The Hanover Reports Record Fourth Quarter Net Income and Operating Income of $4.53 and $3.38 per Diluted Share, Respectively; Full Year Net Income and Operating Income of $11.49 and $8.73 per Diluted Share, Respectively
The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE: THG) reported strong financial results for Q4 2021, with net income of $163.5 million, or $4.53 per diluted share, compared to $164.6 million or $4.43 per share in Q4 2020. Operating income rose to $122.1 million, or $3.38 per share, reflecting solid performance across its Commercial and Personal Lines. The company achieved net premiums written growth of 9.2% and a full-year net income of $418.7 million. The combined ratio stood at 92.9% for Q4, highlighting effective underwriting strategies amid challenging conditions.
- Net income increased to $163.5 million in Q4 2021, up from $164.6 million in Q4 2020.
- Operating income rose to $122.1 million with diluted earnings per share at $3.38.
- Net premiums written increased by 9.2% year-over-year to $1.2 billion in Q4.
- The company delivered an operating return on equity of 16.8% in Q4.
- Total net premiums written for 2021 reached $5.0 billion, an 8.6% increase from 2020.
- Operating income decreased from $355.0 million in 2020 to $318.3 million in 2021.
- The combined ratio increased to 97.0% for the full year from 94.4% in the previous year.
- Personal Lines operating income fell to $40.9 million in Q4 2021 compared to $50.8 million in Q4 2020.
WORCESTER, Mass., Feb. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG) today reported net income of
Net income for the full year 2021 was
"2021 was an exceptional year for our company, as we enhanced our competitive position, continued our positive financial momentum and advanced our unique culture," said John C. Roche, president and chief executive officer at The Hanover. "We delivered strong performance in the fourth quarter, with record operating earnings of
"We are very pleased with the outstanding financial results we delivered this year," said Jeffrey M. Farber, executive vice president and chief financial officer at The Hanover. "Our fourth quarter results reflect a sub-90s ex-CAT combined ratio and an excellent operating return on equity(8) of
Three months ended | Year ended | |||||||
December 31 | December 31 | |||||||
($ in millions, except per share data) | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||
Net premiums written | ||||||||
Net income | 163.5 | 164.6 | 418.7 | 358.7 | ||||
per diluted share | 4.53 | 4.43 | 11.49 | 9.42 | ||||
Operating income | 122.1 | 112.0 | 318.3 | 355.0 | ||||
per diluted share | 3.38 | 3.02 | 8.73 | 9.32 | ||||
Net investment income | 79.5 | 70.2 | 310.7 | 265.1 | ||||
Book value per share | ||||||||
Ending shares outstanding (in millions) | 35.5 | 36.4 | 35.5 | 36.4 | ||||
Combined ratio | 92.9 % | 92.4 % | 97.0 % | 94.4 % | ||||
Prior year development ratio | (1.2)% | (0.5)% | (1.2)% | (0.3)% | ||||
Catastrophe ratio | 3.1 % | 3.0 % | 8.4 % | 6.3 % | ||||
Combined ratio, excluding catastrophes | 89.8 % | 89.4 % | 88.6 % | 88.1 % | ||||
Current accident year combined ratio, | 91.0 % | 89.9 % | 89.8 % | 88.4 % | ||||
(1) See information about this and other non-GAAP measures and definitions used throughout this press release on the final pages of this document. |
*Unless otherwise stated, net premiums written growth and other growth comparisons are to the same period of the prior year |
Fourth Quarter Operating Highlights
Commercial Lines
Commercial Lines operating income before taxes was
Fourth quarter 2021 results included
Commercial Lines current accident year combined ratio, excluding catastrophes, decreased 0.8 points to
The expense ratio(9) decreased 0.4 points to
Net premiums written were
The following table summarizes premiums and the components of the combined ratio for Commercial Lines:
Three months ended | Year ended | |||||||
December 31 | December 31 | |||||||
($ in millions) | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||
Net premiums written | ||||||||
Net premiums earned | 745.9 | 683.7 | 2,840.8 | 2,683.3 | ||||
Operating income before taxes | 120.9 | 103.2 | 269.9 | 275.4 | ||||
Loss and LAE ratio | ||||||||
Expense ratio | ||||||||
Combined ratio | ||||||||
Prior-year development ratio | (1.5)% | (0.9)% | (1.2)% | (0.7)% | ||||
Catastrophe ratio | 2.1 % | 1.5 % | 8.0 % | 4.9 % | ||||
Combined ratio, excluding catastrophes | 88.6 % | 90.0 % | 89.6 % | 90.9 % | ||||
Current accident year combined ratio, | 90.1 % | 90.9 % | 90.8 % | 91.6 % | ||||
Personal Lines
Personal Lines operating income before taxes was
Fourth quarter 2021 results included net favorable prior-year reserve development of
Personal Lines current accident year combined ratio, excluding catastrophe losses, increased by 4.0 points to
The expense ratio decreased by 1.1 points to
Net premiums written were
The following table summarizes premiums and components of the combined ratio for Personal Lines:
Three months ended | Year ended | |||||||
December 31 | December 31 | |||||||
($ in millions) | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||
Net premiums written | ||||||||
Net premiums earned | 496.7 | 470.3 | 1,929.4 | 1,844.1 | ||||
Operating income before taxes | 40.9 | 50.8 | 158.5 | 212.5 | ||||
Loss and LAE ratio | ||||||||
Expense ratio | ||||||||
Combined ratio | ||||||||
Prior-year development ratio | (0.6)% | - | (1.2)% | - | ||||
Catastrophe ratio | 4.7 % | 5.3 % | 9.1 % | 8.4 % | ||||
Combined ratio, excluding catastrophes | 91.5 % | 88.1 % | 87.1 % | 84.0 % | ||||
Current accident year combined ratio, | 92.1 % | 88.1 % | 88.3 % | 84.0 % | ||||
Full Year Operating Highlights
Operating income before income taxes and interest expense was
Catastrophe losses were
The current accident year combined ratio, excluding catastrophe losses, was
Total net premiums written were
Commercial Lines operating income before taxes was
The Commercial Lines current accident year combined ratio, excluding catastrophe losses, was
Personal Lines operating income before taxes was
The Personal Lines current accident year combined ratio, excluding catastrophes, increased to
Investments
Net investment income was
Net realized and unrealized investment gains recognized in earnings were
Net investment income was
Net realized and unrealized investment gains were
The company held
Shareholders' Equity and Capital Actions
On December 31, 2021, book value per share was
During the quarter, the company repurchased approximately 154,000 shares of common stock in the open market for
Additionally, in the fourth quarter, the Board of Directors approved an increase to the quarterly dividend of
Earnings Conference Call
The company will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year results on Thursday, February 3, at 10:00 a.m. E.T. A PowerPoint slide presentation will accompany the prepared remarks and has been posted on The Hanover's website. Interested investors and others can listen to the call and access the presentation through The Hanover's website, located at www.hanover.com, in the "Investors" section. Investors may access the conference call by dialing 1-844-413-3975 in the U.S. and 1-412-317-5458 internationally. Web-cast participants should go to the website 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A re-broadcast of the conference call will be available on The Hanover's website approximately two hours after the call.
About The Hanover
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for several property and casualty insurance companies, which together constitute one of the largest insurance businesses in the United States. The company provides exceptional insurance solutions through a select group of independent agents and brokers. Together with its agent partners, the company offers standard and specialized insurance protection for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as for homes, automobiles, and other personal items. For more information, please visit hanover.com.
Contact Information
Investors: | Media: | ||||||
Oksana Lukasheva | Michael F. Buckley | Emily P. Trevallion | |||||
Email: olukasheva@hanover.com | Email: mibuckley@hanover.com | Email: etrevallion@hanover.com | |||||
1-508-525-6081 | 1-508-855-3099 | 1-508-855-3263 | |||||
Definition of Reported Segments
Continuing operations include three operating segments: Commercial Lines, Personal Lines and Other. The Commercial Lines segment offers a suite of products targeted at the small to mid-size business markets, which include commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers' compensation and other commercial coverages such as management and professional liability, marine, Hanover Programs, specialty industrial and commercial property, monoline general liability, surety and other commercial lines. The Personal Lines segment markets automobile, homeowners and ancillary coverages to individuals and families. The "Other" segment includes Opus Investment Management, Inc., which provides investment management services to institutions, pension funds and other organizations, the operations of the holding company, as well as a block of run-off voluntary property and casualty pools business in which we have not actively participated since 1995.
Financial Supplement
The Hanover's fourth quarter and full-year earnings news release and financial supplement are available in the "Investors" section of the company's website at hanover.com.
Condensed Financial Statements and Reconciliations |
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. | |||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements | Three months ended | Year ended | |||||||
December 31 | December 31 | ||||||||
($ in millions) | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||
Revenues | |||||||||
Premiums earned | |||||||||
Net investment income | 79.5 | 70.2 | 310.7 | 265.1 | |||||
Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses): | |||||||||
Net realized gains (losses) from sales and other | (2.2) | 5.8 | 4.6 | 17.9 | |||||
Net change in fair value of equity securities | 53.2 | 57.8 | 119.1 | 13.4 | |||||
Impairment recoveries (losses) on investments | (0.6) | 1.6 | (0.7) | (26.3) | |||||
Total net realized and unrealized investment gains | 50.4 | 65.2 | 123.0 | 5.0 | |||||
Fees and other income | 6.0 | 6.4 | 23.9 | 27.3 | |||||
Total revenues | 1,378.5 | 1,295.8 | 5,227.8 | 4,824.8 | |||||
Losses and expenses | |||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 763.8 | 695.3 | 3,134.2 | 2,845.2 | |||||
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs | 254.2 | 239.1 | 982.7 | 951.0 | |||||
Interest expense | 8.5 | 8.5 | 34.0 | 37.1 | |||||
Loss from repayment of debt | - | - | - | 6.2 | |||||
Other operating expenses | 147.2 | 145.9 | 555.6 | 540.5 | |||||
Total losses and expenses | 1,173.7 | 1,088.8 | 4,706.5 | 4,380.0 | |||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes | 204.8 | 207.0 | 521.3 | 444.8 | |||||
Income tax expense | 42.0 | 41.1 | 101.3 | 82.8 | |||||
Income from continuing operations | 162.8 | 165.9 | 420.0 | 362.0 | |||||
Discontinued operations (net of taxes): | |||||||||
Income from Chaucer business | 1.2 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.4 | |||||
Loss from discontinued life businesses | (0.5) | (1.7) | (2.5) | (3.7) | |||||
Net income | |||||||||
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. | |||||
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||||
December 31 | December 31 | ||||
($ in millions) | 2021 | 2020 | |||
Assets | |||||
Total investments | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 230.9 | 120.6 | |||
Premiums and accounts receivable, net | 1,469.5 | 1,339.3 | |||
Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses and unearned premiums | 1,907.3 | 1,874.3 | |||
Other assets | 1,386.9 | 1,153.2 | |||
Assets of discontinued businesses | 107.1 | 110.2 | |||
Total assets | |||||
Liabilities | |||||
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | |||||
Unearned premiums | 2,734.9 | 2,482.7 | |||
Debt | 781.6 | 780.8 | |||
Other liabilities | 1,023.6 | 833.2 | |||
Liabilities of discontinued businesses | 121.7 | 120.8 | |||
Total liabilities | 11,109.4 | 10,241.5 | |||
Total shareholders' equity | 3,144.9 | 3,202.2 | |||
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity |
The following is a reconciliation from operating income to net income(10):
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. | |||||||||||||||||
Three months ended December 31 | Year ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||
($ in millions, except per share data) | $ Amount | Per Share | $ Amount | Per Share | $ Amount | Per Share | $ Amount | Per Share | |||||||||
Operating income (loss) | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial Lines | |||||||||||||||||
Personal Lines | 40.9 | 50.8 | 158.5 | 212.5 | |||||||||||||
Other | 1.1 | (3.7) | 3.9 | (3.2) | |||||||||||||
Total | 162.9 | 150.3 | 432.3 | 484.7 | |||||||||||||
Interest expense | (8.5) | (8.5) | (34.0) | (37.1) | |||||||||||||
Operating income before income taxes | 154.4 | 141.8 | 398.3 | 447.6 | |||||||||||||
Income tax expense on operating income | (32.3) | (0.89) | (29.8) | (0.80) | (80.0) | (2.20) | (92.6) | (2.43) | |||||||||
Operating income after income taxes | 122.1 | 3.38 | 112.0 | 3.02 | 318.3 | 8.73 | 355.0 | 9.32 | |||||||||
Non-operating items: | |||||||||||||||||
Net realized gains (losses) from sales and other | (2.2) | (0.06) | 5.8 | 0.16 | 4.6 | 0.13 | 17.9 | 0.47 | |||||||||
Net change in fair value of equity securities | 53.2 | 1.47 | 57.8 | 1.56 | 119.1 | 3.27 | 13.4 | 0.35 | |||||||||
Impairment recoveries (losses) on investments | (0.6) | (0.02) | 1.6 | 0.04 | (0.7) | (0.02) | (26.3) | (0.69) | |||||||||
Loss from repayment of borrowings | - | - | - | - | - | - | (6.2) | (0.16) | |||||||||
Other non-operating items | - | - | - | - | - | - | (1.6) | (0.05) | |||||||||
Income tax benefit (expense) on non-operating items | (9.7) | (0.26) | (11.3) | (0.31) | (21.3) | (0.59) | 9.8 | 0.26 | |||||||||
Income from continuing operations, net of taxes | 162.8 | 4.51 | 165.9 | 4.47 | 420.0 | 11.52 | 362.0 | 9.50 | |||||||||
Discontinued operations (net of taxes): | |||||||||||||||||
Income from Chaucer business | 1.2 | 0.03 | 0.4 | 0.01 | 1.2 | 0.03 | 0.4 | 0.01 | |||||||||
Loss from discontinued life businesses | (0.5) | (0.01) | (1.7) | (0.05) | (2.5) | (0.06) | (3.7) | (0.09) | |||||||||
Net income | |||||||||||||||||
Dilutive weighted average shares outstanding | 36.1 | 37.1 | 36.4 | 38.1 | |||||||||||||
Forward-Looking Statements and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this document and comments made by management may be "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "may," "projects," "projections," "plan," "likely," "potential," "targeted," "forecasts," "should," "could," "continue," "outlook," "guidance," "modeling," "moving forward" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. The company cautions investors that any such forward-looking statements are estimates, beliefs, expectations and/or projections that involve significant judgment, and that historical results, trends and forward-looking statements are not guarantees and are not necessarily indicative of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated.
These statements include, but are not limited to, the company's statements regarding:
- The company's outlook and its ability to achieve components or the sum of the respective period guidance on its future results of operations including: the combined ratio, excluding or including both prior-year reserve development and/or catastrophe losses; catastrophe losses; net investment income; growth of net premiums written and/or net premiums earned in total or by line of business; expense ratio; operating return on equity; and/or the effective tax rate;
- The continued impacts of the global pandemic ("Pandemic") and related economic conditions on the company's operating and financial results, including, but not limited to, the impact on the company's investment portfolio, changes in claims frequency as a result of fluctuations in economic activity, severity from higher cost of repairs due to, among other things, supply chain disruptions, inflation, declines in premium as a result of, among other things, credits or returns to the company's customers, lower submissions, changes in renewals and policy endorsements, public health guidance, and the impact of government orders and restrictions in the states and jurisdictions in which the company operates;
- Uses of capital for share repurchases, special or ordinary cash dividends, business investments or growth, or otherwise, and outstanding shares in future periods as a result of various share repurchase mechanisms, capital management framework, especially in the current environment, and overall comfort with liquidity and capital levels;
- Variability of catastrophe losses due to risk concentrations, changes in weather patterns including climate change, wildfires, severe storms, hurricanes, terrorism, civil unrest, riots or other events, as well as the complexity in estimating losses from large catastrophe events due to delayed reporting of the existence, nature or extent of losses or where "demand surge," regulatory assessments, litigation, coverage and technical complexities or other factors may significantly impact the ultimate amount of such losses;
- Current accident year losses and loss selections ("picks"), excluding catastrophes, and prior accident year loss reserve development patterns, particularly in complex "longer-tail" liability lines, as well as the inherent variability in short-tail property and non-catastrophe weather losses;
- Changes in frequency and loss severity trends;
- Ability to manage the impact of inflationary pressures, as a result of the Pandemic or otherwise, including, but not limited to, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and increases in cost of goods, services, and materials;
- The confidence or concern that the current level of reserves is adequate and/or sufficient for future claim payments, whether due to losses that have been incurred but not reported, circumstances that delay the reporting of losses, business complexity, adverse judgments or developments with respect to case reserves, the difficulties and uncertainties inherent in projecting future losses from historical data, changes in replacement and medical costs, as well as complexities related to the Pandemic, including legislative, regulatory or judicial actions that expand the intended scope of coverages, or other factors;
- Characterization of some business as being "more profitable" in light of inherent uncertainty of ultimate losses incurred, especially for "longer-tail" liability businesses;
- Efforts to manage expenses, including the company's long-term expense savings targets, while allocating capital to business investment, which is at management's discretion;
- Mix improvement, underwriting initiatives, coverage restrictions and pricing segmentation actions, among others, to grow businesses believed to be more profitable or reduce premiums attributable to products or lines of business believed to be less profitable; balance rate actions and retention; offset long-term and/or short-term loss trends due to increased frequency; increased "social inflation" from a more litigious environment and higher average cost of resolution, increased property replacement costs, and/or social movements;
- The ability to generate growth in targeted segments through new agency appointments; rate increases (as a result of its market position, agency relationships or otherwise), retention improvements or new business; expansion into new geographies; new product introductions; or otherwise; and
- Investment returns and the effect of macro-economic interest rate trends and overall security yields, including the macro-economic impact of the Pandemic, inflationary pressures and corresponding governmental and/or central banking initiatives taken in response thereto, and geopolitical circumstances on new money yields and overall investment returns.
Additional Risks and Uncertainties
Investors are further cautioned and should consider the risks and uncertainties in the company's business that may affect such estimates and future performance that are discussed in the company's most recently filed reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and other documents filed by The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and that are also available at www.hanover.com under "Investors." These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
- The severity, duration and long-term impact related to the Pandemic, including, but not limited to, actual and possible government responses, legislative, regulatory and judicial actions, changes in frequency and severity of claims in both Commercial and Personal Lines, impacts to distributors (including agent partners), and the possibility of additional premium adjustments, including credits and returns, for the benefit of insureds;
- Changes in regulatory, legislative, economic, market and political conditions, particularly in response to COVID-19 and the Pandemic (such as legislative or regulatory actions that would retroactively require insurers to cover business interruption or other types of claims irrespective of terms, exclusions or other conditions included in the contractual terms of the policies that would otherwise preclude coverage, mandatory returns and other rate-related actions, as well as presumption legislation in regards to workers' compensation);
- Heightened investment market volatility, fluctuations in interest rates (which have a significant impact on the market value of the investment portfolio and thus book value), U.S. Federal Reserve actions, inflationary pressures, default rates, prolonged global market conditions and other factors that affect investment returns from the investment portfolio;
- Data security incidents, including, but not limited to, those resulting from a malicious cyber security attack on the company or its business partners and service providers, or intrusions into the company's systems or data sources;
- Adverse claims experience, including those driven by large or increased frequency of catastrophe events (including those related to terrorism, riots and civil unrest), and severe weather;
- The uncertainty in estimating weather-related losses or the long-term impacts of the Pandemic, and the limitations and assumptions used to model other property and casualty losses (particularly with respect to products with longer-tail liability lines, such as casualty and bodily injury claims, or involving emerging issues related to losses incurred as the result of new lines of business, such as cyber or financial institutions coverage, or reinsurance contracts and reinsurance recoverables), leading to potential adverse development of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves;
- Litigation and the possibility of adverse judicial decisions, including those which expand policy coverage beyond its intended scope and/or award "bad faith" or other non-contractual damages, and the impact of "social inflation" affecting judicial awards and settlements;
- The ability to increase or maintain insurance rates in line with anticipated loss costs and/or governmental action, including mandates by state departments of insurance to either raise or lower rates or provide credits or return premium to insureds;
- Investment impairments, which may be affected by, among other things, the company's ability and willingness to hold investment assets until they recover in value, as well as credit and interest rate risk and general financial and economic conditions;
- Disruption of the independent agency channel, including the impact of competition and consolidation in the industry and among agents and brokers;
- Competition, particularly from competitors who have resource and capability advantages;
- The global macroeconomic environment, including actions taken in response to the Pandemic, inflation, global trade wars, energy market disruptions, equity price risk, and interest rate fluctuations, which, among other things, could result in reductions in market values of fixed maturities and other investments;
- Adverse state and federal regulation, legislative and/or regulatory actions (including recent significant revisions to Michigan's automobile personal injury protection system and related litigation, and various regulations, orders and proposed legislation related to business interruption and workers' compensation coverages, premium grace periods and returns, and rate actions);
- Financial ratings actions, in particular, downgrades to the company's ratings;
- Operational and technology risks and evolving technological and product innovation, including risks created by remote work environments, and the risk of cyber-security attacks on or breaches of the company's systems and/or impacting our outsourcing relationships and third-party operations, or resulting in claim payments (including from products not intended to provide cyber coverage);
- Uncertainties in estimating indemnification liabilities recorded in conjunction with obligations undertaken in connection with the sale of various businesses and discontinued operations; and
- The ability to collect from reinsurers, reinsurance pricing, reinsurance terms and conditions, and the performance of the run-off voluntary property and casualty pools business (including those in the Other segment or in Discontinued operations).
Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made, and should understand the risks and uncertainties inherent in or particular to the company's business. The company does not undertake the responsibility to update or revise such forward-looking statements.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
As discussed on page 38 of the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, the company uses non-GAAP financial measures as important measures of its operating performance, including operating income, operating income before interest expense and income taxes, operating income per share, and components of the combined ratio, both excluding and/or including, catastrophe losses, prior-year reserve development and the expense ratio. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures are important indications of the company's operating performance. The definition of other non-GAAP financial measures and terms can be found in the 2020 Annual Report on pages 67-70.
Operating income and operating income per share are non-GAAP measures. They are defined as net income excluding the after-tax impact of net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses), gains and/or losses on the repayment of debt, other non-operating items, and results from discontinued operations. Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses), which include changes in the fair value of equity securities still held, are excluded for purposes of presenting operating income, as they are, to a certain extent, determined by interest rates, financial markets and the timing of sales. Operating income also excludes net gains and losses from disposals of businesses, gains and losses related to the repayment of debt, costs to acquire businesses, restructuring costs, the cumulative effect of accounting changes and certain other items. Operating income is the sum of the segment income from: Commercial Lines, Personal Lines, and Other, after interest expense and income taxes. In reference to one of the company's three segments, "operating income" is the segment income before both interest expense and income taxes. The company also uses "operating income per share" (which is after both interest expense and income taxes). It is calculated by dividing operating income by the weighted average number of diluted shares of common stock. The company believes that metrics of operating income and operating income in relation to its three segments provide investors with a valuable measure of the performance of the company's continuing businesses because they highlight the portion of net income attributable to the core operations of the business. Income from continuing operations is the most directly comparable GAAP measure for operating income (and operating income before income taxes) and measures of operating income that exclude the effects of catastrophe losses and/or reserve development should not be misconstrued as substitutes for income from continuing operations or net income determined in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of operating income (loss) to income from continuing operations and net income for the relevant periods is included on page 11 of this news release and in the Financial Supplement.
The company may also provide measures of operating income and combined ratios that exclude the impact of catastrophe losses (which in all respects include prior accident year catastrophe loss development). A catastrophe is a severe loss, resulting from natural or manmade events, including, but is not limited to, hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, earthquakes, hail, severe winter weather, freeze events, fire, explosions, civil unrest and terrorism. Due to the unique characteristics of each catastrophe loss, there is an inherent inability to reasonably estimate the timing or loss amount in advance. The company believes a separate discussion excluding the effects of catastrophe losses is meaningful to understand the underlying trends and variability of earnings, loss and combined ratio results, among others.
Prior accident year reserve development, which can either be favorable or unfavorable, represents changes in the company's estimate of costs related to claims from prior years. Calendar year loss and loss adjustment expense ("LAE") ratios determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding prior accident year reserve development, are sometimes referred to as "current accident year loss ratios." The company believes a discussion of loss and combined ratios, excluding prior accident year reserve development, is helpful since it provides insight into both estimates of current accident year results and the accuracy of prior-year estimates.
The loss and combined ratios in accordance with GAAP are the most directly comparable GAAP measures for the loss and combined ratios calculated excluding the effects of catastrophe losses and/or reserve development. The presentation of loss and combined ratios calculated excluding the effects of catastrophe losses and/or reserve development should not be misconstrued as substitutes for the loss and/or combined ratios determined in accordance with GAAP.
Endnotes | |
(1) | Combined ratio, excluding catastrophes, and current accident year combined ratio, excluding catastrophes, are non-GAAP measures. These measures are used throughout this document. See the disclosure on the use of this and other non-GAAP measures under the heading "Forward-Looking Statements and Non-GAAP Financial Measures." The combined ratio (which includes catastrophe losses and prior-year loss reserve development) is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. A reconciliation of the GAAP combined ratio to the combined ratio, excluding catastrophes, and to the current accident year combined ratio, excluding catastrophes, is shown below. |
Three months ended | |||||||
December 31, 2021 | |||||||
Commercial | Personal | Total | |||||
Total combined ratio (GAAP) | 90.7 % | 96.2 % | 92.9 % | ||||
Less: Catastrophe ratio | 2.1 % | 4.7 % | 3.1 % | ||||
Combined ratio, excluding catastrophe losses (non-GAAP) | 88.6 % | 91.5 % | 89.8 % | ||||
Less: Prior-year reserve development ratio | (1.5)% | (0.6)% | (1.2)% | ||||
Current accident year combined ratio, excluding | 90.1 % | 92.1 % | 91.0 % | ||||
December 31, 2020 | |||||||
Total combined ratio (GAAP) | 91.5 % | 93.4 % | 92.4 % | ||||
Less: Catastrophe ratio | 1.5 % | 5.3 % | 3.0 % | ||||
Combined ratio, excluding catastrophe losses (non-GAAP) | 90.0 % | 88.1 % | 89.4 % | ||||
Less: Prior-year reserve development ratio | (0.9)% | - | (0.5)% | ||||
Current accident year combined ratio, excluding | 90.9 % | 88.1 % | 89.9 % | ||||
Year ended | |||||||
December 31, 2021 | |||||||
Total combined ratio (GAAP) | 97.6 % | 96.2 % | 97.0 % | ||||
Less: Catastrophe ratio | 8.0 % | 9.1 % | 8.4 % | ||||
Combined ratio, excluding catastrophe losses (non-GAAP) | 89.6 % | 87.1 % | 88.6 % | ||||
Less: Prior-year reserve development ratio | (1.2)% | (1.2)% | (1.2)% | ||||
Current accident year combined ratio, excluding | 90.8 % | 88.3 % | 89.8 % | ||||
December 31, 2020 | |||||||
Total combined ratio (GAAP) | 95.8 % | 92.4 % | 94.4 % | ||||
Less: Catastrophe ratio | 4.9 % | 8.4 % | 6.3 % | ||||
Combined ratio, excluding catastrophe losses (non-GAAP) | 90.9 % | 84.0 % | 88.1 % | ||||
Less: Prior-year reserve development ratio | (0.7)% | - | (0.3)% | ||||
Current accident year combined ratio, excluding | 91.6 % | 84.0 % | 88.4 % | ||||
(2) | Price increases in Commercial Lines represent the average change in premium on renewed policies caused by the estimated net effect of base rate changes, discretionary pricing, inflation or changes in policy level exposure or insured risks. Rate increases in Commercial Lines represent the average change in premium on renewed policies caused by the base rate changes, discretionary pricing, and inflation, excluding the impact of changes in policy level exposure or insured risks. Renewal price change in Personal Lines represents the average change in premium on policies available to renew caused by the net effects of filed rate, inflation adjustments or other changes in policy level exposure or insured risks, regardless of whether or not the policies are retained for the duration of their contractual terms. Rate change in Personal Lines is the estimated cumulative premium effect of approved rate actions applied to policies available for renewal, regardless of whether or not policies are actually renewed. Accordingly, rate changes do not represent actual increases or decreases realized by the company. Personal Lines rate changes do not include inflation or changes in policy level exposure or insured risks. |
(3) | Core Commercial business provides commercial property and casualty coverages to small and mid-sized businesses in the U.S., generally with annual premiums per policy up to |
Three months ended | Three months ended | ||||||||||||
December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||
($ in millions) | Core | Other | Total Commercial | Core | Other | Total Commercial | |||||||
Net premiums written | |||||||||||||
Net premiums earned | |||||||||||||
Year ended | Year ended | ||||||||||||
December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||
($ in millions) | Core | Other | Total Commercial | Core | Other | Total Commercial | |||||||
Net premiums written | |||||||||||||
Net premiums earned | |||||||||||||
(4) | Specialty lines, a major component of Other Commercial Lines, consist of products such as marine, surety, specialty industrial property, excess and surplus, professional liability, management liability and program business. When discussing net premiums written and other financial measures of our specialty businesses, we may include non-specialty premiums that are written as part of the entire account. |
(5) | Current accident year loss and LAE ratio, excluding catastrophe losses, is a non-GAAP measure, which is equal to the loss and LAE ratio ("loss ratio"), excluding prior-year reserve development and catastrophe losses. The loss ratio (which includes losses, LAE, catastrophe losses and prior-year loss reserve development) is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. A reconciliation of the GAAP loss ratio to the current accident year loss ratio, excluding catastrophe losses, is shown on the following page. |
Three months ended | ||||||||
December 31, 2021 | ||||||||
Commercial Lines | Personal Lines | Total | ||||||
Total loss and LAE ratio | 56.5 % | 68.9 % | 61.5 % | |||||
Less: | ||||||||
Prior-year reserve development ratio | (1.5)% | (0.6)% | (1.2)% | |||||
Catastrophe ratio | 2.1 % | 4.7 % | 3.1 % | |||||
Current accident year loss and LAE ratio, excluding | 55.9 % | 64.8 % | 59.6 % | |||||
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||
Total loss and LAE ratio | 56.9 % | 65.0 % | 60.3 % | |||||
Less: | ||||||||
Prior-year reserve development ratio | (0.9)% | - | (0.5)% | |||||
Catastrophe ratio | 1.5 % | 5.3 % | 3.0 % | |||||
Current accident year loss and LAE ratio, excluding | 56.3 % | 59.7 % | 57.8 % | |||||
December 31, 2019 | ||||||||
Total loss and LAE ratio | 61.8 % | 69.3 % | 64.8 % | |||||
Less: | ||||||||
Prior-year reserve development ratio | (1.7)% | 2.2 % | (0.1)% | |||||
Catastrophe ratio | 4.1 % | 1.6 % | 3.1 % | |||||
Current accident year loss and LAE ratio, excluding | 59.4 % | 65.5 % | 61.8 % | |||||
Year ended | ||||||||
December 31, 2021 | ||||||||
Commercial Lines | Personal Lines | Total | ||||||
Total loss and LAE ratio | 63.8 % | 68.5 % | 65.7 % | |||||
Less: | ||||||||
Prior-year reserve development ratio | (1.2)% | (1.2)% | (1.2)% | |||||
Catastrophe ratio | 8.0 % | 9.1 % | 8.4 % | |||||
Current accident year loss and LAE ratio, excluding | 57.0 % | 60.6 % | 58.5 % | |||||
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||
Total loss and LAE ratio | 61.4 % | 64.7 % | 62.8 % | |||||
Less: | ||||||||
Prior-year reserve development ratio | (0.7)% | - | (0.3)% | |||||
Catastrophe ratio | 4.9 % | 8.4 % | 6.3 % | |||||
Current accident year loss and LAE ratio, excluding | 57.2 % | 56.3 % | 56.8 % | |||||
December 31, 2019 | ||||||||
Total loss and LAE ratio | 60.6 % | 68.9 % | 64.0 % | |||||
Less: | ||||||||
Prior-year reserve development ratio | (1.1)% | 1.5 % | - | |||||
Catastrophe ratio | 3.1 % | 4.7 % | 3.8 % | |||||
Current accident year loss and LAE ratio, excluding | 58.6 % | 62.7 % | 60.2 % | |||||
(6) | Book value per share, excluding net unrealized appreciation on fixed maturity investments, net of tax, is a non-GAAP measure. Book value per share is the most directly comparable GAAP measure and is reconciled in the table below. |
December 31 | December 31 | September 30 | December 31 | |||||||||
2020 | 2021 | 2021 | 2021 | |||||||||
Book value per share | ||||||||||||
Less: Net unrealized appreciation on fixed maturity investments, net of tax | 11.76 | 5.21 | 7.20 | 5.21 | ||||||||
Book value per share, excluding net unrealized | ||||||||||||
Change in book value per share
| 0.7 % | 1.8 % | ||||||||||
Change in book value per share, excluding net unrealized | 9.4 % | 4.4 % | ||||||||||
(7) | Operating income and operating income per diluted share are non-GAAP measures. Operating income (loss) before income taxes, as referenced in the results of the business segments, is defined as, with respect to such segment, operating income (loss) before interest expense and income taxes. These measures are used throughout this document. The reconciliation of operating income and operating income per diluted share to the closest GAAP measures, income from continuing operations and income from continuing operations per diluted share, respectively, is provided on the preceding pages of this news release. |
(8) | Operating return on average equity ("operating ROE") is a non-GAAP measure. Operating ROE is calculated by dividing annualized operating income after tax for the applicable period (see under the heading in this news release "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and end note (7)), by average shareholders' equity, excluding unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on fixed maturity investments, net of tax, for the period presented. Total shareholders' equity, excluding net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on fixed maturity investments, net of tax, is also a non-GAAP measure. Total shareholders' equity is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, and is reconciled below. For the calculation of operating ROE, the average of beginning and ending shareholders' equity, excluding net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on fixed maturity investments, net of tax, is used for the period as shown and reconciled on the following page. |
($ in millions) | December 31 | March 31 | June 30 | September 30 | December 31 | ||||||
2020 | 2021 | 2021 | 2021 | 2021 | |||||||
Total shareholders' equity (GAAP) | |||||||||||
Less: net unrealized appreciation on fixed maturity investments, net of tax | 428.1 | 242.6 | 304.7 | 256.8 | 184.9 | ||||||
Total shareholders' equity, excluding net unrealized appreciation on fixed maturity investments, net of tax | |||||||||||
Three months ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||
Average shareholders' equity (GAAP) | |||||||||||
Average shareholders' equity, excluding net | |||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||
Average shareholders' equity (GAAP) | |||||||||||
Average shareholders' equity, excluding net unrealized appreciation on fixed maturity | |||||||||||
($ in millions) | Three months ended | Year ended | |||||||
December 31 | December 31 | ||||||||
Net Income ROE | 2021 | 2021 | |||||||
Net income (GAAP) | $ | 163.5 | $ | 418.7 | |||||
Annualized net income* | $ | 654.0 | |||||||
Average shareholders' equity (GAAP) | $ | 3,123.6 | $ | 3,130.0 | |||||
Return on equity | 20.9 | % | 13.4 | % | |||||
Operating Income ROE (non-GAAP) | |||||||||
Operating income after taxes | $ | 122.1 | $ | 318.3 | |||||
Annualized operating income, net of tax* | $ | 488.4 | |||||||
Average shareholders' equity, excluding net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on fixed maturity investments, net of tax | $ | 2,902.8 | $ | 2,846.6 | |||||
Operating return on equity | 16.8 | % | 11.2 | % | |||||
*Net income and operating income after income taxes are calculated by taking three months ended December 31, 2021, net income and operating income after income taxes, respectively, and multiplying by four. | |
(9) | Here, and later in this document, the expense ratio is reduced by installment and other fee revenues for purposes of the ratio calculation. |
(10) | The separate financial information of each operating segment is presented consistent with the way results are regularly evaluated by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Management evaluates the results of the aforementioned operating segments without consideration of interest expense on debt and on a pre-tax basis. |
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SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.
FAQ
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