In a letter to shareholders following the disclosure of record 2025 results, Evan G. Greenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chubb, highlighted the firm’s underwriting discipline as key to navigating multiple hard and soft market cycles, noting that while the commercial P&C pricing environment is softening, the shift is not binary but rather “textured and nuanced.”
According to the executive, pricing remains stronger in certain classes and markets, notably U.S. casualty, while weakening in others, such as large-account and upper middle-market property across both admitted and excess and surplus lines, where conditions have now softened.
“While the market as a whole is transitioning toward a soft part of the cycle, our company is in a good position to grow given our diversification, though obviously not as fast as we did during the hard market,” Greenberg observed.
He continued, “In all, a significant majority of our businesses are less or not exposed to the pricing cycle and present good growth opportunities – some faster, some slower. There is a lot of opportunity in front of us.”
According to the CEO, Chubb has navigated numerous hard and soft market cycles over the years, with underwriting discipline remaining a defining hallmark of the company.
“We shrink whole businesses when necessary to preserve an underwriting profit. On the other hand, we take on exposure aggressively when we observe opportunities to earn an adequate return,” Greenberg explained.
The executive continued, “Many insurers profess discipline, which is easy to say in a hard market, but few mean it. Most are hungry now for growth and are unwilling to trade market share, even when an adequate return can’t be achieved.”
In its full-year 2025 results, Chubb reported record P&C underwriting income of $6.53 billion, an 11.6% increase over 2024, alongside a record-low combined ratio of 85.7%.
Greenberg hailed 2025 as a great year, highlighting strong contributions across the firm’s operations.
More recently, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) revealed that Chubb will serve as the lead partner for its $20 billion Maritime Reinsurance Plan, aimed at restoring commercial shipping in the Gulf and helping to restart energy and trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
