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Mercury General Q2 Earnings Beat on Strong Net Investment Income
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Key Takeaways
Q2 operating income surged to $2.67 per share while revenues rose 11.7% YOY to $1.4B, beating estimates.
Net premiums earned grew 10.6% YOY; net investment income rose 14.2% on higher yield and asset base.
Combined ratio improved 640 bps to 92.5; catastrophe losses fell to $17M from $125M YOY.
Mercury General Corporation (MCY - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2025 operating income of $2.67 per share, in contrast to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 10 cents. The bottom line more than doubled year over year.
The quarterly results of MCY were aided by higher net premiums earned, a rise in average invested assets and cash, and narrower catastrophe losses, offset by higher expenses.
Operational Update of MCY
Total operating revenues in the quarter under review were $1.4 billion, which improved 11.7% year over year. This improvement was driven by higher net premiums earned, net investment income, and other income. Moreover, the top line beat the consensus mark by 0.3%.
Net premiums earned climbed 10.6% year over year to $1.4 billion.
Mercury General Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Net investment income, before income taxes, increased 14.2% year over year to $78.8 million. The growth resulted largely from higher average yield combined with higher average invested assets and cash.
Total expenses of MCY rose 3.3% year over year to $1.3 billion, primarily due to higher losses and loss adjustment expenses, policy acquisition costs, and other operating expenses.
Catastrophe losses net of reinsurance were $17 million, narrower than a loss of $125 million incurred in the year-ago quarter. The catastrophe losses reduced from the subrogation recorded on the Palisades and Eaton wildfires.
The combined ratio — a measure of underwriting profitability — improved 640 basis points (bps) year over year to 92.5. The loss ratio improved 700 bps to 68.8, while the expense ratio deteriorated 60 bps to 23.7.
Financial Update of MCY
Mercury General exited the second quarter 2025 with total assets of $9.1 billion, which was 9.3% above the level at the end of December 2024. As of June 30, 2025, MCY reported a solid cash balance of $1.1 billion, reflecting an increase of 56% from the 2024-end level.
Notes payable of $574.3 million inched up 0.03% from the 2024-end level. Debt-to-total capitalization as of June 30, 2025, improved 20 bps to 22.6% from the end of 2024.
Shareholder equity was $1.9 billion as of June 30, 2025, up 1.2% from 2024-end.
As of June 30, 2025, book value per share was $35.56, up 1.2% from the 2024-end.
Mercury General’s Dividend Update
The board of directors of Mercury General declared a quarterly dividend of 31.75 cents per share. The dividend will be paid on Sept. 25, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business as of Sept. 11, 2025.
Performance of Other Property and Casualty Insurers
Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2025 operating income of $1.97 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 41.7%. The bottom line increased 52.7% year over year. Total operating revenues in the quarter under review were $2.8 billion, which improved 15.3% year over year. However, the top line missed the consensus mark by 0.1%. Net written premiums climbed 11.1% year over year to $2.7 billion.
Investment income, net of expenses, increased 17.8% year over year to $285 million and our estimate of $269.6 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was pegged at $279 million. In its property & casualty insurance business, CINF witnessed an underwriting income of $128 million, which increased 265.7% from the year-ago period. Our estimate was pegged at $69.4 million.
Chubb Limited (CB - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2025 core operating income of $6.14 per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.2%. The bottom line increased 14.1% year over year. Net premiums written improved 6.3% year over year to $14.2 billion in the quarter, which is in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Our estimate was pegged at $14 billion.
Net investment income was $1.5 billion, up 6.8 % year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was pegged at $1.8 billion, while our estimate for the same was $1.9 billion. Revenues of $14.8 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a whisker but improved 6.9% year over year.
Kinsale Capital Group (KNSL - Free Report) delivered second-quarter 2025 net operating earnings of $4.78 per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.4%. The bottom line increased 27.5% year over year. Operating revenues increased 22.2% year over year to $470 million. Revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $434 million.
Net investment income increased 29.6% year over year to $46.5 million in the quarter. Our estimate was $46.8 million. Gross written premiums of $555.5 million rose 4.9% year over year. Our estimate was $623.1 million. Net written premiums climbed 6.6% year over year to $458.7 million in the quarter. Our estimate was pegged at $473.5 million.
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Mercury General Q2 Earnings Beat on Strong Net Investment Income
Key Takeaways
Mercury General Corporation (MCY - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2025 operating income of $2.67 per share, in contrast to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 10 cents. The bottom line more than doubled year over year.
The quarterly results of MCY were aided by higher net premiums earned, a rise in average invested assets and cash, and narrower catastrophe losses, offset by higher expenses.
Operational Update of MCY
Total operating revenues in the quarter under review were $1.4 billion, which improved 11.7% year over year. This improvement was driven by higher net premiums earned, net investment income, and other income. Moreover, the top line beat the consensus mark by 0.3%.
Net premiums earned climbed 10.6% year over year to $1.4 billion.
Mercury General Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Mercury General Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Mercury General Corporation Quote
Net investment income, before income taxes, increased 14.2% year over year to $78.8 million. The growth resulted largely from higher average yield combined with higher average invested assets and cash.
Total expenses of MCY rose 3.3% year over year to $1.3 billion, primarily due to higher losses and loss adjustment expenses, policy acquisition costs, and other operating expenses.
Catastrophe losses net of reinsurance were $17 million, narrower than a loss of $125 million incurred in the year-ago quarter. The catastrophe losses reduced from the subrogation recorded on the Palisades and Eaton wildfires.
The combined ratio — a measure of underwriting profitability — improved 640 basis points (bps) year over year to 92.5. The loss ratio improved 700 bps to 68.8, while the expense ratio deteriorated 60 bps to 23.7.
Financial Update of MCY
Mercury General exited the second quarter 2025 with total assets of $9.1 billion, which was 9.3% above the level at the end of December 2024. As of June 30, 2025, MCY reported a solid cash balance of $1.1 billion, reflecting an increase of 56% from the 2024-end level.
Notes payable of $574.3 million inched up 0.03% from the 2024-end level. Debt-to-total capitalization as of June 30, 2025, improved 20 bps to 22.6% from the end of 2024.
Shareholder equity was $1.9 billion as of June 30, 2025, up 1.2% from 2024-end.
As of June 30, 2025, book value per share was $35.56, up 1.2% from the 2024-end.
Mercury General’s Dividend Update
The board of directors of Mercury General declared a quarterly dividend of 31.75 cents per share. The dividend will be paid on Sept. 25, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business as of Sept. 11, 2025.
MCY Zacks Rank
MCY currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Property and Casualty Insurers
Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2025 operating income of $1.97 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 41.7%. The bottom line increased 52.7% year over year. Total operating revenues in the quarter under review were $2.8 billion, which improved 15.3% year over year. However, the top line missed the consensus mark by 0.1%. Net written premiums climbed 11.1% year over year to $2.7 billion.
Investment income, net of expenses, increased 17.8% year over year to $285 million and our estimate of $269.6 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was pegged at $279 million. In its property & casualty insurance business, CINF witnessed an underwriting income of $128 million, which increased 265.7% from the year-ago period. Our estimate was pegged at $69.4 million.
Chubb Limited (CB - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2025 core operating income of $6.14 per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.2%. The bottom line increased 14.1% year over year. Net premiums written improved 6.3% year over year to $14.2 billion in the quarter, which is in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Our estimate was pegged at $14 billion.
Net investment income was $1.5 billion, up 6.8 % year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was pegged at $1.8 billion, while our estimate for the same was $1.9 billion. Revenues of $14.8 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a whisker but improved 6.9% year over year.
Kinsale Capital Group (KNSL - Free Report) delivered second-quarter 2025 net operating earnings of $4.78 per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.4%. The bottom line increased 27.5% year over year. Operating revenues increased 22.2% year over year to $470 million. Revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $434 million.
Net investment income increased 29.6% year over year to $46.5 million in the quarter. Our estimate was $46.8 million. Gross written premiums of $555.5 million rose 4.9% year over year. Our estimate was $623.1 million. Net written premiums climbed 6.6% year over year to $458.7 million in the quarter. Our estimate was pegged at $473.5 million.