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W. R. Berkley Corporation Reports First Quarter Results

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Net Premiums Written Increased to a Record $3.1 Billion;

Return on Equity of 19.9% and Operating Return on Equity of 19.3%

GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) today reported its first quarter 2025 results.

Summary Financial Data

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Ìý

First Quarter

Ìý

Ìý

2025

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

2024

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Gross premiums written

$

3,683,939

Ìý

Ìý

$

3,362,755

Ìý

Net premiums written

Ìý

3,133,302

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

2,851,291

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Net income to common stockholders

Ìý

417,571

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

442,471

Ìý

Net income per diluted share (1)

Ìý

1.04

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

1.09

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Operating income (2)

Ìý

404,744

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

423,324

Ìý

Operating income per diluted share (1)

Ìý

1.01

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

1.04

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Return on equity (3)

Ìý

19.9

%

Ìý

Ìý

23.7

%

Operating return on equity (2) (3)

Ìý

19.3

%

Ìý

Ìý

22.7

%

(1)

The 2024 per share amounts were restated for comparative purposes to reflect the 3-for-2 common stock split effected on July 10, 2024.

(2)

Operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income excluding after-tax net investment gains (losses) and related expenses.

(3)

Return on equity and operating return on equity represent net income and operating income, respectively, expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of beginning of year common stockholders� equity.

First quarter highlights included:

  • Return on equity and operating return on equity of 19.9% and 19.3%, respectively.
  • Record net premiums written grew to $3.1 billion.
  • The current accident year combined ratio before catastrophe losses of 3.7 loss ratio points was 87.2%.
  • The reported combined ratio was 90.9%, including current accident year catastrophe losses of $111.1 million.
  • Average rate increases excluding workers' compensation were approximately 8.3%.
  • Net investment income grew 12.6% to $360.3 million.
  • Record net invested assets of $30.7 billion.
  • Book value per share grew 7.1% in the quarter, before dividends and share repurchases.

The Company commented:

We achieved strong results in the first quarter of 2025 with a 19.9% annualized return on beginning-of-year common stockholders' equity, despite significant first-quarter industry-wide catastrophe losses. These results once again demonstrate our ability to successfully manage underwriting volatility.

Net premiums written grew 10% as market conditions remained favorable in many lines of business, particularly in our Insurance segment. Our 90.9% combined ratio includes 3.7 points of catastrophe losses in a quarter with significant industry catastrophe losses, reflecting our approach to managing volatility as a component of risk-adjusted return.

Net investment income increased significantly compared to the first quarter of 2024, and sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting the impact of higher new money rates on our growing fixed-maturity portfolio and improvement in our investment fund income. The strength of our operating cash flow continues to drive growth in net investable assets, positioning us well for further investment income growth.

Our ability to expand or contract each of our distinct businesses based on specific market conditions remains a significant competitive advantage. This agility enables us to execute our strategy to grow profitably and optimize risk-adjusted returns, while successfully navigating risks and embracing opportunities. We are confident that we will continue to deliver outstanding value to shareholders over the remainder of 2025 and beyond.

Webcast Conference Call

The Company will hold its quarterly conference call with analysts and investors to discuss its earnings and other information on April 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. eastern time. The conference call will be webcast live on the Company's website at . Please log on early to register. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's website approximately two hours after the end of the conference call. Additional financial information can be found on the Company's website at .

About W. R. Berkley Corporation

Founded in 1967, W. R. Berkley Corporation is an insurance holding company that is among the largest commercial lines writers in the United States and operates worldwide in two segments of the property casualty business: Insurance and Reinsurance & Monoline Excess.

Forward Looking Information

This is a “Safe Harbor� Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including statements related to our outlook for the industry and for our performance for the year 2025 and beyond, are based upon the Company’s historical performance and on current plans, estimates and expectations. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated by us will be achieved. They are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the cyclical nature of the property casualty industry; the impact of significant competition, including new entrants to the industry; the long-tail and potentially volatile nature of the insurance and reinsurance business; product demand and pricing; claims development and the process of estimating reserves; investment risks, including those of our portfolio of fixed maturity securities and investments in equity securities, including investments in financial institutions, municipal bonds, mortgage-backed securities, loans receivable, investment funds, including real estate, merger arbitrage, energy related and private equity investments; the effects of emerging claim and coverage issues; the uncertain nature of damage theories and loss amounts, including claims for cyber security-related risks; natural and man-made catastrophic losses, including as a result of terrorist activities; the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, or other epidemics and pandemics; the impact of climate change, which may alter the frequency and increase the severity of catastrophe events; general economic and market activities, including inflation, interest rates, the impact of tariffs and volatility in the credit and capital markets; the impact of the conditions in the financial markets and the global economy, and the potential effect of legislative, regulatory, accounting or other initiatives taken in response to such conditions, on our results and financial condition; foreign currency and political risks relating to our international operations; our ability to attract and retain key personnel and qualified employees; continued availability of capital and financing; the success of our new ventures or acquisitions and the availability of other opportunities; the availability of reinsurance; our retention under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019; the ability or willingness of our reinsurers to pay reinsurance recoverables owed to us; other legislative and regulatory developments, including those related to business practices in the insurance industry; credit risk related to our policyholders, independent agents and brokers; changes in the ratings assigned to us or our insurance company subsidiaries by rating agencies; the availability of dividends from our insurance company subsidiaries; cyber security breaches of our information technology systems and the information technology systems of our vendors and other third parties, or related processes and systems; the effectiveness of our controls to ensure compliance with guidelines, policies and legal and regulatory standards; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results for the year 2025 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement we make. Any projections of growth in our revenues would not necessarily result in commensurate levels of earnings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Consolidated Financial Summary

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Ìý

First Quarter

Ìý

Ìý

2025

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

2024

Ìý

Revenues:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Net premiums written

$

3,133,302

Ìý

Ìý

$

2,851,291

Ìý

Change in unearned premiums

Ìý

(120,921

)

Ìý

Ìý

(86,944

)

Net premiums earned

Ìý

3,012,381

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

2,764,347

Ìý

Net investment income

Ìý

360,292

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

319,839

Ìý

Net investment gains:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Net realized and unrealized gains on investments

Ìý

15,711

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

11,503

Ìý

Change in allowance for credit losses on investments

Ìý

644

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

14,277

Ìý

Net investment gains

Ìý

16,355

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

25,780

Ìý

Revenues from non-insurance businesses

Ìý

128,909

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

120,992

Ìý

Insurance service fees

Ìý

28,929

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

25,319

Ìý

Other Income

Ìý

533

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

496

Ìý

Total Revenues

Ìý

3,547,399

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

3,256,773

Ìý

Expenses:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Loss and loss expenses

Ìý

1,900,792

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

1,663,778

Ìý

Other operating costs and expenses

Ìý

949,910

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

868,589

Ìý

Expenses from non-insurance businesses

Ìý

126,364

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

118,607

Ìý

Interest expense

Ìý

31,727

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

31,728

Ìý

Total expenses

Ìý

3,008,793

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

2,682,702

Ìý

Income before income tax

Ìý

538,606

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

574,071

Ìý

Income tax expense

Ìý

(121,257

)

Ìý

Ìý

(132,036

)

Net Income before noncontrolling interests

Ìý

417,349

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

442,035

Ìý

Noncontrolling interest

Ìý

222

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

436

Ìý

Net income to common stockholders

$

417,571

Ìý

Ìý

$

442,471

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Net income per share (1):

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Basic

$

1.05

Ìý

Ìý

$

1.10

Ìý

Diluted

$

1.04

Ìý

Ìý

$

1.09

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Average shares outstanding (1) (2):

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Basic

Ìý

396,929

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

402,317

Ìý

Diluted

Ìý

399,825

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

405,757

Ìý

(1)

The 2024 per share amounts were restated for comparative purposes to reflect the 3-for-2 common stock split effected on July 10, 2024.

(2)

Basic shares outstanding consist of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period (including shares held in a grantor trust). Diluted shares outstanding consist of the weighted average number of basic and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period.

Business Segment Operating Results

(Amounts in thousands, except ratios) (1)

Ìý

First Quarter

Ìý

Ìý

2025

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

2024

Ìý

Insurance:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Gross premiums written

$

3,216,952

Ìý

Ìý

$

2,921,050

Ìý

Net premiums written

Ìý

2,694,455

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

2,445,715

Ìý

Net premiums earned

Ìý

2,642,507

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

2,398,768

Ìý

Pre-tax income

Ìý

509,505

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

478,149

Ìý

Loss ratio

Ìý

63.9

%

Ìý

Ìý

61.8

%

Expense ratio

Ìý

27.8

%

Ìý

Ìý

28.4

%

GAAP Combined ratio

Ìý

91.7

%

Ìý

Ìý

90.2

%

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Reinsurance & Monoline Excess:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Gross premiums written

$

466,987

Ìý

Ìý

$

441,705

Ìý

Net premiums written

Ìý

438,847

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

405,576

Ìý

Net premiums earned

Ìý

369,874

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

365,579

Ìý

Pre-tax income

Ìý

120,380

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

127,624

Ìý

Loss ratio

Ìý

57.7

%

Ìý

Ìý

49.8

%

Expense ratio

Ìý

27.7

%

Ìý

Ìý

29.8

%

GAAP Combined ratio

Ìý

85.4

%

Ìý

Ìý

79.6

%

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Corporate and Eliminations:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Net investment gains

$

16,355

Ìý

Ìý

$

25,780

Ìý

Interest expense

Ìý

(31,727

)

Ìý

Ìý

(31,728

)

Other expenses

Ìý

(75,907

)

Ìý

Ìý

(25,754

)

Pre-tax loss

Ìý

(91,279

)

Ìý

Ìý

(31,702

)

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Consolidated:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Gross premiums written

$

3,683,939

Ìý

Ìý

$

3,362,755

Ìý

Net premiums written

Ìý

3,133,302

Ìý

Ìý

$

2,851,291

Ìý

Net premiums earned

Ìý

3,012,381

Ìý

Ìý

$

2,764,347

Ìý

Pre-tax income

Ìý

538,606

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

574,071

Ìý

Loss ratio

Ìý

63.1

%

Ìý

Ìý

60.2

%

Expense ratio

Ìý

27.8

%

Ìý

Ìý

28.6

%

GAAP Combined ratio

Ìý

90.9

%

Ìý

Ìý

88.8

%

(1)

Loss ratio is losses and loss expenses incurred expressed as a percentage of premiums earned. Expense ratio is underwriting expenses expressed as a percentage of premiums earned. GAAP combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio.

Supplemental Information

(Amounts in thousands)

Ìý

First Quarter

Ìý

Ìý

2025

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

2024

Ìý

Net premiums written:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Other liability

$

1,108,264

Ìý

Ìý

$

1,015,614

Ìý

Short-tail lines (1)

Ìý

600,192

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

532,341

Ìý

Auto

Ìý

389,154

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

348,582

Ìý

Workers' compensation

Ìý

340,607

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

304,632

Ìý

Professional liability

Ìý

256,238

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

244,546

Ìý

Total Insurance

Ìý

2,694,455

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

2,445,715

Ìý

Casualty (2)

Ìý

186,790

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

190,019

Ìý

Property (2)

Ìý

132,157

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

98,662

Ìý

Monoline excess

Ìý

119,900

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

116,895

Ìý

Total Reinsurance & Monoline Excess

Ìý

438,847

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

405,576

Ìý

Total

$

3,133,302

Ìý

Ìý

$

2,851,291

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Current accident year losses from catastrophes:

Insurance

$

70,617

Ìý

Ìý

$

27,451

Ìý

Reinsurance & Monoline Excess

Ìý

40,491

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

3,055

Ìý

Total

$

111,108

Ìý

Ìý

$

30,506

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Net Investment income:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Core portfolio (3)

$

316,940

Ìý

Ìý

$

331,177

Ìý

Investment funds

Ìý

27,023

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

(29,349

)

Arbitrage trading account

Ìý

16,329

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

18,011

Ìý

Total

$

360,292

Ìý

Ìý

$

319,839

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Net realized losses on investments

$

(4,235

)

Ìý

$

(14,308

)

Change in unrealized gains on equity securities

Ìý

19,946

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

25,811

Ìý

Total

$

15,711

Ìý

Ìý

$

11,503

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Other operating costs and expenses:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Policy acquisition and insurance operating expenses

$

838,246

Ìý

Ìý

$

791,532

Ìý

Insurance service expenses

Ìý

23,246

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

21,439

Ìý

Net foreign currency losses (gains)

Ìý

19,378

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

(13,177

)

Other costs and expenses

Ìý

69,040

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

68,795

Ìý

Total

$

949,910

Ìý

Ìý

$

868,589

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Cash flow from operations

$

743,817

Ìý

Ìý

$

746,235

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Reconciliation of net income to operating income:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Net income

$

417,571

Ìý

Ìý

$

442,471

Ìý

Pre-tax investment gains, net of related expenses

Ìý

(16,355

)

Ìý

Ìý

(25,780

)

Income tax expense

Ìý

3,528

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

6,633

Ìý

Operating income after-tax (4)

$

404,744

Ìý

Ìý

$

423,324

Ìý

(1)

Short-tail lines include commercial multi-peril (non-liability), inland marine, accident and health, fidelity and surety, boiler and machinery, high net worth homeowners and other lines.

(2)

Includes reinsurance casualty and property and certain program management business.

(3)

Core portfolio includes fixed maturity securities, equity securities, cash and cash equivalents, real estate and loans receivable.

(4)

Operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income excluding after-tax net investment gains (losses). Net investment gains (losses) are computed net of related expenses, including performance-based compensatory costs associated with realized investment gains. Management believes this measurement provides a useful indicator of trends in the Company’s underlying operations.

Selected Balance Sheet Information

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Ìý

March 31, 2025

Ìý

December 31, 2024

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Net invested assets (1)

$

30,728,601

Ìý

$

29,780,638

Total assets

Ìý

41,345,792

Ìý

Ìý

40,448,635

Reserves for losses and loss expenses

Ìý

20,921,987

Ìý

Ìý

20,368,030

Senior notes and other debt

Ìý

1,832,822

Ìý

Ìý

1,831,158

Subordinated debentures

Ìý

1,009,988

Ìý

Ìý

1,009,808

Common stockholders' equity (2)

Ìý

8,914,039

Ìý

Ìý

8,395,111

Common stock outstanding (3)

Ìý

379,313

Ìý

Ìý

380,066

Book value per share (4)

Ìý

23.50

Ìý

Ìý

22.09

Tangible book value per share (4)

Ìý

22.88

Ìý

Ìý

21.46

(1)

Net invested assets include investments, cash and cash equivalents, trading accounts receivable from brokers and clearing organizations, trading account securities sold but not yet purchased and unsettled purchases.

(2)

As of March 31, 2025, reflected in common stockholders' equity are after-tax unrealized investment losses of $369 million and unrealized currency translation losses of $393 million. As of December 31, 2024, reflected in common stockholders' equity are after-tax unrealized investment losses of $517 million and unrealized currency translation losses of $417 million.

(3)

During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company repurchased 850,000 shares of its common stock for $49.2 million. The number of shares of common stock outstanding excludes shares held in a grantor trust.

(4)

Book value per share is total common stockholders� equity divided by the number of common shares outstanding. Tangible book value per share is total common stockholders� equity excluding the after-tax value of goodwill and other intangible assets divided by the number of common shares outstanding.

Investment Portfolio

March 31, 2025

(Amounts in thousands, except percentages)

Ìý

Carrying Value

Ìý

Percent of Total

Fixed maturity securities:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

United States government and government agencies

$

2,926,978

Ìý

9.5%

State and municipal:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Special revenue

Ìý

1,436,639

Ìý

4.7%

State general obligation

Ìý

298,606

Ìý

1.0%

Local general obligation

Ìý

270,901

Ìý

0.9%

Corporate backed

Ìý

154,712

Ìý

0.5%

Pre-refunded

Ìý

77,893

Ìý

0.3%

Total state and municipal

Ìý

2,238,751

Ìý

7.4%

Mortgage-backed securities:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Agency

Ìý

3,478,021

Ìý

11.3%

Commercial

Ìý

430,838

Ìý

1.4%

Residential - Prime

Ìý

186,605

Ìý

0.6%

Residential - Alt A

Ìý

1,950

Ìý

0.0%

Total mortgage-backed securities

Ìý

4,097,414

Ìý

13.3%

Asset-backed securities

Ìý

3,971,671

Ìý

12.9%

Corporate:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Industrial

Ìý

3,711,128

Ìý

12.1%

Financial

Ìý

3,412,170

Ìý

11.1%

Utilities

Ìý

939,354

Ìý

3.1%

Other

Ìý

497,706

Ìý

1.6%

Total corporate

Ìý

8,560,358

Ìý

27.9%

Foreign government

Ìý

1,825,632

Ìý

5.9%

Total fixed maturity securities (1)

Ìý

23,620,804

Ìý

76.9%

Equity securities available for sale:

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Common stocks

Ìý

682,677

Ìý

2.2%

Preferred stocks

Ìý

462,363

Ìý

1.5%

Total equity securities available for sale

Ìý

1,145,040

Ìý

3.7%

Cash and cash equivalents (2)

Ìý

1,926,407

Ìý

6.3%

Investment funds

Ìý

1,480,322

Ìý

4.8%

AGÕæÈ˹ٷ½ estate

Ìý

1,304,443

Ìý

4.2%

Arbitrage trading account

Ìý

831,705

Ìý

2.7%

Loans receivable

Ìý

419,880

Ìý

1.4%

Net invested assets

$

30,728,601

Ìý

100.0%

(1)

Total fixed maturity securities had an average rating of AA- and an average duration of 2.7 years, including cash and cash equivalents.

(2)

Cash and cash equivalents includes trading accounts receivable from brokers and clearing organizations, trading account securities sold but not yet purchased and unsettled purchases.

Ìý

Karen A. Horvath

Vice President - External

Financial Communications

(203) 629-3000

Source: W. R. Berkley Corporation

W.R Berkley

NYSE:WRB

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27.44B
285.31M
24.33%
69.4%
2.28%
Insurance - Property & Casualty
Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance
United States
GREENWICH