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Hartford Insurance Group, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose 31%: Net income was $1.3 billion, or $4.68 per diluted share, up 31%, and includes discontinued operations. Per-share net income rose 36%. Source
  • Core earnings were nearly flat: Core earnings were $945 million, or $3.42 per diluted share, up 1% in dollars and 6% per share from $3.24. Source
  • Combined ratio rose on prior-year development: Combined ratio was 91.4, up from 87.0, mainly on 2.9 points less favorable prior-year development. Underlying combined ratio was 89.3, up from 88.0. Source
  • Combined ratio improved on pricing: Combined ratio was 90.1, down from 94.1. Underlying combined ratio was 86.3, improved 1.7 points, on better automobile and homeowners loss ratios. Source
  • Group disability loss ratio rose: Employee Benefits loss ratio rose to 72.5 from 69.1, driven by a 6.3 point rise in the group disability loss ratio on higher claim incidence. Source
  • LP income drove investment income: LP income was $114 million before tax, up from $13 million, which management linked to real estate joint venture sales and higher fund returns. Source
  • Favorable prior-year development narrowed: Net favorable prior-year development was $111 million before tax, down from $187 million in core earnings a year earlier. Source
  • Returned $615 million to stockholders: Returned $615 million: $450 million in share repurchases and $165 million in common dividends paid. Source
  • Hartford Funds sale agreement signed: The Hartford agreed on June 3, 2026 to sell Hartford Funds Management, Inc., with the unit now shown as discontinued operations. Source

“The recently announced new $4.2 billion share repurchase authorization demonstrates our disciplined approach to capital management.”

Christopher Swift, The Hartford’s Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Share repurchases SourceAug. 1, 2026 through end of 2028$4.2 billionRaised

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Share repurchase authorization raised to $4.2 billion, 27% above the prior authorization. Source
  • New: Agreement signed on June 3, 2026 to sell Hartford Funds Management, Inc. Source
  • Ended: Hartford Funds no longer reported as a separate segment; results sit in discontinued operations within Corporate. Source

Consolidated results and earnings

  • Net income rose 31%: Net income was $1.3 billion, or $4.68 per diluted share, up 31%, and includes discontinued operations. Per-share net income rose 36%. Source
  • Core earnings were nearly flat: Core earnings were $945 million, or $3.42 per diluted share, up 1% in dollars and 6% per share from $3.24. Source
  • P&C expense ratio edged up: The P&C expense ratio was 29.9, up from 29.5, mainly on a higher Personal Insurance expense ratio. Source
  • Trailing net income ROE 23.8%: Trailing 12-month net income ROE was 23.8%, up 4.0 points, with core earnings ROE at 18.7%. Source

Business Insurance results

  • Written premiums rose 5%: Written premiums were $4.0 billion, up 5%. Small Business rose 7%, while Middle & Large and Global Specialty grew in single digits. Source
  • Combined ratio rose on prior-year development: Combined ratio was 91.4, up from 87.0, mainly on 2.9 points less favorable prior-year development. Underlying combined ratio was 89.3, up from 88.0. Source
  • Middle & Large combined ratio jumped: Combined ratio was 101.9, up from 86.6, including unfavorable prior-year development and 2.0 points more catastrophe losses. Underlying ratio rose to 95.3. Source
  • Small Business combined ratio improved: Combined ratio improved to 85.9 from 89.7, with 1.3 points of lower catastrophe losses. Underlying combined ratio was 86.5, down from 89.0. Source
  • Global Specialty combined ratio rose: Combined ratio rose to 89.5 from 85.9, with 2.1 points of less favorable development and 0.4 points more catastrophe losses. Underlying ratio was 85.8. Source

“With strong execution across the enterprise, we remain well positioned to deliver outstanding ROEs and attractive returns for shareholders.”

Christopher Swift, The Hartford’s Chairman and CEO

Personal Insurance results

  • Combined ratio improved on pricing: Combined ratio was 90.1, down from 94.1. Underlying combined ratio was 86.3, improved 1.7 points, on better automobile and homeowners loss ratios. Source
  • Earned premium declined 3%: Earned premium fell 3%, largely due to a competitive market, while automobile retention improved modestly as renewal price increases moderated. Source
  • Written premiums fell 7%: Written premiums were $915 million, down from $980 million. Renewal written price increases were 5.5% in automobile and 10.4% in homeowners. Source
  • Underlying loss ratio improved 2.8 points: Underlying loss ratio was 60.0, down 2.8 points, as earned pricing increases exceeded loss cost trends in the period. Source
  • Expense ratio rose on agency mix: Expense ratio was 26.3, up from 25.1, on lower earned premiums and a higher agency mix, which drives commissions. Source

Employee Benefits results

  • Fully insured premiums rose 5%: Fully insured ongoing premiums rose 5%, with new business up across all products and persistency above 90%. Source
  • Group disability loss ratio rose: Employee Benefits loss ratio rose to 72.5 from 69.1, driven by a 6.3 point rise in the group disability loss ratio on higher claim incidence. Source
  • Fully insured sales rose 31%: Fully insured ongoing sales rose 31%, driven by higher group disability and group life sales. Source
  • Core earnings fell 15%: Core earnings were $139 million, down from $163 million, reflecting the same drivers as net income, excluding realized gains and losses. Source
  • Expense ratio improved on premium growth: Expense ratio was 25.2, down from 25.7, on earned premium growth and lower commissions, partly offset by higher technology costs. Source

“Investment income remained strong, supported by our diversified portfolio and attractive new money yields.”

Beth Costello, The Hartford’s Chief Financial Officer

Investment income and portfolio

  • Net investment income rose 22%: Net investment income was $800 million before tax, up from $658 million, on higher limited partnership income and a larger invested asset base. Source
  • LP income drove investment income: LP income was $114 million before tax, up from $13 million, which management linked to real estate joint venture sales and higher fund returns. Source
  • Investment income excluding LPs rose: Net investment income excluding LPs was $686 million, up 6%, mainly on higher invested assets. Source
  • Invested assets rose to $64.0 billion: Invested assets reached $64.0 billion, up $0.5 billion from year-end, with higher mortgage loans and LPs, partly offset by lower fixed maturity valuations. Source
  • Net realized gains versus losses: Net realized gains were $64 million before tax, compared with net realized losses of $19 million a year earlier. Source

Reserves and catastrophe losses

  • Favorable prior-year development narrowed: Net favorable prior-year development was $111 million before tax, down from $187 million in core earnings a year earlier. Source
  • Liability reserve increases offset releases: Reserve reductions in workers' compensation, catastrophes and bond were partly offset by higher general liability and commercial auto reserves. Source
  • First quarter liability reserve addition: The first quarter 2026 release recorded a $70 million general liability reserve increase for legacy sexual abuse exposures on 1970s and 1980s policies.
  • Catastrophe losses rose slightly: P&C current accident year catastrophe losses were $222 million before tax, mainly tornado, wind and hail, up from $212 million. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Returned $615 million to stockholders: Returned $615 million: $450 million in share repurchases and $165 million in common dividends paid. Source
  • Book value per share rose: Book value per diluted share was $70.28, up 6.0% from year-end; excluding AOCI it was $78.91, up 7.2%. Source
  • AOCI fell on unrealized losses: AOCI declined on higher net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities, lowering book value per share including AOCI. Source

Hartford Funds sale and discontinued operations

  • Hartford Funds sale agreement signed: The Hartford agreed on June 3, 2026 to sell Hartford Funds Management, Inc., with the unit now shown as discontinued operations. Source
  • Discontinued operations income rose: Discontinued operations income was $318 million before tax, up from $57 million, including a $251 million tax benefit tied to the sale. Source
  • Corporate core loss steady: Corporate core loss was $34 million, compared with $36 million a year earlier. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited a competitive market that pressures new business growth in Personal Insurance. Source
  • External: Tornado, wind and hail events drove Business Insurance catastrophe losses, which rose from $114 million to $129 million. Source
  • Financial: The company described limited partnership returns as volatile, and excludes them when showing the trend in investment earnings. Source
  • Operational: Middle & Large underlying results were affected by higher non-catastrophe property losses and a shift in business mix. 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.