Latest AM Best Headlines

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

AM Best: Number of P/C Gross Impairments Falls in 2022; No Net Impairments

Nov 22 2023 // Despite the reversal seen in the U.S. equity market and rising inflation and interest rates, property/casualty insurers performed well in 2022, according to the latest report on the long-term impairment rates of...

AM Best Places Florida Farm Bureau Ratings Under Review After Idalia Losses Pile On

Nov 20 2023 // AM Best has placed under review with negative implications the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “bbb+” (Good) of Florida Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co. and...

Artificial Intelligence Not Main Cause of Recent Insurance Layoffs: AM Best

Nov 15 2023 // AM Best does not believe artificial intelligence is the main cause of recent insurance industry layoffs.In commentary released today, the credit rating agency wrote that “it is too soon to cite AI as the leading...

AM Best Outlook of US E&S Market Revised to ‘Positive’

Nov 9 2023 // Insurance industry rating agency AM Best has upped its view of the excess and surplus market as it continues to absorb business from the admitted market.AM Best on Monday changed its U.S. E&S outlook from...

AM Best Reaffirms HAI Group’s ‘A’ Rating and Elevates Outlook to ‘Positive’

Nov 6 2023 // CHESHIRE, CT., November 6, 2023 — In a testament to its unwavering commitment to excellence and sound financial practices, HAI Group’s Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of ‘A’ and Issuer Credit Rating...

Commercial Auto Up Against Persistent Headwinds to Underwriting Profit: AM Best Report

Nov 6 2023 // Underwriting losses in U.S. commercial auto have returned to pre-pandemic levels and rate increases have not been enough to keep up with severity trends.“The liability component has been more problematic than the...

Badger Mutual Insurance Company Downgraded by AM Best

Oct 23 2023 // AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to C++ (Marginal) from B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “b+” (Marginal) from “bbb-” (Good) of Badger Mutual...

AM Best Withdraws Credit Ratings of Civil Service Employees Insurance Co. and CSE Safeguard Insurance Co. in California

Oct 19 2023 // AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to B (Fair) from B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings to “bb” (Fair) from “bbb-” (Good) of Civil Service Employees Insurance Company...

Down, Down, Down….AM Best P/C Downgrades Outpacing Upgrades

Oct 17 2023 // The number of rated property/casualty personal lines insurers that had their credit ratings downgraded by AM Best more than doubled to 21 in the first-half of 2023, compared to 10 in first-half 2022.Additional downgrades...

AM Best Tweaks State Farm Outlook to Negative After Weather, Regulatory Issues

Oct 16 2023 // The AM Best financial rating firm has downgraded its outlook for multiple State Farm insurance companies due to weather losses and regulations that the rating firm said hinder the insurance giant’s ability to...

Illinois’ Dover Bay Specialty Insurance Company Downgraded by AM Best

Oct 6 2023 // AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to B++ (Good) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “bbb+” (Good) from “a” (Excellent) of Dover Bay...

For the Fifth Straight Year, Surplus Lines Sees Double-Digit Growth: AM Best

Oct 2 2023 // Total U.S. surplus lines direct premiums written (DPW) rose by 19.2% to reach a record $98.5 billion in 2022, marking a five-year streak of double-digit growth rate increase, according to a new AM Best report.Best’s...

AM Best Downgrades Credit Ratings of Michigan’s Wolverine

Sep 29 2023 // AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to B- (Fair) from B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to “bb-” (Fair) from “bbb” (Good) of Wolverine Mutual Insurance Company,...

AM Best Tweaks State Farm Outlook to Negative After Weather, Regulatory Issues

Sep 25 2023 // The AM Best financial rating firm has downgraded its outlook for multiple State Farm insurance companies due to weather losses and regulations that the firm said hinder the insurance giant’s ability to adequately...

AM Best Revises Outlook for Georgia Farm Bureau Companies

Sep 18 2023 // The AM Best financial rating firm has slightly downgraded the credit rating outlook for two Farm Bureau companies after weather losses and a rise in reinsurance costs and inflation.The financial strength rating remained at...

AM Best Revises US Homeowners Insurance Segment to Negative as Losses Persist

Sep 18 2023 // The U.S. homeowners insurance segment has been hit with three consecutive years of net underwriting losses as a result of above-average numbers of natural catastrophes, inflationary pressures and elevated reinsurance...

For the Fifth Straight Year, Surplus Lines Sees Double-Digit Growth: AM Best

Sep 14 2023 // Total U.S. surplus lines direct premiums written (DPW) rose by 19.2% to reach a record $98.5 billion in 2022, marking a five-year streak of double-digit growth rate increase, according to a new AM Bestreport.The new...

AM Best: Idalia Will Put Pressure on Underwriting Results, Could Tighten Reinsurance

Sep 1 2023 // Hurricane Idalia, with estimates of insured losses as low as $2 billion, will nonetheless affect underwriting results for a number of carriers, the AM Best financial rating firm said in a report released...

AM Best Revises Outlook to Positive for Texas’ Skyward Specialty

Aug 28 2023 // AM Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a- (Excellent) of Great Midwest Insurance Company, Houston...

AM Best Revises Outlook to Negative for Iowa-Based Grinnell Mutual Group’s Credit Ratings

Aug 25 2023 // AM Best has revised the outlooks to negative from stable for the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of “a+”...