Introduction
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is intended to assist readers in understanding the interim consolidated results of operations and financial condition of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“THG”). Consolidated results of operations and financial condition are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). This discussion should be read in conjunction with the interim consolidated financial statements and related footnotes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 24, 2025.
Results of operations include the accounts of The Hanover Insurance Company (“Hanover Insurance”) and Citizens Insurance Company of America (“Citizens”), our principal property and casualty companies, and certain other insurance and non-insurance subsidiaries.
The following discussion contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this discussion and analysis, words such as: “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “projections,” “outlook,” “should,” “could,” “plan,” “guidance,” “likely,” “on track to,” “potential,” “continue,” “targeted,” “designed,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. We caution readers that accuracy with respect to forward-looking projections is difficult and subject to risks and uncertainties. Those risks and uncertainties, in some cases, have affected, and in the future could affect, our actual results and could cause our actual results to differ materially from historical results and from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. For important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in Part II – Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in Part I – Item 1A of our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Executive Overview
Business operations consist of four reporting segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines and Other.
Our strategy, which focuses on the independent agency distribution channel, supports THG’s commitment to our select independent agents. It is designed to generate profitable growth by leveraging the strengths of our distribution approach, including expansion of our agency footprint in underpenetrated geographies, as warranted. As part of that strategy, we have increased our capabilities in specialty markets and made investments designed to develop growth solutions for our agency distribution channel that meet the needs of our customers. Our goal is to grow responsibly in all of our businesses, while managing volatility.
During the three months ended March 31, 2025, our net income was $128.2 million, compared to $115.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, an improvement of $12.7 million. This favorable change was primarily due to higher after-tax operating income, partially offset by after-tax net realized losses from investments.
Operating income before interest expense and income taxes (a non-GAAP financial measure; see also “Results of Operations – Consolidated – Non-GAAP Financial Measures”) was $186.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $149.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, an improvement of $36.7 million. This increase was primarily due to improvements in current accident year underwriting results in Personal Lines and from higher net investment income, partially offset by higher current accident year large property losses in our Core Commercial segment. The lower Personal Lines current accident year losses were primarily due to the benefit of earned pricing outpacing loss trends in both personal automobile and homeowners lines, and moderated frequency trends, particularly in automobile collision and homeowners coverages.
Pre-tax catastrophe losses were $95.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $86.9 million during the same period of 2024, an increase of $8.7 million. Catastrophe losses in the first quarter of 2025 were primarily due to severe convective storms in the Midwest and the California Palisades and Eaton wildfires. Net favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves was $20.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $10.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, an increase of $9.6 million.
Core Commercial
Core Commercial includes two businesses, small commercial and middle market, both of which focus on account business, including coverage for commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers’ compensation and other (commercial umbrella, monoline general liability, claims-made liability, and monoline property). Small commercial focuses on small businesses, with annual policy premiums generally up to $50,000. Middle market provides coverage to mid-sized businesses with annual policy premiums generally between $50,000 and $500,000. Middle market offers coverage in distinct industry segments, including technology, human services, manufacturing, retail, and real estate, among others. We believe that our account-focused approach to the small commercial market and distinctiveness in the middle market, including our diversified portfolio of products, delivers significant value to agents and policyholders. We continue to pursue our core strategy of developing strong relationships with retail agents, enhancing franchise value through selective distribution, distinctive products and coverages, and through continued investment in products for additional industry segmentation.