The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. - HIG STOCK NEWS

New research from The Hartford reveals that 61% of U.S. workers experience high levels of burnout, unchanged since 2021. 43% have postponed routine health care since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting their overall health and productivity. Key reasons for delays include fear of COVID-19 (47%) and difficulty scheduling appointments. Recommendations for improving health include prioritizing routine visits, utilizing telehealth, and employer support in health care access.

The Hartford reported fourth quarter 2021 net income of $724 million ($2.10 per diluted share), up 36% year-over-year, while full-year net income reached $2.3 billion ($6.62 per diluted share), a 37% increase. Core earnings for Q4 were $697 million ($2.02 per diluted share), marking a 10% rise. Property and Casualty (P&C) net premiums rose 11% in Q4, with a combined ratio improvement of 7.2 points to 84.6. The company returned $620 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends in Q4, achieving a trailing 12-month return on equity (ROE) of 13.1%.

The Hartford's Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $0.375 per depository share on its Series G preferred stock, payable on February 15, 2022. Shareholders of record as of February 1, 2022 will be eligible to receive this dividend. The Hartford is recognized for its leadership in property and casualty insurance, along with group benefits and mutual funds.

For further information about the company’s performance and offerings, visit The Hartford's website.

The Hartford has announced its commitment to invest $2.5 billion over the next five years to advance energy transition and combat climate change. The company has become a signatory of the UN Global Compact, joining global organizations to implement sustainability principles. Additionally, it plans to exit all tar-sands investments by December 31, 2021, and complete its exit from coal investments by the end of 2023. The Hartford achieved 100% renewable energy usage for its facilities in 2020 and aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 46.2% by 2037.

The Hartford has partnered with the Yale Program in Addiction Medicine to create a training program aimed at improving addiction treatment and pain management for injured workers in Connecticut. This initiative addresses the urgent opioid crisis, which saw record overdose deaths in the state. The pilot program will develop training modules and clinically relevant resources for medical professionals, focused on person-centered approaches and the reduction of stigma surrounding addiction. The training will be rolled out to 50-100 clinicians in early 2022, with updates based on feedback planned for Q3 2022.

The Hartford reported a net income of $476 million or $1.36 per diluted share for Q3 2021, marking a 5% increase from Q3 2020. However, core earnings dropped 16% to $442 million due to excess mortality losses of $212 million and unfavorable prior accident year reserve development. The Commercial Lines combined ratio improved to 101.2 with 15% growth in written premiums. The Hartford returned $634 million to shareholders, including a 10% increase in quarterly dividends. Book value per diluted share rose 4% to $50.53.

The Hartford has been recognized as the top provider for digital capabilities in the Small Commercial Insurance sector for the third consecutive year, according to Keynova Group’s Scorecard. The company significantly outperformed competitors in areas like digital self-service, claims processing, and online quoting for small business insurance. With over 200 years in the industry, The Hartford has established a strong market position, serving over one million small business customers.