A.M. Best Special Report: U.S. Life/Health Insurers’ Operating Income Grows Significantly in First-Quarter 2017

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The U.S. life/health (L/H) industry’s pretax net operating income in first-quarter 2017 jumped 130% over the same period a year ago, to $14.5 billion from $6.3 billion, and was the highest first-quarter total since 2013. These preliminary financial results are detailed in a new Best’s Special Report, titled, “A.M. Best First Look—1Qtr 2017 U.S. Life/Health Financial Results,” and the data is derived from companies’ three-month 2017 interim statutory statements that were received by May 22, 2017, representing an estimated 84% of total industry premiums and annuity considerations.

According to the report, the L/H industry posted an increase in realized capital losses of $3.1billion compared with first-quarter 2016, which was primarily driven by a $1.8 billion year-over-year difference at Transamerica Life Insurance Company. This moderated net income growth to $7.7 billion, a 73.5% increase over first-quarter 2016.

Total income in first-quarter 2017 increased year-over-year by 1.6% to $187.2 billion as premiums and annuity considerations grew 2.2% and net investment income rose 6.2%. This offset a 38.1% decline in commissions and expense allowances on reinsurance ceded, which was elevated during first-quarter 2016 with a reinsurance agreement at Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Co. that resulted in $2.3 billion of income not repeated during the current quarter.

The L/H industry saw continued growth in invested assets, reaching a record $3.8 trillion as of March 2017. Although bonds remained the top invested asset class in first-quarter 2017, the proportion held in bonds continued to steadily decline as more money was invested in mortgage loans, which made up more than 11% of invested assets at the end of the first quarter.

To access a copy of this report, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=261927.

A.M. Best is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2017 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170525005928/en/

A.M. Best

Matthew Coppola

Associate Director

– Corporate Data Management

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5627

[email protected]

or

Christopher Sharkey

Manager, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

[email protected]

or

Jim Peavy

Director, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644

[email protected]

Source: A.M. Best