Underwriting Growth
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American International Shows Strong Underwriting Growth: Buy or Hold?
ZACKS· 2026-03-12 17:21
Core Insights - American International Group, Inc. (AIG) has a market capitalization of $41.9 billion and operates in over 200 countries, providing property-casualty insurance, life insurance, retirement solutions, and other financial services [1] Financial Performance - AIG's shares have increased by 1.3% over the last six months, outperforming the broader industry's decline of 7.3% during the same period [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AIG's 2026 earnings is $7.80 per share, reflecting a 10% year-over-year increase, with revenues projected at $28.8 billion, indicating a 5% year-over-year growth [4] - AIG has consistently beaten earnings estimates in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 15.2% [4] Operational Strategy - AIG is streamlining operations by divesting non-core businesses to focus on its General Insurance segment, aiming to reduce portfolio volatility and enhance cash liquidity [5] - The company's expense ratio improved to 31.1% in 2025 from 32% in 2024, showing better cost efficiency [6] - Underwriting income in the General Insurance segment reached $2.3 billion in 2025, a 22% increase from the previous year, driven by lower catastrophe-related losses and reduced acquisition expenses [7] Cash Flow and Shareholder Returns - AIG generated approximately $3.31 billion in operating cash in 2025, an increase from $3.27 billion in 2024, and returned $6.8 billion to shareholders through buybacks and dividends [9] - The quarterly dividend recently reached 45 cents per share, demonstrating AIG's commitment to returning value to shareholders [9] Valuation Metrics - AIG currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 9.76x, which is above the industry average of 8.4x, suggesting a premium valuation [10]