“We have been through one of the most turbulent years in recent history, which was shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic shutdown, social unrest and a significant number of catastrophe events. Despite these challenges we delivered strong core earnings of $2.1 billion, or $5.78 per diluted share, and a twelve-month core earnings ROE of 12.7 percent. In the P&C business, underlying margin expansion reflects higher pricing, disciplined underwriting, and operating efficiencies through our Hartford Next initiative. Our investment portfolio performed well with strong partnership returns. Group Benefits results in the fourth quarter were impacted by higher mortality rates in Group life primarily related to COVID-19,” said The Hartford’s Chairman and CEO Christopher Swift.

The Hartford’s President, Doug Elliot, said, “Hartford’s P&C business results were strong during 2020 despite the challenges faced by our company and the industry. Small Commercial delivered record new business from our Spectrum package product during the last four months of the year. In Middle & Large Commercial and Global Specialty, significant positive pricing and underwriting discipline has improved underlying results. In Personal Lines we are looking forward to the launch of our new auto and home product during the first half of 2021. Our underwriting execution during this very difficult year, combined with expectations for continued strong pricing will drive margin improvement and set the foundation for growth in 2021.”

Swift added, “Our businesses showed strong performance in a challenging year as the benefit of strategic priorities were evident in our results. As we manage through the pandemic, continued execution on our initiatives will generate further improvement in results and enhance value for all of our stakeholders.”

  • Fourth quarter 2020 net income available to common stockholders of $532 million ($1.47 per diluted share) decreased 2% from fourth quarter 2019, and core earnings* of $636 million (core earnings per diluted share* of $1.76) rose 22% from fourth quarter 2019
  • Full year 2020 net income available to common stockholders of $1.7 billion ($4.76 per diluted share) decreased 17% from full year 2019. Full year 2020 core earnings of $2.1 billion ($5.78 per diluted share) increased 1% from full year 2019
  • Net income ROE for the trailing 12-month period ended Dec. 31, 2020, was 10.0% and core earnings ROE* for the same period was 12.7%
  • Book value per diluted share was $50.39, compared to $43.85 at Dec. 31, 2019; book value per diluted share excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI)* rose 8% to $47.16
  • Commercial Lines combined ratio of 91.8 compared with 98.2 in fourth quarter 2019; underlying combined ratio* of 90.7 was 5.2 points better than fourth quarter 2019 with underlying margin improvement across Small Commercial, Middle & Large Commercial and Global Specialty. Commercial Lines included $28 million, before tax, or 1.3 points of COVID-19 losses in the quarter
  • Group Benefits net income margin was 3.9% in fourth quarter 2020 compared with 10.5% in the year prior. Core earnings margin* was 3.3% in fourth quarter 2020, compared with 10.6% in the year prior. Group Benefits experienced excess mortality of $152 million, before tax, or 8.1 points of margin impact, in fourth quarter 2020, primarily caused by direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19
  • Capital management actions include a quarterly dividend increase of 8% to $0.35 per common share, payable Apr. 2, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Mar. 1, 2021, and the previously announced share repurchase authorization of $1.5 billion, effective Jan.1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2022

Full report The Hartford Announces Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2020 Financial Results, 2021 Outlook For Select Business Metrics | The Hartford

 

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