SiriusPoint (NYSE:SPNT) reported a 17.6% operating return on equity for the third quarter of 2026, exceeding its 12% to 15% target range, as growth in insurance premiums and underwriting profits contributed to higher earnings.
The specialty insurer and reinsurer also announced a loss portfolio transfer agreement with RiverStone intended to substantially cover its remaining runoff exposures. The transaction, which requires regulatory approval, is expected to free more than $200 million of capital upon completion, Chief Executive Officer Scott Egan said on the earnings call.
Core gross written premiums rose 14% to $991 million in the quarter, while net written premiums increased 2%, reflecting growth in lower-retention lines such as surety and changes in business mix, Chief Financial Officer Jim McKinney said. The core combined ratio was 90.1%, and core underwriting income increased 9% from a year earlier to $76 million.
Operating net income was $103 million, and operating earnings per diluted share rose 19% to $0.88. Diluted book value per share, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income, increased to $20.21, up 4% during the quarter and 12% over the first nine months of the year.
Legacy Portfolio Transfer and Capital Plans
Egan said the RiverStone agreement covers runoff reserves tied to business written before 2023, when SiriusPoint shifted its underwriting strategy. Those exposures have declined over the past two years but have remained a potential source of reserve volatility, he said.
McKinney estimated the transaction’s initial cost at approximately $60 million and said the structure provides potential future upside. Upon closing, the agreement is expected to raise SiriusPoint’s estimated Bermuda Solvency Capital Requirement ratio by approximately 20 percentage points from 232% at quarter-end.
SiriusPoint will retain some claims administration responsibilities. Asked by an analyst about roughly $15 million to $16 million of other underwriting costs in the corporate section, McKinney said that was a reasonable figure to consider. He expected those costs to decline as claims are settled over roughly two-and-a-half to three years.
Egan said the company would ideally complete the transfer in the fourth quarter, although closing could slip into the first quarter of 2027 depending on regulatory approval.
SiriusPoint repurchased $27 million of common shares during the quarter and had $74 million remaining under its authorization. McKinney said the company plans to resume repurchases after the transaction announcement. He said a meaningful portion or all of the remaining authorization could be executed by year-end, although some purchases could extend into the first quarter depending on market conditions and other limitations.
Insurance Growth and Reinsurance Discipline
Insurance and services gross written premiums increased 20% in the third quarter, driven by credit, surety and higher premium estimates in financial and professional lines. The segment’s combined ratio was 92.8% for the quarter and 92% for the first nine months.
A decline in accident and health premiums partly offset the segment’s growth after SiriusPoint did not renew a large program. Egan said the decision reflected performance concerns and insufficient progress on underwriting actions. McKinney expects accident and health premiums to return to low-single-digit growth in the fourth quarter.
Reinsurance gross written premiums rose 3% in the quarter but were down 6% for the first nine months. McKinney said the company had reduced participation in property catastrophe reinsurance amid pricing pressure. That business now represents approximately 4% of the portfolio.
Egan told analysts that reinsurance remains strategically important, including because SiriusPoint often offers clients a combination of insurance and reinsurance solutions. He described market conditions in reinsurance as tougher but pointed to selective opportunities in structured business.
For the first nine months, core gross written premiums rose 7% to nearly $3 billion. Core underwriting income increased 22% to $202 million, and the core combined ratio improved 1.3 percentage points to 90.1%. Operating return on equity was 15.8%.
Reporting Changes and Market Outlook
Beginning in the fourth quarter, SiriusPoint plans to make accident and health a standalone reporting segment and group its other nine specialties into a new Specialty P&C segment. Egan said the change is intended to reflect how the company manages its portfolio and make the performance of its largest specialty line more transparent. SiriusPoint plans to publish unaudited recast financials before issuing its annual Form 10-K.
McKinney said Specialty P&C premiums are expected to be modestly lower year over year in the fourth quarter, reflecting the non-renewal of a financial and professional lines program and one-off premium in the prior-year comparison. He expects growth to resume in 2027 as those effects normalize.
The company recorded its 22nd consecutive quarter of favorable prior-year reserve development, with contributions from lines including accident and health, energy, credit and property. McKinney also reported $69 million in total investment income for the quarter, including $66 million of net investment income.
About SiriusPoint (NYSE:SPNT)
SiriusPoint Ltd. (NYSE: SPNT) is a global specialty insurance and reinsurance company headquartered in Bermuda. The company provides underwriting solutions to businesses, insurers and other organizations through a combination of insurance and reinsurance operations.
Its offerings include property and casualty coverage, specialty insurance, accident and health products, and reinsurance. SiriusPoint serves clients through underwriting platforms and subsidiaries in key insurance markets, including Bermuda, the United States, the United Kingdom and other international jurisdictions.
