CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Link to Fitch Ratings' Report: U.S. Life Insurance GAAP Results Dashboard
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=870656
Fitch Ratings today released a special report summarizing GAAP results for U.S. life insurance companies.
In this report, Fitch analyzes key drivers for first-half 2015 operating results for publicly traded life insurance organizations. The report compiles data from 17 publicly traded life insurers in Fitch's debt rating universe.
Pre-tax operating income increased a modest 2% for GAAP reporting companies in Fitch's rating universe in first-half 2015, as higher fee income was partially offset by lower investment margins and unfavorable mortality.
Operating profitability for the U.S. life insurance industry remained relatively flat during first-half 2015 with average operating ROE of 12.8% in first-half 2015 compared with 12.7% in the prior-year period.
Variable annuities, retirement plans and asset management segments continued to benefit from higher account values caused by strong equity markets and solid sales during first-half 2015. Results in individual life and fixed annuities were adversely affected by unfavorable mortality and continued interest margin compression during the period. The group benefits business benefited from favorable claims experience but continues to face competitive pricing pressure.
The full report 'U.S. Life Insurance - GAAP Results' dated Sept. 3, 2015, is available at 'www.fitchratings.com' under 'Insurance' and 'Special Reports'.
Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.
Applicable Criteria
Insurance Rating Methodology (pub. 14 Jul 2015)
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=868367
ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE.