The Hartford’s third quarter results were met with a negative market reaction, despite the company surpassing Wall Street’s revenue and non-GAAP profit expectations. Management attributed performance to robust growth in Business Insurance, particularly in small business and E&S lines, and improved margins in Personal Insurance. CEO Christopher Swift emphasized that strategic investments in technology and underwriting discipline have enabled written premium growth across core segments. However, management acknowledged heightened competition in Personal Insurance and pressure on retention rates as ongoing industry challenges.

Is now the time to buy HIG? Find out in our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.

Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From Hartford’s Q3 Earnings Call

• Brian Meredith (UBS) asked about workers’ compensation pricing trends and potential for future increases. CEO Christopher Swift responded that the market remains stable and profitable, with no significant rate increases expected in 2026.
• Andrew Kligerman (TD Cowen) inquired into strong new business growth in small and mid/large business segments. Swift highlighted broad-based growth, especially in Spectrum and E&S lines, and attributed success to digital capabilities and underwriting discipline.
• Charles Peters (Raymond James) questioned technology budget allocation between legacy and new initiatives. Swift and CFO Beth Bombara explained over $500 million is dedicated to investments, focusing on modernizing platforms and deploying AI for operational improvements.
• Elyse Greenspan (Wells Fargo) asked about the impact of tariffs on Personal Insurance results. Swift noted negligible effects this year but said future pricing will account for tariff-related cost pressures if necessary.
• Michael Zaremski (BMO Capital Markets) probed further into small business market share and pricing power. Adin Tooker, Head of Business Insurance, stated market share remains below 5% and digital service capabilities are driving continued gains without friction.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will monitor (1) the pace of adoption and expansion for The Hartford’s Prevail agency platform and digital underwriting tools, (2) how moderating renewal pricing and elevated competition affect policy growth and retention in Personal Insurance, and (3) ongoing technology-driven process improvements in claims and operations. We will also track the impact of capital deployment strategies on shareholder returns.

Hartford currently trades at $124.18, in line with $124.94 just before the earnings. Is there an opportunity in the stock?The answer lies in our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

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