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Loews Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 May 2026: press release, prepared remarks. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income fell 9 percent: Net income attributable to Loews was $337 million, or $1.63 per share, down from $370 million, or $1.74 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • CNA net income declined 23 percent: CNA contributed $194 million to Loews against $252 million a year earlier. CNA core income was $225 million against $281 million. Source
  • Hotel adjusted EBITDA rose 53 percent: Loews Hotels adjusted EBITDA was $124 million against $81 million. Net income was $26 million against break-even, driven by Orlando joint ventures. Source
  • Combined ratio rose 3.8 points: CNA property and casualty combined ratio was 102.2 percent against 98.4 percent, mainly from a higher underlying loss ratio and unfavorable prior year development. Source
  • Prior-year reserve development grew: Unfavorable net prior year loss reserve development rose to $100 million from $61 million. It added 4.1 points to the combined ratio, against 2.5 points a year earlier. Source
  • Premium growth slowed to 1 percent: Net written premiums grew 1 percent. Management attributed this to rate increases of 2 percent, exposure growth of 1 percent and retention of 83 percent. Source
  • Parent cash held above normal: The parent had $4.5 billion of cash and investments and $1.8 billion of debt. The CEO said a larger cash balance is prudent during the period of elevated Boardwalk capital spending. Source

“In several casualty lines, more recent accident years developed adversely, which led us to reassess our prior estimates and strengthen reserves.”

Ben Tisch, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Boardwalk capital expenditure backlog Sourcenot statedexpected to grow before it declines; approximately $3.2 billion currently

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Boardwalk signed to acquire Spire Marketing for $215 million in the first quarter. The deal closed April 30, self-financed from cash on hand, and is now named Continuum. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income fell 9 percent: Net income attributable to Loews was $337 million, or $1.63 per share, down from $370 million, or $1.74 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Two segments offset CNA decline: The CEO described a quarter split between Boardwalk and Loews Hotels, which posted higher results, and CNA, which declined after an earlier period of higher results. Source
  • Book value per share edged up: Book value per share excluding AOCI rose to $97.20 from $95.89. Including AOCI it rose to $90.90 from $90.71, as higher rates widened unrealized losses in CNA’s fixed income portfolio. Source

Segments and regions

  • CNA net income declined 23 percent: CNA contributed $194 million to Loews against $252 million a year earlier. CNA core income was $225 million against $281 million. Source
  • Boardwalk EBITDA rose on rates: Boardwalk EBITDA was $360 million against $346 million. Management attributed the gain to higher contracting rates, utilization-based gas transportation revenues and higher storage and parking rates. Source
  • Hotel adjusted EBITDA rose 53 percent: Loews Hotels adjusted EBITDA was $124 million against $81 million. Net income was $26 million against break-even, driven by Orlando joint ventures. Source
  • Parent corporate loss widened: The corporate segment reported a net loss of $42 million against $34 million. Management cited lower parent trading portfolio investment income and higher interest expense from refinancing. Source

“we would not expect growth to reaccelerate meaningfully in the near term as we remain focused on maintaining underwriting discipline and protecting the balance sheet.”

Ben Tisch, CEO

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Combined ratio rose 3.8 points: CNA property and casualty combined ratio was 102.2 percent against 98.4 percent, mainly from a higher underlying loss ratio and unfavorable prior year development. Source
  • Prior-year reserve development grew: Unfavorable net prior year loss reserve development rose to $100 million from $61 million. It added 4.1 points to the combined ratio, against 2.5 points a year earlier. Source
  • Underlying loss ratio rose 2.6 points: The underlying loss ratio rose to 64.1 percent from 61.5 percent. Management cited higher loss cost trends and rate that was lower than expected in certain lines. Source
  • CEO cited $106 million reserve charge: The CEO cited a $106 million reserve charge at CNA. The release shows unfavorable net prior year development of $100 million for property and casualty. Source
  • Catastrophe impacts slightly lower: Catastrophe impacts added 3.6 points to the combined ratio, against 3.8 points a year earlier. Development-related items added 4.1 points, against 2.5. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Premium growth slowed to 1 percent: Net written premiums grew 1 percent. Management attributed this to rate increases of 2 percent, exposure growth of 1 percent and retention of 83 percent. Source
  • Boardwalk demand for gas transport: Management described another quarter of growth at Boardwalk, supported by higher re-contracting rates, higher system utilization and demand for gas transportation and storage. Source
  • Hotel occupancy rose 7 points: Overall hotel occupancy rose to 81 percent, up 7 points, mainly from the Orlando joint venture properties. Source

“The 9% year-over-year decline in net income was driven by lower contributions from CNA and the parent company, partially offset by stronger earnings from Boardwalk Pipelines and Loews Hotels.”

Jane Wang, CFO

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Buybacks were modest this quarter: Loews repurchased 0.3 million shares for $31 million in the quarter. The CEO described share repurchase activity as relatively muted in the most recent quarter. Source
  • Parent cash held above normal: The parent had $4.5 billion of cash and investments and $1.8 billion of debt. The CEO said a larger cash balance is prudent during the period of elevated Boardwalk capital spending. Source
  • Dividends received from CNA: In the first quarter Loews received $616 million of dividends from CNA and $75 million of distributions from Boardwalk. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Hotel investments starting to earn: The CEO said earnings from recent hotel investments are now coming through in a meaningful way. Source
  • Capital deployment at lower prices: The CEO said he is more comfortable deploying capital at lower share prices than higher ones, and would prefer to see how conditions evolve before becoming more aggressive. Source
  • Stock seen below intrinsic value: The CEO said he continues to believe the stock trades at a discount to intrinsic value, after its appreciation over the past two years. Source

Underwriting actions at CNA

  • CNA reset current accident year: Management said CNA strengthened reserves and reset expectations for the current accident year after recent casualty experience. Source
  • CNA more conservative on industry: Management said CNA is taking a higher level of conservatism in response to industry dynamics. Source
  • Higher loss picks in longer-tail lines: The higher loss picks are mainly in longer-tail lines, including excess casualty and workers’ compensation, according to the CFO. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 May 2026

  • Hotel ramp still ahead: The CEO said the Orlando hotel earnings have further ramp ahead and that the trajectory is clear. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Combined ratio Source102.2% (98.4% a year earlier)
Net premiums written Sourcegrew 1%
Prior-year reserve development Source$100 million unfavorable (4.1 points)
Catastrophe losses Source3.6 points (3.8 points a year earlier)
Investment income Sourceincreased; consolidated $613 million against $608 million
Book value per share Source$90.90 ($97.20 excluding AOCI)

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management said its loss cost inflation and claim frequency assumptions at CNA were not conservative enough, leading to reserve strengthening and higher loss picks. Source
  • Demand: Management said the insurance industry continues to face a softer rate environment, which it cited as a reason for underwriting discipline. Source
  • Regulatory: The CEO described the Boardwalk litigation as an outstanding risk, citing the potential magnitude of the exposure. Source
  • External: The CEO said cycles can turn, citing CNA this quarter, and that he would prefer to see how insurance and hotel conditions evolve. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The CEO said his view is that over time Loews will continue to shrink the share count, while noting cash is being held for now. 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.