greeksoup/ stock research

Chubb Ltd.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and core income rose: Net income was $2.32 billion, or $5.88 per share, and core operating income was $2.69 billion, or $6.82 per share. Prior-year per-share figures were $3.29 and $3.68. Source
  • Current accident year underwriting rose: Current accident year P&C underwriting income excluding catastrophe losses was $2.01 billion, against $1,827 million a year earlier. Source
  • Personal lines premiums and loss ratio improved: North America Personal P&C net premiums written rose 8.3%. Its current accident year combined ratio excluding catastrophes was 71.3% against 75.0%, with the loss ratio down 2.7 points. Source
  • Consumer businesses grew about 21%: Management cited 21% growth across its global consumer businesses in P&C and Life, as part of consolidated premium growth. Source
  • Loss ratio fell as acquisition cost rose: The loss and loss expense ratio fell to 55.6% from 67.8%. The policy acquisition cost ratio rose to 20.0% from 19.4%, and the administrative expense ratio was 8.4%, against 8.5%. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends returned capital: Capital returned comprised $1.14 billion of share repurchases at an average $325.06 per share, plus $380 million of dividends. Source
  • Mark-to-market losses cut book value: After-tax realized and unrealized losses of $1.94 billion, mainly from public fixed-income mark-to-market, reduced book value. Foreign currency gains of $346 million partly offset them. Source

“We had an excellent quarter and start to the year, which speaks to the strength and resilience of our company in a period of elevated uncertainty.”

Evan G. Greenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chubb Limited

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
EPS and tangible book value growth Source2026double-digit growthKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Management said it reduced exposure in Major Accounts and E&S during the quarter by non-renewing a substantial percentage of shared and layered property business and buying additional reinsurance. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income and core income rose: Net income was $2.32 billion, or $5.88 per share, and core operating income was $2.69 billion, or $6.82 per share. Prior-year per-share figures were $3.29 and $3.68. Source
  • P&C underwriting income rose sharply: P&C underwriting income was $1.79 billion, against $441 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Core results excluding CATs: Excluding catastrophe losses, core operating income rose 10.7% and EPS rose 13.5%, according to the chairman and CEO. Source
  • Current accident year underwriting rose: Current accident year P&C underwriting income excluding catastrophe losses was $2.01 billion, against $1,827 million a year earlier. Source
  • Bermuda tax amortization excluded from core: Core operating income excludes amortization of the deferred tax asset from Bermuda law, which was $31 million against $21 million a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America Commercial premiums rose modestly: Net premiums written rose 2.3% in North America Commercial P&C, with major accounts retail and E&S up 1.5% and middle market and small commercial up 3.3%. Source
  • Personal lines premiums and loss ratio improved: North America Personal P&C net premiums written rose 8.3%. Its current accident year combined ratio excluding catastrophes was 71.3% against 75.0%, with the loss ratio down 2.7 points. Source
  • Agricultural combined ratio fell on prior-year development: North America Agricultural's combined ratio was 37.5% against 67.5%, with 22.2 points from higher favorable prior period development and 6.5 points from lower catastrophe losses. Source
  • Overseas General premiums grew across regions: Overseas General net premiums written rose 14.4%. Latin America was up 17.8%, Europe up 15.8% and Asia up 12.1%. Source
  • Global Reinsurance premiums declined: Global Reinsurance net premiums written fell 11.2% in dollars, and its combined ratio was 76.0% against 95.6%. Source
  • Life premiums and income grew: International Life premiums rose 36.8%, or 15.7% excluding savings-oriented single premium business. Life segment income was partly offset by non-recurring prior-year items. Source

“Chubb’s diversification, market-leading presence and capabilities, and operating discipline provide us with greater resilience.”

Evan G. Greenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chubb Limited

Products and customers

  • Consumer businesses grew about 21%: Management cited 21% growth across its global consumer businesses in P&C and Life, as part of consolidated premium growth. Source
  • Large account property fell 55.0%: Major accounts retail and specialty rose 1.5%, or 10.9% excluding large account property, which fell 55.0% on market conditions. Source
  • Middle market financial lines declined: Middle market and small commercial rose 3.3%. Its financial lines fell 5.7%, which management linked to greater use of reinsurance. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Loss ratio fell as acquisition cost rose: The loss and loss expense ratio fell to 55.6% from 67.8%. The policy acquisition cost ratio rose to 20.0% from 19.4%, and the administrative expense ratio was 8.4%, against 8.5%. Source
  • Overseas General margin little changed: Overseas General's current accident year combined ratio excluding catastrophes was 85.4% against 85.5%, with the loss ratio down 0.5 points and the expense ratio up 0.4 points, both due to business mix. Source
  • Commercial underlying loss ratio rose: In North America Commercial, the current accident year combined ratio excluding catastrophes rose to 81.8%, with the increase attributed to the reduction in property business. Source

Demand and the order book

  • North America growth excluding large account property: North America grew 7.8% excluding large account property, admitted and E&S. The release's North America bullet gives 7.7% for the same measure. Source
  • Overseas growth in constant dollars: Excluding currency effects, Overseas General premiums rose 6.1%, with consumer up 11.1% and commercial up 3.1%. Source
  • Consolidated growth before currency: Consolidated net premiums written rose 7.7% in constant dollars, compared with the reported growth rate. Source
  • Earned premium grew faster than written: Consolidated net premiums earned rose 12.1%, or 9.5% in constant dollars, a faster rate than premiums written as reported. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Operating cash flow was $3.95 billion: Adjusted operating cash flow, which removes net investing activity of consolidated investment products, was $3.80 billion. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends returned capital: Capital returned comprised $1.14 billion of share repurchases at an average $325.06 per share, plus $380 million of dividends. Source
  • Weighted share count declined: Weighted average shares outstanding were 394.6 against 404.7 a year earlier. Source

Investment portfolio and book value

  • Mark-to-market losses cut book value: After-tax realized and unrealized losses of $1.94 billion, mainly from public fixed-income mark-to-market, reduced book value. Foreign currency gains of $346 million partly offset them. Source
  • Realized losses rose on the quarter: Net realized losses were $407 million against $116 million a year earlier. Market risk benefits gains were $14 million, against a $92 million loss. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Combined ratio Source84.0% (prior year 95.7%)
Net premiums written Source$11.72 billion, up 7.2%
Prior-year reserve development Source$286 million favorable (prior year $255 million)
Catastrophe losses Source$500 million (prior year $1.64 billion)
Investment income SourcePre-tax $1.71 billion, up 9.5%; adjusted $1.84 billion, up 10.1%
Book value per share Source$189.93, up 15.8%; tangible $126.65, up 21.5%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said the war in the Middle East raises the risk of higher inflation and slower economic growth, adding pressure to existing financial, fiscal and economic conditions. Source
  • Demand: Management described property and financial lines market conditions as soft or softening, with portions of the property market softening at a rapid pace. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Stated in the prior release; the current release says management remains confident in double-digit growth in EPS and tangible book value.

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.