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Hartford Insurance Group, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 January 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year core earnings rose 25%: Full-year core earnings were $3.8 billion, or $13.42 per diluted share, against $3.1 billion in 2024. Net income available to common stockholders was $3.8 billion, or $13.32 per diluted share. Source
  • Fourth-quarter earnings rose 33%: Fourth-quarter net income available to common stockholders was $1.1 billion, or $3.98 per diluted share, up from $848 million. Core earnings were $1.1 billion, or $4.06 per diluted share. Source
  • Business combined ratio improved to 83.6: Fourth-quarter combined ratio was 83.6, down from 87.4. Underlying combined ratio was 88.1, up from 87.1. The full-year underlying combined ratio was 88.5. Source
  • Personal underlying ratio improved 5.9 points: Personal Insurance underlying combined ratio was 84.3 in the quarter, against 90.2. For the full year it was 88.0, against 94.1, reflecting lower loss ratios in automobile and homeowners. Source
  • Full-year CAT losses reached $748 million: Full-year P&C current accident year catastrophe losses were $748 million, before tax, against $768 million in 2024, concentrated in the South and Midwest regions. Source
  • A&E reserves added $165 million: Asbestos and environmental reserve increases of $165 million, after ADC reinsurance, partly offset favorable prior-year development for the full year. Source
  • Net investment income reached $2.9 billion: Full-year net investment income was $2.9 billion, up from $2.6 billion, on higher invested assets, higher limited partnership income and reinvestment at higher rates. Fourth quarter was $832 million. Source
  • Returned $2.2 billion to stockholders: For the full year, the company returned $2.2 billion, including $1.6 billion of share repurchases and $592 million of common dividends paid. Source

“We enter 2026 with momentum. Disciplined underwriting, extensive and trusted distribution relationships, and an unparalleled customer experience position The Hartford to continue delivering superior returns for shareholders.”

Christopher Swift, The Hartford's Chairman and CEO

Results and earnings drivers

  • Full-year core earnings rose 25%: Full-year core earnings were $3.8 billion, or $13.42 per diluted share, against $3.1 billion in 2024. Net income available to common stockholders was $3.8 billion, or $13.32 per diluted share. Source
  • Fourth-quarter earnings rose 33%: Fourth-quarter net income available to common stockholders was $1.1 billion, or $3.98 per diluted share, up from $848 million. Core earnings were $1.1 billion, or $4.06 per diluted share. Source
  • Return on equity reached 22.0%: Net income ROE for the year was 22.0%, up from 19.9%. Core earnings ROE was 19.4%, up from 16.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Book value per share rose 20%: Book value per diluted share was $66.31, up 20.4%, mainly from net income in excess of stockholder dividends, partly offset by share repurchases. Source

Business Insurance by line

  • Business Insurance premiums grew 8%: Business Insurance written premiums were $14.5 billion for the year, up 8%. Fourth-quarter written premiums rose 7% to $3.4 billion, with increases across the segment. Source
  • Business combined ratio improved to 83.6: Fourth-quarter combined ratio was 83.6, down from 87.4. Underlying combined ratio was 88.1, up from 87.1. The full-year underlying combined ratio was 88.5. Source
  • Small Business combined ratio fell: Small Business combined ratio was 80.8 against 83.8, with lower catastrophe losses and more favorable prior-year development. Underlying combined ratio was 87.3, up from 86.7. Source
  • Global Specialty underlying ratio rose: Global Specialty combined ratio was 78.1 against 84.7. Underlying combined ratio rose to 87.6 from 83.6, on a higher expense ratio and higher loss ratios in two lines. Source
  • Business expense ratio rose 1.0 point: The Business Insurance expense ratio was 31.8 against 30.8. Management attributed the increase to expected technology costs and higher incentive compensation, partly offset by earned premium leverage. Source

“Investment performance was solid, supported by a diversified portfolio, attractive new money yields, and strong limited partnership returns.”

Beth Costello, The Hartford's Chief Financial Officer

Personal Insurance pricing and losses

  • Personal underlying ratio improved 5.9 points: Personal Insurance underlying combined ratio was 84.3 in the quarter, against 90.2. For the full year it was 88.0, against 94.1, reflecting lower loss ratios in automobile and homeowners. Source
  • Full-year underlying loss ratio fell: The Personal Insurance underlying loss and loss adjustment expense ratio was 61.9 for the year, against 68.1 in 2024, with the improvement in both automobile and homeowners. Source
  • Automobile underlying ratio near 99: Personal Automobile combined ratio was 92.7, against 98.3. Underlying combined ratio was 98.9, against 103.0, with earned pricing increases outpacing loss cost trends. Source
  • Renewal price increases moderating: Renewal written price increases were 10.4% in automobile and 11.9% in homeowners. Policy count retention was relatively stable. Fourth-quarter Personal written premiums were $850 million, against $871 million. Source
  • Personal expense ratio improved slightly: The Personal Insurance expense ratio was 26.2, against 26.5, as earned premium leverage offset higher technology costs and incentive compensation. Source

Employee Benefits and Hartford Funds

  • Employee Benefits margin held near 8%: Employee Benefits core earnings margin was 7.6% in the quarter, against 7.8%. The full-year core earnings margin was 8.2%, unchanged from 2024. Source
  • Group disability loss ratio rose: The group disability loss ratio was 70.5, up 3.6 points, on higher short-term and long-term disability loss trends. The group life loss ratio improved 3.0 points on lower mortality. Source
  • Employee Benefits expense ratio increased: The Employee Benefits expense ratio was 27.5, up 0.8 points, on higher staffing costs including incentive compensation and benefits, and higher technology costs. Source
  • Hartford Funds AUM up 8%: Daily average Hartford Funds AUM was $153 billion in the quarter, up 8%. Hartford Funds net income was $59 million, against $49 million. Source
  • Mutual fund and ETF outflows: Mutual fund and ETF net outflows were $742 million in the quarter, against net inflows of $796 million a year earlier. Source

“These outstanding fourth quarter and full-year results demonstrate the effectiveness of our strategy and the impact of innovation across the enterprise.”

Christopher Swift, The Hartford's Chairman and CEO

Catastrophes and reserve development

  • Full-year CAT losses reached $748 million: Full-year P&C current accident year catastrophe losses were $748 million, before tax, against $768 million in 2024, concentrated in the South and Midwest regions. Source
  • Fourth-quarter catastrophe benefit: Fourth-quarter P&C current accident year catastrophes were a $1 million benefit, against $80 million of losses a year earlier, including $54 million of favorable prior-quarter development. Source
  • Net favorable reserve development $360M: Full-year net favorable prior accident year development in core earnings was $360 million, before tax, against $37 million in 2024. Fourth quarter was $12 million favorable. Source
  • A&E reserves added $165 million: Asbestos and environmental reserve increases of $165 million, after ADC reinsurance, partly offset favorable prior-year development for the full year. Source
  • Development excluding A&E favorable: Excluding the A&E reserve development, prior accident year reserve development was favorable by $525 million for the full year, and $177 million in the fourth quarter. Source

Investment income and portfolio

  • Net investment income reached $2.9 billion: Full-year net investment income was $2.9 billion, up from $2.6 billion, on higher invested assets, higher limited partnership income and reinvestment at higher rates. Fourth quarter was $832 million. Source
  • Limited partnership income drove quarter: Fourth-quarter limited partnership income was $160 million, against $79 million. The annualized LP yield was 11.4%, against 6.4%, on higher private equity and other fund returns. Source
  • Yield excluding LPs was flat: Net investment income excluding LPs was $672 million, up 6%. The annualized investment yield excluding LPs was 4.6%, unchanged from a year earlier. Source
  • Invested assets reached $64.0 billion: Total invested assets were $64.0 billion, up $4.8 billion from year-end 2024, mainly from higher book value and higher fixed maturity valuations as interest rates fell. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Returned $2.2 billion to stockholders: For the full year, the company returned $2.2 billion, including $1.6 billion of share repurchases and $592 million of common dividends paid. Source
  • Fourth-quarter returns of $546 million: In the fourth quarter the company returned $546 million, including $400 million of share repurchases and $146 million of common dividends paid. Source
  • Book value excluding AOCI up 13%: Book value per diluted share excluding AOCI was $73.62, up 13.3%. The AOCI impact per diluted share fell to $7.31 from $9.86. Source
  • Corporate core loss narrowed: The Corporate core loss was $37 million in the quarter, against $39 million. For the full year the core loss was $106 million, against $122 million. Source

Management view and next steps

  • Momentum entering 2026 described: Swift said the company enters 2026 with momentum, citing disciplined underwriting, distribution relationships and customer experience. Source
  • Strategy and innovation credited: Swift credited the strategy and the impact of innovation across the enterprise for the results. Source
  • Investment performance described as solid: Costello attributed investment performance to a diversified portfolio, new money yields and limited partnership returns. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Combined ratio Source83.6 (Business Insurance, fourth quarter 2025)
Combined ratio Source91.9 (Personal Insurance, full year 2025)
Written premiums Source+7% (P&C, full year 2025); +5% (P&C, fourth quarter)
Prior-year reserve development Source$360 million favorable (full year 2025)
Catastrophe losses Source$748 million (P&C current accident year, full year 2025)
Investment income Source$2.9 billion net investment income (full year 2025); $832 million (fourth quarter)
Book value per share Source$66.31 diluted; $73.62 excluding AOCI (Dec. 31, 2025)

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Employee Benefits expense ratio rose on staffing and technology costs, including increased investment. Source
  • Financial: Asbestos and environmental reserve increases of $165 million partly offset favorable prior-year development. Source
  • External: Full-year P&C catastrophe losses were $748 million, from tornado, wind and hail events across several regions. Source
  • Demand: Mutual fund and ETF net outflows reached $742 million in the quarter, against net inflows a year earlier. Source
  • Demand: Renewal price increases are described as moderating, with policy count retention relatively stable in automobile and homeowners. Source
  • Operational: Group disability loss ratio rose 3.6 points on higher short-term and long-term disability loss trends. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management states that Personal Insurance restored target profitability in auto during the year. Source
  • Not stated: Management referred to expected increases in technology costs in the Business Insurance expense ratio, without stating a status. 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.