Insurance Company ACE’s Profit Surges in 1Q

Insurance company ACE Ltd. said Tuesday that its profit jumped nearly fourfold in the first quarter, aided by lower-than-expected catastrophe losses, higher net premiums written and hefty one-time gains.

The company, based in Zurich, said net income surged to $973 million, or $2.84 a share, in the three months ended March 31. That compares with net income of $250 million, or 73 cents a share, in the prior-year quarter.

The latest results included $272 million in net realized gains, primarily from variable annuity reinsurance derivatives. Stripping out the one-time gains, ACE earned $2.05 per share.

That beat analysts’ consensus forecast, which called for earnings of $1.88 a share, according to FactSet.

CEO Evan Greenberg noted that ACE and much of the rest of the insurance industry benefited during the quarter from relatively light catastrophe losses compared to 2011.

Total pre-tax catastrophe losses, including reinstatement premiums, were $19 million, compared with $489 million in all of last year.