Gjensidige Forsikring Reports Strong Q4 Earnings Performance

Gjensidige Forsikring Share Performance Following Q4 Results

The shares of Gjensidige Forsikring have seen a notable rise of 8.6% after the release of its fourth-quarter financial results, which successfully outperformed market expectations. The Norwegian insurance company reported a remarkable profit of NOK 1,203 million, which is an impressive 25% above the consensus forecasts. This surge in profit was largely attributed to a strong performance in its insurance services.

Insurance Revenue Growth Driven by Pricing Adjustments

In terms of insurance revenues, the company reported figures reaching NOK 10,019 million, which exceeded consensus estimates by around 2%. This figure also indicates an 11.2% year-on-year increase on a comparable basis. A significant driver of this growth appears to be strategic pricing adjustments across key segments, particularly in the Private sector. For instance, property insurance prices have increased by 11%, while motor insurance prices showed an even higher rise of 15%. Notably, claims inflation for the same categories was reported at 11% and 6%, respectively, highlighting an effective pricing strategy. Further supporting these figures, January indicated even steeper price increases, with property and motor insurance rates rising by 17% and 19%.

Robust Performance in Insurance Services

The insurance service results were particularly impressive, showing a profit of NOK 1,670 million, which is 32% above expectations. This achievement can be attributed to a significant improvement in the company's loss ratio, which decreased by 3.8 percentage points, landing at 71.1%. The substantial improvement in this area is supported by a 4.8% improvement in the underlying frequency loss ratio, notably observed in Norway.

Risk Management and Loss Ratios

In terms of risk management, the cost of risk (CoR) saw a reduction of 1 percentage point, settling at 3.1%. This was balanced by an almost negligible run-off gain of 0.1% and a slight increase in risk adjustment to 0.4%. Furthermore, the underlying combined ratio showed a favorable deviation of 3.8 percentage points better than the consensus expectations.

Investment Performance and Solvency Improvements

Despite a notable pre-tax loss in Pensions amounting to NOK -58 million, which was contrary to a forecasted profit estimate of NOK 65 million, the company’s overall investment performance was robust. The investment results were reported at NOK 208 million, significantly outperforming the consensus by approximately NOK 130 million. This positive outcome was enhanced by high running yields, narrowing credit spreads, and favorable conditions in equity markets.

Solid Solvency Ratios

The company's solvency ratio improved to 185%, which is about 5 percentage points above initial expectations and represents a marked increase of 21 percentage points from the previous quarter. This increase can be largely attributed to the approval of the storm module in the PIM, which announced an 18% uptick attributed to factors disclosed in November.

Total Dividend Increase and Future Outlook

In terms of shareholder returns, the company has set its total dividend per share (DPS) at NOK 10. This includes NOK 9 as an ordinary dividend and NOK 1 as a special dividend, reflecting approximately a 5% rise compared to market consensus.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused Gjensidige Forsikring's stock to rise?

The stock surged due to a strong Q4 earnings report, exceeding market expectations with a significant profit increase.

How did insurance revenues perform for Gjensidige Forsikring?

The company reported NOK 10,019 million in insurance revenues, marking an 11.2% year-on-year increase.

What insights were shared by analysts regarding the Q4 earnings?

Analysts expect positive price action, citing strong margins due to price increases and easing inflation.

What was the outcome of Gjensidige's insurance services?

They reported a profit of NOK 1,670 million, 32% above expectations, driven by improved loss ratios.

What are the implications of the improved solvency ratio?

The 185% solvency ratio indicates strong financial health and supports higher dividends for shareholders.

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