All charts were created by ALIRT Insurance Research and used with permission.

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2011 accident year underwriting results deteriorated sharply and, despite substantial reserve releases, the reported combined ratio was also significantly worse in 2011, due to considerable weather-related losses, according to ALIRT. The 2011 operating ratio worsened, reflecting the substantial catastrophe losses and relatively weaker investment income.

Revenue is recovering, ALIRT says, with modest-to-moderate growth in both direct and net premium after bottoming out in 2008-2009.

Composite surplus grew 2.6 percent during 2010, but fell 2.2 percent in 2011 due to weaker earnings and sizeable dividends paid, ALIRT notes.

Premium leverage remains fairly low and is leveling off, ALIRT says.

Returns on equity continue to decline, according to ALIRT, falling sharply in 2011 due to catastrophe losses, and in spite of a lower equity (surplus) base.

Returns on earned premiums have generally trended down since 2008. ALIRT says this trend accelerated in 2011, driven by catastrophe losses.

The ALIRT Composite has not generated an underwriting profit since 2007, ALIRT says, however despite low interest rates, investment gains continue to outweigh poor underwriting results.

Investment yields continue to be dampened by low interest rates, ALIRT finds. In 2009 and 2010, net capital gains boosted returns significantly, but in 2011 net capital gains were break-even.

Favorable prior year reserve development was declining as the soft market dragged on, but reserve releases were again quite large for the ALIRT Composite in 2011.

The reported combined ratio has been helped by favorable reserve development over the last several years. This was particularly noticeable in 2011 as reserve releases lowered the reported combined ratio for the ALIRT Composite by 2.4 points.