Founded in 1864, Travelers introduced accident insurance to the U.S. and has since made notable strides, including launching the first auto insurance policy in 1897 and pioneering workers' compensation in 1889. The 2004 merger with St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance created one of the largest property casualty insurers. Today, it's primarily owned by institutional investors like Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street.

The company’s operations are divided into three distinct business segments:

  • Business Insurance
  • Bond & Specialty Insurance
  • Personal Insurance

Business Insurance :

Business Insurance offers property and casualty coverage across the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland. It includes both domestic and international operations, with Middle Market accounting for 54% of total premiums. The segment reported $2.6 billion in income and a record $20.4 billion in net earned premiums, with an underlying combined ratio of 88.9%. In terms of geography, California leads with 13.1% of premiums, followed by New York (8.6%), Texas (7.6%), and Illinois (4.4%).

Bond & Specialty Insurance:

Bond & Specialty Insurance provides coverage like surety, fidelity, and management liability across the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Brazil. General Liability makes up 43.9% of domestic revenue, while Fidelity and Surety contribute 36.1%. The segment earned a record $942 million with $3.9 billion in net written premiums and a 76.9% combined ratio. Domestic surety premiums rose 6% to over $1.1 billion, and management liability retention increased to over 90%. The acquisition of Corvus strengthens its position in the growing cyber insurance market.

Personal Insurance

Personal Insurance focuses on auto and homeowners coverage, making up 46% and 49.9% of total sales. The segment reported a $128 million loss due to high catastrophe claims and inflation, but strategic pricing adjustments boosted net written premiums to a record $15.9 billion, up 13% from last year. Texas, New York, and California are the top markets, contributing 11.7%, 8.7%, and 6.9% of the total premium.

The group's total revenue grew from $23.7 billion in 2014 to $41.3 billion in 2023, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7%. During the same period, net income decreased from $3.7 billion to $2.9 billion, a CAGR of -2.4%. However, analysts project net income to reach $5 billion by 2026. Free Cash Flow (FCF) has been increasing by nearly 4% annually since 2018, amounting to $13.5 billion in 2023.

A strong capital position has enabled Travelers to raise dividends at an average annual rate of 8.3% since 2006, making it an attractive option for investors seeking stable and growing returns. It grew from $1.01 in 2006 to $3.93 in 2023 while havig a cumulative share buybacks of $41.1 billion in 2023.

The insurance sector has revised its revenue and earnings per share growth forecasts upwards in recent quarters, benefiting from the rise in interest rates since the COVID-19 pandemic. Insurers collect premiums and partially invest them in monetary and bond assets, which have recently become more attractive. Despite the Fed's 50 basis point rate cut this week, major players are expected to continue benefiting from this environment in the coming quarters. The sector also shows resilience in maintaining growth and stable margins even in challenging economic conditions. Despite uncertainties over interest rates, recession fears, and global conflicts, the group's stable operations have provided some visibility to its shareholders.

In Q2 2024, Travelers reported solid financial results despite substantial catastrophe losses, repurchasing 1.2 million shares for $253 million and distributing dividends of $245 million. Net investment income rose by 24%, driven by higher yields and private equity gains, while net written premiums reached a record $11.1 billion, growing 8% across all segments. The consolidated combined ratio improved by 6.3 points to 100.2%, with an underlying combined ratio of 87.7%. Despite $1.509 billion in catastrophe losses, net income was $534 million, and core income was $585 million. Book value per share increased by 14% to $109.08, with an adjusted book value of $126.52.

With a market capitalization of $54 billion and a P/E ratio of 13.9, the group is positioned similarly to peers such as Allstate Corporation ($50 billion, 13.5 P/E) and Arch ($42 billion, 10.8 P/E).

Travelers is recognized for its strong track record of both organic and external growth, supported by effective management focused on long-term value creation through optimal capital allocation. The upcoming Q3 2024 presentation on October 16 will provide insight into how the company has managed recent rate cuts and its outlook for the coming quarters.