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Assured Guaranty Ltd.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 March 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose on higher revenues: AG Re net income was $124,563 thousand for 2025 against $98,466 thousand for 2024. Total revenues were $198,117 thousand against $163,272 thousand. Source
  • Credit derivative and FX gains lifted revenue: Fair value gains on credit derivatives were $17,831 thousand against $6,831 thousand. Foreign exchange gains on remeasurement were $15,455 thousand against a $5,329 thousand loss. Source
  • Net debt service outstanding rose: Net debt service outstanding was $101.1 billion at December 31, 2025, against $93.0 billion. Net par outstanding was $65.3 billion against $60.8 billion. Source
  • Dividends paid fell to $80 million: Dividends paid were $80,000 thousand in 2025, against $97,400 thousand in 2024. Dividends were the only financing cash flow in both years. Source
  • Shareholder's equity rose to $1.17 billion: Total shareholder’s equity was $1,169,982 thousand at December 31, 2025, against $1,087,474 thousand. Retained earnings were $336,826 thousand, and accumulated other comprehensive loss was $24,826 thousand. Source
  • PREPA administrative claim denied: PREPA was the only unresolved reinsured Puerto Rico exposure in payment default, with net par of $141.3 million. On March 16, 2026, the court denied bondholders’ administrative expense claim motion. Source
  • Thames Water settlement talks continue: Assumed net par of Thames Water Utilities Finance PLC was £0.6 billion, or $0.8 billion, rated BIG. Its first scheduled principal payment falls due in 2047. Source

“In management’s opinion, all material adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company are reflected in the periods presented and are of a normal, recurring nature.”

Assured Guaranty Ltd., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net earned premiums (scheduled future earnings) Source202651,552 (thousand dollars, subtotal of 2026 quarters)
Net expected loss to be expensed Source2026944 (thousand dollars, subtotal of 2026 quarters)

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Assured Guaranty announced on January 21, 2026 its entry into annuity reinsurance through the acquisition of Warwick Re Limited, later renamed Assured Life Reinsurance Ltd. Source
  • Ended: AG Inc. terminated the Novation Agreement with FGIC, under which certain FGIC policies could have been novated to the company, effective October 6, 2025.
  • Ended: AG Inc. sold the held-for-sale commercially leased building in October 2025 and recorded a $23 million pre-tax gain in other income.

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income rose on higher revenues: AG Re net income was $124,563 thousand for 2025 against $98,466 thousand for 2024. Total revenues were $198,117 thousand against $163,272 thousand. Source
  • Credit derivative and FX gains lifted revenue: Fair value gains on credit derivatives were $17,831 thousand against $6,831 thousand. Foreign exchange gains on remeasurement were $15,455 thousand against a $5,329 thousand loss. Source
  • Net earned premiums were flat: Net earned premiums were $96,677 thousand against $96,363 thousand. Financial guaranty net earned premiums rose to $91,758 thousand, while accelerations from refundings and terminations fell to $6,138 thousand from $13,174 thousand. Source
  • Net investment income rose: Net investment income was $55,304 thousand against $53,955 thousand. Net realized investment losses were $1,706 thousand against $576 thousand. Source
  • Affiliate Assured Guaranty Inc. filing included: The second document covers affiliate Assured Guaranty Inc., not an earlier period of AG Re. It reported 2025 net income attributable of $437 million against $402 million in 2024.

Segments and regions

  • Public and structured finance net par: Public finance net par was $60.2 billion and structured finance $5.1 billion at December 31, 2025, against $56.2 billion and $4.6 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Below-investment-grade par declined: BIG par outstanding was $1.93 billion at December 31, 2025, against $2.33 billion. BIG 1 was $0.69 billion, BIG 2 $0.97 billion and BIG 3 $0.27 billion. Source

“AG has taken legal action, and may take additional legal action in the future, to enforce its rights with respect to the remaining Puerto Rico obligations which AG insures.”

Assured Guaranty Ltd., press release

Products and customers

  • Affiliates supply all new assumed business: Affiliated ceding companies account for all new financial guaranty assumed reinsurance business. AG Re and AGRO write business as reinsurers of third-party insurers and affiliates. Source
  • Specialty book rated investment grade: All specialty exposures are rated investment grade except aircraft RVI, at $5.3 million gross and net. Specialty net earned premiums were $4,919 thousand against $7,536 thousand. Source
  • RVI reserves developed favorably: Specialty RVI net loss reserve was $511 thousand at year-end, against $847 thousand at the start of the year. Incurred prior-year development was a $336 thousand benefit. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Compensation costs rose: Employee compensation and benefit expenses were $16,855 thousand against $12,962 thousand. Other operating expenses were $9,632 thousand against $9,420 thousand. Source
  • Loss expense turned to small charge: Loss and LAE expense was $356 thousand against a $2,329 thousand benefit in 2024. Amortization of deferred acquisition costs was $26,500 thousand against $27,440 thousand. Source
  • LBIE litigation added realized gain: A $13.4 million realized gain on credit derivatives was recognized in the first quarter of 2025 from the resolution of the LBIE litigation. Source
  • Tax provision rose on current taxes: Total income tax provision was $22,379 thousand against $18,360 thousand. The current provision was $39,181 thousand, while the deferred item was a $16,802 thousand benefit. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Net debt service outstanding rose: Net debt service outstanding was $101.1 billion at December 31, 2025, against $93.0 billion. Net par outstanding was $65.3 billion against $60.8 billion. Source
  • New business premiums and collections rose: New business and supplemental premiums, net of commissions, were $76,323 thousand against $73,461 thousand. Gross premiums received, net of commissions, were $82,006 thousand against $52,939 thousand. Source
  • Premium receivable mostly non-dollar: About 55% of gross premiums receivable, net of commissions payable, was in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, mainly pound sterling and euro, against 52% a year earlier. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Dividends paid fell to $80 million: Dividends paid were $80,000 thousand in 2025, against $97,400 thousand in 2024. Dividends were the only financing cash flow in both years. Source
  • Shareholder's equity rose to $1.17 billion: Total shareholder’s equity was $1,169,982 thousand at December 31, 2025, against $1,087,474 thousand. Retained earnings were $336,826 thousand, and accumulated other comprehensive loss was $24,826 thousand. Source
  • Operating cash flow declined: Net cash provided by operating activities was $54,925 thousand against $79,324 thousand. Investing activities provided $33,615 thousand in 2025. Source

Stressed exposures and litigation

  • PREPA administrative claim denied: PREPA was the only unresolved reinsured Puerto Rico exposure in payment default, with net par of $141.3 million. On March 16, 2026, the court denied bondholders’ administrative expense claim motion. Source
  • Thames Water settlement talks continue: Assumed net par of Thames Water Utilities Finance PLC was £0.6 billion, or $0.8 billion, rated BIG. Its first scheduled principal payment falls due in 2047. Source
  • European renewables and U.K. student housing strain: BIG European renewable energy net par was €140.4 million ($164.9 million). BIG U.K. student accommodation net par was £78.8 million ($106.2 million), with reported occupancy rates and financial strain. Source
  • U.S. healthcare cash flow stress: Certain BIG U.S. healthcare exposures face rising labor and supply costs, and hospitals with large Medicaid and Medicare mixes have lagging reimbursement. Medicaid funding cuts take effect in 2026 and 2027. Source
  • Insurance securitization loss estimate fell: Projected net expected loss to be paid on troubled insurance securitization exposures was $30.0 million, against $50.4 million a year earlier. An economic benefit came from a prior BIG transaction's final resolution. Source

Strategy and investment

  • AGRO guaranty expected for Assured Life Re: Assured Guaranty expects AGRO to issue a guaranty covering certain Assured Life Re reinsurance obligations to ceding life and annuity insurers. Source
  • Equity method investment in Sound Point fund: The equity method investment rose to $7,716 thousand from $5,712 thousand. Equity in earnings of the investee was $2,168 thousand, against $1,047 thousand. Source
  • Asset management through Sound Point stake: Since July 1, 2023, the group has taken part in asset management through its ownership interest in Sound Point, which it received about 30% of common interests in.

Accounting standards

  • Early adoption of ASU 2025-07: The company elected to early adopt ASU 2025-07 as of January 1, 2025. The adoption had no effect on the consolidated financial statements. Source
  • Expense disclosure standard under evaluation: ASU 2024-03, on specific expense category disclosures, is under evaluation for adoption timing and its effect on expense disclosures. Source
  • Internal-use software standard under evaluation: ASU 2025-06, on capitalization of internal-use software costs, is under evaluation for adoption timing and its effect on consolidated financial statements. Source

Reserves and discount rates

  • Net expected loss to be paid declined: Net expected loss to be paid (recovered) was $73,603 thousand at year-end, against $89,258 thousand. Net paid losses were $12,365 thousand, against $125,765 thousand in 2024. Source
  • Risk-free discount rate averaged 3.90%: The weighted average risk-free rate used for discounting was 3.90% at December 31, 2025, against 4.35% at December 31, 2024. Source
  • Second lien recovery assumption raised: The weighted average recovery on charged-off second lien loans was raised to 60% from 50%, with a $2.5 million economic benefit in 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 March 2026

  • PREPA mediation runs through April 30: The court most recently extended the mediation term for PREPA through April 30, 2026. Source
  • Supreme Court Cook decision expected mid-2026: The ruling in Trump v. Cook, which bears on the FOMB board case, is expected by late June or early July 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net premiums written Source$98,213 thousand in 2025, against $87,735 thousand in 2024 (AG Re)
Investment income Source$55,304 thousand in 2025, against $53,955 thousand in 2024 (AG Re net investment income)
Prior-year reserve development SourceEconomic loss development benefit of $3,290 thousand in 2025; $3,851 thousand of economic loss development in 2024 (AG Re)

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Management said proceedings on recoveries and losses could be material to the financial statements in any quarter or year. Source
  • Regulatory: The U.S. administration appealed the preliminary injunction on the termination of FOMB board members, with a stay pending the Supreme Court case. Source
  • Financial: Current loss projections may be subject to considerable uncertainty and may not reflect ultimate claims paid. Source
  • External: Projected SOFR changes affect excess spread on certain RMBS transactions with floating rate insured debt. Source
  • Financial: Actual premium collections may differ from expected collections due to exchange rates and counterparty collectability issues. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Bondholders, including AG, expect to file a notice of appeal to the First Circuit by March 30, 2026, after the March 16, 2026 denial. Source
  • Not stated: The ceding companies, as part of the Thames senior Class A creditor group, are taking actions to work out the insured credit and reduce risk. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.