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CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORP - Quarter Report: 2017 March (Form 10-Q)



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark one)
þ        QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017.
 
¨       TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. 
For the transition period from _____________________ to _____________________.
Commission file number 0-4604
 
CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Ohio
 
31-0746871
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification
No.)
 
 
 
6200 S. Gilmore Road, Fairfield, Ohio
 
45014-5141
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (513) 870-2000
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. 
þYes ¨ No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
þYes ¨ No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a nonaccelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
þ Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨ Nonaccelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company
¨ Emerging growth company
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

¨ If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act):
¨Yes þ No
 
As of April 21, 2017, there were 164,688,145 shares of common stock outstanding.





CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2017
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Results
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 2



Part I – Financial Information
Item 1.    Financial Statements (unaudited)
 
Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in millions except per share data)
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
Assets
 
 

 
 

Investments
 
 

 
 

Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: 2017—$9,981; 2016—$9,799)
 
$
10,301

 
$
10,085

Equity securities, at fair value (cost: 2017—$3,240; 2016—$2,995)
 
5,676

 
5,334

Other invested assets
 
90

 
81

Total investments
 
16,067

 
15,500

Cash and cash equivalents
 
543

 
777

Investment income receivable
 
123

 
134

Finance receivable
 
50

 
51

Premiums receivable
 
1,588

 
1,533

Reinsurance recoverable
 
544

 
545

Prepaid reinsurance premiums
 
52

 
62

Deferred policy acquisition costs
 
660

 
637

Land, building and equipment, net, for company use (accumulated depreciation:
   2017—$242; 2016—$237)
 
181

 
183

Other assets
 
170

 
198

Separate accounts
 
775

 
766

Total assets
 
$
20,753

 
$
20,386

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 

 
 

Insurance reserves
 
 

 
 

Loss and loss expense reserves
 
$
5,177

 
$
5,085

Life policy and investment contract reserves
 
2,689

 
2,671

Unearned premiums
 
2,377

 
2,307

Other liabilities
 
691

 
786

Deferred income tax
 
946

 
865

Note payable
 
17

 
20

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations
 
825

 
826

Separate accounts
 
775

 
766

Total liabilities
 
13,497

 
13,326

 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 12)
 


 


 
 
 
 
 
Shareholders' Equity
 
 

 
 

Common stock, par value—$2 per share; (authorized: 2017 and 2016—500 million shares; issued: 2017 and 2016—198.3 million shares)
 
397

 
397

Paid-in capital
 
1,243

 
1,252

Retained earnings
 
5,156

 
5,037

Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
1,780

 
1,693

Treasury stock at cost (2017—33.7 million shares and 2016—33.9 million shares)
 
(1,320
)
 
(1,319
)
Total shareholders' equity
 
7,256

 
7,060

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
 
$
20,753

 
$
20,386

 
 
 
 
 
 Accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
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Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in millions except per share data)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Revenues
 

 
 

Earned premiums
$
1,208

 
$
1,154

Investment income, net of expenses
149

 
145

Realized investment gains, net
160

 
61

Fee revenues
5

 
3

Other revenues
1

 
1

Total revenues
1,523

 
1,364

Benefits and Expenses
 

 
 

Insurance losses and contract holders' benefits
853

 
724

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses
377

 
360

Interest expense
13

 
13

Other operating expenses
4

 
2

 Total benefits and expenses
1,247

 
1,099

Income Before Income Taxes
276

 
265

Provision for Income Taxes
 

 
 

Current
40

 
65

Deferred
35

 
12

Total provision for income taxes
75

 
77

Net Income
$
201

 
$
188

Per Common Share
 

 
 

Net income—basic
$
1.22

 
$
1.14

Net income—diluted
1.21

 
1.13

 
 
 
 
Accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
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Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Dollars in millions)
 
Three months ended March 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
Net Income
 
$
201

 
$
188

Other Comprehensive Income
 
 

 
 

Change in unrealized gains and losses on investments, net of tax of $46 and $100, respectively
 
85

 
190

Amortization of pension actuarial gains and losses and prior service cost, net of tax of $0 and $1, respectively
 
1

 

Change in life deferred acquisition costs, life policy reserves and other, net of tax of $1 and $(1), respectively
 
1

 
(3
)
Other comprehensive income
 
87

 
187

Comprehensive Income
 
$
288

 
$
375

 
 
 
 
 
Accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 5



Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
(Dollars in millions)
 
Three months ended March 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
Common Stock
 
 
 
 
   Beginning of year
 
$
397

 
$
397

   Share-based awards
 

 

   End of period
 
397

 
397

 
 
 
 
 
Paid-In Capital
 
 
 
 
   Beginning of year
 
1,252

 
1,232

   Share-based awards
 
(18
)
 
(10
)
   Share-based compensation
 
8

 
7

   Other
 
1

 
1

   End of period
 
1,243

 
1,230

 
 
 
 
 
Retained Earnings
 
 
 
 
   Beginning of year
 
5,037

 
4,762

   Net income
 
201

 
188

   Dividends declared
 
(82
)
 
(79
)
   End of period
 
5,156

 
4,871

 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
 
 
 
 
   Beginning of year
 
1,693

 
1,344

   Other comprehensive income
 
87

 
187

   End of period
 
1,780

 
1,531

 
 
 
 
 
Treasury Stock
 
 
 
 
   Beginning of year
 
(1,319
)
 
(1,308
)
   Share-based awards
 
17

 
18

   Shares acquired - share repurchase authorization
 
(15
)
 

   Shares acquired - share-based compensation plans
 
(4
)
 
(5
)
   Other
 
1

 
1

   End of period
 
(1,320
)
 
(1,294
)
 
 
 
 
 
      Total Shareholders' Equity
 
$
7,256

 
$
6,735

 
 
 
 
 
(In millions)
 
 
 
 
Common Stock - Shares Outstanding
 
 
 
 
   Beginning of year
 
164.4

 
163.9

   Share-based awards
 
0.5

 
0.5

   Shares acquired - share repurchase authorization
 
(0.2
)
 

   Shares acquired - share-based compensation plans
 
(0.1
)
 

   Other
 

 

   End of period
 
164.6

 
164.4

 
 
 
 
 
Accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 


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Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 (Dollars in millions)
 
Three months ended March 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
 
 

 
 

Net income
 
$
201

 
$
188

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
 
14

 
12

Realized investment gains, net
 
(160
)
 
(61
)
Share-based compensation
 
8

 
7

Interest credited to contract holders'
 
13

 
13

Deferred income tax expense
 
35

 
12

Changes in:
 
 

 
 

Investment income receivable
 
11

 
8

Premiums and reinsurance receivable
 
(44
)
 
(23
)
Deferred policy acquisition costs
 
(25
)
 
(9
)
Other assets
 
(5
)
 
(12
)
Loss and loss expense reserves
 
92

 
86

Life policy reserves
 
25

 
22

Unearned premiums
 
70

 
47

Other liabilities
 
(139
)
 
(90
)
Current income tax receivable/payable
 
40

 
65

Net cash provided by operating activities
 
136

 
265

Cash Flows From Investing Activities
 
 

 
 

Sale of fixed maturities
 
12

 
14

Call or maturity of fixed maturities
 
249

 
368

Sale of equity securities
 
216

 
132

Purchase of fixed maturities
 
(403
)
 
(496
)
Purchase of equity securities
 
(313
)
 
(129
)
Investment in finance receivables
 
(5
)
 
(6
)
Collection of finance receivables
 
6

 
8

Investment in buildings and equipment, net
 
(2
)
 
(3
)
Change in other invested assets, net
 
(6
)
 
4

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(246
)
 
(108
)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
 
 

 
 

Payment of cash dividends to shareholders
 
(77
)
 
(74
)
Shares acquired - share repurchase authorization
 
(15
)
 

Payments of note payable
 
(3
)
 

Proceeds from stock options exercised
 
6

 
9

Contract holders' funds deposited
 
23

 
26

Contract holders' funds withdrawn
 
(43
)
 
(39
)
Excess tax benefits on share-based compensation
 

 
2

Other
 
(15
)
 
(12
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(124
)
 
(88
)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
 
(234
)
 
69

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
 
777

 
544

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
543

 
$
613

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
 
 

 
 

Income taxes paid (refunded)
 

 
(1
)
Noncash Activities
 
 

 
 

Conversion of securities
 
$
4

 
$
3

Equipment acquired under capital lease obligations
 
3

 
9

Cashless exercise of stock options
 
4

 
5

Other assets and other liabilities
 
73

 

 
 
 
 
 
 Accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 1 — Accounting Policies
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cincinnati Financial Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, each of which is wholly owned. These statements are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Our actual results could differ from those estimates. Our December 31, 2016, condensed consolidated balance sheet amounts are derived from the audited financial statements but do not include all disclosures required by GAAP.
 
Our March 31, 2017, condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited. Certain financial information that is included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP is not required for interim reporting and has been condensed or omitted. We believe that we have made all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, that are necessary for fair presentation. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements included in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for interim periods do not necessarily indicate results to be expected for the full year.

Adopted Accounting Updates

ASU 2016-07, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting
In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-07, Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting. ASU 2016-07 eliminates the requirement to retroactively adjust an investment, results of operations, and retained earnings once an investment qualifies for use of the equity method. It requires the equity method investor to add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor's previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting without retroactive adjustment. The effective date of ASU 2016-07 was for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and was applied prospectively. The company adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2017 and it did not have a material impact on our company's consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations.

ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The effective date of ASU 2016-09 was for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The recognition and classification of the excess tax benefit provisions were applied prospectively in the results of operations and statement of cash flows. This adoption resulted in excess tax benefits of $6 million which reduced our current provision for income taxes in our results of operations. The statutory tax withholding classification, which are cash payments made to taxing authorities for shares withheld, were applied retrospectively and reclassified the statutory tax withholding requirements in the statement of cash flows from Other liabilities in operating activities to Other in financing activities. This statutory tax withholding reclassification resulted in $11 million and $8 million being included in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. There were no cumulative effect adjustments upon adoption of this ASU.

Pending Accounting Updates

ASU 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
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reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. Insurance contracts do not fall within the scope of this ASU. The effective date of ASU 2014-09 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The ASU has not yet been adopted and will not have a material impact on our company’s financial position, cash flows or results of operations.

ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10) - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10) - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU 2016-01 revises the accounting related to the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. The effective date of ASU 2016-01 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The ASU has not yet been adopted. Our results of operations will be impacted as changes in fair value of equity securities will be reported in net income instead of reported in accumulated other comprehensive income.

ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842)
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The main provision of ASU 2016-02 requires the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. The effective date of ASU 2016-02 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The ASU has not yet been adopted. Management is currently evaluating the impact on our company’s consolidated financial position, cash flows and results of operations.

ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 amends previous guidance on the impairment of financial instruments by adding an impairment model that allows an entity to recognize expected credit losses as an allowance rather than impairing as they are incurred. The new guidance is intended to reduce complexity of credit impairment models and result in a more timely recognition of expected credit losses. The effective date of ASU 2016-13 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The ASU has not yet been adopted. Management is currently evaluating the impact on our company's consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations.

ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU 2016-15 addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. The effective date of ASU 2016-15 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The ASU has not yet been adopted; however, it is not expected to have a material impact on our company's consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations.

ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Costs. ASU 2017-07 provides guidance on how to present the components of net periodic benefit costs in the income statement for pension plans and other post-retirement benefit plans. The effective date of ASU 2017-07 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The ASU has not yet been adopted; however, it is not expected to have a material impact on our company's consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations.

ASU 2017-08, Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-08, Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. ASU 2017-08 amends guidance on the amortization period of premiums on certain purchased callable debt securities. The amendments shorten the amortization period of premiums on certain purchased callable debt securities to the earliest call date. The

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amendments should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings. The effective date of ASU 2017-08 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The ASU has not yet been adopted. Management is currently evaluating the impact on our company's consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
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NOTE 2 – Investments
The following table provides cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value for our fixed-maturity and equity securities:
(Dollars in millions)
 
Cost or amortized cost
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross unrealized
 
Fair value
At March 31, 2017
 
 
gains
 
losses
 
Fixed maturity securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate
 
$
5,570

 
$
262

 
$
17

 
$
5,815

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
 
3,879

 
110

 
37

 
3,952

Commercial mortgage-backed
 
282

 
6

 
1

 
287

Government-sponsored enterprises
 
219

 

 
3

 
216

United States government
 
16

 

 

 
16

Foreign government
 
10

 

 

 
10

Convertibles and bonds with warrants attached
 
5

 

 

 
5

Subtotal
 
9,981

 
378

 
58

 
10,301

Equity securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Common equities
 
3,051

 
2,411

 
9

 
5,453

Nonredeemable preferred equities
 
189

 
34

 

 
223

Subtotal
 
3,240

 
2,445

 
9

 
5,676

Total
 
$
13,221

 
$
2,823

 
$
67

 
$
15,977

At December 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed maturity securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate
 
$
5,555

 
$
252

 
$
26

 
$
5,781

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
 
3,770

 
100

 
42

 
3,828

Commercial mortgage-backed
 
282

 
7

 
2

 
287

Government-sponsored enterprises
 
167

 

 
3

 
164

United States government
 
10

 

 

 
10

Foreign government
 
10

 

 

 
10

Convertibles and bonds with warrants attached
 
5

 

 

 
5

Subtotal
 
9,799

 
359

 
73

 
10,085

Equity securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Common equities
 
2,812

 
2,320

 
9

 
5,123

Nonredeemable preferred equities
 
183

 
28

 

 
211

Subtotal
 
2,995

 
2,348

 
9

 
5,334

Total
 
$
12,794

 
$
2,707

 
$
82

 
$
15,419

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The net unrealized investment gains in our fixed-maturity portfolio at March 31, 2017, are primarily the result of the continued low interest rate environment that increased the fair value of our fixed-maturity portfolio. Our commercial mortgage-backed securities had an average rating of Aa1/AA at March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016. The seven largest unrealized investment gains in our common stock portfolio are from JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM), Honeywell International Incorporated (NYSE:HON), Apple Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL), Hasbro Inc. (Nasdaq:HAS), Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), which had a combined gross unrealized gain of $760 million. At March 31, 2017, Apple Inc. was our largest single equity holding with a fair value of $201 million, which was 3.7 percent of our publicly traded common equities portfolio and 1.3 percent of the total investment portfolio.


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The table below provides fair values and gross unrealized losses by investment category and by the duration of the securities’ continuous unrealized loss positions:
(Dollars in millions)
 
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or more
 
Total
 
 
Fair value
 
Unrealized losses
 
Fair value
 
Unrealized losses
 
Fair value
 
Unrealized losses
At March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate
 
$
381

 
$
10

 
$
136

 
$
7

 
$
517

 
$
17

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
 
883

 
37

 

 

 
883

 
37

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
75

 
1

 
2

 

 
77

 
1

Government-sponsored enterprises
 
165

 
3

 

 

 
165

 
3

United States government
 
6

 

 

 

 
6

 

Subtotal
 
1,510

 
51

 
138

 
7

 
1,648

 
58

Equity securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Common equities
 
236

 
9

 
4

 

 
240

 
9

Subtotal
 
236

 
9

 
4

 

 
240

 
9

Total
 
$
1,746

 
$
60

 
$
142

 
$
7

 
$
1,888

 
$
67

At December 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed maturity securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate
 
$
733

 
$
15

 
$
189

 
$
11

 
$
922

 
$
26

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
 
989

 
42

 

 

 
989

 
42

Commercial mortgage-backed
 
89

 
2

 
2

 

 
91

 
2

Government-sponsored enterprises
 
155

 
3

 

 

 
155

 
3

United States government
 
6

 

 

 

 
6

 

Subtotal
 
1,972

 
62

 
191

 
11

 
2,163

 
73

Equity securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Common equities
 
103

 
9

 

 

 
103

 
9

Nonredeemable preferred equities
 
4

 

 

 

 
4

 

Subtotal
 
107

 
9

 

 

 
107

 
9

Total
 
$
2,079

 
$
71

 
$
191

 
$
11

 
$
2,270

 
$
82

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Contractual maturity dates for fixed-maturity investments were:
(Dollars in millions)
 
Amortized
cost
 
Fair
value
 
% of fair
value
At March 31, 2017
 
 
 
Maturity dates:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Due in one year or less
 
$
655

 
$
669

 
6.5
%
Due after one year through five years
 
2,764

 
2,911

 
28.3

Due after five years through ten years
 
3,862

 
3,981

 
38.6

Due after ten years
 
2,700

 
2,740

 
26.6

Total
 
$
9,981

 
$
10,301

 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities when there is a right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
 

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 12



The following table provides investment income, realized investment gains and losses, the change in unrealized investment gains and losses:
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Investment income:
 
 
 
Interest
$
111

 
$
109

Dividends
39

 
37

Other
1

 
1

Total
151

 
147

Less investment expenses
2

 
2

Total
$
149

 
$
145

 
 
 
 
Realized investment gains and losses:
 

 
 

Fixed maturities:
 

 
 

Gross realized gains
$
10

 
$
3

Gross realized losses

 
(1
)
Other-than-temporary impairments

 
(2
)
Equity securities:
 

 
 

Gross realized gains
153

 
62

Gross realized losses
(4
)
 
(1
)
Other-than-temporary impairments

 

Other
1

 

Total
$
160

 
$
61

 
 
 
 
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses:
 

 
 

Fixed maturities
$
34

 
$
116

Equity securities
97

 
174

Income tax (provision) benefit
(46
)
 
(100
)
Total
$
85

 
$
190

 
 
 
 
 
During the three months ended March 31, 2017, there were no equity securities and no fixed-maturity securities other-than-temporarily impaired. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, there were no equity securities and two fixed-maturity securities other-than-temporarily impaired. There were no credit losses on fixed-maturity securities for which a portion of other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) has been recognized in other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

At March 31, 2017, 22 fixed-maturity investments with a total unrealized loss of $7 million had been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more. Of that total, no fixed-maturity investment had a fair value below 70 percent of amortized cost. At March 31, 2017, one equity investment with a total unrealized loss of less than $1 million had been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more. There were no equity investments with a fair value below 70 percent of amortized cost. At December 31, 2016, 32 fixed-maturity investments with a total unrealized loss of $11 million had been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more. Of that total, no fixed-maturity investments had fair values below 70 percent of amortized cost. There were no equity security investments in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more as of December 31, 2016.
 


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 13



NOTE 3 – Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with accounting guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures, we categorized our financial instruments, based on the priority of the observable and market-based data for the valuation technique used, into a three-level fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices with readily available independent data in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable market inputs (Level 3). When various inputs for measurement fall within different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the lowest observable input that has a significant impact on fair value measurement is used. Our valuation techniques have not changed from those used at December 31, 2016, and ultimately management determines fair value. See our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 8, Note 3, Fair Value Measurements, Page 132, for information on characteristics and valuation techniques used in determining fair value.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 14



Fair Value Disclosures for Assets
The following tables illustrate the fair value hierarchy for those assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016. We do not have any material liabilities carried at fair value. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.
(Dollars in millions)
 
Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant other
observable inputs (Level 2)
 
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
At March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, available for sale:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate
 
$

 
$
5,814

 
$
1

 
$
5,815

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
 

 
3,952

 

 
3,952

Commercial mortgage-backed
 

 
287

 

 
287

Government-sponsored enterprises
 

 
216

 

 
216

United States government
 
16

 

 

 
16

Foreign government
 

 
10

 

 
10

Convertibles and bonds with warrants attached
 

 
5

 

 
5

Subtotal
 
16

 
10,284

 
1

 
10,301

Common equities, available for sale
 
5,453

 

 

 
5,453

Nonredeemable preferred equities, available for sale
 

 
223

 

 
223

Separate accounts taxable fixed maturities
 

 
764

 

 
764

Top Hat savings plan mutual funds and common
equity (included in Other assets)
 
27

 

 

 
27

Total
 
$
5,496

 
$
11,271

 
$
1

 
$
16,768

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, available for sale:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate
 
$

 
$
5,703

 
$
78

 
$
5,781

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
 

 
3,828

 

 
3,828

Commercial mortgage-backed
 

 
287

 

 
287

Government-sponsored enterprises
 

 
164

 

 
164

United States government
 
10

 

 

 
10

Foreign government
 

 
10

 

 
10

Convertibles and bonds with warrants attached
 

 
5

 

 
5

Subtotal
 
10

 
9,997

 
78

 
10,085

Common equities, available for sale
 
5,123

 

 

 
5,123

Nonredeemable preferred equities, available for sale
 

 
211

 

 
211

Separate accounts taxable fixed maturities
 

 
750

 

 
750

Top Hat savings plan mutual funds and common
  equity (included in Other assets)
 
24

 

 

 
24

Total
 
$
5,157

 
$
10,958

 
$
78

 
$
16,193

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Each financial instrument that was deemed to have significant unobservable inputs when determining valuation is identified in the following tables by security type with a summary of changes in fair value as of March 31, 2017. Total Level 3 assets continue to be less than 1 percent of financial assets measured at fair value in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Assets presented in the table below were valued based primarily on broker/dealer quotes for which there is a lack of transparency as to inputs used to develop the valuations. Transfers out of Level 3 included situations where a broker quote was used without observable inputs or data that could be corroborated by our pricing vendors in the prior period and significant other observable inputs were identified in the current period. The quantitative detail of these unobservable inputs is neither provided nor reasonably available to us.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 15



The following table provides the change in Level 3 assets for the three months ended March 31:
(Dollars in millions)
Asset fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs
 
 
Corporate
fixed
maturities
 
Taxable
fixed
maturities - separate accounts
 
Nonredeemable
preferred
equities
 
Total
Beginning balance, January 1, 2017
 
$
78

 
$

 
$

 
$
78

Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Included in net income
 

 

 

 

Included in other comprehensive income
 

 

 

 

Purchases
 

 

 

 

Sales
 

 

 

 

Transfers into Level 3
 

 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3
 
(77
)
 

 

 
(77
)
Ending balance, March 31, 2017
 
$
1

 
$

 
$

 
$
1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance, January 1, 2016
 
$
51

 
$
1

 
$
3

 
$
55

Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Included in net income
 

 

 

 

Included in other comprehensive income
 

 

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Purchases
 
5

 

 

 
5

Sales
 

 

 

 

Transfers into Level 3
 

 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3
 
(5
)
 

 

 
(5
)
Ending balance, March 31, 2016
 
$
51

 
$
1

 
$
2

 
$
54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Additional disclosures for the Level 3 category are not material.

Fair Value Disclosures for Assets and Liabilities Not Carried at Fair Value
 
The disclosures below are presented to provide information about the effects of current market conditions on financial instruments that are not reported at fair value in our condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
This table summarizes the book value and principal amounts of our long-term debt:
(Dollars in millions)
 
 
 
Book value
 
Principal amount
Interest
rate
 
Year of 
issue
 
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
6.900
%
 
1998
 
Senior debentures, due 2028
 
$
26

 
$
26

 
$
28

 
$
28

6.920
%
 
2005
 
Senior debentures, due 2028
 
391

 
391

 
391

 
391

6.125
%
 
2004
 
Senior notes, due 2034
 
370

 
370

 
374

 
374

 

 
 
 
Total
 
$
787

 
$
787

 
$
793

 
$
793

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 16



The following table shows fair values of our note payable and long-term debt:
(Dollars in millions)
 
Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)
 
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
At March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
Note payable
 
$

 
$
17

 
$

 
$
17

6.900% senior debentures, due 2028
 

 
33

 

 
33

6.920% senior debentures, due 2028
 

 
497

 

 
497

6.125% senior notes, due 2034
 

 
450

 

 
450

Total
 
$

 
$
997

 
$

 
$
997

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note payable
 
$

 
$
20

 
$

 
$
20

6.900% senior debentures, due 2028
 

 
33

 

 
33

6.920% senior debentures, due 2028
 

 
488

 

 
488

6.125% senior notes, due 2034
 

 
435

 

 
435

Total
 
$

 
$
976

 
$

 
$
976

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table shows the fair value of our life policy loans included in other invested assets:
(Dollars in millions)
 
Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant other
observable inputs (Level 2)
 
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
At March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
Life policy loans
 
$

 
$

 
$
40

 
$
40

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Life policy loans
 
$

 
$

 
$
40

 
$
40

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding principal and interest for these life policy loans totaled $30 million and $31 million at March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively.
 
The following table shows fair values of our deferred annuities and structured settlements included in life policy and investment contract reserves:
(Dollars in millions)
 
Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant other
observable inputs (Level 2)
 
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
At March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
Deferred annuities
 
$

 
$

 
$
844

 
$
844

Structured settlements
 

 
203

 

 
203

Total
 
$

 
$
203

 
$
844

 
$
1,047

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred annuities
 
$

 
$

 
$
839

 
$
839

Structured settlements
 

 
206

 

 
206

Total
 
$

 
$
206

 
$
839

 
$
1,045

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Recorded reserves for the deferred annuities were $858 million and $861 million at March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively. Recorded reserves for the structured settlements were $166 million and $170 million at March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively.



Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 17



NOTE 4 – Property Casualty Loss and Loss Expenses
This table summarizes activity for our consolidated property casualty loss and loss expense reserves:
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Gross loss and loss expense reserves, beginning of period
$
5,035

 
$
4,660

Less reinsurance recoverable
298

 
281

Net loss and loss expense reserves, beginning of period
4,737

 
4,379

Net incurred loss and loss expenses related to:
 

 
 

Current accident year
826

 
723

Prior accident years
(38
)
 
(62
)
Total incurred
788

 
661

Net paid loss and loss expenses related to:
 

 
 

Current accident year
185

 
146

Prior accident years
509

 
416

Total paid
694

 
562

Net loss and loss expense reserves, end of period
4,831

 
4,478

Plus reinsurance recoverable
297

 
272

Gross loss and loss expense reserves, end of period
$
5,128

 
$
4,750

 
 
 
 
 
We use actuarial methods, models and judgment to estimate, as of a financial statement date, the property casualty loss and loss expense reserves required to pay for and settle all outstanding insured claims, including incurred but not reported (IBNR) claims, as of that date. The actuarial estimate is subject to review and adjustment by an inter-departmental committee that includes actuarial, claims, underwriting, loss prevention and accounting management. This committee is familiar with relevant company and industry business, claims and underwriting trends, as well as general economic and legal trends that could affect future loss and loss expense payments. The amount we will actually have to pay for claims can be highly uncertain. This uncertainty, together with the size of our reserves, makes the loss and loss expense reserves our most significant estimate. The reserve for loss and loss expenses in the condensed consolidated balance sheets also included $49 million at March 31, 2017, and
$54 million at March 31, 2016, for certain life and health loss and loss expense reserves.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, we experienced $38 million of favorable development on prior accident years, including $11 million of favorable development in commercial lines, $10 million of favorable development in personal lines, $13 million of favorable development in excess and surplus lines and $4 million of favorable development in our reinsurance assumed operations. This included $11 million from favorable development of catastrophe losses for the three months ended March 31, 2017. For the three months ended
March 31, 2017, we recognized favorable reserve development of $18 million for the workers' compensation line, $10 million for the commercial property line and $8 million for the other commercial lines due to reduced uncertainty of prior accident year loss and loss adjustment expense for these lines. For the three months ended
March 31, 2017, we recognized unfavorable reserve development of $15 million for the commercial casualty line and $10 million for the commercial auto line. The unfavorable reserve development for commercial casualty reflected higher than usual large loss activity. Commercial auto developed unfavorably due to higher loss cost effects in recent accident years, resulting in an increase of our reserve estimate for claims that have not yet been settled.

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 18




For the three months ended March 31, 2016, we experienced $62 million of favorable development on prior accident years, including $29 million of favorable development in commercial lines, $18 million of favorable development in personal lines, $14 million of favorable development in excess and surplus lines, and $1 million of favorable development in our reinsurance assumed operations. This included $7 million from favorable development of catastrophe losses for the three months ended March 31, 2016. We recognized favorable reserve development during the three months ended March 31, 2016, of $13 million for the workers' compensation line,
$8 million for the commercial property line, $13 million for the other commercial lines and $8 million for the homeowner line due to reduced uncertainty of prior accident year loss and loss adjustment expenses for these lines. Our commercial auto line developed unfavorably by $8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, due to higher loss cost effects in recent accident years, resulting in an increase of our reserve estimate for claims that have not yet been settled.



Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 19



NOTE 5 – Life Policy and Investment Contract Reserves
We establish the reserves for traditional life insurance policies based on expected expenses, mortality, morbidity, withdrawal rates, timing of claim presentation and investment yields, including a provision for uncertainty. Once these assumptions are established, they generally are maintained throughout the lives of the contracts. We use both our own experience and industry experience, adjusted for historical trends, in arriving at our assumptions for expected mortality, morbidity and withdrawal rates as well as for expected expenses. We base our assumptions for expected investment income on our own experience adjusted for current economic conditions.
 
We establish reserves for the company’s deferred annuity, universal life and structured settlement policies equal to the cumulative account balances, which include premium deposits plus credited interest less charges and withdrawals. Some of our universal life policies contain no-lapse guarantee provisions. For these policies, we establish a reserve in addition to the account balance, based on expected no-lapse guarantee benefits and expected policy assessments.

This table summarizes our life policy and investment contract reserves:
(Dollars in millions)
 
March 31,
2017
 
December 31, 2016
Life policy reserves:
 
 
 
 
Ordinary/traditional life
 
$
1,026

 
$
1,011

Other
 
45

 
45

Subtotal
 
1,071

 
1,056

Investment contract reserves:
 
 
 
 
Deferred annuities
 
858

 
861

Universal life
 
588

 
578

Structured settlements
 
166

 
170

Other
 
6

 
6

Subtotal
 
1,618

 
1,615

Total life policy and investment contract reserves
 
$
2,689

 
$
2,671

 
 
 
 
 



Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 20



NOTE 6 – Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Expenses directly related to successfully acquired insurance policies – primarily commissions, premium taxes and underwriting costs – are deferred and amortized over the terms of the policies. We update our acquisition cost assumptions periodically to reflect actual experience, and we evaluate the costs for recoverability. The table below shows the deferred policy acquisition costs and asset reconciliation.
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,

2017
 
2016
Property casualty:
 
 
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs asset, beginning of period
$
408

 
$
388

Capitalized deferred policy acquisition costs
226

 
210

Amortized deferred policy acquisition costs
(206
)
 
(201
)
Deferred policy acquisition costs asset, end of period
$
428

 
$
397

 
 
 
 
Life:
 
 
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs asset, beginning of period
$
229

 
$
228

Capitalized deferred policy acquisition costs
13

 
12

Amortized deferred policy acquisition costs
(8
)
 
(11
)
Amortized shadow deferred policy acquisition costs
(2
)
 
(8
)
Deferred policy acquisition costs asset, end of period
$
232

 
$
221

 
 
 
 
Consolidated:
 
 
 
Deferred policy acquisition costs asset, beginning of period
$
637

 
$
616

Capitalized deferred policy acquisition costs
239

 
222

Amortized deferred policy acquisition costs
(214
)
 
(212
)
Amortized shadow deferred policy acquisition costs
(2
)
 
(8
)
Deferred policy acquisition costs asset, end of period
$
660

 
$
618

 
 
 
 

No premium deficiencies were recorded in the condensed consolidated statements of income, as the sum of the anticipated loss and loss expenses, policyholder dividends and unamortized deferred acquisition expenses did not exceed the related unearned premiums and anticipated investment income.
 

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 21



NOTE 7 – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) includes changes in unrealized gains and losses on investments, changes in pension obligations and changes in life deferred acquisition costs, life policy reserves and other as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
Before tax
 
Income tax
 
Net
 
 
Before tax
 
Income tax
 
Net
Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AOCI, beginning of period
$
2,625

 
$
908

 
$
1,717

 
 
$
2,094

 
$
722

 
$
1,372

OCI before realized gains recognized in net income
290

 
102

 
188

 
 
351

 
121

 
230

Realized gains recognized in net income
(159
)
 
(56
)
 
(103
)
 
 
(61
)
 
(21
)
 
(40
)
OCI
131

 
46

 
85

 
 
290

 
100

 
190

AOCI, end of period
$
2,756

 
$
954

 
$
1,802

 
 
$
2,384

 
$
822

 
$
1,562

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pension obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AOCI, beginning of period
$
(26
)
 
$
(8
)
 
$
(18
)
 
 
$
(42
)
 
$
(14
)
 
$
(28
)
OCI excluding amortization recognized in net income

 

 

 
 

 

 

Amortization recognized in net income
1

 

 
1

 
 
1

 
1

 

OCI
1

 

 
1

 
 
1

 
1

 

AOCI, end of period
$
(25
)
 
$
(8
)
 
$
(17
)
 
 
$
(41
)
 
$
(13
)
 
$
(28
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Life deferred acquisition costs, life policy reserves and other:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AOCI, beginning of period
$
(9
)
 
$
(3
)
 
$
(6
)
 
 
$
1

 
$
1

 
$

OCI before realized gains recognized in net income
3

 
2

 
1

 
 
(4
)
 
(1
)
 
(3
)
Realized gains recognized in net income
(1
)
 
(1
)
 

 
 

 

 

OCI
2

 
1

 
1

 
 
(4
)
 
(1
)
 
(3
)
AOCI, end of period
$
(7
)
 
$
(2
)
 
$
(5
)
 
 
$
(3
)
 
$

 
$
(3
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Summary of AOCI:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AOCI, beginning of period
$
2,590

 
$
897

 
$
1,693

 
 
$
2,053

 
$
709

 
$
1,344

Investments OCI
131

 
46

 
85

 
 
290

 
100

 
190

Pension obligations OCI
1

 

 
1

 
 
1

 
1

 

Life deferred acquisition costs, life policy reserves and other OCI
2

 
1

 
1

 
 
(4
)
 
(1
)
 
(3
)
Total OCI
134

 
47

 
87

 
 
287

 
100

 
187

AOCI, end of period
$
2,724

 
$
944

 
$
1,780

 
 
$
2,340

 
$
809

 
$
1,531

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Investments realized gains and life deferred acquisition costs, life policy reserves and other realized gains are recorded in the realized investment gains, net, line item in the condensed consolidated statements of income. Amortization on pension obligations is recorded in the insurance losses and contract holders' benefits and underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of income.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 22



NOTE 8 – Reinsurance
Primary components of our property casualty reinsurance assumed operations include involuntary and voluntary assumed as well as contracts from our reinsurance assumed operations, known as Cincinnati Re. Primary components of our ceded reinsurance include a property per risk treaty, property excess treaty, casualty per occurrence treaty, casualty excess treaty, property catastrophe treaty and catastrophe bonds and retrocessions on our reinsurance assumed operations. Management's decisions about the appropriate level of risk retention are affected by various factors, including changes in our underwriting practices, capacity to retain risks and reinsurance market conditions.

The table below includes our net written consolidated property casualty insurance premiums on assumed and ceded business:
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Direct written premiums
$
1,226

 
$
1,161

Assumed written premiums
33

 
21

Ceded written premiums
(28
)
 
(35
)
Net written premiums
$
1,231

 
$
1,147

 
 
 
 

Our condensed consolidated statements of income include earned consolidated property casualty insurance premiums on assumed and ceded business: 
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Direct earned premiums
$
1,163

 
$
1,119

Assumed earned premiums
27

 
15

Ceded earned premiums
(39
)
 
(38
)
Earned premiums
$
1,151

 
$
1,096

 
 
 
 
 
Our condensed consolidated statements of income include incurred consolidated property casualty insurance loss and loss expenses on assumed and ceded business:
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Direct incurred loss and loss expenses
$
788

 
$
648

Assumed incurred loss and loss expenses
15

 
10

Ceded incurred loss and loss expenses
(15
)
 
3

Incurred loss and loss expenses
$
788

 
$
661

 
 
 
 
 
Our change in ceded incurred compared to prior years resulted from an increase in current accident year losses.

Our life insurance company purchases reinsurance for protection of a portion of the risks that are written. Primary components of our life reinsurance program include individual mortality coverage, aggregate catastrophe and accidental death coverage in excess of certain deductibles.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 23



Our condensed consolidated statements of income include earned life insurance premiums on ceded business: 
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Direct earned premiums
$
74

 
$
71

Ceded earned premiums
(17
)
 
(13
)
Earned premiums
$
57

 
$
58

 
 
 
 
 
Our condensed consolidated statements of income include life insurance contract holders' benefits incurred on ceded business: 
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Direct contract holders' benefits incurred
$
76

 
$
76

Ceded contract holders' benefits incurred
(11
)
 
(13
)
Contract holders' benefits incurred
$
65

 
$
63

 
 
 
 

The ceded benefits incurred can vary depending on the type of life insurance policy held and the year the policy was issued.

NOTE 9 – Income Taxes
As of March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, we had no liability for unrecognized tax benefits.
 
The differences between the 35 percent statutory federal income tax rate and our effective income tax rate were as follows:
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Tax at statutory rate:
$
97

 
35.0
 %
 
$
93

 
35.0
 %
Increase (decrease) resulting from:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Tax-exempt income from municipal bonds
(9
)
 
(3.3
)
 
(9
)
 
(3.4
)
Dividend received exclusion
(8
)
 
(2.9
)
 
(8
)
 
(3.0
)
Other
(5
)
 
(1.6
)
 
1

 
0.5

Provision for income taxes
$
75

 
27.2
 %
 
$
77

 
29.1
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The provision for federal income taxes is based upon filing a consolidated income tax return for the company and its subsidiaries.

Included in Other above is the adoption of ASU 2016-09, Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which decreased both the provision for income taxes and the effective income tax rate by $6 million and 2.2 percent, respectively.

As of March 31, 2017, we had no operating or capital loss carry forwards.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 24



NOTE 10 – Net Income Per Common Share
Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share are computed based on the weighted average number of common and dilutive potential common shares outstanding using the treasury stock method. The table shows calculations for basic and diluted earnings per share:
(In millions except per share data)
Three months ended March 31,
2017
 
2016
Numerator:
 

 
 

Net income—basic and diluted
$
201

 
$
188

Denominator:
 

 
 

Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding
164.6

 
164.2

Effect of share-based awards:
 

 
 

Stock options
1.1

 
1.0

Nonvested shares
0.8

 
0.8

Diluted weighted-average shares
166.5

 
166.0

Earnings per share:
 

 
 

Basic
$
1.22

 
$
1.14

Diluted
1.21

 
1.13

Number of anti-dilutive share-based awards
0.7

 
0.4

 
 
 
 

The sources of dilution of our common shares are certain equity-based awards. See our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 8, Note 17, Share-Based Associate Compensation Plans, Page 160, for information about equity-based awards. The above table shows the number of anti-dilutive share-based awards for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. We did not include these share-based awards in the computation of net income per common share (diluted) because their exercise would have anti-dilutive effects.

NOTE 11 – Employee Retirement Benefits
The following summarizes the components of net periodic benefit cost for our qualified and supplemental pension plans:
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Service cost
$
3

 
$
3

Interest cost
3

 
3

Expected return on plan assets
(5
)
 
(5
)
Amortization of actuarial loss and prior service cost
1

 
1

Net periodic benefit cost
$
2

 
$
2

 
 
 
 

See our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 8, Note 13, Employee Retirement Benefits, Page 155, for information on our retirement benefits. We made matching contributions totaling $6 million and $4 million to our
401(k) and Top Hat savings plans during the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively.

We contributed $5 million to our qualified pension plan during the first three months of 2017.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 25



NOTE 12 – Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
In the ordinary course of conducting business, the company and its subsidiaries are named as defendants in various legal proceedings. Most of these proceedings are claims litigation involving the company's insurance subsidiaries in which the company is either defending or providing indemnity for third-party claims brought against insureds or litigating first-party coverage claims. The company accounts for such activity through the establishment of unpaid loss and loss expense reserves. We believe that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to such ordinary-course claims litigation, after consideration of provisions made for potential losses and costs of defense, is immaterial to our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
 
The company and its subsidiaries also are occasionally involved in other legal and regulatory proceedings, some of which assert claims for substantial amounts. These actions include, among others, putative class actions seeking certification of a state or national class. Such proceedings have alleged, for example, breach of an alleged duty to search national databases to ascertain unreported deaths of insureds under life insurance policies. The company's insurance subsidiaries also are occasionally parties to individual actions in which extra-contractual damages, punitive damages or penalties are sought, such as claims alleging bad faith handling of insurance claims or writing unauthorized coverage or claims alleging discrimination by former or current associates.
 
On a quarterly basis, we review these outstanding matters. Under current accounting guidance, we establish accruals when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and we can reasonably estimate its potential exposure. The company accounts for such probable and estimable losses, if any, through the establishment of legal expense reserves. Based on our quarterly review, we believe that our accruals for probable and estimable losses are reasonable and that the amounts accrued do not have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations. However, if any one or more of these matters results in a judgment against us or settlement for an amount that is significantly greater than the amount accrued, the resulting liability could have a material effect on the company's consolidated results of operations or cash flows. Based on our most recent review, our estimate of losses for any other matters for which the risk of loss is not probable, but more than remote, is immaterial.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 26



NOTE 13 – Segment Information
We operate primarily in two industries, property casualty insurance and life insurance. Our chief operating decision maker regularly reviews our reporting segments to make decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance. Our reporting segments are:
Commercial lines insurance
Personal lines insurance
Excess and surplus lines insurance
Life insurance
Investments

We report as Other the noninvestment operations of the parent company and its noninsurer subsidiary, CFC Investment Company and Cincinnati Re, our reinsurance assumed operations. See our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 8, Note 18, Segment Information, Page 163, for a description of revenue, income or loss before income taxes and identifiable assets for each of the five segments.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 27



Segment information is summarized in the following table: 
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Revenues:
 

 
 

Commercial lines insurance
 

 
 

Commercial casualty
$
265

 
$
257

Commercial property
223

 
214

Commercial auto
155

 
144

Workers' compensation
84

 
89

Other commercial
54

 
56

Commercial lines insurance premiums
781

 
760

Fee revenues
1

 
1

Total commercial lines insurance
782

 
761

 
 
 
 
Personal lines insurance
 

 
 

Personal auto
141

 
131

Homeowner
125

 
119

Other personal
34

 
33

Personal lines insurance premiums
300

 
283

Fee revenues
2

 
1

Total personal lines insurance
302

 
284

 
 
 
 
Excess and surplus lines insurance
48

 
43

 
 
 
 
Life insurance premiums
57

 
58

Fee revenues
2

 
1

Total life insurance
59

 
59

 
 
 
 
Investments
 
 
 
    Investment income, net of expenses
149

 
145

    Realized investment gains, net
160

 
61

Total investment revenue
309

 
206

 
 
 
 
Other
 
 
 
Cincinnati Re insurance premiums
22

 
10

Other
1

 
1

Total other revenues
23

 
11

Total revenues
$
1,523

 
$
1,364

 
 
 
 
Income (loss) before income taxes:
 

 
 

Insurance underwriting results
 

 
 

Commercial lines insurance
$
(2
)
 
$
50

Personal lines insurance
(15
)
 
28

Excess and surplus lines insurance
18

 
17

Life insurance

 
(1
)
Investments
286

 
184

Other
(11
)
 
(13
)
Total income before income taxes
$
276

 
$
265

Identifiable assets:
 
March 31,
2017
 
December 31, 2016
Property casualty insurance
 
$
2,886

 
$
2,967

Life insurance
 
1,359

 
1,366

Investments
 
16,123

 
15,569

Other
 
385

 
484

Total
 
$
20,753

 
$
20,386

 
 
 
 
 

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 28



Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
The following discussion highlights significant factors influencing the condensed consolidated results of operations and financial position of Cincinnati Financial Corporation. It should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Unless otherwise noted, the industry data is prepared by A.M. Best Co., a leading insurance industry statistical, analytical and financial strength rating organization. Information from A.M. Best is presented on a statutory basis. When we provide our results on a comparable statutory basis, we label it as such; all other company data is presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).
 
We present per share data on a diluted basis unless otherwise noted, adjusting those amounts for all stock splits and dividends. Dollar amounts are rounded to millions; calculations of percent changes are based on dollar amounts rounded to the nearest million. Certain percentage changes are identified as not meaningful (nm).
 
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
This is our “Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our business is subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements in this report. Some of those risks and uncertainties are discussed in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1A, Risk Factors, Page 29.
 
Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to:
Unusually high levels of catastrophe losses due to risk concentrations, changes in weather patterns, environmental events, terrorism incidents or other causes
Increased frequency and/or severity of claims or development of claims that are unforeseen at the time of policy issuance
Inadequate estimates, assumptions or reliance on third-party data used for critical accounting estimates
Declines in overall stock market values negatively affecting the company’s equity portfolio and book value
Domestic and global events resulting in capital market or credit market uncertainty, followed by prolonged periods of economic instability or recession, that lead to:
Significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of a particular security or group of securities and impairment of the asset(s)
Significant decline in investment income due to reduced or eliminated dividend payouts from a particular security or group of securities
Significant rise in losses from surety and director and officer policies written for financial institutions or other insured entities
Prolonged low interest rate environment or other factors that limit the company’s ability to generate growth in investment income or interest rate fluctuations that result in declining values of fixed-maturity investments, including declines in accounts in which we hold bank-owned life insurance contract assets
Recession or other economic conditions resulting in lower demand for insurance products or increased payment delinquencies
Difficulties with technology or data security breaches, including cyberattacks, that could negatively affect our ability to conduct business and our relationships with agents, policyholders and others
Disruption of the insurance market caused by technology innovations such as driverless cars that could decrease consumer demand for insurance products
Delays, inadequate data developed internally or from third parties, or performance inadequacies from ongoing development and implementation of underwriting and pricing methods, including telematics and other usage-based insurance methods, or technology projects and enhancements expected to increase our pricing accuracy, underwriting profit and competitiveness
Increased competition that could result in a significant reduction in the company’s premium volume
Changing consumer insurance-buying habits and consolidation of independent insurance agencies that could alter our competitive advantages

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 29



Inability to obtain adequate ceded reinsurance on acceptable terms, amount of reinsurance coverage purchased, financial strength of reinsurers and the potential for nonpayment or delay in payment by reinsurers
Inability to defer policy acquisition costs for any business segment if pricing and loss trends would lead management to conclude that segment could not achieve sustainable profitability
Inability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends consistent with current or past levels
Events or conditions that could weaken or harm the company’s relationships with its independent agencies and hamper opportunities to add new agencies, resulting in limitations on the company’s opportunities for growth, such as:
Downgrades of the company’s financial strength ratings
Concerns that doing business with the company is too difficult
Perceptions that the company’s level of service, particularly claims service, is no longer a distinguishing characteristic in the marketplace
Inability or unwillingness to nimbly develop and introduce coverage product updates and innovations that our competitors offer and consumers expect to find in the marketplace
Actions of insurance departments, state attorneys general or other regulatory agencies, including a change to a federal system of regulation from a state-based system, that:
Impose new obligations on us that increase our expenses or change the assumptions underlying our critical accounting estimates
Place the insurance industry under greater regulatory scrutiny or result in new statutes, rules and regulations
Restrict our ability to exit or reduce writings of unprofitable coverages or lines of business
Add assessments for guaranty funds, other insurance‑related assessments or mandatory reinsurance arrangements; or that impair our ability to recover such assessments through future surcharges or other rate changes
Increase our provision for federal income taxes due to changes in tax law
Increase our other expenses
Limit our ability to set fair, adequate and reasonable rates
Place us at a disadvantage in the marketplace
Restrict our ability to execute our business model, including the way we compensate agents
Adverse outcomes from litigation or administrative proceedings
Events or actions, including unauthorized intentional circumvention of controls, that reduce the company’s future ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Unforeseen departure of certain executive officers or other key employees due to retirement, health or other causes that could interrupt progress toward important strategic goals or diminish the effectiveness of certain longstanding relationships with insurance agents and others
Events, such as an epidemic, natural catastrophe or terrorism, that could hamper our ability to assemble our workforce at our headquarters location
Further, the company’s insurance businesses are subject to the effects of changing social, global, economic and regulatory environments. Public and regulatory initiatives have included efforts to adversely influence and restrict premium rates, restrict the ability to cancel policies, impose underwriting standards and expand overall regulation. The company also is subject to public and regulatory initiatives that can affect the market value for its common stock, such as measures affecting corporate financial reporting and governance. The ultimate changes and eventual effects, if any, of these initiatives are uncertain.



Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 30



CORPORATE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
Net Income and Comprehensive Income Data
(Dollars in millions except per share data)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Earned premiums
$
1,208

 
$
1,154

 
5

Investment income, net of expenses (pretax)
149

 
145

 
3

Realized investment gains, net (pretax)
160

 
61

 
162

Total revenues
1,523

 
1,364

 
12

Net income
201

 
188

 
7

Comprehensive income
288

 
375

 
(23
)
Net income per share—diluted
1.21

 
1.13

 
7

Cash dividends declared per share
0.50

 
0.48

 
4

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
166.5

 
166.0

 
0

 
 
 
 
 
 

Total revenues rose for the first quarter of 2017, compared with the first quarter of 2016, primarily due to higher earned premiums and an increase in realized investment gains. Premium and investment revenue trends are discussed further in the respective sections of Financial Results.
 
Realized investment gains and losses are recognized on the sales of investments or as otherwise required by GAAP. We have substantial discretion in the timing of investment sales, and that timing generally is independent of the insurance underwriting process. GAAP also requires us to recognize in net income the gains or losses from certain changes in fair values of securities even though we continue to hold the securities.
 
Net income for the first quarter of 2017, compared with first-quarter 2016, increased $13 million, reflecting a $63 million increase in after-tax net realized investment gains that offset a decrease in property casualty underwriting income of $59 million after taxes. Catastrophe losses, mostly weather related, were $47 million more after taxes and unfavorably affected both net income and property casualty underwriting income. After-tax investment income in our investment segment results for the first quarter of 2017 rose $4 million compared with the same quarter of 2016. Life insurance segment income on a pretax basis for the first quarter of 2017 increased $1 million compared with first-quarter 2016.

Performance by segment is discussed below in Financial Results. As discussed in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7, Factors Influencing Our Future Performance, Page 47, there are several reasons that our performance during 2017 may be below our long-term targets. In that annual report, as part of Financial Results, we also discussed the full-year 2017 outlook for each reporting segment.
 
The board of directors is committed to rewarding shareholders directly through cash dividends and through share repurchase authorizations. Through 2016, the company had increased the annual cash dividend rate for 56 consecutive years, a record we believe was matched by only seven other publicly traded companies. In January 2017, the board of directors increased the regular quarterly dividend to 50 cents per share, setting the stage for our 57th consecutive year of increasing cash dividends. During the first three months of 2017, cash dividends declared by the company increased slightly more than 4 percent compared with the same period of 2016. Our board regularly evaluates relevant factors in decisions related to dividends and share repurchases. The 2017 dividend increase reflected our strong earnings performance and signaled management’s and the board’s positive outlook and confidence in our outstanding capital, liquidity and financial flexibility.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 31



Balance Sheet Data and Performance Measures
(In millions except share data)
 
At March 31,
 
At December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
Total investments
 
$
16,067

 
$
15,500

Total assets
 
20,753

 
20,386

Short-term debt
 
17

 
20

Long-term debt
 
787

 
787

Shareholders' equity
 
7,256

 
7,060

Book value per share
 
44.07

 
42.95

Debt-to-total-capital ratio
 
10.0
%
 
10.3
%
 
 
 
 
 

Total assets at March 31, 2017, increased 2 percent compared with year-end 2016, and included 4 percent growth in investments that reflected a combination of net purchases and higher fair values for many securities in our portfolio. Shareholders’ equity increased 3 percent, and book value per share also increased 3 percent during the first three months of 2017. Our debt-to-total-capital ratio (capital is the sum of debt plus shareholders’ equity) was lower than at year-end 2016.

Our value creation ratio is a non-GAAP measure defined below and is our primary performance metric. That ratio was 3.8 percent for the first three months of 2017, and was less than the same period in 2016 primarily due to less net income before net realized gains and less overall net gains from our investment portfolio. The $1.12 increase in book value per share during the first three months of 2017 contributed 2.6 percentage points to the value creation ratio, while dividends declared at $0.50 per share contributed 1.2 points. Value creation ratio trends in total and by major components, along with a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measure to comparable GAAP measures, are shown in the tables below.
 
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Value creation ratio major components:
 

 
 

Net income before net realized gains
1.4
 %
 
2.3
 %
Change in fixed-maturity securities, realized and unrealized gains
0.4

 
1.2

Change in equity securities, realized and unrealized gains
2.3

 
2.4

Other
(0.3
)
 
(0.2
)
     Value creation ratio
3.8
 %
 
5.7
 %
 
 
 
 


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 32



(Dollars are per share)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Book value change per share:
 
 
 
End of period book value
$
44.07

 
$
40.96

Less beginning of period book value
42.95

 
39.20

     Change in book value
$
1.12

 
$
1.76

 
 
 
 
Change in book value:
 

 
 

Net income before realized gains
$
0.59

 
$
0.90

Change in fixed-maturity securities, realized and unrealized gains
0.18

 
0.46

Change in equity securities, realized and unrealized gains
0.97

 
0.93

Dividend declared to shareholders
(0.50
)
 
(0.48
)
Other
(0.12
)
 
(0.05
)
Change in book value
$
1.12

 
$
1.76

 
 
 
 
 
(Dollars are per share)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Value creation ratio:
 

 
 

End of period book value
$
44.07

 
$
40.96

Less beginning of period book value
42.95

 
39.20

Change in book value
1.12

 
1.76

Dividend declared to shareholders
0.50

 
0.48

Total value creation
$
1.62

 
$
2.24

 
 
 
 
Value creation ratio from change in book value*
2.6
%
 
4.5
%
Value creation ratio from dividends declared to shareholders**
1.2

 
1.2

Value creation ratio
3.8
%
 
5.7
%
 
 
 
 
*Change in book value divided by the beginning of period book value
 
 
 
**Dividend declared to shareholders divided by beginning of period book value
 
 
 


DRIVERS OF LONG-TERM VALUE CREATION
Operating through The Cincinnati Insurance Company, Cincinnati Financial Corporation is one of the 25 largest property casualty insurers in the nation, based on 2016 net written premiums for approximately 2,000 U.S. stock and mutual insurer groups. We market our insurance products through a select group of independent insurance agencies as discussed in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1, Our Business and Our Strategy, Page 5. At March 31, 2017, we actively marketed through agencies located in 41 states. We maintain a long-term perspective that guides us in addressing immediate challenges or opportunities while focusing on the major decisions that best position our company for success through all market cycles.

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 33




To measure our long-term progress in creating shareholder value, our value creation ratio is our primary financial performance target. As discussed in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7, Executive Summary, Page 43, management believes this non-GAAP measure is a meaningful indicator of our long-term progress in creating shareholder value, is a useful supplement to GAAP information and has three primary performance drivers:

Premium growth – We believe our agency relationships and initiatives can lead to a property casualty written premium growth rate over any five-year period that exceeds the industry average. For the first three months of 2017, our consolidated property casualty net written premium year-over-year growth was 7 percent, comparing favorably with A.M. Best's January 2017 projection of approximately 3 percent full-year growth for the industry. For the five-year period 2012 through 2016, our growth rate was approximately double that of the industry. The industry's growth rate excludes its mortgage and financial guaranty lines of business.
Combined ratio – We believe our underwriting philosophy and initiatives can generate a GAAP combined ratio over any five-year period that is consistently within the range of 95 percent to 100 percent. For the first three months of 2017, our GAAP combined ratio was 99.7 percent and our statutory combined ratio was 98.6 percent, both including 10.2 percentage points of current accident year catastrophe losses partially offset by 3.4 percentage points of favorable loss reserve development on prior accident years. As of January 2017, A.M. Best projected the industry's full-year 2017 statutory combined ratio at approximately 100 percent, including approximately 5 percentage points of catastrophe losses and a favorable effect of approximately 2 percentage points of loss reserve development on prior accident years. The industry's ratio again excludes its mortgage and financial guaranty lines of business.
Investment contribution – We believe our investment philosophy and initiatives can drive investment income growth and lead to a total return on our equity investment portfolio over a five-year period that exceeds the five-year return of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. For the first three months of 2017, pretax investment income was $149 million, up 3 percent compared with the same period in 2016. We believe our investment portfolio mix provides an appropriate balance of income stability and growth with capital appreciation potential.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 34



Highlights of Our Strategy and Supporting Initiatives
Management has worked to identify a strategy that can lead to long-term success, with concurrence by the board of directors. Our strategy is intended to position us to compete successfully in the markets we have targeted while appropriately managing risk. Further description of our long-term, proven strategy can be found in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1, Our Business and Our Strategy, Page 5. We believe successful implementation of initiatives that support our strategy will help us better serve our agent customers and reduce volatility in our financial results while we also grow earnings and book value over the long term, successfully navigating challenging economic, market or industry pricing cycles.

Manage insurance profitability – Implementation of these initiatives is intended to enhance underwriting expertise and knowledge, thereby increasing our ability to manage our business while also gaining efficiency. Better profit margins can arise from additional information and more focused action on underperforming product lines, plus pricing capabilities we are expanding through the use of technology and analytics. In addition to enhancing company efficiency, improving internal processes also supports the ability of the independent agencies that represent us to grow profitably by allowing them to serve clients faster and to more efficiently manage agency expenses.
We continue to enhance our property casualty underwriting expertise and to effectively and efficiently underwrite individual policies and process transactions. Ongoing initiatives supporting this work include expanding our pricing and segmentation capabilities through experience and use of predictive analytics and additional data. Our segmentation efforts emphasize identification and retention of insurance policies we believe have relatively stronger pricing, while seeking more aggressive renewal terms and conditions on policies we believe have relatively weaker pricing. In 2017, we continue to improve underwriting and rate adequacy for our commercial auto and personal auto lines of business. Our commercial auto policies that renewed during the first three months of 2017 experienced an estimated average price percentage increase in the mid-single-digit range. Our personal auto policies that renewed during that period averaged an estimated price percentage increase near the low end of the high-single-digit range.
Drive premium growth – Implementation of these initiatives is intended to further penetrate each market we serve through our independent agencies. Strategies aimed at specific market opportunities, along with service enhancements, can help our agents grow and increase our share of their business. Premium growth initiatives also include expansion of Cincinnati ReSM – our reinsurance assumed operation. Diversified growth also may reduce variability of losses from weather-related catastrophes.
We continue to appoint new agencies to develop additional points of distribution. In 2017, we are planning approximately 100 appointments of independent agencies that offer most or all of our property casualty insurance products. During the first three months of 2017, we appointed 32 new agencies that meet that criteria.
We also plan to appoint additional agencies that focus on high net worth personal lines clients. In 2017, we are targeting the appointment of approximately 100 agencies that market only personal lines products for us. During the first three months of 2017, we appointed 24 new agencies that meet that criteria.
As of March 31, 2017, a total of 1,643 agency relationships market our property casualty insurance products from 2,138 reporting locations.
We also continue to grow premiums through the disciplined expansion of Cincinnati Re. During the first three months of 2017, Cincinnati Re contributed $21 million of growth in consolidated property casualty insurance net written premiums.
 
Financial Strength
An important part of our long-term strategy is financial strength, which is described in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1, Our Business and Our Strategy, Financial Strength, Page 7. One aspect of our financial strength is prudent use of reinsurance ceded to help manage financial performance variability due to catastrophe loss experience. A description of how we use reinsurance ceded is included in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7, Liquidity and Capital Resources, 2017 Reinsurance Ceded Programs, Page 101. Another aspect of our financial strength is our investment portfolio, which remains well-diversified as discussed in this quarterly report in Item 3, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. Our strong parent-company liquidity and financial strength increase our flexibility to maintain a cash dividend through all periods and to continue to invest in and expand our insurance operations.

At March 31, 2017, we held $2.296 billion of our cash and invested assets at the parent-company level, of which $2.054 billion, or 89.5 percent, was invested in common stocks, and $157 million, or 6.8 percent, was cash or

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 35



cash equivalents. Our debt-to-total-capital ratio of 10.0 percent remains well below our target limit. Another important indicator of financial strength is our ratio of property casualty net written premiums to statutory surplus, which was 1.0-to-1 for the 12 months ended March 31, 2017, matching year-end 2016.

Financial strength ratings assigned to us by independent rating firms also are important. In addition to rating our parent company’s senior debt, four firms award insurer financial strength ratings to one or more of our insurance subsidiary companies based on their quantitative and qualitative analyses. These ratings primarily assess an insurer’s ability to meet financial obligations to policyholders and do not necessarily address all of the matters that may be important to investors. Ratings are under continuous review and subject to change or withdrawal at any time by the rating agency. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating; please see each rating agency's website for its most recent report on our ratings.

At April 25, 2017, our insurance subsidiaries continued to be highly rated.
Insurer Financial Strength Ratings
Rating
agency
Standard market property casualty insurance subsidiaries
Life insurance
 subsidiary
Excess and surplus lines insurance subsidiary
Outlook
 
 
 
Rating
tier
 
 
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tier
 
 
Rating
tier
 
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Strong
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Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 36



CONSOLIDATED PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Consolidated property casualty insurance results include premiums and expenses for our standard market insurance segments (commercial lines and personal lines), our excess and surplus lines segment and our reinsurance assumed operations.
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Earned premiums
$
1,151

 
$
1,096

 
5

Fee revenues
3

 
2

 
50

Total revenues
1,154

 
1,098

 
5

Loss and loss expenses from:
 

 
 

 
 

Current accident year before catastrophe losses
709

 
682

 
4

Current accident year catastrophe losses
117

 
41

 
185

Prior accident years before catastrophe losses
(27
)
 
(55
)
 
51

Prior accident years catastrophe losses
(11
)
 
(7
)
 
(57
)
Loss and loss expenses
788

 
661

 
19

Underwriting expenses
360

 
341

 
6

Underwriting profit
$
6

 
$
96

 
(94
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratios as a percent of earned premiums:
 

 
 

 
Pt. Change

    Current accident year before catastrophe losses
61.6
 %
 
62.2
 %
 
(0.6
)
    Current accident year catastrophe losses
10.2

 
3.7

 
6.5

    Prior accident years before catastrophe losses
(2.4
)
 
(5.0
)
 
2.6

    Prior accident years catastrophe losses
(1.0
)
 
(0.6
)
 
(0.4
)
Loss and loss expenses
68.4

 
60.3

 
8.1

Underwriting expenses
31.3

 
31.1

 
0.2

Combined ratio
99.7
 %
 
91.4
 %
 
8.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
Combined ratio
99.7
 %
 
91.4
 %
 
8.3

Contribution from catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development
6.8

 
(1.9
)
 
8.7

Combined ratio before catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development
92.9
 %
 
93.3
 %
 
(0.4
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our consolidated property casualty insurance operations generated an underwriting profit of $6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The three-month decrease of $90 million, compared with the same period of 2016, was largely due to an increase of $72 million in losses from weather-related natural catastrophes. We believe future property casualty underwriting results will continue to benefit from price increases and our ongoing initiatives to improve pricing precision and loss experience related to claims and loss control practices.
For all property casualty lines of business in aggregate, net loss and loss expense reserves at March 31, 2017, were $94 million higher than at year-end 2016, including $47 million for the incurred but not reported (IBNR) portion. The $94 million reserve increase raised year-end 2016 net loss and loss expense reserves by 2 percent.

We measure and analyze property casualty underwriting results primarily by the combined ratio and its component ratios. The GAAP-basis combined ratio is the percentage of incurred losses plus all expenses per each earned premium dollar – the lower the ratio, the better the performance. An underwriting profit results when the combined ratio is below 100 percent. A combined ratio above 100 percent indicates that an insurance company’s losses and expenses exceeded premiums.

Our consolidated property casualty combined ratio for the first quarter of 2017 rose 8.3 percentage points, compared with the same period of 2016, including 6.1 points from higher catastrophe losses and loss expenses.
 
The combined ratio can be affected significantly by natural catastrophe losses and other large losses as discussed in detail below. The combined ratio can also be affected by updated estimates of loss and loss expense

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 37



reserves established for claims that occurred in prior periods, referred to as prior accident years. Net favorable development on prior accident year reserves, including reserves for catastrophe losses, benefited the combined ratio by 3.4 percentage points in the first three months of 2017, compared with 5.6 percentage points in the same period of 2016. Net favorable development is discussed in further detail in Financial Results by property casualty insurance segment.
 
The ratio for current accident year loss and loss expenses before catastrophe losses improved in the first three months of 2017. That 61.6 percent ratio decreased 0.6 percentage points compared with the 62.2 percent accident year 2016 ratio measured as of March 31, 2016, including an increase of 1.1 percentage points in the ratio for large losses of $1 million or more per claim, discussed below.
 
The underwriting expense ratio increased 0.2 percentage points for the first three months of 2017, compared with the same period of 2016. Strategic investments that include enhancement of underwriting expertise slightly offset the favorable effects of higher earned premiums and ongoing expense management efforts.

Consolidated Property Casualty Insurance Premiums
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,

2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Agency renewal written premiums
$
1,057

 
$
1,028

 
3

Agency new business written premiums
153

 
125

 
22

Cincinnati Re net written premiums
40

 
19

 
111

Other written premiums
(19
)
 
(25
)
 
24

Net written premiums
1,231

 
1,147

 
7

Unearned premium change
(80
)
 
(51
)
 
(57
)
Earned premiums
$
1,151

 
$
1,096

 
5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The trends in net written premiums and earned premiums summarized in the table above include the effects of price increases. Price change trends that heavily influence renewal written premium increases or decreases, along with other premium growth drivers for 2017, are discussed in more detail by segment below in Financial Results.
 
Consolidated property casualty net written premiums for the three months ended March 31, 2017, grew $84 million compared with the same period of 2016. Each of our property casualty segments continued to grow during the first three months of 2017. Our premium growth initiatives from prior years have provided an ongoing favorable effect on growth during the current year, particularly as newer agency relationships mature over time.

Consolidated property casualty agency new business written premiums rose $28 million for the first quarter of 2017, compared with the same period of 2016. New business written premiums in the first three months of 2017 were higher than the same period of 2016 for each of our property casualty insurance segments. New agency appointments during 2016 and 2017 produced a $12 million increase in standard lines new business for the first three months of 2017 compared with the same period of 2016. As we appoint new agencies that choose to move accounts to us, we report these accounts as new business. While this business is new to us, in many cases it is not new to the agent. We believe these seasoned accounts tend to be priced more accurately than business that may be less familiar to our agent upon obtaining it from a competing agent.

Net written premiums for Cincinnati Re increased $21 million for the first three months of 2017, compared with the same period of 2016. Cincinnati Re assumes risks through reinsurance treaties and in some cases cedes part of the risk and related premiums to one or more unaffiliated reinsurance companies through transactions known as retrocessions. For the first three months of 2017, earned premiums for Cincinnati Re totaled $22 million, compared with $10 million earned in the same period a year ago.
 
Other written premiums include premiums ceded to reinsurers as part of our reinsurance ceded program. Those ceded premium totals for the first three months of 2017 essentially matched the same period of 2016.
 

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 38



Catastrophe losses and loss expenses typically have a material effect on property casualty results and can vary significantly from period to period. Losses from natural catastrophes contributed 9.2 percentage points to the combined ratio in the first three months of 2017, compared with 3.1 percentage points in the same period of 2016. Some of those losses were applicable to annual loss deductible provisions of our collateralized reinsurance funded through catastrophe bonds. For our collateralized reinsurance arrangement that became effective in January 2017, aggregate losses occurring from January 23, 2017, through March 31, 2017, totaled $102 million from three occurrences. These aggregate losses reached the applicable loss deductible provision for the specific geographic locations included in the severe convective storm portion of that coverage. If aggregate losses, after the $8 million per occurrence deductible, exceed $190 million during an annual coverage period, we can recover the excess through funds that collateralize the catastrophe bonds. The following table shows consolidated property casualty insurance catastrophe losses and loss expenses incurred, net of reinsurance, as well as the effect of loss development on prior period catastrophe events. We individually list declared catastrophe events for which our incurred losses reached or exceeded $10 million.

Consolidated Property Casualty Insurance Catastrophe Losses and Loss Expenses Incurred
(Dollars in millions, net of reinsurance)
Three months ended March 31,
 
 
 
Comm.
 
Pers.
 
E&S
 
Cincinnati

 
 

Dates
Event
Region
lines
 
lines
 
lines
 
Re
 
Total
2017
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Feb. 28-Mar. 1
Flood, hail, wind
Midwest, South
$
21

 
$
20

 
$
1

 
$

 
$
42

Mar. 6-9
Flood, hail, wind
Midwest, Northeast, South
22

 
13

 

 

 
35

Mar. 21-22
Flood, hail, wind
South
13

 
10

 

 

 
23

All other 2017 catastrophes
 
12

 
5

 

 

 
17

Development on 2016 and prior catastrophes
(9
)
 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
 
(11
)
Calendar year incurred total
$
59

 
$
47

 
$
1

 
$
(1
)
 
$
106

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
All 2016 catastrophes
30

 
11

 

 

 
41

Development on 2015 and prior catastrophes
(5
)
 
(2
)
 

 

 
(7
)
Calendar year incurred total
$
25

 
$
9

 
$

 
$

 
$
34

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 39



The following table includes data for losses incurred of $1 million or more per claim, net of reinsurance.
 
Consolidated Property Casualty Insurance Losses Incurred by Size
(Dollars in millions, net of reinsurance)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Current accident year losses greater than $5 million
$
28

 
$

 
nm

Current accident year losses $1 million - $5 million
29

 
42

 
(31
)
Large loss prior accident year reserve development
17

 

 
nm

Total large losses incurred
74

 
42

 
76

Losses incurred but not reported
4

 
73

 
(95
)
Other losses excluding catastrophe losses
467

 
402

 
16

Catastrophe losses
103

 
33

 
212

Total losses incurred
$
648

 
$
550

 
18

 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratios as a percent of earned premiums:
 
 
 
 
Pt. Change
Current accident year losses greater than $5 million
2.4
%
 
%
 
2.4

Current accident year losses $1 million - $5 million
2.5

 
3.8

 
(1.3
)
Large loss prior accident year reserve development
1.5

 

 
1.5

Total large loss ratio
6.4

 
3.8

 
2.6

Losses incurred but not reported
0.4

 
6.6

 
(6.2
)
Other losses excluding catastrophe losses
40.5

 
36.8

 
3.7

Catastrophe losses
9.0

 
3.0

 
6.0

Total loss ratio
56.3
%
 
50.2
%
 
6.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We believe the inherent variability of aggregate loss experience for our portfolio of larger policies is greater than that of our portfolio of smaller policies, and we continue to monitor the variability in addition to general inflationary trends in loss costs. Our analysis continues to indicate no unexpected concentration of large losses and case reserve increases by risk category, geographic region, policy inception, agency or field marketing territory. The first-quarter 2017 property casualty total large losses incurred of $74 million, net of reinsurance, were higher than the $51 million quarterly average during full-year 2016 and higher than the $42 million experienced for the first quarter of 2016. The ratio for these large losses was 2.6 percentage points higher compared with last year’s first quarter. We believe results for the three-month period largely reflected normal fluctuations in loss patterns and normal variability in large case reserves for claims above $1 million. Losses by size are discussed in further detail in results of operations by property casualty insurance segment.
 

FINANCIAL RESULTS
Consolidated results reflect the operating results of each of our five segments along with the parent company, Cincinnati Re and other activities reported as “Other.” The five segments are:
Commercial lines property casualty insurance
Personal lines property casualty insurance
Excess and surplus lines property casualty insurance
Life insurance
Investments


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 40



COMMERCIAL LINES INSURANCE RESULTS
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,

2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Earned premiums
$
781

 
$
760

 
3

Fee revenues
1

 
1

 
0

Total revenues
782

 
761

 
3

Loss and loss expenses from:
 

 
 

 
 

Current accident year before catastrophe losses
478

 
468

 
2

Current accident year catastrophe losses
68

 
30

 
127

Prior accident years before catastrophe losses
(2
)
 
(24
)
 
92

Prior accident years catastrophe losses
(9
)
 
(5
)
 
(80
)
Loss and loss expenses
535

 
469

 
14

Underwriting expenses
249

 
242

 
3

Underwriting (loss) profit
$
(2
)
 
$
50

 
nm

 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratios as a percent of earned premiums:
 
 
 
 
Pt. Change
Current accident year before catastrophe losses
61.2
 %
 
61.5
 %
 
(0.3
)
Current accident year catastrophe losses
8.7

 
4.0

 
4.7

Prior accident years before catastrophe losses
(0.3
)
 
(3.2
)
 
2.9

Prior accident years catastrophe losses
(1.1
)
 
(0.6
)
 
(0.5
)
Loss and loss expenses
68.5

 
61.7

 
6.8

Underwriting expenses
31.9

 
31.9

 
0.0

Combined ratio
100.4
 %
 
93.6
 %
 
6.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
Combined ratio
100.4
 %
 
93.6
 %
 
6.8

Contribution from catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development
7.3

 
0.2

 
7.1

Combined ratio before catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development
93.1
 %
 
93.4
 %
 
(0.3
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Overview
Performance highlights for the commercial lines segment include:
Premiums – Earned premiums and net written premiums for the commercial lines segment grew during the first three months of 2017, in part due to renewal premium growth that continued to reflect price increases and a higher level of insured exposures. Higher new business written premiums also made a significant contribution to the increase in first-quarter 2017 net written premiums. The table below analyzes the primary components of premiums. We continue using predictive analytics tools to improve pricing precision and segmentation while also leveraging our local relationships with agents through the efforts of our teams that work closely with them. We seek to maintain appropriate pricing discipline for both new and renewal business as our agents and underwriters assess account quality to make careful decisions on a case-by-case basis whether to write or renew a policy.
Agency renewal written premiums grew 2 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with the same period of 2016. The growth reflected price increases and improving economic conditions. During the first quarter of 2017, our overall standard commercial lines policies continued to average estimated renewal price increases at percentages in the low-single-digit range, up slightly from the fourth quarter of 2016. We continue to segment commercial lines policies, emphasizing identification and retention of policies we believe have relatively stronger pricing. Conversely, we have been seeking stricter renewal terms and conditions on policies we believe have relatively weaker pricing, in turn retaining fewer of those policies. We measure average changes in commercial lines renewal pricing as the percentage rate of change in renewal premium for the new policy period compared with the premium for the expiring policy period, assuming no change in the level of insured exposures or policy coverage between those periods for the respective policies.

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 41



Our average overall commercial lines renewal pricing change includes the impact of flat pricing of certain coverages within package policies written for a three-year term that were in force but did not expire during the period being measured. Therefore, the change in average commercial lines renewal pricing we report reflects a blend of three-year policies that did not expire and other policies that did expire during the measurement period. For commercial lines policies that did expire and were then renewed during the first quarter of 2017, we estimate that our average percentage price increase for both commercial auto and commercial property lines were in the mid-single-digit range. The estimated average percentage price change for our commercial casualty line of business was essentially flat, and for workers’ compensation it was a decrease near the low end of the mid-single-digit range.
Renewal premiums for our commercial casualty and workers’ compensation lines include the results of policy audits that adjust initial premium amounts based on differences between estimated and actual sales or payroll related to a specific policy. Audits completed during the first three months of 2017 contributed $16 million to net written premiums.
New business written premiums for commercial lines increased $16 million during the first three months of 2017, compared with the same period of 2016, reflecting growth for each major line of business in our commercial lines insurance segment. Trend analysis for year-over-year comparisons of individual quarters are more difficult to assess for commercial lines new business written premiums, due to inherent variability. That variability is often driven by larger policies with annual premiums greater than $100,000.
Other written premiums include premiums ceded to reinsurers as part of our reinsurance ceded program. For our commercial lines insurance segment, ceded premium totals for the first three months of 2017 essentially matched the same period of 2016. Other written premiums included a more favorable adjustment for the first three months of 2017, compared with the prior-year period, for estimated direct written premiums of policies in effect but not yet processed. The adjustments had an immaterial effect on earned premiums.

Commercial Lines Insurance Premiums
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Agency renewal written premiums
$
772

 
$
758

 
2

Agency new business written premiums
103

 
87

 
18

Other written premiums
(10
)
 
(18
)
 
44

Net written premiums
865

 
827

 
5

Unearned premium change
(84
)
 
(67
)
 
(25
)
Earned premiums
$
781

 
$
760

 
3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Combined ratio – The commercial lines combined ratio rose 6.8 percentage points for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with the same period last year, largely due to weather-related natural catastrophe losses and loss expenses that were 4.2 percentage points higher. In addition, first-quarter 2017 commercial lines large losses not part of catastrophe events more than doubled relative to the same period in 2016, as discussed below.
Catastrophe losses and loss expenses accounted for 7.6 percentage points of the combined ratio for the first quarter of 2017, compared with 3.4 percentage points for the same period a year ago. The 10-year annual average for that catastrophe measure through 2016 for the commercial lines segment was 4.8 percentage points, and the five-year annual average was 5.2 percentage points.
Commercial auto, representing 19 percent of 2016 earned premiums for our commercial lines insurance segment, was the only major line of business in that segment with a first-quarter 2017 total loss and loss expense ratio before catastrophe losses significantly higher than we desired. As discussed above, during the first three months of 2017, our commercial auto policies experienced average renewal price percentage increases in the mid-single-digit range, which we believe will help improve future profitability. Further segmentation of policies as they renew should also help improve profitability, as we seek more adequate pricing on individual policies that need it based on analytics and underwriter judgment. As an example, for our 2016 commercial auto policies that we determined have relatively weaker pricing, representing approximately one-third of commercial auto renewal written premiums, we obtained 2016 percentage price increase that

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 42



averaged in the upper-single digits. We also continued to improve premium rate classification and the use of other rating variables in risk selection and pricing.
The net effect of reserve development on prior accident years during the first three months of 2017 was favorable for commercial lines overall by $11 million compared with $29 million for the same period in 2016. Our workers’ compensation line of business was the largest contributor to the total commercial lines net favorable reserve development on prior accident years, followed by commercial property. Those contributions were partially offset by unfavorable reserve development for our commercial casualty and commercial auto lines of business. The unfavorable reserve development for commercial casualty reflected higher than usual large loss activity, as discussed below. The net favorable reserve development recognized during the first three months of 2017 for our commercial lines insurance segment was largely for accident years prior to 2014, and was primarily due to lower-than-anticipated loss emergence on known claims. Reserve estimates are inherently uncertain as described in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7, Critical Accounting Estimates, Property Casualty Insurance Loss and Loss Expense Reserves, Page 48.
The commercial lines underwriting expense ratio for the first three months of 2017 essentially matched the same period of 2016 and the ratio for full-year 2016.

Commercial Lines Insurance Losses Incurred by Size
(Dollars in millions, net of reinsurance)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Current accident year losses greater than $5 million
$
28

 
$

 
nm

Current accident year losses $1 million - $5 million
26

 
36

 
(28
)
Large loss prior accident year reserve development
17

 
(1
)
 
nm

Total large losses incurred
71

 
35

 
103

Losses incurred but not reported
(5
)
 
64

 
nm

Other losses excluding catastrophe losses
306

 
255

 
20

Catastrophe losses
58

 
25

 
132

Total losses incurred
$
430

 
$
379

 
13

 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratios as a percent of earned premiums:
 
 
 
 
Pt. Change
Current accident year losses greater than $5 million
3.6
 %
 
 %
 
3.6

Current accident year losses $1 million - $5 million
3.3

 
4.8

 
(1.5
)
Large loss prior accident year reserve development
2.2

 
(0.2
)
 
2.4

Total large loss ratio
9.1

 
4.6

 
4.5

Losses incurred but not reported
(0.6
)
 
8.4

 
(9.0
)
Other losses excluding catastrophe losses
39.2

 
33.6

 
5.6

Catastrophe losses
7.4

 
3.3

 
4.1

Total loss ratio
55.1
 %
 
49.9
 %
 
5.2

 
 
 
 
 
 

We continue to monitor new losses and case reserve increases greater than $1 million for trends in factors such as initial reserve levels, loss cost inflation and claim settlement expenses. Our analysis continues to indicate no unexpected concentration of these large losses and case reserve increases by risk category, geographic region, policy inception, agency or field marketing territory. The first-quarter 2017 commercial lines total large losses incurred of $71 million, net of reinsurance, were higher than the quarterly average of $48 million during full-year 2016 and the $35 million total large losses incurred for the first quarter of 2016. The first-quarter increase was primarily from our commercial casualty and commercial property lines of business. The ratio for these large losses was 4.5 percentage points higher compared with last year’s first-quarter ratio. We believe results for the three-month period largely reflected normal fluctuations in loss patterns and normal variability in large case reserves for claims above $1 million.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 43



PERSONAL LINES INSURANCE RESULTS
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Earned premiums
$
300

 
$
283

 
6

Fee revenues
2

 
1

 
100

Total revenues
302

 
284

 
6

Loss and loss expenses from:
 

 
 

 
 

Current accident year before catastrophe losses
193

 
180

 
7

Current accident year catastrophe losses
48

 
11

 
336

Prior accident years before catastrophe losses
(9
)
 
(16
)
 
44

Prior accident years catastrophe losses
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
50

Loss and loss expenses
231

 
173

 
34

Underwriting expenses
86

 
83

 
4

Underwriting (loss) profit
$
(15
)
 
$
28

 
nm

 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratios as a percent of earned premiums:
 
 
 
 
Pt. Change
Current accident year before catastrophe losses
64.1
 %
 
63.5
 %
 
0.6

Current accident year catastrophe losses
16.0

 
3.8

 
12.2

Prior accident years before catastrophe losses
(2.9
)
 
(5.6
)
 
2.7

Prior accident years catastrophe losses
(0.4
)
 
(0.8
)
 
0.4

Loss and loss expenses
76.8

 
60.9

 
15.9

Underwriting expenses
28.7

 
29.2

 
(0.5
)
Combined ratio
105.5
 %
 
90.1
 %
 
15.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
Combined ratio
105.5
 %
 
90.1
 %
 
15.4

Contribution from catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development
12.7

 
(2.6
)
 
15.3

Combined ratio before catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development
92.8
 %
 
92.7
 %
 
0.1

 
 
 
 
 
 

Overview
Performance highlights for the personal lines segment include:
Premiums – Personal lines earned premiums and net written premiums for the first quarter of 2017 continued to grow, reflecting an increase in new business written premiums from agencies that represent us and rising renewal written premiums. Price increases and a high level of policy retention were the main drivers of renewal premium growth. The table below analyzes the primary components of premiums.
Agency renewal written premiums increased 4 percent for the first quarter of 2017, largely reflecting rate increases. We estimate that premium rates for our personal auto line of business increased at average percentages near the low end of the high-single-digit range during the first three months of 2017. For our homeowner line of business, we estimate that premium rates for the first three months of 2017 increased at average percentages near the low end of the mid-single-digit range. For both our personal auto and homeowner lines of business, some individual policies experienced lower or higher rate changes based on each risk's specific characteristics and enhanced pricing precision enabled by predictive models.
Personal lines new business written premiums grew $9 million or 36 percent during the first three months of 2017, compared with the same period of 2016. That growth included $6 million from high net worth clients of our agencies. Personal lines new business written premiums from our high net worth policies totaled approximately $11 million during the first three months of 2017.
Other written premiums include premiums ceded to reinsurers as part of our reinsurance ceded program. For our personal lines insurance segment, ceded premium totals for the first three months of 2017 were similar to the same period of 2016.
We continue to implement strategies discussed in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1, Strategic Initiatives, Page 13, to enhance our responsiveness to marketplace changes and to help achieve our long-term

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 44



objectives for personal lines growth and profitability. These strategies include initiatives to more profitably underwrite personal auto policies.
 
Personal Lines Insurance Premiums
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Agency renewal written premiums
$
245

 
$
236

 
4

Agency new business written premiums
34

 
25

 
36

Other written premiums
(6
)
 
(5
)
 
(20
)
Net written premiums
273

 
256

 
7

Unearned premium change
27

 
27

 
0

Earned premiums
$
300

 
$
283

 
6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Combined ratio – Our personal lines combined ratio increased by 15.4 percentage points for the first quarter of 2017, compared with the first quarter a year ago, primarily due to a 12.6 percentage-point increase in the ratio for weather-related natural catastrophe losses and loss expenses.
In addition to the average rate increases discussed above, we continue to refine our pricing to better match premiums to the risk of loss on individual policies. Improved pricing precision and broad-based rate increases are expected to help position the combined ratio at a profitable level over the long term. In addition, greater geographic diversification is expected to reduce the volatility of homeowner loss ratios attributable to weather-related catastrophe losses over time.
Personal auto, representing 47 percent of 2016 earned premiums for our personal lines insurance segment, was the only major line of business in that segment with a first-quarter 2017 total loss and loss expense ratio before catastrophe losses significantly higher than we desired. As discussed above, during the first three months of 2017, our personal auto policies experienced average renewal price percentage increases near the low end of the high-single-digit range. We believe rate increases and other actions to improve pricing precision and reduce loss costs will improve future profitability.
Catastrophe losses and loss expenses accounted for 15.6 percentage points of the combined ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with 3.0 percentage points for the same period of 2016. The 10-year annual average catastrophe loss ratio through 2016 for the personal lines segment was 10.7 percentage points, and the five-year annual average was 9.3 percentage points.
The net effect of reserve development on prior accident years during the first three months of 2017 was favorable for personal lines overall by $10 million compared with $18 million for the same period in 2016. Our homeowner and other personal lines of business were the largest contributors to the total personal lines net favorable reserve development on prior accident years, followed by personal auto. The favorable reserve development was due primarily to lower-than-anticipated loss emergence on known claims. The first-quarter 2016 personal lines total reserve development included a refinement to reserves for loss expenses. That refinement favorably affected personal lines reserve development reported in 2016 as it transferred approximately $10 million of reserves for loss expenses, primarily for our personal auto line of business, to various lines of business in our commercial lines segment. Reserve estimates are inherently uncertain as described in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7, Critical Accounting Estimates, Property Casualty Insurance Loss and Loss Expense Reserves, Page 48.
The underwriting expense ratio decreased 0.5 percentage points for the first three months of 2017, compared with the same period of 2016, as earned premiums increased at a faster pace than underwriting expenses.
 

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 45



Personal Lines Insurance Losses Incurred by Size
(Dollars in millions, net of reinsurance)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Current accident year losses greater than $5 million
$

 
$

 
nm

Current accident year losses $1 million - $5 million
3

 
6

 
(50
)
Large loss prior accident year reserve development

 
1

 
(100
)
Total large losses incurred
3

 
7

 
(57
)
Losses incurred but not reported
10

 
11

 
(9
)
Other losses excluding catastrophe losses
144

 
133

 
8

Catastrophe losses
46

 
8

 
475

Total losses incurred
$
203

 
$
159

 
28

 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratios as a percent of earned premiums:
 
 
 
 
Pt. Change
Current accident year losses greater than $5 million
 %
 
%
 
0.0

Current accident year losses $1 million - $5 million
1.0

 
1.9

 
(0.9
)
Large loss prior accident year reserve development
(0.2
)
 
0.5

 
(0.7
)
Total large loss ratio
0.8

 
2.4

 
(1.6
)
Losses incurred but not reported
3.3

 
3.8

 
(0.5
)
Other losses excluding catastrophe losses
47.9

 
47.1

 
0.8

Catastrophe losses
15.5

 
2.9

 
12.6

Total loss ratio
67.5
 %
 
56.2
%
 
11.3

 
 
 
 
 
 

We continue to monitor new losses and case reserve increases greater than $1 million for trends in factors such as initial reserve levels, loss cost inflation and claim settlement expenses. Our analysis continues to indicate no unexpected concentration of these large losses and case reserve increases by risk category, geographic region, policy inception, agency or field marketing territory. In the first quarter of 2017, the personal lines total large loss ratio, net of reinsurance, was 1.6 percentage points less than last year’s first quarter. We believe results for the three-month period largely reflected normal fluctuations in loss patterns and normal variability in large case reserves for claims above $1 million.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 46



EXCESS AND SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE RESULTS
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Earned premiums
$
48

 
$
43

 
12

 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss and loss expenses from:
 

 
 

 
 

Current accident year before catastrophe losses
26

 
27

 
(4
)
Current accident year catastrophe losses
1

 

 
nm

Prior accident years before catastrophe losses
(13
)
 
(14
)
 
7

Prior accident years catastrophe losses

 

 
0

Loss and loss expenses
14

 
13

 
8

Underwriting expenses
16

 
13

 
23

Underwriting profit
$
18

 
$
17

 
6

 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratios as a percent of earned premiums:
 
 
 
 
Pt. Change
Current accident year before catastrophe losses
55.5
 %
 
63.1
 %
 
(7.6
)
Current accident year catastrophe losses
1.2

 
0.4

 
0.8

Prior accident years before catastrophe losses
(27.4
)
 
(31.6
)
 
4.2

Prior accident years catastrophe losses
(0.4
)
 
(0.2
)
 
(0.2
)
Loss and loss expenses
28.9

 
31.7

 
(2.8
)
Underwriting expenses
33.4

 
29.4

 
4.0

Combined ratio
62.3
 %
 
61.1
 %
 
1.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
Combined ratio
62.3
 %
 
61.1
 %
 
1.2

Contribution from catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development
(26.6
)
 
(31.4
)
 
4.8

Combined ratio before catastrophe losses and prior years reserve development
88.9
 %
 
92.5
 %
 
(3.6
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Overview
Performance highlights for the excess and surplus lines segment include:
Premiums – Excess and surplus lines net written premiums continued to grow due to increases in both renewal and new business written premiums during the first three months of 2017.
Renewal written premiums rose 18 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with the same period of 2016, reflecting the opportunity to renew many accounts for the first time, as well as higher renewal pricing. For the first three months of 2017, excess and surplus lines policy renewals experienced estimated average percentage price increases in the low-single-digit range. We measure average changes in excess and surplus lines renewal pricing as the percentage rate of change in renewal premium for the new policy period compared with the premium for the expiring policy period, assuming no change in the level of insured exposures or policy coverage between those periods for respective policies.
New business written premiums produced by agencies increased 23 percent during the first three months of 2017, compared with the same period of 2016, reflecting an increase in our marketing efforts as we continued to carefully underwrite each policy in a highly competitive market. Some of what we report as new business came from accounts that were not new to our agents. We believe our agents’ seasoned accounts tend to be priced more accurately than business that may be less familiar to them.
 

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 47



Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Premiums
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Agency renewal written premiums
$
40

 
$
34

 
18

Agency new business written premiums
16

 
13

 
23

Other written premiums
(3
)
 
(2
)
 
(50
)
Net written premiums
53

 
45

 
18

Unearned premium change
(5
)
 
(2
)
 
(150
)
Earned premiums
$
48

 
$
43

 
12

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Combined ratio – The excess and surplus lines combined ratio increased 1.2 percentage points for the first quarter of 2017, compared with the same period of 2016. The increase reflected less favorable reserve development on prior accident years and a higher underwriting expense ratio that offset a lower ratio for current accident year losses and loss expenses before catastrophe losses.
Excess and surplus lines net favorable reserve development on prior accident years, as a ratio to earned premiums, was 27.8 percent for the first three months of 2017, compared with 31.8 percent for the same period of 2016. Approximately three-fourths of the net favorable reserve development recognized during the first three months of 2017 was attributable to accident years 2015 and 2014. The favorable reserve development was due primarily to lower-than-anticipated loss emergence on known claims. Reserve estimates are inherently uncertain as described in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7, Critical Accounting Estimates, Property Casualty Insurance Loss and Loss Expense Reserves, Page 48.
The underwriting expense ratio for the first three months of 2017 increased, compared with the same period of 2016. The increase was primarily due to strategic investments that include enhancement of underwriting expertise, such as upgrades to systems used in underwriting or billing excess and surplus lines insurance policies, and a higher level of agency profit-sharing commissions. Those ratio-increase effects offset the favorable ratio-decrease effects of higher earned premiums and ongoing expense management efforts.
 
Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Losses Incurred by Size
(Dollars in millions, net of reinsurance)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Current accident year losses greater than $5 million
$

 
$

 
nm

Current accident year losses $1 million - $5 million

 

 
nm

Large loss prior accident year reserve development

 

 
nm

Total large losses incurred

 

 
nm

Losses incurred but not reported
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
50

Other losses excluding catastrophe losses
8

 
9

 
(11
)
Catastrophe losses

 

 
nm

Total losses incurred
$
7

 
$
7

 
0

 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratios as a percent of earned premiums:
 
 
 
 
Pt. Change
Current accident year losses greater than $5 million
 %
 
 %
 
0.0

Current accident year losses $1 million - $5 million

 

 
0.0

Large loss prior accident year reserve development
(0.3
)
 
(0.4
)
 
0.1

Total large loss ratio
(0.3
)
 
(0.4
)
 
0.1

Losses incurred but not reported
(1.6
)
 
(5.4
)
 
3.8

Other losses excluding catastrophe losses
17.0

 
20.8

 
(3.8
)
Catastrophe losses
0.8

 
0.1

 
0.7

Total loss ratio
15.9
 %
 
15.1
 %
 
0.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 48



We continue to monitor new losses and case reserve increases greater than $1 million for trends in factors such as initial reserve levels, loss cost inflation and claim settlement expenses. Our analysis continues to indicate no unexpected concentration of these large losses and case reserve increases by risk category, geographic region, policy inception, agency or field marketing territory. In the first quarter of 2017, the excess and surplus lines total ratio for large losses, net of reinsurance, was 0.1 percentage points worse than last year’s first quarter. We believe results for the three-month period largely reflected normal fluctuations in loss patterns and normal variability in large case reserves for claims above $1 million.
 


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 49



LIFE INSURANCE RESULTS
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Earned premiums
$
57

 
$
58

 
(2
)
Fee revenues
2

 
1

 
100

Total revenues
59

 
59

 
0

Contract holders' benefits incurred
65

 
63

 
3

Investment interest credited to contract holders'
(23
)
 
(22
)
 
(5
)
Underwriting expenses incurred
17

 
19

 
(11
)
Total benefits and expenses
59

 
60

 
(2
)
Life insurance segment profit (loss)
$

 
$
(1
)
 
100

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Overview
Performance highlights for the life insurance segment include:
Revenues – Revenues were flat for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to higher earned premiums from term insurance products that were offset by slightly less universal life and other life insurance earned premiums.
Net in-force life insurance policy face amounts increased to $57.967 billion at March 31, 2017, from $56.808 billion at year-end 2016.
Fixed annuity deposits received for the three months ended March 31, 2017, were $10 million compared with $12 million for same period of 2016. Fixed annuity deposits have a minimal impact to earned premiums because deposits received are initially recorded as liabilities. Profit is earned over time by way of interest-rate spreads. We do not write variable or equity-indexed annuities.
 
Life Insurance Premiums
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,

2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Term life insurance
$
38

 
$
37

 
3

Universal life insurance
10

 
11

 
(9
)
Other life insurance, annuity and disability income products
9

 
10

 
(10
)
Net earned premiums
$
57

 
$
58

 
(2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Profitability – Our life insurance segment typically reports a small profit or loss on a GAAP basis because profits from investment income spreads are included in our investment segment results. We include only investment income credited to contract holders (including interest assumed in life insurance policy reserve calculations) in our life insurance segment results. A gain of less than $1 million for our life insurance segment in the first three months of 2017, compared with a loss of $1 million for the same period of 2016, was largely due to more favorable mortality results.
Life insurance segment benefits and expenses consist principally of contract holders’ (policyholders’) benefits incurred related to traditional life and interest-sensitive products and operating expenses incurred, net of deferred acquisition costs. Total benefits increased in the first three months of 2017. Life policy and investment contract reserves increased with continued growth in net in-force life insurance policy face amounts. Mortality results decreased slightly from the same period of 2016 and were less than our 2017 projections.
Underwriting expenses for the first three months of 2017 decreased compared with the same period a year ago. For the first three months of 2017, unlocking of interest rate and other actuarial assumptions increased the amount of expenses deferred to future periods, decreasing underwriting expenses. For the first three months of 2016, unlocking decreased the amount of expenses deferred to future periods, increasing underwriting expenses.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 50



We recognize that assets under management, capital appreciation and investment income are integral to evaluating the success of the life insurance segment because of the long duration of life products. On a basis that includes investment income and realized gains or losses from life-insurance-related invested assets, the life insurance company reported a net profit of $13 million in the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with a net profit of $10 million for the same period of 2016. The life insurance company portfolio had net after-tax realized investment gains of $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with less than $1 million of net after-tax realized investment gains for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

INVESTMENTS RESULTS
 
Overview
The investments segment contributes investment income and realized gains and losses to results of operations. Investments traditionally are our primary source of pretax and after-tax profits.
 
Investment Income
Pretax investment income increased 3 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with the same period of 2016. Interest income rose due to net purchases of fixed-maturity securities that offset the continuing effects of the low interest rate environment. Higher dividend income reflected rising dividend rates and net purchases of equity securities.

Investments Results
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,

2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Total investment income, net of expenses
$
149

 
$
145

 
3

Investment interest credited to contract holders'
(23
)
 
(22
)
 
(5
)
Realized investment gains, net
160

 
61

 
162

Investments profit, pretax
$
286

 
$
184

 
55

 
 
 
 
 
 

We continue to position our portfolio considering both the challenges presented by the current low interest rate environment and the risks presented by potential future inflation. As bonds in our generally laddered portfolio mature or are called over the near term, we will be challenged to replace their current yield. The table below shows the average pretax yield-to-amortized cost associated with expected principal redemptions for our fixed-maturity portfolio. The expected principal redemptions are based on par amounts and include dated maturities, calls and prefunded municipal bonds that we expect will be called during each respective time period.
(Dollars in millions)
% Yield
 
Principal redemptions
At March 31, 2017
 
Fixed-maturity pretax yield profile:
 
 
 
Expected to mature during the remainder of 2017
4.91
%
 
$
479

Expected to mature during 2018
5.66

 
957

Expected to mature during 2019
6.22

 
752

Average yield and total expected redemptions from the remainder of 2017 through 2019
5.69

 
$
2,188

 
 
 
 


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 51



The table below shows the average pretax yield-to-amortized cost for fixed-maturity securities acquired during the periods indicated. The average yield for total fixed-maturity securities acquired during the first three months of 2017 was lower than the 4.54 percent average yield-to-amortized cost of the fixed-maturity securities portfolio at the end of 2016. Our fixed-maturity portfolio's average yield of 4.49 percent for the first three months of 2017, from the investment income table below, was also lower than that yield for the year-end 2016 fixed-maturities portfolio.
 
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Average pretax yield-to-amortized cost on new fixed-maturities:
 
 
 
Acquired taxable fixed-maturities
4.38
%
 
4.77
%
Acquired tax-exempt fixed-maturities
3.46

 
3.03

Average total fixed-maturities acquired
3.93

 
4.12

 
 
 
 

While our bond portfolio more than covers our insurance reserve liabilities, we believe our diversified common stock portfolio of mainly blue chip, dividend-paying companies represents one of our best investment opportunities for the long term. In our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1, Investments Segment, Page 23, and Item 7, Investments Outlook, Page 86, we discussed our portfolio strategies. We discuss risks related to our investment income and our fixed-maturity and equity investment portfolios in this quarterly report Item 3, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

The table below provides details about investment income. Average yields in this table are based on the average invested asset and cash amounts indicated in the table, using fixed-maturity securities valued at amortized cost and all other securities at fair value.
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Investment income:
 

 
 

 
 
Interest
$
111

 
$
109

 
2
Dividends
39

 
37

 
5
Other
1

 
1

 
0
Less investment expenses
2

 
2

 
0
Investment income, pretax
149

 
145

 
3
Less income taxes
35

 
35

 
0
Total investment income, after-tax
$
114

 
$
110

 
4
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment returns:
 
 
 
 
 
Average invested assets plus cash and cash equivalents
$
16,141

 
$
14,851

 
 
Average yield pretax
3.69
%
 
3.91
%
 
 
Average yield after-tax
2.83

 
2.96

 
 
Effective tax rate
23.6

 
23.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-maturity returns:
 
 
 
 
 
Average amortized cost
$
9,890

 
$
9,383

 
 
Average yield pretax
4.49
%
 
4.65
%
 
 
Average yield after-tax
3.28

 
3.38

 
 
Effective tax rate
27.0

 
27.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 52



Net Realized Gains and Losses
We reported net realized investment gains of $160 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with $61 million for the same period of 2016. The total net realized investment gains for the first three months of 2017 included $149 million in net gains from sales of various common and preferred stock holdings, compared with $61 million for the same period of 2016.
 
Investment gains or losses are recognized upon the sales of investments or as otherwise required under GAAP. The timing of realized gains or losses from sales can have a material effect on results in any quarter. However, such gains or losses usually have little, if any, effect on total shareholders’ equity because most equity and fixed-maturity investments are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gain or loss included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI). Accounting requirements for other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) charges for the fixed-maturity portfolio are disclosed in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 8, Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Page 122.
 
Of the 3,352 securities in the portfolio, one fixed-maturity security and no equity securities were trading below 70 percent of amortized cost at March 31, 2017. Our asset impairment committee regularly monitors the portfolio, including a quarterly review of the entire portfolio for potential OTTI charges. We believe that if the improving liquidity in the markets were to reverse or the economic recovery were to significantly stall, we could experience declines in portfolio values and possibly additional OTTI charges.
 
The table below provides additional detail for OTTI charges:
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Fixed maturities:
 

 
 

Utilities
$

 
$
2

Total fixed maturities

 
2

Total
$

 
$
2

 
 
 
 
 

OTHER
We report as Other the noninvestment operations of the parent company and a noninsurance subsidiary, CFC Investment Company. We also report as Other the underwriting results of Cincinnati Re, our reinsurance assumed operation, including earned premiums, loss and loss expenses and underwriting expenses.

Total revenues for the first three months of 2017 for our Other operations increased, compared with the same period of 2016, primarily due to earned premiums from Cincinnati Re. Total expenses for Other also increased for the first three months of 2017, primarily due to losses and loss expenses and underwriting expenses from Cincinnati Re.

Other loss in the table below represents losses before income taxes. The net result of Cincinnati Re for the first three months of 2017 was an underwriting profit of approximately $5 million. For both periods shown, Other loss resulted largely from interest expense from debt of the parent company.

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 53



(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Interest and fees on loans and leases
$
1

 
$
1

 
0
Earned premiums
22

 
10

 
120
Total revenues
23

 
11

 
109
Interest expense
13

 
13

 
0
Loss and loss expenses
8

 
6

 
33
Underwriting expenses
9

 
3

 
200
Operating expenses
4

 
2

 
100
Total expenses
34

 
24

 
42
Other loss
$
(11
)
 
$
(13
)
 
15
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

TAXES
We had $75 million of income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with $77 million for the same period of 2016. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017, was 27.2 percent compared with 29.1 percent for the same period last year. The change in our effective tax rate was primarily due to changes in pretax income from underwriting results, realized investment gains and losses and the adoption of ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, with immaterial changes in the amount of permanent book-tax differences.
 
Historically, we have pursued a strategy of investing some portion of cash flow in tax-advantaged fixed-maturity and equity securities to minimize our overall tax liability and maximize after-tax earnings. See Tax-Exempt Fixed Maturities in this quarterly report Item 3, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk for further discussion on municipal bond purchases in our fixed-maturity investment portfolio. For our property casualty insurance subsidiaries, approximately 85 percent of interest from tax-advantaged fixed-maturity investments and approximately 60 percent of dividends from qualified equities are exempt from federal tax after applying proration from the 1986 Tax Reform Act. Our noninsurance companies own an immaterial amount of tax-advantaged fixed-maturity investments. For our noninsurance companies, the dividend received deduction exempts 70 percent of dividends from qualified equities. Our life insurance company does not own tax-advantaged fixed-maturity investments or equities subject to the dividend received deduction. Details about our effective tax rate are in this quarterly report Item 1, Note 9 – Income Taxes.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At March 31, 2017, shareholders’ equity was $7.256 billion, compared with $7.060 billion at December 31, 2016. Total debt was $804 million at March 31, 2017, down $3 million from December 31, 2016. At March 31, 2017, cash and cash equivalents totaled $543 million, compared with $777 million at December 31, 2016.

SOURCES OF LIQUIDITY
 
Subsidiary Dividends
Our lead insurance subsidiary declared dividends of $90 million to the parent company in the first three months of 2017, compared with $100 million for the same period of 2016. For full-year 2016, subsidiary dividends declared totaled $475 million. State of Ohio regulatory requirements restrict the dividends our insurance subsidiary can pay. For full-year 2017, total dividends that our insurance subsidiary could pay to our parent company without regulatory approval are approximately $469 million.
 

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 54



Investing Activities
Investment income is a source of liquidity for both the parent company and its insurance subsidiary. We continue to focus on portfolio strategies to balance near-term income generation and long-term book value growth.
 
Parent company obligations can be funded with income on investments held at the parent-company level or through sales of securities in that portfolio, although our investment philosophy seeks to compound cash flows over the long term. These sources of capital can help minimize subsidiary dividends to the parent company, protecting insurance subsidiary capital.

See our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1, Investments Segment, Page 23, for a discussion of our historic investment strategy, portfolio allocation and quality.
 
Insurance Underwriting
Our property casualty and life insurance underwriting operations provide liquidity because we generally receive premiums before paying losses under the policies purchased with those premiums. After satisfying our cash requirements, we use excess cash flows for investment, increasing future investment income.
 
Historically, cash receipts from property casualty and life insurance premiums, along with investment income, have been more than sufficient to pay claims, operating expenses and dividends to the parent company.
 
The table below shows a summary of operating cash flow for property casualty insurance (direct method):
(Dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
Premiums collected
$
1,241

 
$
1,164

 
7

Loss and loss expenses paid
(694
)
 
(562
)
 
(23
)
Commissions and other underwriting expenses paid
(497
)
 
(442
)
 
(12
)
Cash flow from underwriting
50

 
160

 
(69
)
Investment income received
105

 
102

 
3

Cash flow from operations
$
155

 
$
262

 
(41
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collected premiums for property casualty insurance rose $77 million during the first three months of 2017, compared with the same period in 2016. Loss and loss expenses paid increased $132 million, including a $43 million increase for catastrophe losses and loss expenses. Commissions and other underwriting expenses paid rose $55 million, primarily due to higher commissions paid to agencies, reflecting the increase in collected premiums.
 
We discuss our future obligations for claims payments and for underwriting expenses in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7, Contractual Obligations, Page 91, and Other Commitments also on Page 91.
 
Capital Resources
At March 31, 2017, our debt-to-total-capital ratio was 10.0 percent, with $787 million in long-term debt and $17 million in borrowing on our revolving short-term line of credit. That line of credit had a $20 million balance at December 31, 2016. At March 31, 2017, $208 million was available for future cash management needs. Based on our capital requirements at March 31, 2017, we do not anticipate a material increase in debt levels during the remainder of 2017. As a result, we expect changes in our debt-to-total-capital ratio to continue to be largely a function of the contribution of unrealized investment gains or losses to shareholders’ equity.
 
We provide details of our three, long-term notes in this quarterly report Item 1, Note 3 – Fair Value Measurements. None of the notes are encumbered by rating triggers.
 
Four independent ratings firms award insurer financial strength ratings to our property casualty insurance companies and three firms rate our life insurance company. Those firms made no changes to our parent company debt ratings during the first three months of 2017. Our debt ratings are discussed in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7, Liquidity and Capital Resources, Other Sources of Liquidity, Page 89.

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 55



 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not use any special-purpose financing vehicles or have any undisclosed off-balance sheet arrangements (as that term is defined in applicable SEC rules) that are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on the company’s financial condition, results of operation, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources. Similarly, the company holds no fair-value contracts for which a lack of marketplace quotations would necessitate the use of fair-value techniques.
 
USES OF LIQUIDITY
Our parent company and insurance subsidiary have contractual obligations and other commitments. In addition, one of our primary uses of cash is to enhance shareholder return.
 
Contractual Obligations
In our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7, Contractual Obligations, Page 91, we estimated our future contractual obligations as of December 31, 2016. There have been no material changes to our estimates of future contractual obligations since our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Other Commitments
In addition to our contractual obligations, we have other property casualty operational commitments.
Commissions – Commissions paid were $320 million in the first three months of 2017. Commission payments generally track with written premiums, except for annual profit-sharing commissions typically paid during the first quarter of the year.
Other underwriting expenses – Many of our underwriting expenses are not contractual obligations, but reflect the ongoing expenses of our business. Noncommission underwriting expenses paid were $177 million in the first three months of 2017.
Technology costs – In addition to contractual obligations for hardware and software, we anticipate capitalizing up to $6 million in spending for key technology initiatives in 2017. Capitalized development costs related to key technology initiatives were $2 million in the first three months of 2017. These activities are conducted at our discretion, and we have no material contractual obligations for activities planned as part of these projects.

We contributed $5 million to our qualified pension plan during the first three months of 2017.
 
Investing Activities
After fulfilling operating requirements, we invest cash flows from underwriting, investment and other corporate activities in fixed-maturity and equity securities on an ongoing basis to help achieve our portfolio objectives. We discuss our investment strategy and certain portfolio attributes in this quarterly report Item 3, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
 
Uses of Capital
Uses of cash to enhance shareholder return include dividends to shareholders. In January 2017, the board of directors declared regular quarterly cash dividends of 50 cents per share for an indicated annual rate of $2.00 per share. During the first three months of 2017, we used $77 million to pay cash dividends to shareholders.


PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURANCE LOSS AND LOSS EXPENSE RESERVES
For the business lines in the commercial and personal lines insurance segments, and in total for the excess and surplus lines segment, the following table details gross reserves among case, IBNR (incurred but not reported) and loss expense reserves, net of salvage and subrogation reserves. Reserving practices are discussed in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7, Property Casualty Insurance Loss and Loss Expense Obligations and Reserves, Page 93.
 
Total gross reserves at March 31, 2017, increased $93 million compared with December 31, 2016. Case loss reserves for losses increased $43 million, IBNR loss reserves increased by $37 million and loss expense reserves increased by $13 million. Accounting for most of the total gross increase was the aggregate of our commercial casualty, commercial auto and homeowner lines of business.

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 56




Property Casualty Gross Reserves
(Dollars in millions)
 
Loss reserves
 
Loss expense reserves
 
Total gross reserves
 
 
 
 
Case reserves
 
IBNR reserves
 
 
 
Percent of total
At March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial lines insurance:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial casualty
 
$
937

 
$
560

 
$
569

 
$
2,066

 
40.3
%
Commercial property
 
265

 
28

 
57

 
350

 
6.8

Commercial auto
 
381

 
101

 
107

 
589

 
11.5

Workers' compensation
 
390

 
540

 
95

 
1,025

 
20.0

Other commercial
 
116

 
18

 
73

 
207

 
4.0

Subtotal
 
2,089

 
1,247

 
901

 
4,237

 
82.6

Personal lines insurance:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Personal auto
 
227

 
34

 
63

 
324

 
6.4

Homeowner
 
107

 
35

 
29

 
171

 
3.3

Other personal
 
48

 
45

 
5

 
98

 
1.9

Subtotal
 
382

 
114

 
97

 
593

 
11.6

Excess and surplus lines
 
93

 
85

 
63

 
241

 
4.7

Cincinnati Re
 
10

 
46

 
1

 
57

 
1.1

Total
 
$
2,574

 
$
1,492

 
$
1,062

 
$
5,128

 
100.0
%
At December 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial lines insurance:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial casualty
 
$
928

 
$
553

 
$
556

 
$
2,037

 
40.5
%
Commercial property
 
253

 
28

 
58

 
339

 
6.7

Commercial auto
 
374

 
86

 
103

 
563

 
11.2

Workers' compensation
 
382

 
553

 
95

 
1,030

 
20.4

Other commercial
 
116

 
19

 
75

 
210

 
4.2

Subtotal
 
2,053

 
1,239

 
887

 
4,179

 
83.0

Personal lines insurance:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Personal auto
 
228

 
24

 
66

 
318

 
6.3

Homeowner
 
102

 
22

 
29

 
153

 
3.0

Other personal
 
46

 
47

 
5

 
98

 
2.0

Subtotal
 
376

 
93

 
100

 
569

 
11.3

Excess and surplus lines
 
94

 
86

 
61

 
241

 
4.8

Cincinnati Re
 
8

 
37

 
1

 
46

 
0.9

Total
 
$
2,531

 
$
1,455

 
$
1,049

 
$
5,035

 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIFE POLICY AND INVESTMENT CONTRACT RESERVES
Gross life policy and investment contract reserves were $2.689 billion at March 31, 2017, compared with $2.671 billion at year-end 2016, reflecting continued growth in life insurance policies in force. We discuss our life insurance reserving practices in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7, Life Insurance Policyholder Obligations and Reserves, Page 100.
 


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Page 57



OTHER MATTERS
 
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Our significant accounting policies are discussed in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 8, Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Page 122, and updated in this quarterly report Item 1, Note 1, Accounting Policies.
 
In conjunction with those discussions, in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis in the 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, management reviewed the estimates and assumptions used to develop reported amounts related to the most significant policies. Management discussed the development and selection of those accounting estimates with the audit committee of the board of directors.
 

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Our greatest exposure to market risk is through our investment portfolio. Market risk is the potential for a decrease in securities’ fair value resulting from broad yet uncontrollable forces such as: inflation, economic growth or recession, interest rates, world political conditions or other widespread unpredictable events. It is comprised of many individual risks that, when combined, create a macroeconomic impact.
 
Our view of potential risks and our sensitivity to such risks is discussed in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, Page 107.
 
The fair value of our investment portfolio was $15.977 billion at March 31, 2017, up $558 million from year-end 2016, including a $216 million increase in the fixed-maturity portfolio and a $342 million increase in the equity portfolio.
(Dollars in millions)
At March 31, 2017
 
At December 31, 2016
 
Cost or
amortized cost
Percent 
of total
 
Fair value
Percent 
of total
 
Cost or
amortized cost
Percent 
of total
 
Fair value
Percent 
of total
Taxable fixed maturities
$
6,454

48.8
%
 
$
6,722

42.1
%
 
$
6,381

49.9
%
 
$
6,630

43.0
%
Tax-exempt fixed maturities
3,527

26.7

 
3,579

22.4

 
3,418

26.7

 
3,455

22.4

Common equity securities
3,051

23.1

 
5,453

34.1

 
2,812

22.0

 
5,123

33.2

Nonredeemable preferred
  equity securities
189

1.4

 
223

1.4

 
183

1.4

 
211

1.4

Total
$
13,221

100.0
%
 
$
15,977

100.0
%
 
$
12,794

100.0
%
 
$
15,419

100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At March 31, 2017, our consolidated investment portfolio included $1 million of assets for which values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require significant management judgment (Level 3 assets). This represented less than 1 percent of investment portfolio assets measured at fair value. See Item 1, Note 3, Fair Value Measurements, for additional discussion of our valuation techniques. We have generally obtained and evaluated two nonbinding quotes from brokers; then, our investment professionals determined our best estimate of fair value. These investments include private placements, small issues and various thinly traded securities.
 
In addition to our investment portfolio, the total investments amount reported in our condensed consolidated balance sheets includes Other invested assets. Other invested assets included $30 million of life policy loans, $26 million of private equity investments and $34 million of real estate through direct property ownership and development projects in the United States at March 31, 2017.
 


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 58



FIXED-MATURITY SECURITIES INVESTMENTS
By maintaining a well-diversified fixed-maturity portfolio, we attempt to reduce overall risk. We invest new money in the bond market on a regular basis, targeting what we believe to be optimal risk-adjusted, after-tax yields. Risk, in this context, includes interest rate, call, reinvestment rate, credit and liquidity risk. We do not make a concerted effort to alter duration on a portfolio basis in response to anticipated movements in interest rates. By regularly investing in the bond market, we build a broad, diversified portfolio that we believe mitigates the impact of adverse economic factors.

In the first three months of 2017, the increase in fair value of our fixed-maturity portfolio was driven by the combination of net purchases of securities and an increase in net unrealized gains primarily reflecting a slight decrease in interest rates. At March 31, 2017, our fixed-maturity portfolio with an average rating of A2/A was valued at 103.2 percent of its amortized cost, compared with 102.9 percent at December 31, 2016.
 
At March 31, 2017, our investment-grade and noninvestment-grade fixed-maturity securities represented 87.7 percent and 4.2 percent of the portfolio, respectively. The remaining 8.1 percent represented fixed-maturity securities that were not rated by Moody's or S&P Global Ratings.

Attributes of the fixed-maturity portfolio include:
 
 
At March 31, 2017
 
At December 31, 2016
Weighted average yield-to-amortized cost
 
4.51
%
 
4.54
%
Weighted average maturity
 
7.3
yrs
 
7.1
yrs
Effective duration
 
5.2
yrs
 
5.0
yrs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We discuss maturities of our fixed-maturity portfolio in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 8, Note 2, Investments, Page 129, and in this quarterly report Item 2, Investments Results.
 


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 59



TAXABLE FIXED MATURITIES
Our taxable fixed-maturity portfolio, with a fair value of $6.722 billion at March 31, 2017, included:
(Dollars in millions)
 
At March 31, 2017
 
At December 31, 2016
Investment-grade corporate
 
$
5,374

 
$
5,336

Noninvestment-grade corporate
 
441

 
445

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
 
373

 
373

Commercial mortgage-backed
 
287

 
287

Government sponsored enterprises
 
216

 
164

United States government
 
16

 
10

Foreign government
 
10

 
10

Convertibles and bonds with warrants attached
 
5

 
5

Total
 
$
6,722

 
$
6,630

 
 
 
 
 
 
Our strategy is to buy, and typically hold, fixed-maturity investments to maturity, but we monitor credit profiles and fair value movements when determining holding periods for individual securities. With the exception of United States agency issues that include government-sponsored enterprises, no individual issuer’s securities accounted for more than 1.2 percent of the taxable fixed-maturity portfolio at March 31, 2017. Our investment-grade corporate bonds had an average rating of Baa2 by Moody’s or BBB+ by S&P Global Ratings and represented 80.0 percent of the taxable fixed-maturity portfolio’s fair value at March 31, 2017, compared with 80.5 percent at year-end 2016.
 
The heaviest concentration in our investment-grade corporate bond portfolio, based on fair value at
March 31, 2017, was the financial sector. It represented 44.1 percent of our investment-grade corporate bond portfolio, compared with 42.5 percent at year-end 2016. At March 31, 2017, the real estate sector, including commercial mortgage-backed securities, accounted for 14.1 percent, the insurance sector accounted for 11.7 percent and the financial services sector accounted for 10.3 percent. No other sector exceeded 10 percent of our investment-grade corporate bond portfolio.

Most of the $373 million of securities issued by states, municipalities and political subdivisions included in our taxable fixed-maturity portfolio at March 31, 2017, were Build America Bonds.
 
Our taxable fixed-maturity portfolio at March 31, 2017, included $287 million of commercial mortgage-backed securities with an average rating of Aa1/AA.


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TAX-EXEMPT FIXED MATURITIES
At March 31, 2017, we had $3.579 billion of tax-exempt fixed-maturity securities with an average rating of Aa2/AA by Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings. We traditionally have purchased municipal bonds focusing on general obligation and essential services issues, such as water, waste disposal or others. The portfolio is well diversified among approximately 1,400 municipal bond issuers. No single municipal issuer accounted for more than 0.7 percent of the tax-exempt fixed-maturity portfolio at March 31, 2017.

INTEREST RATE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Because of our strong surplus, long-term investment horizon and ability to hold most fixed-maturity investments until maturity, we believe the company is adequately positioned if interest rates were to rise. Although the fair values of our existing holdings may suffer, a higher rate environment would provide the opportunity to invest cash flow in higher-yielding securities, while reducing the likelihood of untimely redemptions of currently callable securities. While higher interest rates would be expected to continue to increase the number of fixed-maturity holdings trading below 100 percent of amortized cost, we believe lower fixed-maturity security values due solely to interest rate changes would not signal a decline in credit quality. We continue to manage the portfolio with an eye toward both meeting current income needs and managing interest rate risk.
 
Our dynamic financial planning model uses analytical tools to assess market risks. As part of this model, the effective duration of the fixed-maturity portfolio is continually monitored by our investment department to evaluate the theoretical impact of interest rate movements.
 
The table below summarizes the effect of hypothetical changes in interest rates on the fair value of the fixed-maturity portfolio:
(Dollars in millions)
 
Effect from interest rate change in basis points
 
 
-200
 
 -100
 
-
 
100
 
200
At March 31, 2017
 
$
11,390

 
$
10,842

 
$
10,301

 
$
9,769

 
$
9,269

At December 31, 2016
 
$
11,131

 
$
10,603

 
$
10,085

 
$
9,577

 
$
9,094

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The effective duration of the fixed-maturity portfolio as of March 31, 2017, was 5.2 years, up from 5.0 years at year-end 2016. The above table is a theoretical presentation showing that an instantaneous, parallel shift in the yield curve of 100 basis points could produce an approximately 5.2 percent change in the fair value of the fixed-maturity portfolio. Generally speaking, the higher a bond is rated, the more directly correlated movements in its fair value are to changes in the general level of interest rates, exclusive of call features. The fair values of average- to lower-rated corporate bonds are additionally influenced by the expansion or contraction of credit spreads.
 
In our dynamic financial planning model, the selected interest rate change of 100 to 200 basis points represents our view of a shift in rates that is quite possible over a one-year period. The rates modeled should not be considered a prediction of future events as interest rates may be much more volatile in the future. The analysis is not intended to provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in rates on our results or financial condition, nor does it take into account any actions that we might take to reduce exposure to such risks.



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EQUITY INVESTMENTS
Our equity investments, with a fair value totaling $5.676 billion at March 31, 2017, included $5.453 billion of common stock securities of companies generally with strong indications of paying and growing their dividends. Other criteria we evaluate include increasing sales and earnings, proven management and a favorable outlook. We believe our equity investment style is an appropriate long-term strategy. While our long-term financial position would be affected by prolonged changes in the market valuation of our investments, we believe our strong surplus position and cash flow provide a cushion against short-term fluctuations in valuation. Continued payment of cash dividends by the issuers of our common equity holdings can provide a floor to their valuation.

The table below summarizes the effect of hypothetical changes in market prices on fair value of our equity portfolio.
(Dollars in millions)
Effect from market price change in percent
 
 
-30%
 
-20%
 
-10%
 
 
10%
 
20%
 
30%
At March 31, 2017
 
$
3,973

 
$
4,541

 
$
5,108

 
$
5,676

 
$
6,244

 
$
6,811

 
$
7,379

At December 31, 2016
 
$
3,734

 
$
4,267

 
$
4,801

 
$
5,334

 
$
5,867

 
$
6,401

 
$
6,934

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

At March 31, 2017, Apple Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL) was our largest single common stock holding with a fair value of $201 million, or 3.7 percent of our publicly traded common stock portfolio and 1.3 percent of the total investment portfolio. Twenty-nine holdings among eight different sectors each had a fair value greater than $100 million.
 
Common Stock Portfolio Industry Sector Distribution
 
Percent of common stock portfolio
 
At March 31, 2017
 
At December 31, 2016
 
Cincinnati
 Financial
 
S&P 500 Industry
Weightings
 
Cincinnati
Financial
 
S&P 500 Industry
Weightings
Sector:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Information technology
17.0
%
 
22.1
%
 
17.6
%
 
20.8
%
Financial
14.8

 
14.4

 
15.6

 
14.8

Industrials
14.7

 
10.1

 
14.9

 
10.3

Healthcare
14.0

 
13.9

 
12.6

 
13.6

Consumer discretionary
13.4

 
12.3

 
10.4

 
12.0

Consumer staples
8.7

 
9.3

 
10.3

 
9.4

Energy
7.7

 
6.6

 
8.5

 
7.5

Materials
5.6

 
2.8

 
5.8

 
2.8

Utilities
2.2

 
3.2

 
2.2

 
3.2

Telecomm services
1.9

 
2.4

 
2.1

 
2.7

Real Estate

 
2.9

 

 
2.9

Total
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Page 62



UNREALIZED INVESTMENT GAINS AND LOSSES
At March 31, 2017, unrealized investment gains before taxes for the consolidated investment portfolio totaled
$2.823 billion and unrealized investment losses amounted to $67 million.
 
The net unrealized investment gains at March 31, 2017, consisted of a pretax net gain position in our fixed-maturity portfolio of $320 million and a net gain position in our equity portfolio of $2.436 billion. The net gain position in our fixed-maturity portfolio increased in the first three months of 2017 primarily due to slight declines in both interest rates and corporate credit spreads. The net gain position for our current fixed-maturity holdings will naturally decline over time as individual securities mature. In addition, changes in interest rates can cause rapid, significant changes in fair values of fixed-maturity securities and the net gain position, as discussed in Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. Events or factors such as economic growth or recession can also affect the fair value of our equity securities. The seven largest contributors to our common stock portfolio net gain position were JP Morgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON), Apple Inc., Hasbro Inc. (Nasdaq:HAS), Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq:MSFT), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), which had a combined gross unrealized gain position of $760 million.

Unrealized Investment Losses
We expect the number of securities trading below amortized cost to fluctuate as interest rates rise or fall and credit spreads expand or contract due to prevailing economic conditions. Further, amortized costs for some securities are revised through OTTI recognized in prior periods. At March 31, 2017, 638 of the 3,352 securities we owned had fair values below amortized cost, compared with 784 of the 3,315 securities we owned at year-end 2016. The 638 holdings with fair values below cost or amortized cost at March 31, 2017, represented 11.8 percent of the fair value of our investment portfolio and $67 million in unrealized losses.
622 of the 638 holdings had fair value between 90 percent and 100 percent of amortized cost at March 31, 2017. Four of these 622 holdings are equity securities that may be subject to OTTI charges taken through earnings should they not recover by the recovery dates we determined. The fair value of these four equity securities was $237 million, and they accounted for $8 million in unrealized losses. The remaining 618 securities primarily consist of fixed-maturity securities whose current valuation is largely the result of interest rate factors. The fair value of these 618 securities was $1.608 billion, and they accounted for $51 million in unrealized losses.
15 of the 638 holdings had fair value between 70 percent and 90 percent of amortized cost at March 31, 2017. Two of these 15 holdings were equity securities that may be subject to OTTI charges taken through earnings should they not recover by the dates we determined. The fair value of these equity securities was $3 million, and they accounted for $1 million in unrealized losses. We believe the remaining 13 fixed-maturity securities will continue to pay interest and ultimately pay principal upon maturity. The issuers of these 13 securities have strong cash flow to service their debt and meet their contractual obligation to make principal payments. The fair value of these securities was $39 million, and they accounted for $6 million in unrealized losses.
One holding had fair value below 70 percent of amortized cost at March 31, 2017. It is a fixed-maturity security whose current valuation is largely the result of interest rate factors. The fair value of this security was $1 million, and it accounted for less than $1 million in unrealized losses.


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The table below reviews fair values and unrealized losses by investment category and by the overall duration of the securities’ continuous unrealized loss position.
(Dollars in millions)
 
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or more
 
Total
 
 
Fair
 
Unrealized
 
Fair
 
Unrealized
 
fair
 
unrealized
At March 31, 2017
 
value
 
losses
 
value
 
losses
 
value
 
losses
Fixed maturity securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate
 
$
381

 
$
10

 
$
136

 
$
7

 
$
517

 
$
17

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
 
883

 
37

 

 

 
883

 
37

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
75

 
1

 
2

 

 
77

 
1

Government-sponsored enterprises
 
165

 
3

 

 

 
165

 
3

United States government
 
6

 

 

 

 
6

 

Subtotal
 
1,510

 
51

 
138

 
7

 
1,648

 
58

Equity securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Common equities
 
236

 
9

 
4

 

 
240

 
9

Subtotal
 
236

 
9

 
4

 

 
240

 
9

Total
 
$
1,746

 
$
60

 
$
142

 
$
7

 
$
1,888

 
$
67

At December 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed maturity securities:
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate
 
$
733

 
$
15

 
$
189

 
$
11

 
$
922

 
$
26

States, municipalities and political subdivisions
 
989

 
42

 

 

 
989

 
42

Commercial mortgage-backed
 
89

 
2

 
2

 

 
91

 
2

Government-sponsored enterprises
 
155

 
3

 

 

 
155

 
3

United States government
 
6

 

 

 

 
6

 

Subtotal
 
1,972

 
62

 
191

 
11

 
2,163

 
73

Equity securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Common equities
 
103

 
9

 

 

 
103

 
9

Nonredeemable preferred equities
 
4

 

 

 

 
4

 

Subtotal
 
107

 
9

 

 

 
107

 
9

Total
 
$
2,079

 
$
71

 
$
191

 
$
11

 
$
2,270

 
$
82

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At March 31, 2017, 22 fixed-maturity securities with a total unrealized loss of $7 million had been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more. Of that total, no fixed-maturity security had a fair value below 70 percent of amortized cost; one fixed-maturity security with a fair value of $3 million had a fair value from 70 percent to less than 90 percent of amortized cost and accounted for $1 million in unrealized losses; and 21 fixed-maturity securities with a fair value of $135 million had fair values from 90 percent to less than 100 percent of amortized cost and accounted for $6 million in unrealized losses.
 
At March 31, 2017, one equity security with a fair value of $4 million had been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more and accounted for less than $1 million in unrealized losses.
 
At March 31, 2017, applying our invested asset impairment policy, we determined that the total of $7 million, for securities in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more in the table above, was not other-than-temporarily impaired.


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Page 64



During the first three months of 2017, no securities were written down through an impairment charge. During the first three months of 2016, two securities were written down resulting in $2 million in OTTI charges.
 
During full-year 2016, we wrote down 4 securities and recorded $2 million in OTTI charges. At December 31, 2016, 32 fixed-maturity investments with a total unrealized loss of $11 million had been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more. Of that total, no fixed-maturity investments had fair values below 70 percent of amortized cost. There were no equity security investments in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more as of December 31, 2016.


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Page 65



The following table summarizes the investment portfolio by severity of decline:
(Dollars in millions)
 
Number
of issues
 
Cost or 
amortized
cost
 
Fair value
 
Gross 
unrealized 
gain (loss)
 
Gross investment income
At March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair valued below 70% of amortized cost
 
1

 
$
1

 
$
1

 
$

 
$

Fair valued at 70% to less than 100% of amortized cost
 
235

 
860

 
836

 
(24
)
 
7

Fair valued at 100% and above of amortized cost
 
1,244

 
5,593

 
5,885

 
292

 
73

Investment income on securities sold in current year
 

 

 

 

 
2

Total
 
1,480

 
6,454

 
6,722

 
268

 
82

Tax-exempt fixed maturities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fair valued below 70% of amortized cost
 

 

 

 

 

Fair valued at 70% to less than 100% of amortized cost
 
396

 
845

 
811

 
(34
)
 
6

Fair valued at 100% and above of amortized cost
 
1,375

 
2,682

 
2,768

 
86

 
23

Investment income on securities sold in current year
 

 

 

 

 

Total
 
1,771

 
3,527

 
3,579

 
52

 
29

Common equities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fair valued below 70% of cost
 

 

 

 

 

Fair valued at 70% to less than 100% of cost
 
6

 
249

 
240

 
(9
)
 
2

Fair valued at 100% and above of cost
 
62

 
2,802

 
5,213

 
2,411

 
33

Investment income on securities sold in current year
 

 

 

 

 
2

Total
 
68

 
3,051

 
5,453

 
2,402

 
37

Nonredeemable preferred equities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fair valued below 70% of cost
 

 

 

 

 

Fair valued at 70% to less than 100% of cost
 

 

 

 

 

Fair valued at 100% and above of cost
 
33

 
189

 
223

 
34

 
3

Investment income on securities sold in current year
 

 

 

 

 

Total
 
33

 
189

 
223

 
34

 
3

Portfolio summary:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fair valued below 70% of cost or amortized cost
 
1

 
1

 
1

 

 

Fair valued at 70% to less than 100% of cost or amortized cost
 
637

 
1,954

 
1,887

 
(67
)
 
15

Fair valued at 100% and above of cost or amortized cost
 
2,714

 
11,266

 
14,089

 
2,823

 
132

Investment income on securities sold in current year
 

 

 

 

 
4

Total
 
3,352

 
$
13,221

 
$
15,977

 
$
2,756

 
$
151

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Portfolio summary:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fair valued below 70% of cost or amortized cost
 

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

Fair valued at 70% to less than 100% of cost or amortized cost
 
784

 
2,352

 
2,270

 
(82
)
 
62

Fair valued at 100% and above of cost or amortized cost
 
2,531

 
10,442

 
13,149

 
2,707

 
501

Investment income on securities sold in current year
 

 

 

 

 
38

Total
 
3,315

 
$
12,794

 
$
15,419

 
$
2,625

 
$
601

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
See our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7, Critical Accounting Estimates, Asset Impairment, Page 53.


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 66



Item 4.        Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures – The company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act)).
 
Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. The company’s management, with the participation of the company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2017. Based upon that evaluation, the company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the design and operation of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures provided reasonable assurance that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure:
that information required to be disclosed in the company’s reports under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and
that such information is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting – During the three months ended March 31, 2017, there were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 

Part II – Other Information
Item 1.    Legal Proceedings
Neither the company nor any of our subsidiaries are involved in any litigation believed to be material other than ordinary, routine litigation incidental to the nature of our business.
 

Item 1A.    Risk Factors
Our risk factors have not changed materially since they were described in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 24, 2017.
 

Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
We did not sell any of our shares that were not registered under the Securities Act during the first three months of 2017. Our repurchase program was expanded on October 22, 2007, to increase our repurchase authorization to approximately 13 million shares. Our repurchase program does not have an expiration date. We have 3,342,065 shares available for purchase under our programs at March 31, 2017.
Period
 
Total number
 of shares
 purchased
 
Average
 price paid
 per share
 
Total number of shares 
purchased as part of
publicly announced
plans or programs
 
Maximum number of
shares that may yet be
purchased under the
plans or programs
January 1-31, 2017
 

 

 

 
3,542,065

February 1-28, 2017
 

 

 

 
3,542,065

March 1-31, 2017
 
200,000

 
73.35

 
200,000

 
3,342,065

Totals
 
200,000

 
73.35

 
200,000

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 67




Item 6.    Exhibits
Exhibit No.
 
Exhibit Description
3.1
 
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Cincinnati Financial Corporation (incorporated by reference to the company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K dated February 25, 2011, Exhibit 3.1)
3.2
 
Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Cincinnati Financial Corporation (incorporated by reference to the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, Exhibit 3.2) (File No. 000-04604)
3.3
 
Regulations of Cincinnati Financial Corporation, as amended through May 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference to the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, Exhibit 3.2)
10.1
 
Form of Incentive Compensation Agreement for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation Incentive Compensation Plan of 2009 (as amended January 1, 2014) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017)
10.2
 
Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017)
10.3
 
Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017)
10.4
 
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (service based/cliff) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017)
10.5
 
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (service based/ratable) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017)
10.6
 
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (performance-based) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2012 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017)
10.7
 
Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2016 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017)
10.8
 
Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2016 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017)
10.9
 
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (service based/cliff) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2016 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017)
10.10
 
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (service based/ratable) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2016 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017)
10.11
 
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (performance based) for the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2016 Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 filed with the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017)
31A
 
Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 – Chief Executive Officer
31B
 
Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 – Chief Financial Officer
32
 
Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 

Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 68



SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Date: April 26, 2017
 
/S/ Michael J. Sewell
Michael J. Sewell, CPA
Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer
(Principal Accounting Officer)


Cincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2017 10-Q
Page 69