At a presentation to investors on Dec. 5, top executives at Zurich Insurance outlined an aggressive multi-prong strategy to steer the company through 2016. Key goals enumerated at the day-long meeting include improving Zurich's return on equity, maintaining its "strong capital position," and generating "high levels of free cash flow."

Zurich is seeking a return on equity of 12 percent to 14 percent in the three years through 2016. That's down from 16 percent. The recalibrated targets are being viewed positively, and Zurich CEO Martin Senn says the company may also sell certain businesses to shore up earnings.

"We are very strong in some areas, but we lack scale or profitability in others,'' Senn said in a statement. ''We will invest in priority markets, but manage other businesses for value. This will mean improving the profitability of certain businesses, while we will either turn around or exit those that are under-performing.''