Allstate's Profits Benefit From Strong Homeowners Results

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Nov. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Editor's Note: This news release was previously filed with the SEC and posted to www.sec.gov, as announced in our advisory news release earlier today. For readers' convenience, we also are issuing this full earnings announcement via PR Newswire.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2015. The financial highlights were:

"Allstate had net income of $621 million, or $1.54 per diluted common share in the third quarter of 2015, reflecting our focus on delivering good returns on capital, growing profitably and providing cash to shareholders," said Thomas J. Wilson, chairman and chief executive officer of The Allstate Corporation. "The homeowners business continued to generate excellent results due to the repositioning of the business several years ago and low catastrophe losses in the third quarter of 2015. Price increases approved for auto insurance for the first nine months of the year were double the average for the same periods of 2013 and 2014 as we work to lower the auto combined ratio. A reduction in underwriting expenses and a 10% increase in Allstate Financial operating income also benefited earnings. The property-liability underlying combined ratio was 89.1 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, and was slightly above our annual outlook range of 87 - 89. We now expect the full-year underlying combined ratio to be no higher than 89.5.

"Policy in force growth for the property-liability business was 2.3%, driven by the Allstate brand, although auto insurance policy growth declined slightly from the second quarter of 2015, reflecting the impact of our profit improvement plan. Investment results reflected a continuation of the strategy to increase performance-based investing and lower interest rate exposure. The unrealized gain on the investment portfolio declined to $879 million as of September 30, 2015, as credit spreads widened and equity prices declined during the quarter. Book value per common share declined slightly to $47.54 including unrealized gains and losses. Operating income return on equity was 12.1% and common shareholders received $920 million in cash returns through a combination of common share dividends and share repurchases in the quarter."

Third Quarter 2015 Operating Facts

Third Quarter 2015 Financial Results

Total revenue of $9.0 billion in the third quarter of 2015 reflected a 4.7% increase in property-liability insurance premium and a 5.1% increase in Allstate Financial premium and contract charges, which were partially offset by lower investment income and capital gains. Net income available to common shareholders was $621 million, or $1.54 per diluted share, compared to $750 million, or $1.74 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2014. A decrease of $171 million in after-tax realized capital gains was the primary driver of the change in net income. For the quarter, operating income of $610 million was $12 million higher than the prior year quarter, and operating income per diluted share of $1.52 was 9.4% higher than the third quarter of 2014. Net income return on shareholders' equity was 12.2%, and operating income return on shareholders' equity was 12.1% for the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2015.

Total property-liability net written premium of $8.1 billion grew by 4.2% in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the prior year quarter, driven by a 4.7% increase in Allstate brand premium. Allstate brand premiums increased in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the prior year quarter due to growth in policies in force and average premium for auto and homeowners insurance. Esurance net written premium rose 3.7% in the third quarter of 2015 over the prior year quarter, as decreased investment in marketing and auto profit improvement actions slowed policy growth. Encompass net written premium decreased by 3.5% in the third quarter of 2015 from the prior year as a continued decline in policies in force offset higher average premiums in auto and homeowners.

The recorded property-liability combined ratio of 93.6 resulted in $491 million of underwriting income* in the third quarter of 2015. Catastrophe losses of $270 million in the third quarter of 2015 were $247 million lower than the same quarter a year ago. The underlying property-liability combined ratio of 89.3 in the third quarter of 2015 was 3.2 points worse than the same quarter a year ago, driven by higher underlying auto losses. Property-liability underwriting income in the third quarter of 2015 included an unfavorable reserve reestimate of $47 million, primarily due to the annual review of asbestos and environmental exposures in the discontinued lines and coverages segment.

Allstate brand underwriting income of $571 million was $105 million lower than the third quarter of 2014, primarily due to higher non-catastrophe auto losses and lower favorable reserve reestimates, partially offset by higher earned premium and a decline in catastrophe losses. Auto underwriting income declined as continued high auto claims frequency and severity contributed to the third quarter 2015 combined ratio deterioration of 5.7 points to 98.8 from 93.1 in the same quarter a year ago. Property damage frequency and paid claim severities increased 8.9% and 5.4%, respectively, compared to the prior year quarter. Bodily injury frequency increased 6.4% while paid severities decreased 2.9% compared to the prior year quarter. The underlying combined ratio of 98.1 deteriorated 0.3 points from the second quarter of 2015, driven in part by approximately half a point of additional loss expense reserves due to an increased number of claims. Allstate brand homeowners underwriting income of $458 million improved by $154 million in the third quarter of 2015, reflecting strong underlying profitability and low catastrophe losses.

We continued to implement our multi-faceted auto profit improvement plan which includes increasing prices, tightening underwriting standards, managing loss cost through focus on claims process excellence and reducing expenses. Allstate brand auto rate increases of 3.4% were approved in the first nine months of 2015, compared to 1.1% through the first nine months of 2013 and 1.6% through the first nine months of 2014. Based on historical premiums written, approved auto rate changes totaled $277 million and $600 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. These amounts do not assume customer choices such as non-renewal or changes in policy terms which might reduce future premiums. Over the last nine months, we have increased auto rates in all three brands: Allstate 3.4%, Esurance 4.1%, and Encompass 7.4%. We also made underwriting guideline adjustments in all three underwriting brands in geographic areas and customer segments experiencing less than acceptable returns. Lower advertising, professional services costs, compensation incentives and technology expenses reduced the property-liability expense ratio by 1.4 points in the third quarter of 2015.

Allstate Financial operating income of $138 million in the third quarter of 2015 was $13 million higher than the prior year quarter, driven by strong performance-based investment income, partially offset by higher life insurance mortality and a lower yield on the interest-bearing portfolio. Allstate Benefits, which sells through the workplace, grew premium and contract charges 7.4% in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the prior year quarter. Longer maturity bonds that support the long-term immediate annuity liabilities were sold in the quarter so the proceeds can be invested in higher returning performance-based assets.  This generated capital gains in the quarter and will reduce near-term operating income but is expected to improve long-term economic results.

Net Investment Income of $807 million for the third quarter of 2015 was 1.9% lower than the prior year quarter, and reflects lower average investment balances and a decline in interest-bearing portfolio yields, primarily in the Allstate Financial portfolio.  Investment income from the performance-based long-term strategy increased over the prior year quarter largely due to strong distributions from private equity investments as financing and acquisition conditions facilitated the sales of underlying investments.  We also experienced appreciation across the private equity portfolio, partially reduced by declines in valuation of energy and emerging markets investments. Income from real estate investments was lower compared to the prior year quarter as appreciation slowed.  Total portfolio return was flat for the quarter as a 1.0% contribution from net investment income was offset by (1.0)% from lower valuations driven primarily by wider credit spreads. Total portfolio carrying value was $78.34 billion as of September 30, 2015 compared to $81.11 billion as of December 31, 2014.  Unrealized pre-tax net capital gains totaled $1.45 billion as of September 30, 2015 compared to $3.17 billion as of December 31, 2014.

Continued Focus on Capital Management

"We continued our commitment to provide good returns to shareholders while maintaining a strong capital position to provide strategic flexibility," said Steve Shebik, chief financial officer. "In the third quarter, we returned $920 million to common shareholders through a combination of common stock dividends and repurchasing $798 million of outstanding shares."

As of September 30, 2015, $1.1 billion remained on the current $3 billion common share repurchase authorization. Year to date, we have repurchased 8.0% of the beginning-of-year outstanding shares. Book value per diluted common share of $47.54 was lower than in both the prior year quarter and second quarter of 2015.

Visit www.allstateinvestors.com to view additional information about Allstate's results, including a webcast of its quarterly conference call and the call presentation. The conference call will be held at 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday, November 3.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®." The Allstate brand's network of small businesses offers auto, home, life and retirement products and services to customers in the United States and Canada.

Financial information, including material announcements about The Allstate Corporation, is routinely posted on www.allstateinvestors.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that anticipate results based on our estimates, assumptions and plans that are subject to uncertainty. These statements are made subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and may be identified by their use of words like "plans," "seeks," "expects," "will," "should," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "believes," "likely," "targets" and other words with similar meanings. We believe these statements are based on reasonable estimates, assumptions and plans. However, if the estimates, assumptions or plans underlying the forward-looking statements prove inaccurate or if other risks or uncertainties arise, actual results could differ materially from those communicated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements may be found in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors" section in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures

We believe that investors' understanding of Allstate's performance is enhanced by our disclosure of the following non-GAAP measures. Our methods for calculating these measures may differ from those used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited.

Operating income is net income available to common shareholders, excluding:

• realized capital gains and losses, after-tax, except for periodic settlements and accruals on non-hedge derivative instruments, which are reported with realized capital gains and losses but included in operating income,
• valuation changes on embedded derivatives that are not hedged, after-tax,
• amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC) and deferred sales inducements (DSI), to the extent they resulted from the recognition of certain realized capital gains and losses or valuation changes on embedded derivatives that are not hedged, after-tax,
• amortization of purchased intangible assets, after-tax,
• gain (loss) on disposition of operations, after-tax, and
• adjustments for other significant non-recurring, infrequent or unusual items, when (a) the nature of the charge or gain is such that it is reasonably unlikely to recur within two years, or (b) there has been no similar charge or gain within the prior two years.

Net income available to common shareholders is the GAAP measure that is most directly comparable to operating income.

We use operating income as an important measure to evaluate our results of operations. We believe that the measure provides investors with a valuable measure of the company's ongoing performance because it reveals trends in our insurance and financial services business that may be obscured by the net effect of realized capital gains and losses, valuation changes on embedded derivatives that are not hedged, amortization of purchased intangible assets, gain (loss) on disposition of operations and adjustments for other significant non-recurring, infrequent or unusual items. Realized capital gains and losses, valuation changes on embedded derivatives that are not hedged and gain (loss) on disposition of operations may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by business decisions and external economic developments such as capital market conditions, the timing of which is unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. Consistent with our intent to protect results or earn additional income, operating income includes periodic settlements and accruals on certain derivative instruments that are reported in realized capital gains and losses because they do not qualify for hedge accounting or are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. These instruments are used for economic hedges and to replicate fixed income securities, and by including them in operating income, we are appropriately reflecting their trends in our performance and in a manner consistent with the economically hedged investments, product attributes (e.g. net investment income and interest credited to contractholder funds) or replicated investments. Amortization of purchased intangible assets is excluded because it relates to the acquisition purchase price and is not indicative of our underlying insurance business results or trends. Non-recurring items are excluded because, by their nature, they are not indicative of our business or economic trends. Accordingly, operating income excludes the effect of items that tend to be highly variable from period to period and highlights the results from ongoing operations and the underlying profitability of our business. A byproduct of excluding these items to determine operating income is the transparency and understanding of their significance to net income variability and profitability while recognizing these or similar items may recur in subsequent periods. Operating income is used by management along with the other components of net income available to common shareholders to assess our performance. We use adjusted measures of operating income in incentive compensation.  Therefore, we believe it is useful for investors to evaluate net income available to common shareholders, operating income and their components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing and evaluating our performance. We note that investors, financial analysts, financial and business media organizations and rating agencies utilize operating income results in their evaluation of our and our industry's financial performance and in their investment decisions, recommendations and communications as it represents a reliable, representative and consistent measurement of the industry and the company and management's performance. We note that the price to earnings multiple commonly used by insurance investors as a forward-looking valuation technique uses operating income as the denominator. Operating income should not be considered a substitute for net income available to common shareholders and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.

The following tables reconcile operating income and net income available to common shareholders.