P/C Industry On Track For Third Straight Year Of Underwriting Profit

The property/casualty insurance industry will report an underwriting profit for the third consecutive year in 2015—a streak unmatched since the early 1970s, according to analysts at Fitch Ratings, who also predict 2016 will come in closer to breakeven. But all bets are pretty much off for an underwriting profit in 2017, Fitch analysts suggest in a new report, which also reveals that aggregate industry policyholders surplus will pass the $700 billion mark for the first time in 2015. In the report published Tuesday, “2016 Outlook: U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance,” Fitch estimates a 97.5 combined ratio for 2015, rising 2.0 points to a forecast of 99.5 for 2016.