Gallagher Re has released its global (re)insurers’ Q1 2022 financial results, reporting an average premium growth of 11% in Q1 driven by continued favourable pricing for commercial lines and reinsurance business. The biggest premium growths came from global (re)insurers at 20% and North American and Bermudan reinsurers at 13%.
Some commercial writers reported double-digit premium growth, pointing out that rate increases continued to exceed claims inflation.
Underwriting results were “exceptionally strong,” supported by favourable rates and a lower natural catastrophe loss impact than 2021. (Re)insurers posted a 94% combined ratio compared to the 96% the year before. While some (re)insurers established reserves for claims exposure relating to the war in Ukraine, this did not significantly impact overall Q1 results.
Despite the solid operating results, shareholders’ equity across (re)insurers declined significantly due to higher interest rates, which in turn pushed the value of bond portfolios and equity holdings down.
The average return on equity fell from 14% last Q1 to 9%, with only AIG and Travelers reporting a higher ROE among tracked (re)insurers.
The upward trend of economic inflation – which Gallagher Re expects to continue – has created more uncertainty around losses that will be incurred to settle claims. This and the impact of the sustained, low interest rate environment on net investment income have forced rates up, with many companies achieving rate-on-rate increases for a fourth consecutive year.
Moving forward, management teams told Gallagher Re that they were carefully monitoring trends in pricing and claims inflation and would adjust premium growth to support profitability.
Consensus 2023 earnings per share (EPS) estimates increased by 1.1% following Q1 results.
