NEW YORK, Nov. 4, 2024— Loews Corporation (NYSE: L) today released its third quarter 2024 financial results.
Third Quarter 2024 highlights:
Loews Corporation reported net income of $401 million, or $1.82 per share, in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $253 million, or $1.12 per share, in the third quarter of 2023. Excluding the prior year third quarter’s $37 million charge for the termination of Loews’s defined benefit pension plan, net income grew 38% year-over-year due to increases at CNA, Boardwalk and investment income at the parent company, offset by a decrease at Loews Hotels. The following are key highlights:
- CNA Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: CNA) net income attributable to Loews improved year-over-year due to higher net investment income partially offset by higher catastrophe losses.
- Boardwalk Pipelines’ results improved year-over-year mainly due to increased revenues from re-contracting at higher rates and recently completed growth projects.
- Parent company investment income improved year-over-year primarily due to higher returns on equity securities.
- Loews Hotels’ results decreased primarily due to an impairment charge recorded by a joint venture property.
- Book value per share, excluding AOCI, increased to $87.22 as of September 30, 2024, from $81.92 as of December 31, 2023 due to strong operating results and repurchases of common shares during the year.
- As of September 30, 2024, the parent company had $3.3 billion of cash and investments and $1.8 billion of debt.
- Loews Corporation repurchased 0.8 million shares of its common stock during the third quarter of 2024 for a total cost of $64 million, and bought an additional 1.2 million shares for $92 million so far in the fourth quarter.
CEO commentary:
“Loews had another good quarter. Boardwalk continues to benefit from favorable industry tailwinds that have led to higher re-contracting rates and robust pipeline flows. CNA performed well despite elevated industry catastrophe losses.” – James S. Tisch, President and CEO, Loews Corporation
Three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to 2023
CNA:
- Net income attributable to Loews Corporation improved 10% to $259 million from $235 million.
- Core income increased 1% to $293 million from $289 million.
- Net investment income growth was primarily driven by higher returns from limited partnership and common stock investments. Income from fixed income securities also increased as a result of favorable reinvestment rates and a larger invested asset base.
- Net written premiums grew by 8% driven by strong retention and new business. Net earned premiums grew by 8%.
- Property and Casualty underwriting income decreased due to higher catastrophe losses, including hurricane Helene.
- Property and Casualty combined ratio was 97.2% compared to 94.3%. The combined ratio’s increase of 2.9 points reflects a higher loss ratio that includes a 1.7 point increase in catastrophe losses. Property and Casualty underlying combined ratio was 91.6% compared to 90.4%.
- Lower investment losses were driven by lower losses on fixed income securities and a favorable change in the fair value of non-redeemable preferred stock.
Boardwalk:
- Net income increased 57% to $77 million compared to $49 million.
- EBITDA increased 23% to $249 million compared to $202 million.
- Net income and EBITDA improved due to increased transportation revenues from higher re-contracting rates and recently completed growth projects, increased storage and parking and lending revenues, and contribution from the Bayou Ethane acquisition.
Loews Hotels:
- Net loss of $8 million compared to net income of $17 million.
- Results decreased due to an impairment charge recorded by a joint venture property and higher depreciation and interest expense due to the opening of the Loews Arlington Hotel and Convention Center in the first quarter of 2024.
- Adjusted EBITDA of $64 million compared to $60 million.
- Improved performance at city center hotels was partially offset by decreased occupancy in Orlando.
Corporate & Other:
- Net income of $73 million compared to a net loss of $48 million.
- Net loss for 2023 included a charge of $37 million related to the termination of our defined benefit pension plan.
- Excluding this charge, results improved primarily due to higher investment income from parent company equity securities.
Nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to 2023
Loews Corporation reported net income of $1,227 million, or $5.54 per share in 2024, compared to $988 million, or $4.31 per share, in 2023. The following are key highlights:
- CNA’s net investment income increased due to higher returns from limited partnership and common stock investments, and higher income from fixed income securities as a result of favorable reinvestment rates and a larger invested asset base.
- Property and Casualty underwriting income decreased due to higher catastrophe losses.
- Property and Casualty combined ratio was 95.6% compared to 94.0%. Property and Casualty’s underlying combined ratio was 91.5% compared to 90.8%.
- CNA’s net written premiums increased 7%.
- Loews Hotels & Co’s net income for 2023 included a gain of $36 million related to the acquisition of an additional equity interest in, and the consolidation of, a previously unconsolidated joint venture property.
- All other segment drivers of results for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 are consistent with the three-month period drivers discussed above.
Share Purchases:
- On September 30, 2024, there were 218.9 million shares of Loews common stock outstanding.
- During the three months ended September 30, 2024, Loews Corporation repurchased 0.8 million shares of its common stock for a total cost of $64 million.
- Loews has repurchased an additional 1.2 million shares for $92 million so far in the fourth quarter.
- Depending on market conditions, Loews may from time to time purchase shares of its and its subsidiaries’ outstanding common stock in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise.
Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures
This news release contains financial measures that are not in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Management believes some investors may find these measures useful to evaluate our and our subsidiaries’ financial performance. CNA utilizes core income, underlying loss ratio and underlying combined ratio. Boardwalk utilizes earnings before interest, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), and Loews Hotels utilizes Adjusted EBITDA. These non-GAAP measures are defined and reconciled to the most comparable GAAP measures on page 6 through page 8 of this release.
Earnings Remarks
For Loews Corporation
- Today, November 4, 2024, earnings remarks will be available on the Investors section of our website.
- Remarks will include commentary from Loews’s president and chief executive officer and chief financial officer.
For CNA
- Today, November 4, 2024, earnings remarks will be available on the Investor Relations section of CNA’s website at www.cna.com.
- Remarks will include commentary from CNA’s chairman and chief executive officer and chief financial officer.
