Allstate's Auto Insurance Profitability Plan Well Executed

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2017.

"Allstate's focus on achieving balanced operating performance resulted in continued progress on 2017's operating priorities, including returning auto insurance margins to historical levels," said Tom Wilson, chairman and chief executive officer of The Allstate Corporation. "Net income was $637 million and operating income* was $587 million, or $1.60 per share, in the third quarter of 2017. Improved profitability in auto insurance reflects the profit improvement actions begun in 2015 and a significant broad-based decrease in the frequency of auto accidents. Allstate brand homeowners insurance also generated strong profitability, with a recorded combined ratio of 90.7 for the first nine months of 2017, despite $1.6 billion of catastrophe losses. Investment income increased in both the market-based and performance-based portfolios. As a result, Allstate Financial operating income rose to $157 million in the quarter. Operating income return on equity* increased to 13.9% for the twelve months ended September 30, 2017.

"We continued to deliver on all five 2017 operating priorities, which focus on both near-term performance and long-term value creation. Better serving customers remains a top growth priority, and the net promoter score measure has improved in many of our businesses this year. Total policies in force increased to 78 million through the third quarter, largely due to growth at SquareTrade and Allstate Benefits that was partially offset by reductions in the property-liability businesses. Improvements in Allstate brand auto insurance retention and new issued applications mitigated some of the impacts from the profit improvement programs across the three underwritten property-liability brands. Progress was also made on building long-term growth platforms, including expanding Arity's connected car strategy," concluded Wilson.

Operating Results: Third Quarter 2017

• Total revenue of $9.7 billion in the third quarter of 2017 increased 4.8% compared to the prior year quarter.
• Property-Liability insurance premiums increased 3.2%
• Allstate Financial premiums and contract charges increased 3.9%
• Net investment income increased 12.7%
• Realized capital gains were $103 million compared to $33 million in the prior year quarter
  
  
• Net income applicable to common shareholders was $637 million, or $1.74 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $491 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2016. Operating income* was $587 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $474 million in the third quarter of 2016.
  
  
• Property-Liability underwriting income of $429 million was $74 million above the prior year quarter, due to higher premiums, a broad-based decline in the frequency of auto accidents and favorable prior year reserve releases. These improvements were partially offset by elevated catastrophe losses related to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
• The underlying combined ratios* of 85.4 for the third quarter and 85.2 for the first nine months of 2017 were significantly lower than the prior year periods, reflecting improvement in the auto underlying combined ratio across all three underwritten brands. The full year result for 2017 is expected to be below the lower end of the annual outlook range of 87-89⁽¹⁾.
• Non-catastrophe prior year reserve releases of $128 million in the third quarter of 2017 included Allstate Protection releases of $216 million, primarily driven by Allstate brand auto injury coverages. This was partially offset by strengthening of $88 million in the Discontinued Lines and Coverages segment, primarily due to our annual asbestos and environmental reserve review.

• Allstate brand auto net written premium grew 3.2% in the third quarter of 2017, reflecting a 4.5% increase in average premium compared to the prior year quarter, which was partially offset by a 1.7% decline in policies in force. The recorded combined ratio of 94.9 in the third quarter of 2017 was 4.1 points better than the prior year quarter and was favorably impacted by a broad-based decline in accident frequency as well as increased premiums earned and higher favorable prior year reserve reestimates, partially offset by higher catastrophe losses. The underlying combined ratio* in the third quarter of 2017 was 4.7 points better than the third quarter of 2016.
  
  New issued applications grew 11.5% in the third quarter of 2017 over the prior year quarter as the number of states implementing growth plans was expanded. In the third quarter, 41 states, including all of our 10 largest states, experienced increases in new issued applications compared to the prior year quarter. The renewal ratio of 87.7 was an improvement of 0.2 points from the prior year quarter.
  
  
• Allstate brand homeowners net written premium increased 2.8% in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the prior year quarter, reflecting a 1.9% increase in average premium. The recorded combined ratios of 81.3 in the third quarter of 2017 and 90.7 through the first nine months of 2017 generated $319 million and $473 million of pre-tax underwriting income, respectively. The underlying combined ratio* of 61.2 in the third quarter of 2017 continued to reflect strong underlying profitability.
  
  Policies in force declined 1.0% as the renewal ratio of 87.5 decreased by 0.4 points compared to the prior year quarter. New issued applications grew 5.3% in the third quarter over the prior year quarter as 6 of our 10 largest states experienced increases.
  
  
• Allstate brand other personal lines net written premium of $454 million increased 1.6% in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the prior year quarter. The recorded combined ratio of 104.3 was 16.8 points higher in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to higher catastrophe losses. The underlying combined ratio* was 87.9 in the third quarter of 2017, an increase of 5.9 points compared to the prior year quarter.
  
  
• Esurance net written premium growth of 1.6% compared to the prior year quarter reflects increased average premium in auto and homeowners insurance, partially offset by a slight decline in auto policies in force. The strategy to expand homeowners insurance continued to make progress, with policies increasing 46.2% from the prior year quarter and written premium of $60 million through the first nine months of 2017.
  
  The recorded combined ratio of 104.4 was 5.4 points better in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the prior year quarter, driven by a lower expense ratio in auto and homeowners insurance. The underlying combined ratio* of 100.5 was 5.5 points better than the prior year quarter, with improvements in both auto and homeowners insurance. The auto insurance underlying combined ratio* of 99.8 in the third quarter of 2017 was 2.2 points below the prior year quarter.
  
  
• Encompass net written premium declined 9.4% and policies in force were 14.9% lower in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the prior year quarter, as profit improvement plans continued to be implemented. The recorded combined ratio of 89.2 in the third quarter of 2017 was 9.1 points better than the prior year quarter, driven by improved auto loss costs and lower catastrophes due to limited exposure in areas impacted by the hurricanes. The underlying combined ratio* of 85.5 was 3.8 points better than the prior year quarter, due to improvement in the underlying loss ratio, partially offset by a higher expense ratio.
  
  
• SquareTrade made progress on the key criteria underlying its acquisition of growing the U.S. retail business while raising margins. Total policies in force of 34.1 million increased by 2.8 million in the third quarter of 2017 as the existing U.S. retail business continued to expand. Net written premium was $104 million for the third quarter of 2017. Growth initiatives are also being pursued in Europe. The recorded underwriting loss was $29 million and the operating loss* was $4 million, which excludes the $15 million, after-tax, impact of the amortization of purchased intangible assets.
  
  
• Allstate Financial net income was $168 million and operating income was $157 million in the third quarter of 2017. Operating income was $63 million higher than the prior year quarter, primarily due to increased investment income in Allstate Annuities and favorable mortality experience in Allstate Life.

• Allstate Life net income was $73 million and operating income was $74 million in the third quarter of 2017. Operating income was $23 million higher than the prior year quarter, primarily due to favorable mortality experience and higher traditional life insurance premiums. Policies in force were flat in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the prior year quarter.
  
  
• Allstate Benefits net income was $29 million and operating income was $28 million in the third quarter of 2017. Operating income was $3 million higher than the prior year quarter, primarily due to increased premiums and contract charges, partially offset by higher contract benefits. Policies in force increased 8.1% in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the prior year quarter.
  
  
• Allstate Annuities net income was $66 million and operating income was $55 million in the third quarter of 2017. Operating income was $37 million higher than the prior year quarter, primarily due to higher performance-based net investment income, including appreciation of private equity investments, as well as lower contract benefits. Policies in force declined 7.8% in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the prior year quarter as the business continues to run off.
  
  
• Allstate Investments $83 billion portfolio generated net investment income of $843 million, which was 12.7% above the prior year quarter.

• Market-based portfolio contributed stable earnings primarily from investment-grade fixed income securities. Market-based net investment income of $662 million in the third quarter of 2017 increased over the prior year quarter, reflecting higher invested assets and stable portfolio yields.
  
  
• Performance-based portfolio generated shareholder value by investing in assets with short-term volatility in valuation but higher long-term returns where liquidity needs are low. Performance-based net investment income rose to $227 million in the third quarter of 2017, a 63% increase, reflecting private equity appreciation, sales of underlying investments and growth in the portfolio.
  
  
• Net realized capital gains were $103 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $33 million in the prior year quarter, primarily comprised of net gains on sales, partially offset by write-downs of $28 million.
  
  
• Change in unrealized net capital gains of $198 million in the third quarter of 2017 was due to favorable equity market performance and a decrease in market yields, primarily resulting from tighter credit spreads.
  
  
• Total return on the investment portfolio includes approximately 1% per quarter from investment income as well as changes in the portfolio value between quarters. Total return was 1.5% for the third quarter and 4.9% for the first nine months of 2017, reflecting higher bond and equity valuations. The trailing twelve month total return was 4.1%.

Proactive Capital Management
"In addition to excellent operating results, Allstate continued to provide strong returns to our shareholders through dividends and stock repurchases during the third quarter," said Steve Shebik, chief financial officer. "Our strong capital position enabled us to remain on track with our $2 billion stock repurchase program that was approved in August.

"A new reporting structure that will expand the reportable segments from four to seven will be initiated in the fourth quarter to enhance transparency around short-term results and long-term value creation. Allstate Protection results will continue to be reported by brand, but businesses that have a larger portion of earnings from services and a lower percentage of underwriting income will now be broken out in a new Service Businesses segment. Allstate Financial will be reported as three segments which have different growth and return characteristics: Life, Benefits and Annuities. Reporting for Discontinued Lines and Coverages and Corporate will remain unchanged."

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 Thursday, November 2.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting people from life's uncertainties with 78 million proprietary policies. Allstate offers a broad array of protection products through multiple brands and diverse distribution channels, including auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brands. The company provides additional protection products and services through Allstate Benefits, Allstate Roadside Services, Allstate Dealer Services, Arity and SquareTrade. Allstate is widely known from the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®." Allstate agencies are in virtually every local community in America. The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners have a proud history of caring for local communities.

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.

The following table presents the investment portfolio by strategy as of September 30, 2017.

The following table presents investment income by investment strategy for the three and nine months ended September 30.

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 applicable 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,
• business combination expenses and the 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 applicable 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, business combination expenses and the 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. Business combination expenses are excluded because they are non-recurring in nature and the 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 applicable 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 applicable 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 applicable to common shareholders and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.

The following tables reconcile net income applicable to common shareholders and operating income. Taxes on adjustments to reconcile net income applicable to common shareholders and operating income generally use a 35% effective tax rate and are reported net with the reconciling adjustment. If the effective tax rate is other than 35%, this is specified in the disclosure.

Operating income return on common shareholders' equity is a ratio that uses a non-GAAP measure. It is calculated by dividing the rolling 12-month operating income by the average of common shareholders' equity at the beginning and at the end of the 12-months, after excluding the effect of unrealized net capital gains and losses. Return on common shareholders' equity is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. We use operating income as the numerator for the same reasons we use operating income, as discussed above. We use average common shareholders' equity excluding the effect of unrealized net capital gains and losses for the denominator as a representation of common shareholders' equity primarily attributable to the company's earned and realized business operations because it eliminates the effect of items that are unrealized and vary significantly between periods due to external economic developments such as capital market conditions like changes in equity prices and interest rates, the amount and timing of which are unrelated to the insurance underwriting process. We use it to supplement our evaluation of net income applicable to common shareholders and return on common shareholders' equity because it excludes the effect of items that tend to be highly variable from period to period. We believe that this measure is useful to investors and that it provides a valuable tool for investors when considered along with return on common shareholders' equity because it eliminates the after-tax effects of realized and unrealized net capital gains and losses that can fluctuate significantly from period to period and that are driven by economic developments, the magnitude and timing of which are generally not influenced by management. In addition, it eliminates non-recurring items that are not indicative of our ongoing business or economic trends. A byproduct of excluding the items noted above to determine operating income return on common shareholders' equity from return on common shareholders' equity is the transparency and understanding of their significance to return on common shareholders' equity variability and profitability while recognizing these or similar items may recur in subsequent periods. We use adjusted measures of operating income return on common shareholders' equity in incentive compensation. Therefore, we believe it is useful for investors to have operating income return on common shareholders' equity and return on common shareholders' equity when evaluating our performance. We note that investors, financial analysts, financial and business media organizations and rating agencies utilize operating income return on common shareholders' equity 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 utilization of capital. Operating income return on common shareholders' equity should not be considered a substitute for return on common shareholders' equity and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.

The following tables reconcile return on common shareholders' equity and operating income return on common shareholders' equity.

Combined ratio excluding the effect of catastrophes, prior year reserve reestimates and amortization of purchased intangible assets ("underlying combined ratio") is a non-GAAP ratio, which is computed as the difference between four GAAP operating ratios: the combined ratio, the effect of catastrophes on the combined ratio, the effect of prior year non-catastrophe reserve reestimates on the combined ratio, and the effect of amortization of purchased intangible assets on the combined ratio. We believe that this ratio is useful to investors and it is used by management to reveal the trends in our Property-Liability business that may be obscured by catastrophe losses, prior year reserve reestimates and amortization of purchased intangible assets. Catastrophe losses cause our loss trends to vary significantly between periods as a result of their incidence of occurrence and magnitude, and can have a significant impact on the combined ratio. Prior year reserve reestimates are caused by unexpected loss development on historical reserves. Amortization of purchased intangible assets relates to the acquisition purchase price and is not indicative of our underlying insurance business results or trends. We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing our underwriting performance. We also provide it to facilitate a comparison to our outlook on the underlying combined ratio. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is the combined ratio. The underlying combined ratio should not be considered a substitute for the combined ratio and does not reflect the overall underwriting profitability of our business.

The following tables reconcile the respective combined ratio to the underlying combined ratio.

Adjusted SquareTrade operating income is a non-GAAP measure, which is computed as net income (loss) applicable to common shareholders, excluding amortization of purchased intangible assets, after-tax, and realized capital gains and losses, after-tax, and adjusted for the after-tax income statement effects of acquisition-related purchase accounting fair value adjustments to unearned premiums, contractual liability insurance policy premium expenses, and commissions paid to retailers.  Net income (loss) applicable to shareholders is the GAAP measure that is most directly comparable to adjusted SquareTrade operating income. We use adjusted SquareTrade operating income as an important measure to evaluate SquareTrade's results of operations.  We believe that the measure provides investors with a valuable measure of SquareTrade's ongoing performance because it reveals trends that may be obscured by the amortization of purchased intangible assets, the acquisition-related purchase accounting fair value adjustments, and the net effects of realized capital gains and losses.  Amortization of purchased intangible assets is excluded because it relates to the acquisition purchase price and is not indicative of our business results or trends.  We adjust for the effects of acquisition-related purchase accounting fair value adjustments because they relate to the acquisition and their effects are not indicative of the underlying business results and trends.  Realized capital gains and losses 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 SquareTrade's operations.  Adjusted SquareTrade operating income highlights the results from ongoing operations and the underlying profitability of our business and is used by management along with the other components of net income applicable to common shareholders to assess our performance.  We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate net income applicable to common shareholders, adjusted SquareTrade operating income and their components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing and evaluating SquareTrade's performance.  Adjusted SquareTrade operating income should not be considered a substitute for net income applicable to common shareholders and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.

The following table reconciles the SquareTrade net loss applicable to shareholders to the adjusted SquareTrade operating loss.

SOURCE The Allstate Corporation