Summary
The Allstate Corporation's 2017 10-K filing highlights a strong year for the company, driven primarily by robust performance in its Allstate Protection segment. Despite a notable increase in catastrophe losses, underwriting income in this segment saw a significant rise, signaling effective pricing and risk management strategies. The company also benefited from a favorable tax impact due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which reduced the corporate tax rate and resulted in a substantial one-time tax benefit, boosting net income applicable to common shareholders. Allstate's strategy emphasizes serving distinct customer segments with differentiated offerings, leveraging its well-recognized "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" brand. Investments in technology and operational improvements, such as digital claim handling capabilities, are underway to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. While the Service Businesses segment experienced a net loss primarily due to strategic investments, the overall financial health of Allstate appears solid, supported by growth in premiums and a stable investment portfolio. The company continues its commitment to returning capital to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, underscoring its focus on shareholder value.
Financial Highlights
39 data points| Revenue | $39.41B |
| Interest Expense | $335.00M |
| Net Income | $3.55B |
| EPS (Basic) | $9.50 |
| EPS (Diluted) | $9.35 |
| Shares Outstanding (Basic) | 362.00M |
| Shares Outstanding (Diluted) | 367.80M |
Key Highlights
- 1Allstate Protection segment delivered a strong underwriting income of $2.11 billion, a 59.1% increase year-over-year, driven by higher premiums and improved loss costs.
- 2The company recognized a significant tax benefit of $506 million in 2017 due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which reduced the corporate tax rate and positively impacted net income.
- 3Acquisition of SquareTrade in January 2017 for $1.4 billion expanded Allstate's service offerings and contributed to a 54.3% increase in premiums written for the Service Businesses segment.
- 4Net investment income increased by 11.8% to $3.40 billion, boosted by strong performance-based investment results, particularly from limited partnerships.
- 5The company returned $1.9 billion to shareholders in 2017 through common stock dividends and share repurchases, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder value.
- 6Allstate Protection's combined ratio improved to 93.6% in 2017 from 96.0% in 2016, indicating enhanced underwriting profitability.
- 7Despite a 10.3% impact from catastrophe losses on the combined ratio in 2017, favorable prior year reserve reestimates and lower non-catastrophe loss costs helped mitigate the overall impact.