |
|
(44 |
) |
|
(56 |
) |
|
(169 |
) |
|
(231 |
) |
|
|||||||||
|
Other |
|
1 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|||||||||
|
Total Reserve Development |
$ |
(43 |
) |
$ |
(53 |
) |
$ |
(168 |
) |
$ |
(226 |
) |
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Points on Combined Ratio: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Property & Transportation |
|
(1.7 |
) |
|
(1.8 |
) |
|
(3.9 |
) |
|
(4.4 |
) |
|
|||||||||
|
Specialty Casualty |
|
(2.9 |
) |
|
(6.3 |
) |
|
(3.4 |
) |
|
(7.1 |
) |
|
|||||||||
|
Specialty Financial |
|
(4.2 |
) |
|
(6.3 |
) |
|
(3.8 |
) |
|
(7.8 |
) |
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Aggregate Specialty Group |
|
(2.3 |
) |
|
(3.1 |
) |
|
(3.5 |
) |
|
(5.2 |
) |
|
|||||||||
|
Total P&C Segment |
|
(2.3 |
) |
|
(3.0 |
) |
|
(3.5 |
) |
|
(5.1 |
) |
|
|||||||||
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 September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||
Core Operating Earnings before Income Taxes: |
|
|
|
||||||||||||
P&C insurance segment |
$ |
298 |
|
$ |
289 |
|
$ |
947 |
|
$ |
1,056 |
|
|||
Interest and other corporate expenses |
|
(41 |
) |
|
(45 |
) |
|
(124 |
) |
|
(126 |
) |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Core operating earnings before income taxes |
|
257 |
|
|
244 |
|
|
823 |
|
|
930 |
|
|||
Related income taxes |
|
49 |
|
|
52 |
|
|
166 |
|
|
192 |
|
|||
|
|||||||||||||||
Core net operating earnings |
$ |
208 |
|
$ |
192 |
|
$ |
657 |
|
$ |
738 |
|
(b) |
Shareholders’ Equity at September 30, 2023, includes |
|
|
(c) |
Supplemental Notes: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231101201163/en/
Diane P. Weidner, IRC
Vice President – Investor & Media Relations
513-369-5713
Websites:
www.AFGinc.com
www.GreatAmericanInsuranceGroup.com
Source: American Financial Group, Inc.
FAQ
What were American Financial Group's net earnings per share for the third quarter of 2023?
What is the company's core net operating earnings per share for the third quarter of 2023?
Did American Financial Group declare any dividends?