Latest AM Best Headlines

All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.

U.S. P/C Industry Grew Surplus Despite Underwriting Loss in 2021

Mar 7 2022 // Insurance rating agency AM Best said it expects the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry to record an increase in surplus in 2021 thanks to investment income and capital gains improvements despite booking an...

James River Reserve Charge, ‘Strategic Actions’ Won’t Damage AM Best Rating

Mar 3 2022 // AM Best announced March 1 that the rating agency won’t change the A- (Excellent) financial strength ratings for the operating subsidiaries of James River Group Holdings, Ltd., a day after the insurer announced a...

D&O Loss Ratios Unchanged by Rate Hikes; Supply Disruption to Fuel Suits

Mar 2 2022 // Directors and officers liability insurance premium rate hikes have not had the anticipated impacts on loss ratios that carriers had hoped for, AM Best reported Monday, citing the impact of social inflation on rising claims...

AM Best: Ukraine Invasion to Likely Have ‘Substantial Impact’ on Insurance Industry

Feb 28 2022 // Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could add to inflationary pressures and will likely have a substantial impact on the global insurance industry, said AM Best.The rating agency Friday said efforts by the global central...

U.S. P/C Industry Grew Surplus Despite Underwriting Loss in 2021

Feb 24 2022 // Insurance rating agency AM Best said it expects the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry to record an increase in surplus in 2021 thanks to investment income and capital gains improvements despite booking an...

Rating Upgrades Increase for U.S. P/C Insurers in 2021

Feb 16 2022 // Ratings for the U.S. property/casualty industry returned to pre-pandemic levels with some companies strengthening balance sheets and improving operating results, said financial strength rating agency AM Best.In 2021 the...

Loss Costs Outpace Increase in Premiums for U.S. P/C Industry Through Q3

Feb 7 2022 // Direct-premium production for the U.S. P/C industry through the third quarter 2021 improved as insurers increased rates, but adverse trends in loss costs for many lines of business continue to dampen profitability.Through...

Kemper Eyes Rate Hikes, Agency Cancellations to Regain Footing After Q4 Fall

Feb 3 2022 // Kemper Corp. said it is taking rating and other actions, including canceling some agents, as it seeks to recover from inflation-riddled fourth quarter financial results.Kemper Corp. reported a net loss of $105.8 million...

AM Best Assigns Michigan’s Universal & Fire Casualty Excellent Rating

Feb 2 2022 // AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) to Universal Fire & Casualty Insurance Company, headquartered in Waterford,...

AM Best Says Demand Surge and Inflation to Amplify Colorado Wildfire Losses

Jan 12 2022 // AM Best expects demand surge and rising inflationary pressures on building costs to add to overall loss estimates in the recent wildfires in Colorado.In a commentary AM Best notes that early industry estimates place losses...

AM Best Upgrades Financial Strength Rating of Atlantic Casualty Insurance Company to A+ Superior

Jan 5 2022 // OLDWICK – JANUARY 05, 2022 – AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A+ (Superior) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “aa-” (Superior)...

AM Best Revised Outlooks to Positive for Aspire General in California

Dec 20 2021 // AM Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb-” (Good) of Aspire General Insurance Co. in Rancho...

Infrastructure Investment Package Expected to Boost Surety Market: AM Best

Dec 20 2021 // The recently enacted $1.2 trillion U.S. infrastructure package is expected to result in more business opportunities for surety companies given the new and sizable investments that the transportation and energy sectors will...

AM Best Upgrades Ratings of Canada’s Co-operators General and Sovereign General

Dec 17 2021 // Ratings agency AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings to “a” (Excellent) from “a-” (Excellent) of...

A.M. Best Affirms Ratings for The Concord Group Insurance Companies

Dec 14 2021 // A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A+ (superior) and the long-term issuer credit ratings (long-term ICR) of “aa-” for the members of The Concord Group Insurance Companies.The rating...

AM Best Sees Tornado Losses as Manageable for Insurers

Dec 14 2021 // Analysts at ratings firm AM Best said they expect the insured losses from the tornadoes that devastated central and southern U.S. last weekend will dampen underwriting results for insurers but that insurers will be able to...

Rising Reinsurance Prices and Demand Help to Create Stable Sector Outlook: AM Best

Dec 9 2021 // AM Best is maintaining a stable market segment outlook for the global reinsurance segment, citing in part the ongoing positive pricing momentum driven by rising loss cost inflation, enhanced underwriting discipline,...

AM Best Raises Outlook for P/C Commercial Lines to Stable From Negative

Dec 6 2021 // AM Best has revised its 2022 market segment outlook for the U.S. property/casualty commercial lines insurance industry to stable from negative, despite some near-term challenges including inflation, an uneven economic...

As COVID Spread, European P/C Insurers Took Hits but Remained Resilient: AM Best

Nov 29 2021 // European property/casualty insurers faced a dip in total average gross written premium and after-tax profit in 2020, but their regulatory solvency ratios remained strong. Pandemic factors generally played a role in both...

AM Best: Credit Ratings of Golden Bear in California Under Review with Negative Implications

Nov 19 2021 // AM Best placed under review with negative implications the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a” (Excellent) of Golden Bear Insurance Co. in Stockton,...