Bermuda-based insurer and reinsurer Everest Group has reported 2023 combined ratios of 90.9% for the Group, 86.4% for reinsurance and 103% for insurance, as catastrophe losses fell to $451 million, and net investment income rose more than $600 million.
For the year 2023, cat losses came down from the $945 million reported in 2022, while the firm also booked net unfavourable reserve development of $5 million for the year.
Group-wide, Everest has reported $16.6 billion in gross written premium (GWP) with year-over-year growth of 20.9%, with expansion in both segments.
The Group’s net investment income increased over $600 million to $1.4 billion, with a strong operating cashflow for the year of $4.6 billion, both company records.
All in all, net income for the year increased from $597 million in 2022 to $2.5 billion in 2023, as the operating result rose from $1.1 billion to $2.8 billion.
For Q4 2023, GWP increased to $4.3 billion from $3.6 billion with year-on-year growth in both reinsurance and insurance.
The Q4 2023 combined ratio deteriorated from 87.8% to 93.2%, as catastrophe losses rose from $15 million in Q4 2022 to $143 million in Q4 2023.
Net income for the quarter totalled $804 million compared with $496 million a year earlier, as the operating result strengthened from $478 million to more than $1 billion.
In the firm’s reinsurance business, quarterly GWP grew 21.9% to $2.9 billion, with the growth being broad-based across geographies and lines.
Everest highlights 39.2% growth in property pro-rata, 23.3% growth in property catastrophe XOL, and 45.2% growth in property non-catastrophe XOL, when adjusting for reinstatement premiums, as pricing increases and a flight to quality continue globally.
There was a robust pricing momentum that continued in the fourth quarter, says the firm, with cat pricing up over 45% with improved terms and conditions.
“With the successful completion of January 1 renewals, we were able to fully deploy the remaining capital raised in May, as well as optimize our hedging strategy,” says the firm.
Net favorable prior-year development of $397 million was also booked in the quarter, primarily driven by a combination of well-seasoned mortgage and short-tail lines.
Within reinsurance, pre-tax net catastrophe losses amounted to $135 million compared with $10 million a year earlier.
The Q4 2023 reinsurance combined ratio strengthened from 86.8% to 78.8%.
In the insurance segment for Q4 2023, GWP rose to $1.4 billion, an 11.6% increase year-over-year, driven by a diversified mix of property and specialty lines, partially offset by lower written premiums in monoline workers’ compensation and financial lines, says the firm.
Pre-tax catastrophe losses were just $8 million, net of estimated recoveries and reinstatement premiums, relatively in line with the prior year.
However, with net reserve strengthening of $392 million, reflecting the firm’s proactive approach to casualty line reserves, which are impacted by well-defined social inflation factors, focused on accident years 2016 to 2019, the insurance combined ratio deteriorated from 90.5% in Q4 2022 to 132.4% in Q4 2023.
Juan C. Andrade, Everest President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Everest’s strong fourth quarter performance capped off an exceptional 2023, delivering record annual results in underwriting income, net investment income, operating income, net income, and cash flow from operations. We executed on our strategic objectives, while delivering an operating ROE of over 23% and a Total Shareholder Return of over 26% for the full year.
“2023 was the most profitable year in our history. The Everest of today is a stronger and more sophisticated company. We are delivering leading financial returns and we are on track to achieve the targets we set out at our most recent Investor Day. The strength and flexibility of our business was apparent in the fourth quarter as we continued to generate leading returns and further solidified our balance sheet.
“Everest has entered 2024 stronger and better positioned to take advantage of market opportunities in both franchises. This is evidenced by another well-executed and outstanding January 1 reinsurance renewal and improved primary pricing, generating excellent outcomes for our global portfolio. Looking ahead, we remain focused on achieving our strategic plan goals, with significant momentum across both businesses, and an exceptional team driving even greater value for our shareholders.”
