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Everest Group, Ltd.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 February 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year net income of $1.6 billion: The company reported full-year net income of $1.6 billion, or $37.80 per diluted share, and net operating income of $1.9 billion, or $44.54 per diluted share. Net income ROE was 10.5%. Source
  • Insurance combined ratio of 117.0% in quarter: The Insurance combined ratio was 117.0% for the quarter and 114.6% for the year. The attritional combined ratio was 104.1% for the quarter. Source
  • Second ADC layer raised Insurance combined ratio: Insurance paid $105 million for the second layer of the adverse development cover. Management said this resulted in an 11.1-point increase in the Insurance combined ratio. Source
  • Retail renewal rights sale produced benefit: The sale of renewal rights for commercial retail insurance to AIG produced a net pre-tax benefit of $127.3 million, recorded in other income (expense). Source
  • Unfavorable prior-year reserve development: Prior-year reserve development was $120 million unfavorable for the quarter and $657 million unfavorable for the year, reported on a pre-tax net basis for the Group. Source
  • Fourth-quarter buybacks of $397 million: The company repurchased $397 million of common shares in the quarter, 1,239,880 shares at an average price of $320.59. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating cash flow negative: Fourth-quarter operating cash flow was negative $398 million, against $780 million a year earlier, reflecting the ADC consideration paid in the quarter. Full-year operating cash flow was $3.1 billion. Source

“In 2025 we took deliberate actions to simplify the business, improve the return profile, and strengthen the Company’s balance sheet,”

Jim Williamson, Everest President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Pre-tax non-operating charge on AIG renewal rights sale2025 and 2026$250 million to $350 million

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The sale of commercial retail insurance renewal rights to AIG was recognized in the fourth quarter, producing a net pre-tax benefit of $127.3 million. Source
  • New: No share repurchases were made in the third quarter of 2025. Repurchases of $397 million were made in the fourth quarter.

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Full-year net income of $1.6 billion: The company reported full-year net income of $1.6 billion, or $37.80 per diluted share, and net operating income of $1.9 billion, or $44.54 per diluted share. Net income ROE was 10.5%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter net income and operating income: Fourth-quarter net income was $446 million, or $10.77 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $593 million in the prior-year quarter. Net operating income was $549 million, or $13.26 per diluted share. Source
  • Total shareholder return reported at 13.1%: Total shareholder return was 13.1%, calculated as book value per share growth excluding URA(D) plus dividends. Operating income ROE was 12.4% for the year. Source
  • Full-year premium down on comparable basis: Full-year gross written premium was $17.7 billion, down 3.1% on a comparable basis for the Group. Reinsurance fell 1.2% and Insurance fell 5.7% on the same basis. Source
  • Fourth-quarter specialty growth offset by casualty cuts: Fourth-quarter gross written premium was $4.3 billion, down 8.6% for the Group on a comparable basis. Specialty lines grew double digits, but targeted casualty reductions more than offset that growth. Source

Reinsurance segment

  • Reinsurance combined ratio of 91.2% in quarter: The Reinsurance combined ratio was 91.2% for the quarter and 91.7% for the year. The attritional combined ratio fell 140 basis points to 84.6% for the quarter. Source
  • Property catastrophe and financial lines grew: On a comparable basis, Reinsurance gross written premium fell 3.6% in the quarter. Property Catastrophe XOL and Financial Lines grew, while Casualty Pro-Rata and Casualty XOL declined. Source
  • Hurricane Melissa drove Reinsurance catastrophe losses: Reinsurance pre-tax net catastrophe losses were $200 million for the quarter, against $250 million a year earlier. The losses came mainly from Hurricane Melissa and mid-sized global events. Source
  • January 1 renewals shaped for profitability: Management said its preferred market position let it shape signings at the January 1, 2026 renewals to maximize expected profitability. Source

“These actions have increased our financial flexibility and support our intention to return capital to shareholders, as reflected in the share repurchases executed during the quarter.”

Jim Williamson, Everest President and CEO

Insurance segment

  • Insurance combined ratio of 117.0% in quarter: The Insurance combined ratio was 117.0% for the quarter and 114.6% for the year. The attritional combined ratio was 104.1% for the quarter. Source
  • Several Insurance lines declined: Insurance decreases were 29.5% in Property and Short Tail, 24.9% in Specialty Casualty, 25.0% in Professional Liability and 28.0% in Workers' Compensation. Source
  • Accident and health grew in Insurance: Everest Insurance grew 22.0% in accident and health and 1.5% in other specialty lines during the quarter. Source
  • Second ADC layer raised Insurance combined ratio: Insurance paid $105 million for the second layer of the adverse development cover. Management said this resulted in an 11.1-point increase in the Insurance combined ratio. Source
  • Insurance catastrophe losses lower: Insurance pre-tax net catastrophe losses were $16 million for the quarter, $45 million lower than the prior-year quarter. Source

Other segment and AIG renewal rights sale

  • Retail renewal rights sale produced benefit: The sale of renewal rights for commercial retail insurance to AIG produced a net pre-tax benefit of $127.3 million, recorded in other income (expense). Source
  • Sports business policies written on company paper: Other segment premium reflects a limited number of renewed and new policies written on Everest paper by the purchaser of the sports and leisure business, for a finite period after closing. Source
  • Other segment share of ADC payment: The Other segment paid $17 million of premium consideration for the second ADC layer. The total second-layer payment was $122 million, with the rest in Insurance. Source

“We continued to attract world-class senior leadership talent who share our culture of ownership and accountability and are committed to driving consistent and sustained shareholder returns.”

Jim Williamson, Everest President and CEO

Reserves, catastrophes and margins

  • Unfavorable prior-year reserve development: Prior-year reserve development was $120 million unfavorable for the quarter and $657 million unfavorable for the year, reported on a pre-tax net basis for the Group. Source
  • Full-year catastrophe losses lower than 2024: Catastrophe losses net of recoveries and reinstatement premiums were $757 million for the year, compared with $810 million in 2024. The fourth-quarter figure was $216 million. Source
  • Full-year attritional ratios by segment: The full-year attritional combined ratio was 89.6% for the Group, 85.5% for Reinsurance and 100.7% for Insurance. The Group figure excluding a $34 million mortgage profit commission was 89.4%. Source

Investments and balance sheet

  • Net investment income reached a record: Full-year net investment income rose $170 million to $2.1 billion. Fourth-quarter net investment income was $562 million, up from $473 million, on a larger asset base and investment returns. Source
  • Invested assets and cash rose: Total invested assets and cash were $45.4 billion at December 31, 2025, compared with $41.5 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Book value per share increased: Book value per share was $379.83 at year-end, compared with $322.97 a year earlier. Excluding URA(D), book value per share was $379.70, against $342.74. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Fourth-quarter buybacks of $397 million: The company repurchased $397 million of common shares in the quarter, 1,239,880 shares at an average price of $320.59. Source
  • Full-year buybacks of $797 million: Full-year 2025 repurchases totaled $797 million, covering 2,394,763 shares at an average price of $333.01 per share. Source
  • Quarterly dividend of $2.00 per share: The company declared and paid dividends of $2.00 per common share in the quarter, totaling $82.0 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating cash flow negative: Fourth-quarter operating cash flow was negative $398 million, against $780 million a year earlier, reflecting the ADC consideration paid in the quarter. Full-year operating cash flow was $3.1 billion. Source

Strategy and focus

  • Insurance focus on Wholesale and Specialty: Management said the Insurance business, focused on Global Wholesale and Specialty, is targeting lines where Everest has expertise and competitive advantage. Source
  • Underwriting focus intended to deliver margins: Management said its sharpened underwriting focus is positioned to deliver margins, following 2025 actions to simplify the business and improve returns. Source
  • Reinsurance team executed January renewal: Management said the Reinsurance team executed a well-managed January 1 renewal, navigating the market cycle with the discipline expected of a top-tier global reinsurer. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 February 2026

  • Retail business recast into Other segment: Management expects to recast the associated retail business into the Other segment after the 2025 Form 10-K is filed. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Combined ratio Source98.6% Group full year; 98.4% Group fourth quarter
Net premiums written Source15,513 full year; 3,906 fourth quarter
Prior-year reserve development Source120 fourth quarter unfavorable; 657 full year unfavorable
Catastrophe losses Source757 full year; 216 fourth quarter
Investment income Source$2.1 billion full year
Book value per share Source$379.83

Risks management discussed

  • External: Reinsurance catastrophe losses in the quarter came mainly from Hurricane Melissa and a number of mid-sized events globally. Source
  • Financial: Prior-year reserve development was unfavorable in the quarter and for the year, which management reported on a pre-tax net basis. Source
  • Financial: Fourth-quarter operating cash flow was reduced by the ADC consideration paid in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Targeted reductions in certain casualty lines more than offset specialty growth in the fourth quarter, lowering written premium. Source
  • Regulatory: The transfer of the retail business to AIG was subject to regulatory approvals applicable in certain regions, per the prior-quarter release.

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior-quarter release expected to pay about $122 million for the second ADC layer at closing. The current release reports $122 million paid in the quarter.
  • Not stated: Management described the exit from commercial retail insurance and the ongoing transfer of that business to AIG as affecting Insurance premium. 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.