filings.toolsItem 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
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Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
I. OVERVIEW
During the second quarter 2024, The Progressive Corporation’s insurance subsidiaries recognized strong growth in both premiums and policies in force, compared to the same period last year, and generated an underwriting profit 4.1 points better than our 4% companywide calendar-year underwriting profit goal.
Net premiums written and earned increased 22% and 19%, respectively, during the second quarter 2024 compared to the same period last year, with all operating segments contributing to the growth. For the quarter, we generated $17.9 billion of net premiums written, which was an increase of $3.2 billion, compared to the second quarter 2023.
On a companywide basis, we ended the quarter with 32.3 million policies in force, which was 9% greater than the same period last year. During the first six months of 2024, we added 2.6 million policies in force companywide, with our personal auto products representing 2.0 million of the increase. Personal auto new business applications were up significantly from the second quarter last year, reflecting our continued efforts to focus on driving growth. During the quarter we increased our advertising spend, continued to unwind non-rate restrictions we put in place throughout 2023 to manage profitability, and worked closely with our independent agents to get back into their quote flows. We also focused on delivering competitive rates to consumers and had eight personal auto states with small rate decreases during the second quarter.
Profitability for the quarter was strong with our companywide combined ratio for the second quarter 2024 of 91.9, which was 8.5 points better than the second quarter last year. Our Personal and Commercial Lines businesses both generated an 88.6 combined ratio for the quarter, while the Property business generated an underwriting loss with a combined ratio of 166.3 that included catastrophe losses of 75.6 points.
Several factors contributed to the significant year-over-year improvement in our underwriting profit. The average earned premium per policy on our vehicle businesses were higher than the prior year second quarter, primarily due to the rate increases we took, during 2023, to meet our companywide profitability target.
In addition to rate increases, on a year-over-year basis for the second quarter, our incurred personal auto accident frequency decreased 8% and severity was relatively flat, which is an indication that severity trends are stabilizing. Also contributing to the profitability improvement was favorable prior accident years reserve development of 0.3 points in the second quarter 2024, compared to unfavorable development in the second quarter last year of 3.4 points.
Partially offsetting the favorable impact to profitability from the improved loss ratios, was an increase in our expense ratio of 2.5 points over the second quarter 2023. On a quarter-over-prior-year quarter basis, during the second quarter 2024, our advertising spend increased nearly 150%, which brought our year-to-date advertising costs to $1.6 billion, as we focused on maximizing growth. We will continue this focus as long as we remain on track to achieve our target profitability and generate sales at a cost below the maximum amount we are willing to spend to acquire a new customer.
The year-over-year increase in underwriting profitability was the primary contributor to the $1.1 billion increase in net income and the $1.7 billion increase in comprehensive income for the second quarter 2024. During the quarter, recurring investment income increased 51%, primarily due to investing new cash from operations and proceeds from maturing bonds in higher coupon rate securities. However, in the second quarter 2024, the portfolio recognized net realized losses on securities, compared to net realized gains in the same period last year, which more than offset the increase in the recurring investment income generated during the quarter.
In addition to the increases in net income, the increase in comprehensive income also reflected the decrease in the net unrealized losses on our fixed-maturity securities during the second quarter 2024, compared to the increase in unrealized losses during the second quarter last year. The change in the unrealized losses during both periods were primarily driven by the then-current economic environment.
Total capital (debt plus shareholders’ equity) at June 30, 2024, was $30.2 billion, which was up $3.0 billion from year-end 2023. During the first half of 2024, we earned $3.7 billion of comprehensive income, which was in part offset by the $0.5 billion redemption of all of our outstanding Serial Preferred Shares, Series B, during the first quarter, as discussed in further detail in Financial Condition below.
A. Insurance Operations
During the second quarter 2024, our Personal Lines and Commercial Lines businesses each generated an underwriting profit margin of 11.4%. Our Property operating segment recognized a 66.3% underwriting loss margin during the quarter, which included 75.6 points due to the significant losses incurred from catastrophic weather events.
Personal Lines is comprised of both our personal auto and special lines products, with the latter typically having higher losses during the warmer weather months, due to
the seasonal nature of these products (e.g., motorcycles, boats, and RVs). The special lines profitability had minimal impact to our total Personal Lines combined ratio during the second quarter 2024.
During the quarter, our vehicle businesses benefited from higher average earned premium per policy and lower incurred loss frequency trends, with Personal Lines also benefiting from lower incurred severity trends and favorable prior accident years reserve development.
As a result of the rate actions we took during 2023 to help achieve our target profit margin, we currently believe that, in most states, we are adequately priced in our personal auto and core commercial auto (which exclude our transportation network company (TNC) business, business owners’ policy (BOP), and Progressive Fleet & Specialty (previously referred to as Protective Insurance)) products. We have taken, and when necessary will continue to take, rate increases in our TNC business to address profitability issues. In our Property business, during the second quarter 2024, we increased rates about 4% countrywide, in the aggregate, which follows an increase of about 6% in the first quarter 2024 and an aggregate increase of about 17% on a trailing 12-month basis.
We will continue to monitor the factors that could impact our loss costs for both our vehicle and Property businesses, which may include new and used car prices, miles driven, driving patterns, loss severity, weather events, building materials, construction costs, inflation, and other components, on a state-by-state basis. We currently anticipate that aggregate vehicle rate changes throughout 2024 will be of lesser magnitude than those taken in each of the prior two years, but we will continue to evaluate our rate need and adjust rates as we deem necessary.
Throughout the second quarter 2024, we continued to lift the non-rate actions implemented last year in our vehicle businesses, in all but a few states, as our focus shifted from achieving our target profit margin to driving growth, delivering competitive rates to consumers, and providing an exceptional customer experience to our policyholders.
For the second quarter 2024, net premiums written grew 22%, compared to the second quarter last year, with all segments showing strong growth. Personal Lines net premiums written grew 26%, with the Agency and Direct distribution channels growing 22% and 29%, respectively. Commercial Lines net premiums written grew 6% and Property grew 11%. Changes in net premiums written are a function of new business applications (i.e., policies sold), business mix, premium per policy, and retention.
In the second quarter 2024, we experienced a significant increase in Personal Lines new business applications, primarily reflecting increased advertising spend, the reversal of the non-rate restrictions, and our efforts to get back into the independent agents’ quote flows. New personal auto applications increased 34% for the second
quarter 2024, compared to an increase of 37% in the second quarter last year and a decrease of 9% in the first quarter 2024.
New applications in our core commercial auto business increased 7% during the second quarter 2024, compared to the same period last year. Excluding the impact of the for-hire transportation business market target (BMT), which had a year-over-year decrease in new applications, our core commercial auto new application growth would have been 13% during the second quarter 2024. The for-hire transportation BMT continues to be adversely impacted by challenging freight market conditions that have caused a decline in the active number of motor carriers in this BMT.
New applications in the Property business were up 35% over the second quarter last year, driven by significant growth in our renters policies. In addition, we continued to focus on growing new business in less volatile weather states and home and auto bundles, as well as lower-risk properties, such as new construction or homes with newer roofs, in regions where our appetite to write new business is limited. Compared to the end of the second quarter last year, policies in force grew about 20% in the less volatile weather states and decreased about 6% in the coastal and hail-prone states.
During the second quarter 2024, on a year-over-year basis, average written premium per policy grew 11% in personal auto and 8% in core commercial auto, and was down 4% in Property. The growth in personal auto and commercial auto primarily reflected rate increases taken throughout 2023, that continued to be earned through the second quarter 2024. The rate increases taken in commercial auto were, in part, offset by a shift in the mix of business, primarily driven by decreased demand in our for-hire transportation BMT. The decrease in Property average written premium per policy reflected a shift in the mix of business as we continued to focus on growing in less volatile weather states. We are also seeing a mix shift towards more renters policies which have lower average written premiums. These mix shifts were partially offset by rate increases taken over the last 12 months and higher premium coverages reflecting increased property values. Given that our commercial auto and Property policies are predominately written for 12-month terms, rate actions take longer to earn in for these products.
We believe a key element in improving the accuracy of our rating is Snapshot®, our usage-based insurance offering. During the second quarter 2024, the adoption rates for consumers enrolling in the program decreased about 15% in Agency auto and increased about 5% in Direct auto, compared to the second quarter 2023. The decrease in the Agency auto adoption rate primarily reflected a shift in the mix of agencies through which we wrote new business during the second quarter 2024, as a result of the rate and non-rate actions implemented after the first quarter 2023. As we continue to relax restrictions on new business and get back into the independent agents’ quote flows, we
expect the mix of agencies where we write new business will begin to shift in the direction of the agency mix that was in place prior to the implementation of those restrictions. Snapshot is available in all states, other than California, and our latest segmentation model was available in states that represented about 70% of our countrywide personal auto premium at June 30, 2024. We continue to invest in our mobile application, with mobile devices being chosen for Snapshot monitoring for the majority of new enrollments.
We realize that to grow policies in force, it is critical that we retain our customers for longer periods. Consequently, increasing retention continues to be one of our most important priorities. Our efforts to increase our share of Progressive auto and home bundled households (i.e., Robinsons) remains a key initiative and we plan to continue to make investments to improve the customer experience in order to support that goal. Policy life expectancy, which is our actuarial estimate of the average length of time that a policy will remain in force before cancellation or lapse in coverage, is our primary measure of customer retention in our Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Property businesses.
We evaluate total personal auto retention using a trailing 12-month and a trailing 3-month policy life expectancy. Although the latter can reflect more volatility and is more sensitive to seasonality, this measure is more responsive to current experience and may be an indicator for the future trend of our 12-month measure. As of the end of the second quarter 2024, our trailing 12-month total personal auto policy life expectancy increased 9%, compared to last year. The Agency and Direct channels trailing 12-month measure was up 18% and 2%, respectively. As of the end of the second quarter 2024, we saw improvement in our trailing 12-month policy life expectancy on a year-over-year basis for each of the last trailing 12 months. We believe the 12-month measure was positively impacted by a shift in the mix of business, in addition to our competitiveness in the marketplace throughout 2023, following the rate increases that we took in 2022 ahead of many of our competitors. However, our total personal auto trailing 3-month policy life expectancy was down 5% at the end of the second quarter 2024, due to rate and non-rate actions put in place throughout 2023, compared to the 40% increase experienced in the same period last year, which we believe reflected our competitiveness in the marketplace in the prior year. Our trailing 3-month policy life expectancy was flat compared to the first quarter 2024.
At the end of the second quarter 2024, our trailing 12-month policy life expectancy increased 3% in special lines, 5% in Property, and decreased 19% in Commercial Lines, compared to the same period last year. The decrease in Commercial Lines policy life expectancy in all BMTs, reflected rate and non-rate actions taken in 2023 to achieve our target profitability, as well as the continued decrease in demand in the for-hire transportation BMT.
B. Investments
The fair value of our investment portfolio was $72.4 billion at June 30, 2024, compared to $66.0 billion at December 31, 2023. The increase from year-end 2023 primarily reflected cash flows from operations, in part offset by the redemption of all of our outstanding Serial Preferred Shares, Series B, and the payment of our annual variable common share dividends.
Our asset allocation strategy is to maintain 0%-25% of our portfolio in Group I securities, with the balance (75%-100%) of our portfolio in Group II securities (the securities allocated to Group I and II are defined below under Results of Operations – Investments). At both June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, 7% of our portfolio was allocated to Group I securities with the remainder to Group II securities.
Our recurring investment income generated a pretax book yield of 3.9% for the second quarter 2024, compared to 3.1% for the same period in 2023. The increase from prior year primarily reflected investing new cash from operations, and proceeds from maturing bonds, in higher coupon rate securities. Our investment portfolio produced a fully taxable equivalent (FTE) total return of 0.9% and 0% for the second quarter 2024 and 2023, respectively. Our fixed-income and common stock portfolios had FTE total returns of 0.8% and 3.6%, respectively, for the second quarter 2024, compared to (0.4)% and 9.0%, respectively, last year. The increase in the fixed-income portfolio FTE total return, compared to last year, primarily reflected movements in Treasury yields year-over-year. The decrease in the common stock portfolio total return reflected general market conditions in the respective periods.
At June 30, 2024, the fixed-income portfolio had a weighted average credit quality of AA- and a duration of 3.2 years, compared to AA and 2.9 years at June 30, 2023 and AA- and 3.0 years at December 31, 2023. Our decrease in weighted average credit quality compared to June 30, 2023, was mainly due to a second major credit rating agency downgrading U.S. Treasury debt to AA+ from AAA during the third quarter 2023, which led us to lower our U.S. Treasury positions to AA+. During 2024, our duration was increased to take advantage of higher yields in the market.
At June 30, 2024, we continued to maintain a relatively conservative investment portfolio with a greater allocation to cash and treasuries. We believe that this portfolio allocation, coupled with a lack of maturities of our outstanding debt until 2027, positions us well to benefit from a higher interest rate environment. We also believe that we are in a very strong position to face the current dynamic operating and investment marketplaces as we move into the third quarter of 2024.
II. FINANCIAL CONDITION
A. Liquidity and Capital Resources
Progressive’s insurance operations create liquidity by collecting and investing premiums from new and renewal business in advance of paying claims. As primarily an auto insurer, our claims liabilities generally have a short-term duration.
Operations generated positive cash flows of $7.5 billion and $4.8 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase in operating cash flow for the first six months of 2024, compared to 2023, was primarily driven by the growth in profit from our underwriting operations. We believe cash flows will remain positive in the reasonably foreseeable future and do not expect we will have a need to raise capital to support our operations in that timeframe, although changes in market or regulatory conditions affecting the insurance industry, or other unforeseen events, may necessitate otherwise.
As of June 30, 2024, we held $41.6 billion in short-term investments and U.S. Treasury securities, which represented nearly 60% of our total portfolio. Based on our portfolio allocation and investment strategies, we believe that we have sufficient readily available marketable securities to cover our claims payments and short-term obligations in the event our cash flows from operations were to be negative. See Item 1A, Risk Factors in our Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2023, for a discussion of certain matters that may affect our portfolio and capital position.
Our total capital (debt plus shareholders’ equity) was $30.2 billion, based on book value, at June 30, 2024, compared to $23.6 billion at June 30, 2023, and $27.2 billion at December 31, 2023. The increase from December primarily reflected the comprehensive income recognized during the first six months of 2024, mainly driven by our underwriting profitability, partially offset by the redemption of all of the outstanding Serial Preferred Shares, Series B. During the first quarter 2024, we redeemed all of the outstanding Serial Preferred Shares, Series B, at the stated amount of $1,000 per share, for an aggregate payout of $507.8 million, including accrued and unpaid dividends to, but excluding February 22, 2024, which was the redemption date. Our debt-to-total capital ratio was 22.8% at June 30, 2024, 29.2% at June 30, 2023, and 25.4% at December 31, 2023.
Our financial policies include a goal of maintaining debt below 30% of total capital at book value. While we are comfortably below that target at June 30, 2024, we recognize that various factors, including rising interest rates, widening credit spreads, declines in the equity markets, or erosion in operating results, may result in that ratio exceeding 30% at times. In such a situation, we may choose to remain above 30% for some time, dependent
upon market conditions and the capital needs of our operating businesses. We will continue to monitor this ratio, market conditions, and our capital needs going forward.
None of the covenants on our outstanding debt securities include rating or credit triggers that would require an adjustment of interest rates or an acceleration of principal payments in the event that our debt securities are downgraded by a rating agency. In April 2024, we renewed the unsecured discretionary line of credit (the Line of Credit) with PNC Bank, National Association, in the maximum principal amount of $300 million. We did not engage in short-term borrowings, including any borrowings under our Line of Credit, to fund our operations or for liquidity purposes during the reported periods.
During the first six months of 2024, we returned capital to shareholders primarily through common share dividends and common share repurchases. Our Board of Directors declared a $0.10 per common share dividend in both the first and second quarters of 2024. These dividends, which were each $58.6 million in the aggregate, were paid in April 2024 and July 2024. In January 2024, we also paid common share dividends declared in the fourth quarter 2023, in the aggregate amount of $497.9 million, or $0.85 per share (see Note 9 – Dividends for further discussion).
Consistent with our financial policies, we repurchase common shares to neutralize dilution from equity-based compensation granted during the year and opportunistically when we believe our shares are trading below our determination of long-term fair value. During the first six months of 2024, we repurchased 0.3 million common shares, at a total cost of $48.0 million, including 0.1 million shares in the second quarter 2024, both in the open market and to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of equity awards under our equity compensation plans. We will continue to make decisions on returning capital to shareholders based on the strength of our overall capital position, the capital strength of our subsidiaries, and potential capital needs to expand our business operations.
At June 30, 2024, we had $4.1 billion in a consolidated, non-insurance subsidiary of the holding company that can be used to fund corporate obligations and provide additional capital to the insurance subsidiaries to fund potential future growth. As of June 30, 2024, our estimated consolidated statutory surplus was $24.8 billion.
During the first six months of 2024, our contractual obligations and critical accounting policies have not changed materially from those discussed in our 2023 Annual Report to Shareholders. During the second quarter 2024, we increased our noncancellable purchase obligation commitments for reinsurance contracts by $352.0 million, primarily related to the renewal of our catastrophe excess of loss per occurrence reinsurance program, bringing our total commitments related to reinsurance contracts to $384.1 million at June 30, 2024. There have not been any other material changes in off-balance-sheet leverage, which includes purchase obligations, from those discussed in our 2023 Annual Report to Shareholders.
We seek to deploy capital in a prudent manner and use multiple data sources and modeling tools to estimate the frequency, severity, and correlation of identified exposures, including, but not limited to, catastrophic and other insured losses, natural disasters, and other significant business interruptions, to estimate our potential capital needs.
Based upon our capital planning and forecasting efforts, we believe we have sufficient capital resources and cash flows from operations to support our current business, scheduled principal and interest payments on our debt, anticipated quarterly dividends on our common shares, our contractual obligations, and other expected capital requirements for the foreseeable future.
Nevertheless, we may decide to raise additional capital to take advantage of attractive terms in the market and provide additional financial flexibility. We currently have an effective shelf registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission so that we may periodically offer and sell an indeterminate aggregate amount of senior or subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, depository shares, common stock, purchase contracts, warrants, and units. The shelf registration enables us to raise funds from the offering of any securities covered by the shelf registration as well as any combination thereof, subject to market conditions.
III. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – UNDERWRITING
A. Segment Overview
We report our underwriting operations in three segments: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Property. As a component of our Personal Lines segment, we report our Agency and Direct business results to provide further understanding of our products by distribution channel.
The following table shows the composition of our companywide net premiums written, by segment, for the respective periods:
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal Lines | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Agency | 37 | % | 38 | % | 36 | % | 36 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Direct | 44 | 41 | 43 | 41 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total Personal Lines1 | 81 | 79 | 79 | 77 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial Lines | 14 | 16 | 17 | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Property | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total underwriting operations | 100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % |
1 Personal auto products accounted for 92% of the total Personal Lines segment net premiums written during the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, and 94% and 93% during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively; our special lines products accounted for the balance.
Our Personal Lines business writes insurance for personal autos and special lines products (e.g., motorcycles, RVs, watercraft, and snowmobiles). Within Personal Lines, we often refer to our four consumer segments:
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Sam - inconsistently insured;
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Diane - consistently insured and maybe a renter;
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Wrights - homeowners who do not bundle auto and home; and
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Robinsons - homeowners who bundle auto and home.
While our personal auto policies primarily have 6-month terms, we write 12-month auto policies in our Platinum agencies to promote bundled auto and home growth. At June 30, 2024 and 2023, 13% and 14%, respectively, of our Agency auto policies in force were 12-month policies. To the extent our Agency application mix of annual policies grows, the shift in policy term could increase our written premium mix in the Agency channel as 12-month policies have about twice the amount of net premiums written compared to 6-month policies. Our special lines products are written for 12-month terms.
Our Commercial Lines business writes auto-related liability and physical damage insurance, business-related general liability and property insurance predominately for small businesses, and workers’ compensation insurance primarily for the transportation industry. Our Commercial Lines business operates in the following five traditional business market targets (BMT):
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business auto;
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for-hire transportation;
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contractor;
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for-hire specialty; and
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tow.
Within Commercial Lines, we refer to these BMTs as our core commercial auto business. In addition to the core commercial auto business, Commercial Lines writes TNC, Progressive Fleet & Specialty (formerly referred to as Protective Insurance), and BOP products.
At June 30, 2024, about 90% of Commercial Lines policies in force had 12-month terms. The majority of our Commercial Lines business is written through the independent agency channel although we continue to focus on growing our direct business. To serve our direct channel customers, we continue to expand our product offerings, including adding states where we offer our BOP product, as well as adding these product offerings to our digital
platform that serves direct small business consumers (BusinessQuote Explorer®). Our core commercial auto business written through the direct channel represented 11% and 10% of our total core commercial auto premiums written for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Our Property business writes residential property insurance for homeowners, other property owners, and renters, and umbrella insurance. Just over three-fourths of our Property business is generated through the independent agency channel with the balance in the direct channel. All of our Property policies have 12-month terms.
B. Profitability
Profitability for our underwriting operations is defined by pretax underwriting profit or loss, which is calculated as net premiums earned plus fees and other revenues less losses and loss adjustment expenses, policy acquisition costs, and other underwriting expenses. We also use underwriting margin, which is underwriting profit or loss expressed as a percentage of net premiums earned, to analyze our results. For the respective periods, our underwriting profitability results were as follows:
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting Profit (Loss) | Underwriting Profit (Loss) | Underwriting Profit (Loss) | Underwriting Profit (Loss) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) | $ | Margin | $ | Margin | $ | Margin | $ | Margin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal Lines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Agency | $ | 788.5 | 12.7 | % | $ | (71.2) | (1.4) | % | $ | 1,739.2 | 14.4 | % | $ | 91.4 | 0.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Direct | 782.7 | 10.3 | 126.5 | 2.0 | 1,826.3 | 12.5 | 104.4 | 0.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Personal Lines | 1,571.2 | 11.4 | 55.3 | 0.5 | 3,565.5 | 13.4 | 195.8 | 0.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial Lines | 303.8 | 11.4 | 87.2 | 3.6 | 512.8 | 9.8 | 124.4 | 2.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property | (487.8) | (66.3) | (206.8) | (33.2) | (440.9) | (30.4) | (239.5) | (19.6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other indemnity1 | (0.6) | NM | 0 | NM | (0.9) | NM | (3.4) | NM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total underwriting operations | $ | 1,386.6 | 8.1 | % | $ | (64.3) | (0.4) | % | $ | 3,636.5 | 10.9 | % | $ | 77.3 | 0.3 | % |
1 Underwriting margins for our other indemnity businesses are not meaningful (NM) due to the low level of premiums earned by, and the variability of loss costs in, such businesses.
Several factors contributed to the significant increase in underwriting profit for the three and six months ended
June 30, 2024, compared to the same periods in 2023. As a result of the rate increases we took throughout 2023, our personal and core commercial auto average written premium per policy were up 11% and 8%, respectively, for the second quarter 2024, and up 12% and 9% for the first half of 2024.
Also, on a year-over-year basis for the second quarter and first six months of 2024, our incurred personal auto accident frequency was down 8%, compared to the same periods last year when our frequency trend was relatively flat. Severity was relatively flat for the second quarter and first six months of 2024, compared to the prior year periods when personal auto incurred severity was up 12% and 11%, respectively. With personal auto severity trends stabilizing, our loss costs have been less volatile.
In addition, we experienced favorable prior accident year reserve development year-to-date in 2024, compared to unfavorable prior year development for the same period last year. During the second quarter and first six months of 2024, we recognized 0.3 points and 0.2 points, respectively, of favorable prior accident years development, compared to unfavorable development of 3.4 points and 4.0 points during the same periods last year.
Partially offsetting the factors that favorably impacted our underwriting results for the second quarter 2024, was an increase in our companywide expense ratio of 2.5 points, compared to the same period last year, due in large part to a 147% increase in advertising spend during the quarter. We increased our media spend to maximize growth and will continue to do so as long as we remain on track to achieve our target profitability.
See the Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses (LAE) section below for further discussion of our frequency and severity trends, reserve development, and catastrophe losses incurred during the periods.
Further underwriting results for our Personal Lines business, including results by distribution channel, the Commercial Lines business, the Property business, and our underwriting operations in total, were as follows:
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting Performance****1 | 2024 | 2023 | Change | 2024 | 2023 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal Lines – Agency | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss & loss adjustment expense ratio | 69.2 | 83.5 | (14.3) | 67.6 | 80.8 | (13.2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting expense ratio | 18.1 | 17.9 | 0.2 | 18.0 | 18.3 | (0.3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Combined ratio | 87.3 | 101.4 | (14.1) | 85.6 | 99.1 | (13.5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal Lines – Direct | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss & loss adjustment expense ratio | 71.0 | 84.9 | (13.9) | 69.5 | 82.4 | (12.9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting expense ratio | 18.7 | 13.1 | 5.6 | 18.0 | 16.7 | 1.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Combined ratio | 89.7 | 98.0 | (8.3) | 87.5 | 99.1 | (11.6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Personal Lines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss & loss adjustment expense ratio | 70.2 | 84.2 | (14.0) | 68.6 | 81.7 | (13.1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting expense ratio | 18.4 | 15.3 | 3.1 | 18.0 | 17.4 | 0.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Combined ratio | 88.6 | 99.5 | (10.9) | 86.6 | 99.1 | (12.5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial Lines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss & loss adjustment expense ratio | 69.6 | 77.2 | (7.6) | 71.0 | 76.8 | (5.8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting expense ratio | 19.0 | 19.2 | (0.2) | 19.2 | 20.6 | (1.4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Combined ratio | 88.6 | 96.4 | (7.8) | 90.2 | 97.4 | (7.2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss & loss adjustment expense ratio | 137.4 | 105.6 | 31.8 | 101.6 | 90.8 | 10.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting expense ratio | 28.9 | 27.6 | 1.3 | 28.8 | 28.8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Combined ratio | 166.3 | 133.2 | 33.1 | 130.4 | 119.6 | 10.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Underwriting Operations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss & loss adjustment expense ratio | 72.9 | 83.9 | (11.0) | 70.4 | 81.2 | (10.8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting expense ratio | 19.0 | 16.5 | 2.5 | 18.7 | 18.5 | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Combined ratio | 91.9 | 100.4 | (8.5) | 89.1 | 99.7 | (10.6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accident year – Loss & loss adjustment expense ratio2 | 73.2 | 80.5 | (7.3) | 70.6 | 77.2 | (6.6) |
1 Ratios are expressed as a percentage of net premiums earned. Fees and other revenues are netted against either loss adjustment expenses or underwriting expenses in the ratio calculations, based on the underlying activity that generated the revenue.
2 The accident year ratios include only the losses that occurred during the period noted. As a result, accident period results will change over time, either favorably or unfavorably, as we revise our estimates of loss costs when payments are made or reserves for that accident period are reviewed.
Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses (LAE)
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Change in net loss and LAE reserves | $ | 1,911.1 | $ | 1,963.6 | $ | 2,490.0 | $ | 2,888.8 | |||||||||||||||
| Paid losses and LAE | 10,684.2 | 10,206.5 | 21,076.9 | 19,905.3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total incurred losses and LAE | $ | 12,595.3 | $ | 12,170.1 | $ | 23,566.9 | $ | 22,794.1 |
Claims costs, our most significant expense, represent payments made and estimated future payments to be made, to or on behalf of our policyholders, including expenses needed to adjust or settle claims. Claims costs are a function of loss severity and frequency and, for our vehicle businesses, are influenced by inflation and driving patterns, among other factors, some of which are discussed below. In our Property business, severity is primarily a function of construction costs and the age and complexity of the structure, among other factors. Accordingly, anticipated changes in these factors are taken into account when we establish premium rates and loss reserves. Loss reserves are estimates of future costs and our reserves are adjusted as underlying assumptions change and information develops.
Our total loss and LAE ratio decreased 11.0 points for the second quarter 2024, compared to the same period last year, and 10.8 points on a year-to-date basis, primarily due to a decrease in loss frequency, relatively flat personal auto severity, higher vehicle premium per policy, and favorable prior accident years reserve development in 2024, compared to unfavorable development in the first half of last year. On an accident year basis, our loss and LAE ratio was 7.3 points and 6.6 points lower for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, compared to the same periods last year.
The following table shows our consolidated catastrophe losses and related combined ratio point impact, excluding loss adjustment expenses, incurred during the periods:
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) | $ | Point****1 | $ | Point****1 | $ | Point****1 | $ | Point****1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal Lines | $ | 686.8 | 5.0 | $ | 590.7 | 5.2 | $ | 887.0 | 3.3 | $ | 682.8 | 3.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial Lines | 25.9 | 1.0 | 18.9 | 0.8 | 34.8 | 0.7 | 22.4 | 0.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property | 556.6 | 75.6 | 415.0 | 66.7 | 694.0 | 47.9 | 560.3 | 45.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total net catastrophe losses incurred | $ | 1,269.3 | 7.4 | $ | 1,024.6 | 7.1 | $ | 1,615.8 | 4.8 | $ | 1,265.5 | 4.5 |
1 Represents catastrophe losses incurred during the period, including the impact of reinsurance, as a percent of net premiums earned for each segment.
In the second quarter 2024, our catastrophe losses reflected severe weather events throughout the United States, with nearly 40% of the storm losses in Texas. Weather events in Florida, Colorado, Missouri, and Nebraska contributed about another 30% to the total catastrophe losses for the quarter. We have responded, and plan to continue to respond, promptly to catastrophic events when they occur in order to provide high-quality claims service to our customers.
Changes in our estimate of our ultimate losses on catastrophes currently reserved, along with potential future catastrophes, could have a material impact on our financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations. We reinsure various risks including, but not limited to, catastrophic losses. We do not have catastrophe-specific reinsurance for our Personal Lines or commercial auto businesses, but we reinsure portions of our Property business. The Property business reinsurance programs include catastrophe per occurrence excess of loss contracts and aggregate excess of loss contracts. We also purchase excess of loss reinsurance on our workers’ compensation insurance and our higher-
limit commercial auto liability product offered by our Progressive Fleet & Specialty business.
We evaluate our reinsurance programs during the renewal process, if not more frequently, to ensure our programs continue to effectively address the company’s risk tolerance. During the second quarter 2024, we entered into new reinsurance contracts under our per occurrence excess of loss program for our Property business. The reinsurance program has a retention threshold for losses and allocated loss adjustment expenses (ALAE) from a single catastrophic event of $200 million. In general, our program includes coverage for $2.0 billion in losses and ALAE with additional substantial coverage for a second or third hurricane. When including the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund that is specific to Florida, this coverage reaches an estimated $2.3 billion.
For 2024, we also entered into a new catastrophe aggregate excess of loss reinsurance contract that has multiple layers of coverage, with the first retention layer threshold ranging from $450 million to $475 million, excluding named tropical storms and hurricanes, and the second retention layer threshold of $525 million, including named tropical
storms and hurricanes. The first and second layers provide coverage up to $85 million and $100 million, respectively.
As of the end of the second quarter 2024, we estimate that, based on the particular contract, we were about $3 million to $40 million below the annual retention thresholds under the first coverage layer of our 2024 catastrophe aggregate excess of loss program. Once the retention thresholds are exceeded, we have reinsurance coverage up to $85 million for non-named storm property catastrophe losses, under our first layer of coverage, with $100 million of additional coverage available under a second layer that also covers named storms to a certain extent.
While the total coverage limit and per-event retention will evolve to fit the growth of our business, we expect to remain a consistent purchaser of reinsurance coverage. While the availability of reinsurance is subject to many forces outside of our control, the types of reinsurance that we elected to purchase during the first half of 2024 were readily available and competitively priced. On a year-over-year basis, we did not incur a material change in the aggregate costs of our reinsurance programs. See Item 1A, Risk Factors in our 2023 Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, for the year ended December 31, 2023, for a discussion of certain risks related to catastrophe events and the potential impact of climate change. See Item 1, Business – Reinsurance on Form 10-K for a discussion of our various reinsurance programs.
The following discussion of our severity and frequency trends in our personal auto business excludes comprehensive coverage because of its inherent volatility, as it is typically linked to catastrophic losses generally resulting from adverse weather. For our core commercial auto products, the reported frequency and severity trends include comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage insures against damage to a customer’s vehicle due to various causes other than collision, such as windstorm, hail, theft, falling objects, and glass breakage.
Total personal auto incurred severity (i.e., average cost per claim, including both paid losses and the change in case reserves) growth on a calendar-year basis, over the prior-year period, was as follows:
| Growth Over Prior Year | |||||||||||
| Quarter | Year-to-date | ||||||||||
| Coverage Type | 2024 | 2024 | |||||||||
| Bodily injury | 3 | % | 4 | % | |||||||
| Collision | (3) | (2) | |||||||||
| Personal injury protection | (6) | (1) | |||||||||
| Property damage | (1) | 1 | |||||||||
| Total | (1) | 1 |
To address inherent seasonality trends and lessen the effects of month-to-month variability in the commercial auto products, we use a trailing 12-month period in assessing severity. Through the second quarter 2024, our core commercial auto products’ incurred severity increased 5%, compared to the same period last year. Since the loss patterns in the non-core commercial auto businesses are not indicative of our other commercial auto products, disclosing severity and frequency trends excluding those businesses is more representative of our overall experience for the majority of our commercial products.
It is a challenge to estimate future severity, but we continue to monitor changes in the underlying costs, such as general inflation, used car prices, vehicle repair costs, medical costs, health care reform, court decisions, and jury verdicts, along with regulatory changes and other factors that may affect severity.
Total personal auto incurred frequency growth, on a calendar-year basis, over the prior-year period, was as follows:
| Growth Over Prior Year | |||||||||||
| Quarter | Year-to-date | ||||||||||
| Coverage Type | 2024 | 2024 | |||||||||
| Bodily injury | (5) | % | (7) | % | |||||||
| Collision | (11) | (11) | |||||||||
| Personal injury protection | (7) | (8) | |||||||||
| Property damage | (6) | (7) | |||||||||
| Total | (8) | (8) |
The year-over-year decrease in frequency, in part, reflects a shift in the mix of business to a more preferred tier of customers and underwriting actions taken to reduce new business during 2023.
On a trailing 12-month basis, our core commercial auto products’ incurred frequency decreased 3% during the second quarter 2024, compared to the same period last year.
We closely monitor changes in frequency, but the degree or direction of near-term frequency change is not something that we are able to predict with any certainty. We will continue to analyze trends to distinguish changes in our experience from other external factors, such as changes in the number of vehicles per household, miles driven, vehicle usage, gasoline prices, advances in vehicle safety, and unemployment rates, versus those resulting from shifts in the mix of our business or changes in driving patterns, to allow us to react quickly to price for these trends and to reserve more accurately for our loss exposures.
The table below presents the actuarial adjustments implemented and the loss reserve development experienced on a companywide basis in the following periods:
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Actuarial Adjustments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reserve decrease (increase) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prior accident years | $ | (55.2) | $ | (206.9) | $ | (118.5) | $ | (206.6) | |||||||||||||||
| Current accident year | (16.8) | (283.5) | 15.9 | (424.3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Calendar-year actuarial adjustments | $ | (72.0) | $ | (490.4) | $ | (102.6) | $ | (630.9) | |||||||||||||||
| Prior Accident Years Development | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Favorable (unfavorable) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Actuarial adjustments | $ | (55.2) | $ | (206.9) | $ | (118.5) | $ | (206.6) | |||||||||||||||
| All other development | 106.3 | (282.4) | 181.0 | (903.9) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total development | $ | 51.1 | $ | (489.3) | $ | 62.5 | $ | (1,110.5) | |||||||||||||||
| (Increase) decrease to calendar-year combined ratio | 0.3 | pts. | (3.4) | pts. | 0.2 | pts. | (4.0) | pts. |
Total development consists of both actuarial adjustments and “all other development” on prior accident years. We use “accident year” generically to represent the year in which a loss occurred. The actuarial adjustments represent the net changes made by our actuarial staff to both current and prior accident year reserves based on regularly scheduled reviews. Through these reviews, our actuaries identify and measure variances in the projected frequency and severity trends, which allow them to adjust the reserves to reflect current cost trends.
For our Property business, 100% of catastrophe losses are reviewed monthly, and any development on catastrophe reserves are included as part of the actuarial adjustments. For the Personal Lines and Commercial Lines businesses, development for catastrophe losses in the vehicle businesses would be reflected in “all other development,” discussed below, to the extent they relate to prior year reserves. We report these actuarial adjustments separately for the current and prior accident years to reflect these adjustments as part of the total prior accident years development.
“All other development” represents claims settling for more or less than reserved, emergence of unrecorded claims at rates different than anticipated in our incurred but not recorded (IBNR) reserves, and changes in reserve estimates on specific claims. Although we believe the development from both the actuarial adjustments and “all other development” generally results from the same factors, we are unable to quantify the portion of the reserve development that might be applicable to any one or more of those underlying factors.
Our objective is to establish case and IBNR reserves that are adequate to cover all loss costs, while incurring minimal variation from the date the reserves are initially established until losses are fully developed. Our ability to meet this objective is impacted by many factors, such as, changes in case law and storms occurring close to quarter end.
As reflected in the table above, we experienced slightly favorable prior accident years development during the first half of 2024, compared to unfavorable prior accident years development for the same periods last year. The favorable development during the first half of 2024 was, in part, due to lower than anticipated personal auto frequency in Florida following tort reform that passed in the first quarter 2023 and lower than anticipated property damage severity across the majority of states. This was partially offset by higher than anticipated severity in core commercial auto for California and New York.
For the first half of 2023, about 80% of the unfavorable development was in our personal auto products, primarily driven by higher than anticipated severity and increases in incurred losses on previously closed claims, and the impact of the legislation enacted in March 2023 in Florida that resulted in a significant number of lawsuits being filed prior to its effective date. In Commercial Lines, the unfavorable development for the first half of 2023 was mainly due to late reported claims from prior accident periods and changes in reserve estimates (e.g., aging of the reserves, changes to estimates by adjusters, and inflation factors) in our core commercial auto products.
See Note 6 – Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves, for a more detailed discussion of our prior accident years reserve development and Critical Accounting Policies in our 2023 Annual Report to Shareholders for discussion of the application of estimates and assumptions in the establishment of our loss reserves.
Underwriting Expenses
Underwriting expenses include policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses. The underwriting expense ratio is our underwriting expenses, net of certain fees and other revenues, expressed as a percentage of net premiums earned. For the second quarter 2024, our underwriting expense ratio was up 2.5 points, compared to the same period last year, and up 0.2 points on a year-to-date basis. Both increases were primarily driven by increases in our advertising spend, partially offset by growth in net
premiums earned. In total, our companywide advertising spend increased 147%, or 2.7 points, in the second quarter 2024, and 44%, or 0.8 points, for the first half of 2024, compared to the same periods last year.
For the first six months of 2024, our total companywide advertising costs were $1.6 billion, which is equal to the amount of advertising spend for the full year of 2023. As previously discussed, we increased our media spend to maximize growth and will continue to do so as long as we remain on track to achieve our target profitability and generate sales at a cost below the maximum amount we are willing to spend to acquire a new customer.
To analyze underwriting expenses, we also review our non-acquisition expense ratio (NAER), which excludes costs related to policy acquisition (e.g., advertising and agency
commissions) from our underwriting expense ratio. By excluding acquisition costs from our underwriting expense ratio, we are able to understand costs other than those necessary to acquire new policies and grow the business.
During the second quarter 2024, our NAER was flat in Personal Lines, increased 0.1 points in Commercial Lines, and increased 0.9 points in Property, compared to the same period last year. The increase in our Property NAER primarily reflected additional investments we made during the quarter in underwriting and pricing functions as we continue to focus on rebalancing our Property product offerings. On a year-to-date basis, our NAER decreased 0.3 points and 0.7 points in our Personal Lines and Commercial Lines businesses, respectively, and increased 0.3 points in our Property business, compared to the same period last year. We remain committed to efficiently managing operational non-acquisition expenses.
C. Growth
For our underwriting operations, we analyze growth in terms of both premiums and policies. Net premiums written represent the premiums from policies written during the period, less any premiums ceded to reinsurers. Net premiums earned, which are a function of the premiums written in the current and prior periods, are earned as revenue over the life of the policy using a daily earnings convention. Policies in force, our preferred measure of growth since it removes the variability due to rate changes or mix shifts, represents all policies for which coverage was in effect as of the end of the period specified.
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | % Growth | 2024 | 2023 | % Growth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Premiums Written | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal Lines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Agency | $ | 6,733.9 | $ | 5,533.7 | 22 | % | $ | 13,132.7 | $ | 10,948.1 | 20 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Direct | 7,828.1 | 6,066.4 | 29 | 15,910.2 | 12,765.2 | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Personal Lines | 14,562.0 | 11,600.1 | 26 | 29,042.9 | 23,713.3 | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial Lines | 2,508.5 | 2,366.4 | 6 | 6,256.2 | 5,733.3 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property | 830.9 | 750.3 | 11 | 1,564.3 | 1,379.7 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other indemnity1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 33 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total underwriting operations | $ | 17,901.6 | $ | 14,716.9 | 22 | % | $ | 36,863.8 | $ | 30,826.6 | 20 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Premiums Earned | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal Lines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Agency | $ | 6,213.4 | $ | 5,207.2 | 19 | % | $ | 12,071.1 | $ | 10,067.4 | 20 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Direct | 7,595.5 | 6,180.7 | 23 | 14,616.0 | 11,898.1 | 23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Personal Lines | 13,808.9 | 11,387.9 | 21 | 26,687.1 | 21,965.5 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial Lines | 2,664.5 | 2,454.1 | 9 | 5,221.9 | 4,810.2 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property | 735.9 | 622.3 | 18 | 1,448.7 | 1,221.0 | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other indemnity1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.4 | 0.8 | (50) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total underwriting operations | $ | 17,209.5 | $ | 14,464.4 | 19 | % | $ | 33,358.1 | $ | 27,997.5 | 19 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Includes other underwriting business and run-off operations. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| June 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | % Growth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Policies in Force | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal Lines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Agency auto | 8,964.8 | 8,437.8 | 6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Direct auto | 12,576.8 | 11,220.5 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total auto | 21,541.6 | 19,658.3 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Special lines1 | 6,311.8 | 5,843.1 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal Lines – total | 27,853.4 | 25,501.4 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial Lines | 1,117.6 | 1,101.1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property | 3,339.1 | 2,974.3 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Companywide total | 32,310.1 | 29,576.8 | 9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Includes insurance for motorcycles, RVs, watercraft, snowmobiles, and similar items. |
To analyze growth, we review new policies, rate levels, and the retention characteristics of our segments. Although new policies are necessary to maintain a growing book of business, we recognize the importance of retaining our current customers as a critical component of our continued growth.
D. Personal Lines
The following table shows our year-over-year changes for our Personal Lines business:
| Growth Over Prior Year | |||||||||||||||||
| Quarter | Year-to-date | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Applications | |||||||||||||||||
| New | 29 | % | 31 | % | 10 | % | 49 | % | |||||||||
| Renewal | 8 | 7 | 9 | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Total | 13 | 12 | 9 | 12 | |||||||||||||
| Written premium per policy - Auto | 11 | 7 | 12 | 8 | |||||||||||||
| Policy life expectancy - Auto | |||||||||||||||||
| Trailing 3 months | (5) | 40 | |||||||||||||||
| Trailing 12 months | 9 | 1 |
In our Personal Lines business, we experienced significant year-over-year new application growth in the second quarter 2024. The increase in new applications during the second quarter and first six months of 2024, was driven by both our personal auto and special lines products, with increases in each of our four consumer segments. We believe the increase in new applications was driven by the continued lifting of non-rate underwriting restrictions that were put in place to slow new business growth in 2023 to achieve our calendar-year underwriting profitability goal, price competitiveness in the marketplace, and, in the Direct business, a significant increase in our media spend.
Personal auto policies in force across all consumer segments grew in the second quarter 2024 between 3% and 14%, compared to the same period last year.
During the first six months of 2024, on a countrywide basis, we had aggregate rate increases of 2%, following the 19% rate increases taken during 2023. We continue to see the 2023 rate increases earn into the policies and contribute to our growth in written premium per policy. We currently anticipate that any rate changes throughout 2024 will be of lesser magnitude than those taken in each of the prior two years, and we will continue to adjust rates as we deem necessary.
We will continue to manage growth and profitability in accordance with our long-standing goal of growing as fast as we can, as long as we can provide high-quality customer service, at or below a companywide 96 combined ratio on a calendar-year basis. Given the solid underwriting profitability we generated during the first half of 2024, we took measures that we believe will position us to accelerate profitable growth during the year, including continuing to lift the non-rate actions we put in place during 2023 to slow new business growth, and increasing our media spend.
We report our Agency and Direct business results separately as components of our Personal Lines segment to provide further understanding of our products by distribution channel. The channel discussions below are focused on personal auto insurance since this product accounted for 92% and 94% of the Personal Lines segment net premiums written during the second quarter and first six months of 2024, respectively.
The Agency Business
| Growth Over Prior Year | |||||||||||||||||
| Quarter | Year-to-date | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Applications - Auto | |||||||||||||||||
| New | 13 | % | 52 | % | (1) | % | 60 | % | |||||||||
| Renewal | 9 | 4 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Total | 9 | 12 | 6 | 10 | |||||||||||||
| Written premium per policy - Auto | 12 | 9 | 13 | 9 | |||||||||||||
| Policy life expectancy - Auto | |||||||||||||||||
| Trailing 3 months | 3 | 44 | |||||||||||||||
| Trailing 12 months | 18 | 0 |
The Agency business includes business written by more than 40,000 independent insurance agencies that represent Progressive, as well as brokerages in New York and California. During the second quarter 2024, we generated new auto application growth in 40 states, including six of our top 10 largest Agency states.
Compared to the same period in the prior year, new application and policy in force growth varied by consumer segment:
-
Sams experienced a single digit and moderate decline in new application growth during the second quarter and first half of 2024, respectively, with a single digit decline in policies in force growth at the end of the period;
-
Dianes experienced single digit growth and a moderate decline in new application growth during the second quarter and first half of 2024, respectively, with near flat policies in force growth at the end of the period; and
-
Wrights and Robinsons experienced significant new application growth during the second quarter and first half of 2024, with strong policies in force growth at the end of the period.
During the second quarter and first six months of 2024, on a year-over-year basis, we experienced an increase in Agency auto quote volume of 6% and 1%, respectively, with a rate of conversion (i.e., converting a quote to a sale) increase of 7% and decrease of 2%, compared to the same periods last year. Compared to the same period in the prior year:
-
Sams experienced a decrease in both quote volume and conversion for the second quarter and first half of 2024;
-
Dianes experienced an increase in both quote volume and conversion for the second quarter 2024, despite a decrease in both measures for the first half of 2024;
-
Wrights experienced an increase in both quote volume and conversion for the second quarter and first half of 2024; and
-
Robinsons experienced a decrease in quote volume and an increase in conversion for both the second quarter and first half of 2024.
Written premium per policy for new and renewal Agency auto business increased 6% and 14%, respectively, compared to the second quarter 2023, and 5% and 16%, respectively, for the first six months of 2024 on a year-over-year basis, primarily attributable to the rate increases previously discussed.
At the end of the second quarter 2024, on a year-over-year basis, we experienced a lengthening in our trailing 12-month policy life expectancy. This increase was driven by competitor rate increases in 2023, as well as a shift in the mix of business. During 2023, as part of our efforts to slow growth to achieve our target profitability, we focused our efforts to attract a more preferred tier of customers, along with more Robinsons, who tend to stay with us longer. The tailwinds of these efforts also contributed to the increase in the trailing 3-month measure.
The Direct Business
| Growth Over Prior Year | |||||||||||||||||
| Quarter | Year-to-date | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Applications - Auto | |||||||||||||||||
| New | 50 | % | 29 | % | 17 | % | 60 | % | |||||||||
| Renewal | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 | |||||||||||||
| Total | 17 | 14 | 12 | 16 | |||||||||||||
| Written premium per policy - Auto | 10 | 6 | 12 | 7 | |||||||||||||
| Policy life expectancy - Auto | |||||||||||||||||
| Trailing 3 months | (10) | 35 | |||||||||||||||
| Trailing 12 months | 2 | 2 |
The Direct business includes business written directly by Progressive online, through our Progressive mobile app, or by phone. As we increased advertising spend and continued to lift certain non-rate restrictions during the second quarter 2024, we saw significant Direct auto new application growth. During the second quarter 2024, we generated new auto application growth in all but one state and the District of Columbia, with growth in nine of our top 10 largest Direct states. During the second quarter 2024, each of our consumer segments experienced a significant increase in new applications year over year, offsetting the decreases in the first quarter, producing new application growth for the first six months of 2024 in each consumer segment. Policies in force grew between 10% and 14% in each consumer segment, compared to the same period last year.
During the second quarter and first six months of 2024, Direct auto quote volume increased 84% and 31%, respectively, compared to the same periods last year, primarily driven by increased advertising spend, while conversion decreased 17% and 10%, primarily due to a greater number of casual shoppers obtaining quotes, who are less committed to purchasing a new insurance policy. In the second quarter 2023, quotes and conversion decreased 7% and increased 35%, respectively, reflecting competitor rate increases and our decreased advertising spend during the period, compared to the second quarter 2022. All consumer segments saw an increase in quotes and a decrease in the rate of conversion during the second quarter and first six months of 2024.
Written premium per policy for new and renewal Direct auto business increased 10% and 12%, respectively, in the second quarter 2024, compared to the second quarter last year, and 9% and 13%, respectively, for the first six months of 2024 on a year-over-year basis, primarily attributable to the rate increases previously discussed.
Our trailing 12-month policy life expectancy in the Direct auto business experienced a lengthening of retention at the end of the second quarter 2024, on a year-over-year basis. The drivers of the change were similar to those in the Agency business, where we focused on growing more bundled, preferred market tier, consumers. The decrease in the trailing 3-month policy life expectancy at the end of the second quarter 2024 was primarily driven by the previously discussed rate increases taken during 2023. While our trailing 3-month policy life expectancy is down compared to the prior year, this measure remained flat compared to the first quarter 2024.
E. Commercial Lines
The following table and discussion focuses on our core commercial auto products. Year-over-year changes in our core commercial auto products were as follows:
| Growth Over Prior Year | |||||||||||||||||
| Quarter | Year-to-date | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Applications | |||||||||||||||||
| New | 7 | % | 7 | % | 4 | % | 4 | % | |||||||||
| Renewal | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Total | 4 | 6 | 2 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Written premium per policy | 8 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Policy life expectancy Trailing 12 months | (19) | (11) |
The increases in net premiums written in our Commercial Lines business reflected growth in all of our BMTs, except our for-hire transportation BMT, which continued to be adversely impacted by challenging freight market conditions that have continued to cause a decline in the active number of motor carriers in this BMT. The most significant growth was in our contractor and business auto BMTs, primarily driven by the aggregate core commercial auto rate increases of 17% taken during 2023.
During the second quarter and first six months of 2024, core commercial auto new application growth was positive in each of our BMTs, except for the for-hire transportation and for-hire specialty BMTs. During the second quarter and first six months of 2024, quote volume increased about 7%, while conversion was flat for the quarter and decreased 2% on a year-to-date basis, compared to the same periods last year.
During the second quarter 2024, we increased rates, in aggregate, about 2% in our core commercial auto products. While we currently do not anticipate significant rate changes for these products throughout 2024, we still have about 7 points of rate to earn in during the rest of 2024, primarily from rate revisions taken during 2023. We will continue to evaluate our rate need and adjust rates as we deem necessary. Written premium per policy for new and renewal core commercial auto business increased 1% and 13%, respectively, for the second quarter 2024, and 2% and 13%, respectively, for the first six months of 2024, compared to the same periods last year, primarily reflecting the previously discussed rate increases.
Our policy life expectancy decreased in all BMTs, which we believe is due to rate and non-rate actions.
F. Property
The following table shows our year-over-year changes for our Property business:
| Growth Over Prior Year | |||||||||||||||||
| Quarter | Year-to-date | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Applications | |||||||||||||||||
| New | 35 | % | 12 | % | 33 | % | 12 | % | |||||||||
| Renewal | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Total | 16 | 7 | 15 | 8 | |||||||||||||
| Written premium per policy | (4) | 12 | (1) | 11 | |||||||||||||
| Policy life expectancy Trailing 12 months | 5 | 7 |
Our Property business writes residential property insurance for homeowners, other property owners, and renters, and umbrella insurance in the agency and direct channels.
Improving profitability and reducing concentration exposure continued to be the top priority for our Property business during the second quarter 2024. We continued to concentrate our growth in markets that are less susceptible to catastrophes and lower our exposure to coastal and hail-prone states for our homeowners products, which we define as our total Property business excluding renters and umbrella products. Homeowners policies in force in the growth-oriented states increased about 20% during the second quarter 2024, compared to the same periods last year.
In regions where our appetite to write new business is limited, we are continuing to prioritize Progressive auto bundles, as well as lower-risk properties, such as new construction or homes with newer roofs. Homeowners policies in force were down about 6% in the volatile weather states during the second quarter 2024, compared to the same period last year. In addition, to continue to rebalance our business, late in 2023 we began a non-renewal effort of up to 115,000 Property policies in Florida. Following the required filings and notices, the first of these non-renewals went into effect in the second quarter of 2024 and will continue over the following 12 months. To try to ease this disruption to our customers and agents, we reached an agreement with an unaffiliated Florida insurer to offer replacement policies to these policyholders, subject to the insurer’s underwriting and financial guidelines and agent appointments where applicable.
The decrease in our written premium per policy, during the second quarter and first six months of 2024, compared to the same periods last year, was primarily attributable to a decline in homeowners policies in force in volatile states, which have higher average premiums, and a shift in the mix to more renters policies which have lower average premiums. This was partially offset by rate increases taken over the last 12 months and higher premium coverages reflecting increased property values. During the second quarter 2024, we increased rates, in aggregate, about 4% in our Property segment, bringing the year-to-date aggregate rate increase to 10%. We intend to continue to make targeted rate increases in states where we believe it is necessary to achieve our profitability targets.
The policy life expectancy in our Property business lengthened during the first half of 2024, compared to the prior year, primarily driven by our competitiveness in the marketplace.
IV. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – INVESTMENTS
A. Investment Results
Our management philosophy governing the portfolio is to evaluate investment results on a total return basis. The fully taxable equivalent (FTE) total return includes recurring investment income, adjusted to a fully taxable amount for certain securities that receive preferential tax treatment (e.g., municipal securities), and total net realized, and changes in total net unrealized, gains (losses) on securities.
The following table summarizes investment results for the periods ended June 30:
| Three Months | Six Months | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pretax recurring investment book yield (annualized) | 3.9 | % | 3.1 | % | 3.8 | % | 3.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
| FTE total return: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed-income securities | 0.8 | (0.4) | 1.2 | 1.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Common stocks | 3.6 | 9.0 | 13.8 | 16.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total portfolio | 0.9 | 0 | 1.7 | 2.3 |
The increase in the book yield for both periods, compared to last year, primarily reflected investing new cash from operations, and proceeds from maturing bonds, in higher coupon rate securities. The change in the fixed-income portfolio FTE total return for both periods, compared to last year, primarily reflected movement in Treasury yields year-over-year. The common stock return reflected general market conditions and while stocks had a strong start in 2024, the return was less than what was recognized in the first half of 2023.
A further break-down of our FTE total returns for our fixed-income portfolio for the periods ended June 30, follows:
| Three Months | Six Months | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed-income securities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury Notes | 0.6 | % | (1.1) | % | 0.2 | % | 1.3 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Municipal bonds | 0.5 | (0.4) | 0.9 | 2.3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate bonds | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 2.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage-backed securities | 2.1 | 2.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 1.7 | 0.8 | 4.9 | 1.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other asset-backed securities | 1.4 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 2.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred stocks | 0.5 | 0.7 | 4.8 | (3.4) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term investments | 1.4 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 2.3 |
B. Portfolio Allocation
The composition of the investment portfolio was:
| ($ in millions) | Fair Value | % of Total Portfolio | Duration (years) | Average Rating****1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. government obligations | $ | 40,894.0 | 56.5 | % | 4.0 | AA+ | |||||||||||||||||
| State and local government obligations | 2,202.0 | 3.0 | 2.9 | AA+ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign government obligations | 15.8 | 0.1 | 2.1 | AAA | |||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate debt securities | 12,974.6 | 17.9 | 2.6 | BBB+ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage-backed securities | 975.7 | 1.3 | 3.2 | AA+ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 3,970.0 | 5.5 | 2.0 | A+ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other asset-backed securities | 6,284.7 | 8.7 | 1.1 | AA+ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred stocks | 1,009.7 | 1.4 | 2.1 | BBB- | |||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term investments | 733.4 | 1.0 | <0.1 | AA- | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total fixed-income securities | 69,059.9 | 95.4 | 3.2 | AA- | |||||||||||||||||||
| Common equities | 3,295.6 | 4.6 | na | na | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total portfolio2 | $ | 72,355.5 | 100.0 | % | 3.2 | AA- | |||||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. government obligations | $ | 31,600.5 | 53.3 | % | 3.4 | AAA | |||||||||||||||||
| State and local government obligations | 2,154.7 | 3.6 | 3.2 | AA+ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign government obligations | 15.8 | 0.1 | 3.0 | AAA | |||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate debt securities | 10,304.6 | 17.4 | 2.9 | BBB | |||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage-backed securities | 562.7 | 0.9 | 0.4 | A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 4,265.5 | 7.2 | 2.3 | A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other asset-backed securities | 5,017.6 | 8.5 | 1.1 | AA | |||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred stocks | 1,141.8 | 1.9 | 2.5 | BBB- | |||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term investments | 1,494.3 | 2.5 | 0.1 | AA+ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total fixed-income securities | 56,557.5 | 95.4 | 2.9 | AA | |||||||||||||||||||
| Common equities | 2,708.1 | 4.6 | na | na | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total portfolio2 | $ | 59,265.6 | 100.0 | % | 2.9 | AA | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. government obligations | $ | 36,869.4 | 55.9 | % | 3.6 | AA+ | |||||||||||||||||
| State and local government obligations | 2,202.8 | 3.3 | 3.0 | AA+ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign government obligations | 16.3 | 0.1 | 2.6 | AAA | |||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate debt securities | 11,183.7 | 16.9 | 2.7 | BBB+ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage-backed securities | 417.2 | 0.6 | 0.5 | A+ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 3,939.7 | 6.0 | 2.3 | A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other asset-backed securities | 5,575.4 | 8.4 | 1.2 | AA+ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred stocks | 1,075.8 | 1.7 | 2.4 | BBB- | |||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term investments | 1,789.9 | 2.7 | <0.1 | AA- | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total fixed-income securities | 63,070.2 | 95.6 | 3.0 | AA- | |||||||||||||||||||
| Common equities | 2,928.4 | 4.4 | na | na | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total portfolio2 | $ | 65,998.6 | 100.0 | % | 3.0 | AA- | |||||||||||||||||
| na = not applicable |
1 Represents ratings at period end. Credit quality ratings are assigned by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. To calculate the weighted average credit quality ratings, we weight individual securities based on fair value and assign a numeric score of 0-5, with non-investment-grade and non-rated securities assigned a score of 0-1. To the extent the weighted average of the ratings falls between AAA and AA+, we assign an internal rating of AAA-.
2 At June 30, 2024 and 2023, we had $74.1 million and $248.0 million, respectively, of net unsettled security purchase transactions included in other liabilities, compared to $45.6 million included in other assets at December 31, 2023.
The total fair value of the portfolio at June 30, 2024 and 2023, and December 31, 2023, included $4.1 billion, $4.3 billion, and $4.2 billion, respectively, of securities held in a consolidated, non-insurance subsidiary of the holding company, net of unsettled security transactions.
Our asset allocation strategy is to maintain 0%-25% of our portfolio in Group I securities, with the balance (75%-100%) of our portfolio in Group II securities.
We define Group I securities to include:
-
common equities,
-
nonredeemable preferred stocks,
-
redeemable preferred stocks, except for 50% of investment-grade redeemable preferred stocks with cumulative dividends, which are included in Group II, and
-
all other non-investment-grade fixed-maturity securities.
Group II securities include:
-
short-term securities, and
-
all other fixed-maturity securities, including 50% of investment-grade redeemable preferred stocks with cumulative dividends.
We believe this asset allocation strategy allows us to appropriately assess the risks associated with these securities for capital purposes and is in line with the treatment by our regulators.
The following table shows the composition of our Group I and Group II securities:
| June 30, 2024 | June 30, 2023 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) | Fair Value | % of Total Portfolio | Fair Value | % of Total Portfolio | Fair Value | % of Total Portfolio | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Group I securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-investment-grade fixed maturities | $ | 503.9 | 0.6 | % | $ | 752.3 | 1.3 | % | $ | 532.6 | 0.8 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Redeemable preferred stocks1 | 85.8 | 0.1 | 78.3 | 0.1 | 86.9 | 0.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nonredeemable preferred stocks | 838.2 | 1.2 | 985.1 | 1.6 | 902.1 | 1.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Common equities | 3,295.6 | 4.6 | 2,708.1 | 4.6 | 2,928.4 | 4.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Group I securities | 4,723.5 | 6.5 | 4,523.8 | 7.6 | 4,450.0 | 6.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Group II securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other fixed maturities | 66,898.6 | 92.5 | 53,247.5 | 89.9 | 59,758.7 | 90.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term investments | 733.4 | 1.0 | 1,494.3 | 2.5 | 1,789.9 | 2.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Group II securities | 67,632.0 | 93.5 | 54,741.8 | 92.4 | 61,548.6 | 93.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total portfolio | $ | 72,355.5 | 100.0 | % | $ | 59,265.6 | 100.0 | % | $ | 65,998.6 | 100.0 | % |
1 We held no non-investment-grade redeemable preferred stocks at June 30, 2024 and 2023, or December 31, 2023.
To determine the allocation between Group I and Group II, we use the credit ratings from models provided by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to classify our residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, excluding interest-only (IO) securities, and the credit ratings from nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs) to classify all other debt securities. NAIC ratings are based on a model that considers the book price of our securities when assessing the probability of future losses in assigning a credit rating. As a result, NAIC ratings can vary from credit ratings issued by NRSROs. Management believes NAIC ratings more accurately reflect our risk profile when determining the asset allocation between Group I and Group II securities.
Unrealized Gains (Losses)
As of June 30, 2024, our fixed-maturity portfolio had total after-tax net unrealized losses, which are recorded as part of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on our consolidated balance sheets, of $1.7 billion, compared to $2.6 billion and $1.6 billion at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The decrease in net unrealized losses from June 30, 2023, was primarily due to higher valuations across all fixed-maturity sectors, most prominently in our U.S. Treasury, corporate debt, commercial mortgage-backed and other asset-backed portfolios as tighter credit spreads in 2023 drove strong portfolio performance. The increase in net unrealized losses since December 31, 2023, was primarily due to a lower valuation on our U.S. Treasury portfolio caused by higher interest rates in 2024, partially offset by a higher valuation on our commercial mortgage-backed portfolio.
See Note 2 – Investments for a further break-out of our gross unrealized gains (losses).
Holding Period Gains (Losses)
The following table provides the balance and activity for both the gross and net holding period gains (losses) for the six months ended June 30, 2024:
| (millions) | Gross Holding Period Gains | Gross Holding Period Losses | Net Holding Period Gains (Losses) | ||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||
| Hybrid fixed-maturity securities | $ | 5.3 | $ | (34.4) | $ | (29.1) | |||||
| Equity securities1 | 2,233.9 | (86.5) | 2,147.4 | ||||||||
| Total holding period securities | 2,239.2 | (120.9) | 2,118.3 | ||||||||
| Current year change in holding period securities | |||||||||||
| Hybrid fixed-maturity securities | (0.2) | 10.7 | 10.5 | ||||||||
| Equity securities1 | 373.1 | 18.6 | 391.7 | ||||||||
| Total changes in holding period securities | 372.9 | 29.3 | 402.2 | ||||||||
| Balance at June 30, 2024 | |||||||||||
| Hybrid fixed-maturity securities | 5.1 | (23.7) | (18.6) | ||||||||
| Equity securities1 | 2,607.0 | (67.9) | 2,539.1 | ||||||||
| Total holding period securities | $ | 2,612.1 | $ | (91.6) | $ | 2,520.5 |
1Equity securities include common equities and nonredeemable preferred stocks.
Changes in holding period gains (losses), similar to unrealized gains (losses) in our fixed-maturity portfolio, are the result of changes in market conditions as well as sales of securities based on various portfolio management decisions.
Fixed-Income Securities
The fixed-income portfolio is managed internally and includes fixed-maturity securities, short-term investments, and nonredeemable preferred stocks. Following are the primary exposures for our fixed-income portfolio.
Interest Rate Risk Our duration of 3.2 years at June 30, 2024, 2.9 years at June 30, 2023, and 3.0 years at December 31, 2023 fell within our acceptable range of 1.5 to 5 years. The duration distribution of our fixed-income portfolio, excluding short-term investments, represented by the interest rate sensitivity of the comparable benchmark U.S. Treasury Notes, was:
| Duration Distribution (excluding short-term securities) | June 30, 2024 | June 30, 2023 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| 1 year | 9.5 | % | 19.8 | % | 18.1 | % | |||||||||||
| 2 years | 10.6 | 14.9 | 12.0 | ||||||||||||||
| 3 years | 31.3 | 23.2 | 25.7 | ||||||||||||||
| 5 years | 36.3 | 26.9 | 27.4 | ||||||||||||||
| 7 years | 11.0 | 11.6 | 14.6 | ||||||||||||||
| 10 years | 1.3 | 3.6 | 2.2 | ||||||||||||||
| Total fixed-income portfolio | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
Credit Risk This exposure is managed by maintaining an A+ minimum average portfolio credit quality rating, as defined by NRSROs. At both June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our credit quality rating was AA- and at June 30, 2023, it was AA. The credit quality distribution of the fixed-income portfolio was:
| Average Rating****1 | June 30, 2024 | June 30, 2023 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| AAA | 12.1 | % | 68.4 | % | 10.7 | % | |||||||||||
| AA | 63.6 | 5.7 | 65.1 | ||||||||||||||
| A | 6.8 | 7.4 | 7.0 | ||||||||||||||
| BBB | 16.1 | 16.7 | 15.7 | ||||||||||||||
| Non-investment grade/non-rated | |||||||||||||||||
| BB | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.2 | ||||||||||||||
| B | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | ||||||||||||||
| CCC and lower | 0 | 0.1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Non-rated | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Total fixed-income portfolio | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
1 The ratings in the table above are assigned by NRSROs.
The year-over-year rating shift between the AAA and AA categories was primarily due to a second major credit rating agency downgrading U.S. Treasury debt during the third quarter 2023 to AA+ from AAA, which led us to lower our U.S. Treasury positions to AA+.
Concentration Risk We did not have any investments in a single issuer, either overall or in the context of individual asset classes and sectors, that exceeded our thresholds during the second quarter 2024.
Prepayment and Extension Risk We did not experience significant adverse prepayment or extension of principal relative to our cash flow expectations in the portfolio during the second quarter 2024.
Liquidity Risk Our overall portfolio remains very liquid and we believe that it is sufficient to meet expected near-term liquidity requirements. The short-to-intermediate duration of our portfolio provides a source of liquidity. During the remainder of 2024, we expect approximately $4.4 billion, or 16%, of principal repayment from our fixed-income portfolio, excluding U.S. Treasury Notes and short-term investments. Cash from interest and dividend
payments and our short-term portfolio provide additional sources of recurring liquidity.
The duration of our U.S. government obligations, which are included in the fixed-income portfolio, was comprised of the following at June 30, 2024:
| ($ in millions) | Fair Value | Duration (years) | |||||||||
| U.S. Treasury Notes | |||||||||||
| Less than one year | $ | 229.2 | 0.6 | ||||||||
| One to two years | 349.3 | 1.7 | |||||||||
| Two to three years | 7,583.2 | 2.5 | |||||||||
| Three to five years | 25,498.1 | 4.0 | |||||||||
| Five to seven years | 6,446.4 | 5.6 | |||||||||
| Seven to ten years | 787.8 | 7.0 | |||||||||
| Total U.S. Treasury Notes | $ | 40,894.0 | 4.0 | ||||||||
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES
Included in our fixed-income portfolio are asset-backed securities, which were comprised of the following at the balance sheet dates listed:
| ($ in millions) | Fair Value | Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) | % of Asset- Backed Securities | Duration (years) | **Average Rating (at period end)**1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage-backed securities | $ | 975.7 | $ | (6.8) | 8.7 | % | 3.2 | AA+ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 3,970.0 | (487.2) | 35.3 | 2.0 | A+ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other asset-backed securities | 6,284.7 | (81.6) | 56.0 | 1.1 | AA+ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total asset-backed securities | $ | 11,230.4 | $ | (575.6) | 100.0 | % | 1.6 | AA | |||||||||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage-backed securities | $ | 562.7 | $ | (12.8) | 5.7 | % | 0.4 | A | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 4,265.5 | (716.7) | 43.3 | 2.3 | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other asset-backed securities | 5,017.6 | (232.0) | 51.0 | 1.1 | AA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total asset-backed securities | $ | 9,845.8 | $ | (961.5) | 100.0 | % | 1.6 | AA- | |||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage-backed securities | $ | 417.2 | $ | (9.8) | 4.2 | % | 0.5 | A+ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 3,939.7 | (595.5) | 39.7 | 2.3 | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other asset-backed securities | 5,575.4 | (91.4) | 56.1 | 1.2 | AA+ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total asset-backed securities | $ | 9,932.3 | $ | (696.7) | 100.0 | % | 1.6 | AA- | |||||||||||||||||||||
1 The credit quality ratings in the table above are assigned by NRSROs.
Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS) The following table details the credit quality rating and fair value of our RMBS, along with the loan classification and a comparison of the fair value at June 30, 2024, to our original investment value (adjusted for returns of principal, amortization, and write-downs):
| Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (at June 30, 2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) Average Rating****1 | Non-Agency | Government/GSE****2 | Total | % of Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AAA | $ | 681.3 | $ | 0.2 | $ | 681.5 | 69.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| AA | 24.2 | 1.0 | 25.2 | 2.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | 207.2 | 0 | 207.2 | 21.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BBB | 58.1 | 0 | 58.1 | 6.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-investment grade/non-rated: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BB | 0.3 | 0 | 0.3 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CCC and lower | 1.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-rated | 2.4 | 0 | 2.4 | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fair value | $ | 974.5 | $ | 1.2 | $ | 975.7 | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in value | (0.5) | % | (3.3) | % | (0.5) | % |
1 The credit quality ratings are assigned by NRSROs; when we assigned the NAIC ratings for our RMBS, 100% of our non-investment-grade securities were rated investment grade and reported as Group II securities.
2 The securities in this category are insured by a Government Sponsored Entity (GSE) and/or collateralized by mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). .
In the residential mortgage-backed sector, our portfolio consists of deals that are backed by high-credit quality borrowers and/or those that have strong structural protections through underlying loan collateralization. During the second quarter of 2024, we increased our exposure in this portfolio. Our additions were mostly concentrated in higher-rated debt tranches, in deals that were originally issued over a year ago, that have benefited from strong home price appreciation over the past few years.
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) The following table details the credit quality rating and fair value of our CMBS, along with a comparison of the fair value at June 30, 2024, to our original investment value (adjusted for returns of principal, amortization, and write-downs):
| Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (at June 30, 2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) Average Rating****1 | Multi-Borrower | Single-Borrower | Total | % of Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| AAA | $ | 160.7 | $ | 1,227.8 | $ | 1,388.5 | 35.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
| AA | 0 | 812.5 | 812.5 | 20.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| A | 0 | 542.8 | 542.8 | 13.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| BBB | 0 | 787.3 | 787.3 | 19.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Non-investment grade/non-rated: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| BB | 0 | 410.2 | 410.2 | 10.3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| B | 0 | 28.7 | 28.7 | 0.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total fair value | $ | 160.7 | $ | 3,809.3 | $ | 3,970.0 | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in value | (4.2) | % | (11.2) | % | (10.9) | % |
1 The credit quality ratings are assigned by NRSROs; when we assigned the NAIC ratings for our CMBS, 66% of our non-investment-grade securities were rated investment grade and reported as Group II securities, with the remainder classified as Group I.
The CMBS portfolio continued to experience lower volatility in the second quarter 2024. New issuance activity remained elevated and modification/delinquency rates moved higher for maturing deals. Spreads were mostly unchanged over the first six months of 2024 as the market digested the large volume of new deals. Our portfolio grew slightly as we purchased AAA securities in the multifamily and industrial/logistics sectors while making a limited number of sales in subordinated office bonds. As of June 30, 2024, we had no delinquencies in our CMBS portfolio.
The following table shows the composition of our CMBS portfolio by maturity year and sector:
| Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Sector Details (at June 30, 2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) Maturity****1 | Office | Lab Office | Multi-family | Multi-family IO | Retail | Industrial | Self- Storage | Casino | Total | Average Original LTV | Average Current DSCR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | $ | 134.4 | $ | 0 | $ | 22.4 | $ | 20.5 | $ | 37.7 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 215.0 | 59.4 | % | 2.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 0 | 42.3 | 0 | 37.5 | 66.2 | 44.3 | 0 | 0 | 190.3 | 65.7 | 2.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 432.4 | 82.1 | 282.6 | 33.9 | 0 | 88.1 | 61.2 | 112.0 | 1,092.3 | 60.9 | 2.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2027 | 383.7 | 0 | 39.3 | 30.7 | 0 | 95.1 | 249.4 | 0 | 798.2 | 60.6 | 2.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2028 | 260.5 | 0 | 0 | 23.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 283.8 | 51.9 | 3.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2029 | 381.5 | 89.6 | 69.6 | 11.0 | 0 | 145.1 | 73.5 | 67.2 | 837.5 | 60.0 | 2.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2030 | 77.1 | 59.2 | 0 | 3.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 94.0 | 234.1 | 55.5 | 2.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2031 | 227.5 | 91.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 318.8 | 66.5 | 2.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fair value | $ | 1,897.1 | $ | 364.5 | $ | 413.9 | $ | 160.7 | $ | 103.9 | $ | 372.6 | $ | 384.1 | $ | 273.2 | $ | 3,970.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| LTV= loan to value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DSCR= debt service coverage ratio |
1 The floating-rate securities were extended to their full maturity and fixed-rate securities are shown to their anticipated repayment date (if applicable) or, otherwise, their maturity date.
We show the average loan to value (LTV) of each maturity year when the loans were originated. The LTV ratio that management uses, which is commonly expressed as a percentage, compares the size of the entire mortgage loan to the appraised value of the underlying property collateralizing the loan at issuance. A LTV ratio less than 100% indicates excess collateral value over the loan amount. LTV ratios greater than 100% indicate that the loan amount exceeds the collateral value. We believe this ratio provides a conservative view of our actual risk of loss, as this number displays the entire mortgage LTV, while our ownership is only a portion of the structure of the mortgage loan-backed security. For many of the mortgage loans, in our portfolio, our exposure is in a more senior part of the structure, which means that the LTV on our actual exposure is even lower than the ratios presented.
In addition to the LTV ratio, we also examine the credit of our CMBS portfolio by reviewing the debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) of the securities. The DSCR compares the underlying property’s annual net operating income to its annual debt service payments. A DSCR less than 1.0 times indicates that property operations do not generate enough income over the debt service payments, while a DSCR greater than 1.0 times indicates that there is an excess of operating income over the debt service payments. A number above 1.0 generally indicates that there would not be an incentive for the borrower to default in light of the borrower’s excess income. The DSCR reported in the table is calculated based on the most currently available net operating income and mortgage payments for the borrower, which, for most securities, is data as of December 31, 2023.
Other Asset-Backed Securities (OABS) The following table details the credit quality rating and fair value of our OABS, along with a comparison of the fair value at June 30, 2024, to our original investment value (adjusted for returns of principal, amortization, and write-downs):
| Other Asset-Backed Securities (at June 30, 2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) Average Rating | Automobile | Collateralized Loan Obligations | Student Loan | Whole Business Securitizations | Equipment | Other | Total | % of Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| AAA | $ | 2,737.7 | $ | 736.7 | $ | 30.5 | $ | 0 | $ | 999.3 | $ | 244.8 | $ | 4,749.0 | 75.6 | % | ||||||||||
| AA | 16.6 | 253.1 | 9.3 | 0 | 39.0 | 0 | 318.0 | 5.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| A | 10.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 168.0 | 128.0 | 306.0 | 4.9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| BBB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 841.5 | 0 | 37.1 | 878.6 | 14.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Non-investment grade/non-rated: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33.1 | 33.1 | 0.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total fair value | $ | 2,764.3 | $ | 989.8 | $ | 39.8 | $ | 841.5 | $ | 1,206.3 | $ | 443.0 | $ | 6,284.7 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in value | 0 | % | (0.2) | % | (9.1) | % | (5.9) | % | (0.2) | % | (4.7) | % | (1.3) | % |
During the second quarter 2024, we selectively added to the OABS portfolio as we viewed spreads and potential returns to be attractive in certain areas. Investments were predominately made in the automobile and equipment categories in highly-rated, senior, and short-tenor debt tranches in the new issue markets. Additionally, the collateralized loan obligation assets decreased due to elevated call redemptions while the whole business securitization assets increased as we made investments in both new issue and secondary markets.
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS
The following table details the credit quality rating of our state and local government obligations (municipal securities) at June 30, 2024, without the benefit of credit or bond insurance:
| Municipal Securities (at June 30, 2024) | |||||||||||
| (millions) Average Rating | General Obligations | Revenue Bonds | Total | ||||||||
| AAA | $ | 553.3 | $ | 388.5 | $ | 941.8 | |||||
| AA | 485.1 | 738.9 | 1,224.0 | ||||||||
| A | 0 | 36.0 | 36.0 | ||||||||
| BBB | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Non-rated | 0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,038.4 | $ | 1,163.6 | $ | 2,202.0 |
Included in revenue bonds were $558.6 million of single-family housing revenue bonds issued by state housing finance agencies, of which $281.7 million were supported by individual mortgages held by the state housing finance agencies and $276.9 million were supported by mortgage-backed securities.
Of the revenue bonds supported by individual mortgages held by the state housing finance agencies, the overall credit quality rating was AA+. Most of these mortgages were supported by the Federal Housing Administration, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or private mortgage insurance providers. Of the revenue bonds supported by mortgage-backed securities, 83% were collateralized by Ginnie Mae mortgages, which are fully guaranteed by the U.S. government; the remaining 17% were collateralized by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages.
Although credit spreads of municipal bonds widened during the second quarter of 2024, we still view most of the market as relatively unattractive. However, we selectively added to this portfolio, with a focus on higher-quality securities with shorter maturities, which we viewed as having more favorable risk/reward profiles.
CORPORATE DEBT SECURITIES
The following table details the credit quality rating of our corporate debt securities at June 30, 2024:
| Corporate Securities (at June 30, 2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (millions) Average Rating | Consumer | Industrial | Communication | Financial Services | Technology | Basic Materials | Energy | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
| AAA | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 129.1 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 41.8 | $ | 170.9 | |||||||||||||
| AA | 95.9 | 0 | 0 | 359.2 | 0 | 0 | 51.1 | 506.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| A | 703.5 | 366.7 | 176.1 | 1,809.3 | 16.5 | 103.1 | 419.2 | 3,594.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| BBB | 3,052.2 | 1,361.0 | 380.2 | 1,554.2 | 803.1 | 33.9 | 1,198.0 | 8,382.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-investment grade/non-rated: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BB | 82.4 | 46.0 | 52.4 | 0 | 11.1 | 0 | 6.1 | 198.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| B | 105.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14.1 | 0 | 119.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-rated | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fair value | $ | 4,039.4 | $ | 1,773.7 | $ | 608.7 | $ | 3,851.8 | $ | 833.7 | $ | 151.1 | $ | 1,716.2 | $ | 12,974.6 |
The size of our corporate debt portfolio increased during the second quarter to $13.0 billion at June 30, 2024, from $12.5 billion at March 31, 2024. We selectively increased exposure to investment-grade securities but continued to predominately focus on shorter maturities, which we viewed as having more favorable risk/reward profiles. At both June 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, corporate debt securities made up approximately 19% of our fixed-income securities portfolio. The duration of the corporate debt portfolio declined to 2.6 years at June 30, 2024 from 2.7 years at March 31, 2024.
PREFERRED STOCKS – REDEEMABLE AND NONREDEEMABLE
The table below shows the exposure break-down by sector and rating at June 30, 2024:
| Preferred Stocks (at June 30, 2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (millions) Average Rating | U.S. Banks | Foreign Banks | Insurance | Other Financial | Industrials | Utilities | Total | ||||||||||||||||
| BBB | $ | 528.8 | $ | 31.4 | $ | 85.0 | $ | 29.9 | $ | 135.0 | $ | 50.9 | $ | 861.0 | |||||||||
| Non-investment grade/non-rated: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| BB | 92.2 | 4.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 96.9 | ||||||||||||||||
| Non-rated | 0 | 0 | 22.8 | 13.8 | 15.2 | 0 | 51.8 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total fair value | $ | 621.0 | $ | 36.1 | $ | 107.8 | $ | 43.7 | $ | 150.2 | $ | 50.9 | $ | 1,009.7 |
The majority of our preferred stocks have fixed-rate dividends until a call date and then, if not called, generally convert to floating-rate dividends. The interest rate duration of our preferred stocks is calculated to reflect the call, floor, and floating-rate features. Although a preferred stock will remain outstanding if not called, its interest rate duration will reflect the variable nature of the dividend. As of June 30, 2024, our non-investment-grade preferred stocks were all with issuers that maintain investment-grade senior debt ratings.
We also face the risk that dividend payments on our preferred stock holdings could be deferred for one or more periods or skipped entirely. As of June 30, 2024, we expect all of these securities to pay their dividends in full and on time. Approximately 79% of our preferred stocks pay dividends that have tax preferential characteristics, while the balance pay dividends that are fully taxable.
At June 30, 2024, the preferred stock portfolio’s fair value was $1.0 billion, which is a slight decrease from $1.1 billion at March 31, 2024. During the second quarter 2024, we sold securities with low credit spreads that, in our view, had less attractive risk/reward profiles and we believed were less probable to be called on their call dates. This decrease was mostly offset by an increase in valuation of the preferred portfolio during the second quarter of 2024, as credit spreads tightened.
Common Equities
Common equities, as reported on the balance sheets, were comprised of the following:
| ($ in millions) | June 30, 2024 | June 30, 2023 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stocks | $ | 3,271.7 | 99.3 | % | $ | 2,686.2 | 99.2 | % | $ | 2,907.8 | 99.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other risk investments1 | 23.9 | 0.7 | 21.9 | 0.8 | 20.6 | 0.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total common equities | $ | 3,295.6 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,708.1 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,928.4 | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1 The other risk investments consist of limited partnership interests.
The majority of our common stock portfolio consists of individual holdings selected based on their contribution to the correlation with the Russell 1000 Index. We held 770 out of 1,010, or 76%, of the common stocks comprising the index at June 30, 2024, which made up 95% of the total market capitalization of the index. At June 30, 2024 and 2023, and December 31, 2023, the year-to-date total return, based on GAAP income, was within our targeted tracking error, which is +/- 50 basis points.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Investors are cautioned that certain statements in this report not based upon historical fact are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements often use words such as “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “goal,” “target,” “anticipate,” “will,” “could,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” and other words and terms of similar meaning, or are tied to future periods, in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on current expectations and projections about future events, and are subject to certain risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those discussed herein. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, uncertainties related to:
*•*our ability to underwrite and price risks accurately and to charge adequate rates to policyholders;
*•*our ability to establish accurate loss reserves;
*•*the impact of severe weather, other catastrophe events, and climate change;
*•*the effectiveness of our reinsurance programs and the continued availability of reinsurance and performance by reinsurers;
*•*the secure and uninterrupted operation of the systems, facilities, and business functions and the operation of various third-party systems that are critical to our business;
*•*the impacts of a security breach or other attack involving our technology systems or the systems of one or more of our vendors;
*•*our ability to maintain a recognized and trusted brand and reputation;
*•*whether we innovate effectively and respond to our competitors’ initiatives;
*•*whether we effectively manage complexity as we develop and deliver products and customer experiences;
*•*our ability to attract, develop, and retain talent and maintain appropriate staffing levels;
*•*the impact of misconduct or fraudulent acts by employees, agents, and third parties to our business and/or exposure to regulatory assessments;
*•*the highly competitive nature of property-casualty insurance markets;
*•*whether we adjust claims accurately;
*•*compliance with complex and changing laws and regulations;
*•*litigation challenging our business practices, and those of our competitors and other companies;
*•*the success of our business strategy and efforts to acquire or develop new products or enter into new areas of business and our ability to navigate the related risks;
*•*how intellectual property rights affect our competitiveness and our business operations;
*•*the success of our development and use of new technology and our ability to navigate the related risks;
*•*the performance of our fixed-income and equity investment portfolios;
*•*the impact on our investment returns and strategies from regulations and societal pressures relating to environmental, social, governance and other public policy matters;
*•*our continued ability to access our cash accounts and/or convert investments into cash on favorable terms;
*•*the impact if one or more parties with which we enter into significant contracts or transact business fail to perform;
*•*legal restrictions on our insurance subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends to The Progressive Corporation;
*•*our ability to obtain capital when necessary to support our business and potential growth;
*•*evaluations and ratings by credit rating and other rating agencies;
*•*the variable nature of our common share dividend policy;
*•*whether our investments in certain tax-advantaged projects generate the anticipated returns;
*•*the impact from not managing to short-term earnings expectations in light of our goal to maximize the long-term value of the enterprise;
*•*the impacts of epidemics, pandemics, or other widespread health risks; and
*•*other matters described from time to time in our releases and publications, and in our periodic reports and other documents filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the Risk Factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2023.
Any forward-looking statements are made only as of the date presented. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments or otherwise.
In addition, investors should be aware that accounting principles generally accepted in the United States prescribe when a company may reserve for particular risks, including litigation exposures. Accordingly, results for a given reporting period could be significantly affected if and when we establish reserves for one or more contingencies. Also, our regular reserve reviews may result in adjustments of varying magnitude as additional information regarding claims activity becomes known. Reported results, therefore, may be volatile in certain accounting periods.
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