Property/casualty insurers have started to broadcast the fact that they have earned spots on Ward’s list of 50 top-performing insurance companies for 2025, but only one was named for 35 straight years—RLI Corp.
In addition, there were three newcomers to the elite list this year: Hanover Insurance Group, Norfolk & Dedham Group and Intact Insurance Group USA.
Ward, a unit of Aon, which provides benchmarking and best practices studies for the insurance industry, annually analyzes financial performance property/casualty and life insurers by looking a five-year average measures of growth and profit, compiling the top 50 carriers in each segment since 1991.
According to Ward, the Ward’s 50 P/C insurance companies for 2025 produced a 14.0 percent statutory return on average equity from 2020 to 2024, compared to 8.5 percent for the P/C industry overall.
In addition, the Top 50 had a five-year average combined ratio 6.0 points better than the industry average.
RLI President and Chief Executive Officer Craig Kliethermes said the unbroken record of being named to the list “reflects the strength, integrity and dedication of our team. It underscores our long-standing focus on operational excellence and our commitment to delivering consistent value to our customers and partners.”
Also announcing a long-term position on the list was the Philadelphia Insurance Companies, marking its 25th consecutive year on the list.
“Earning this recognition for 25 consecutive years is a testament to the team at PHLY for their exceptional work and dedicated service to our customers and agents,” said John Glomb, president and CEO of Philadelphia Insurance Companies. “The level of consistency and recognition shows our policyholders, independent agents, and broker partners that they can rely on us.”
While other insurers have yet to publish statements to announce that they have been named to the 2025 list, by Carrier Management’s count, roughly 62 percent of this year’s honorees—31 of the 50—have been on the list in each of the last six years starting with 2020.
ACUITY appears on the top of the list, which is presented in alphabetical order, and is also one of the insurers with a long-term position on the list. ACUITY has been on the list for 26 straight years.
Berkshire Hathaway, listed in the last two years as Berkshire Hathaway, appeared on the list in 33 prior years under the GEICO brand name.
Comparing this year’s list available on the Ward’s website, with two prior lists that are also still available for viewing, also reveals that 82 percent of the 2025 Ward’s 50 P/C carriers (41 out of 50) have been on the list for at least three consecutive years.
Making room for Hanover, Intact and N&D, three 2024 honorees dropped off the list: Canal Insurance Company, Merchants Insurance Group and New Jersey Manufacturers Group.
