Latest news with #commercialinsurance
Associated Press
8 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Inszone Insurance Services Expands Northern California Presence with Acquisition of McFarland Commercial Insurance Services, Inc.
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 22, 2025-- Inszone Insurance Services, a rapidly expanding national provider of commercial, personal, and benefits insurance, is excited to announce the acquisition of McFarland Commercial Insurance Services, Inc., a highly respected agency based in Redding, California. Founded in 2002 and purchased in 2006 by Dave McFarland, McFarland Commercial Insurance Services has consistently provided specialized commercial insurance solutions with a strong focus on contractors and property referrals. Under Dave's leadership, the agency built an impressive reputation for personalized service, expertise, and trusted client relationships across California. The decision to partner with Inszone Insurance came as Dave McFarland contemplated retirement. 'Since last October I had been considering retirement, but I wanted to ensure a stable and supportive future for my employees,' said Dave McFarland. 'Having previously spoken with Jennifer Sevilla several years ago, I revisited discussions with Inszone. They quickly stood out by addressing my main concern: maintaining security and opportunities for my staff. Inszone's approach and values made them the obvious choice.' Chris Walters, CEO of Inszone Insurance Services, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition. 'We are honored to welcome McFarland Commercial Insurance Services to Inszone. Dave and his team have cultivated exceptional relationships in the commercial insurance space, particularly with contractors. Their specialized expertise and dedication to client service will be a welcomed support to our existing offerings and continue to strengthen our presence in Northern California.' Clients of McFarland Commercial Insurance Services can expect continued personalized attention and service, now supported by Inszone's expansive resources, access to additional insurance carriers, and enhanced operational capabilities. About Inszone Insurance Services Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sacramento, California, Inszone Insurance Services is a full-service insurance brokerage firm offering a wide range of property & casualty and employee benefits solutions. Inszone continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions, now serving clients through offices in California, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Washington, with additional expansion planned nationwide. For more information about Inszone Insurance Services, please visit View source version on CONTACT: Inszone Insurance Services Chris Walters – CEO 714-619-5620 [email protected] KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: INSURANCE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SOURCE: Inszone Insurance Services Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 07/22/2025 02:00 PM/DISC: 07/22/2025 02:01 PM
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Inszone Insurance Services Expands Northern California Presence with Acquisition of McFarland Commercial Insurance Services, Inc.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 22, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Inszone Insurance Services, a rapidly expanding national provider of commercial, personal, and benefits insurance, is excited to announce the acquisition of McFarland Commercial Insurance Services, Inc., a highly respected agency based in Redding, California. Founded in 2002 and purchased in 2006 by Dave McFarland, McFarland Commercial Insurance Services has consistently provided specialized commercial insurance solutions with a strong focus on contractors and property referrals. Under Dave's leadership, the agency built an impressive reputation for personalized service, expertise, and trusted client relationships across California. The decision to partner with Inszone Insurance came as Dave McFarland contemplated retirement. "Since last October I had been considering retirement, but I wanted to ensure a stable and supportive future for my employees," said Dave McFarland. "Having previously spoken with Jennifer Sevilla several years ago, I revisited discussions with Inszone. They quickly stood out by addressing my main concern: maintaining security and opportunities for my staff. Inszone's approach and values made them the obvious choice." Chris Walters, CEO of Inszone Insurance Services, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition. "We are honored to welcome McFarland Commercial Insurance Services to Inszone. Dave and his team have cultivated exceptional relationships in the commercial insurance space, particularly with contractors. Their specialized expertise and dedication to client service will be a welcomed support to our existing offerings and continue to strengthen our presence in Northern California." Clients of McFarland Commercial Insurance Services can expect continued personalized attention and service, now supported by Inszone's expansive resources, access to additional insurance carriers, and enhanced operational capabilities. About Inszone Insurance Services Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sacramento, California, Inszone Insurance Services is a full-service insurance brokerage firm offering a wide range of property & casualty and employee benefits solutions. Inszone continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions, now serving clients through offices in California, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Washington, with additional expansion planned nationwide. For more information about Inszone Insurance Services, please visit
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UnitedHealth's Commercial Unit: A Stabilizer Amid Healthcare Turmoil?
UnitedHealth Group Inc. UNH is currently navigating a challenging healthcare landscape, with its Medicare Advantage business reportedly facing regulatory scrutiny and rising care costs. However, amid all the hurdles, its commercial insurance business is stepping up as a vital source of stability. As of March 31, 2025, the UnitedHealthcare business served 50.1 million people, representing a 1.9% year-over-year growth, driven by its self-funded commercial benefits. With more than 30 million members, the company's commercial segment benefited from favorable pricing and a healthier risk pool compared to government plans. It showed consistent growth over time. Commercial plans are available to both individuals and employers, have less volatile cost structures and are less vulnerable to sudden changes in regulations than Medicare Advantage. After the return of former CEO Stephen Hemsley in May 2025, the company is shifting its focus. As it works on tightening controls and compliance in its Medicare operations, UNH is also putting a strong emphasis on growing its commercial portfolio. Even though UNH has pulled back on its full-year guidance due to ongoing pressures, the commercial division continues to provide a buffer against uncertainty. With the broader economy facing challenges that affect both consumers and providers, the company's approach, particularly the strong performance of its commercial business, continues to anchor its financial stability. Some of UNH's major competitors in the healthcare plan provider space are Molina Healthcare, Inc. MOH and The Cigna Group CI. Molina Healthcare recently warned about rising medical costs and erratic utilization trends, which led it to cut its 2025 earnings guidance. In contrast to its previous prediction of at least $24.50, Molina now projects adjusted earnings per share for the entire year to be between $21.50 and $22.50. Molina now projects adjusted earnings of about $5.50 per share for the second quarter of 2025. By strategically selling its Medicare Advantage, Cigna Supplemental Benefits, Medicare Part D, and CareAllies businesses to HCSC in March 2025, Cigna has differentiated itself. Its commercial-heavy model will provide clearer short-term visibility and more consistent underwriting performance. Cigna reported impressive results in the first quarter of 2025, driven by premium rate increases and strengthened relationships with existing clients. Shares of UNH have plunged 39.9% in the year-to-date period compared with the industry's decline of 32.3%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, UnitedHealth trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 12.85, above the industry average of 11.5. UNH carries a Value Score of B. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UnitedHealth's 2025 earnings is pegged at $21.85 per share, implying a 21% dip from the year-ago period. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Molina Healthcare, Inc (MOH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cigna Group (CI) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Insightful Analyst Questions From AIG's Q1 Earnings Call
AIG's first-quarter results were met with a positive market reaction as the company delivered non-GAAP profit well above Wall Street's expectations despite missing on revenue. Management attributed this outcome to disciplined underwriting, expense control, and growth in its commercial insurance segments. CEO Peter Zaffino pointed to robust premium growth in North America Commercial Insurance and operational improvements, especially in expense ratios. The company also highlighted the benefit from the divestiture of its travel business and ongoing execution of its digital and underwriting initiatives, which helped offset higher catastrophe losses. Is now the time to buy AIG? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $6.78 billion vs analyst estimates of $6.75 billion (flat year on year, in line) Adjusted EPS: $1.17 vs analyst estimates of $0.99 (17.7% beat) Adjusted Operating Income: $909 million vs analyst estimates of $869.1 million (13.4% margin, 4.6% beat) Market Capitalization: $47.95 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Mike Zaremski (BMO Capital Markets) asked about the complexity and costs of adopting GenAI across underwriting and operations. CEO Peter Zaffino explained that AIG's digital transformation began years ago with foundational data work and is now 'live' in several business lines. Meyer Shields (KBW) pressed on how tariff uncertainty impacts underwriting and pricing. Zaffino responded that AIG is building extra risk margins into pricing where appropriate and monitoring inflation factors closely on impacted lines. Alex Scott (Barclays) questioned whether the uncertain geopolitical environment alters AIG's M&A or capital deployment strategy. Zaffino said the company remains disciplined and would deploy capital only for opportunities additive to AIG, otherwise returning excess to shareholders. Andrew Anderson (Jefferies) asked if the strong North America Commercial results could lead AIG to take on more net business. Zaffino replied that the company is satisfied with its current risk profile and does not plan to increase net exposure, especially in property and casualty. Brian Meredith (UBS) inquired about the sustainability of North America Commercial growth and any changes in casualty loss trends. Zaffino indicated growth was supported by strong retention and new business, but property growth effects may normalize, and no changes to casualty loss cost assumptions are planned for now. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will monitor (1) the pace and measurable impact of GenAI adoption across underwriting and claims, (2) the execution and growth trajectory of the Tata AIG joint venture as a bellwether for international expansion, and (3) management's ability to maintain expense discipline and underwriting profitability despite external pressures from tariffs, inflation, and catastrophes. These signposts will be key to tracking AIG's progress toward its multi-year targets. AIG currently trades at $82.35, up from $80.72 just before the earnings. At this price, is it a buy or sell? The answer lies in our full research report (it's free). The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Finextra
26-06-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Aon launches AI platform for commercial insurance placement
Aon, a leading global professional services firm, today announced the launch of Aon Broker Copilot, a proprietary, patent-pending platform that uses artificial intelligence, large-language models and predictive analytics to transform the commercial insurance placement process. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. Developed in-house and co-designed with the firm's frontline brokers, Aon Broker Copilot is designed to streamline complex workflows, elevate placement strategy and deliver better outcomes for clients navigating an increasingly volatile risk environment. "Aon Broker Copilot equips our brokers with the tools to lead with insight powered by client priorities and real-time data," said Clyde Bernstein, head of placement technology and trading analytics for Aon. "For the first time, we're capturing and structuring data across all submissions—quoted or not taken up—so we can provide brokers and clients with live intelligence of pricing, carrier appetite and market sentiment. It's a smarter, faster way to make better decisions." By capturing and standardizing data from every submission—whether quoted, bound, or declined—Aon Broker Copilot provides an unprecedented view into how the global insurance market is pricing risk. This comprehensive dataset allows Aon to move beyond anecdotal insights, enabling brokers to deliver sharper, real-time advice to clients based on actual market behaviour, not just completed deals. It fills a critical intelligence gap, helping clients make better decisions in a dynamic and competitive environment. The platform integrates seamlessly with Aon's suite of Risk Analyzer and is powered by one of the industry's largest repositories of structured risk trading data. It enables Aon's brokers to surface analytics at the point of decision, prepare higher-quality submissions and engage with carriers in a more strategic and insightful manner. "As risk becomes more complex, the future of broking will belong to firms that can combine expertise with intelligence at scale. Aon Broker Copilot reflects how Aon is undertaking one of the most ambitious digital transformations across the broker universe. The platform is the next step in predictive broking, enabling our brokers to operate with greater precision, consistency and insight to deliver better outcomes for our clients around the world," said Joe Peiser, CEO of Commercial Risk for Aon. "The industry is undergoing a fundamental shift." "We're redefining how capital matches risk, harnessing digital innovation to deliver faster, smarter solutions that help our clients tackle emerging challenges before they escalate. By staying ahead of new and evolving threats, we ensure our clients are resilient, informed and primed to grow in a world where their most valuable assets are now intangible not physical." Launching first with Aon's U.S. National Property and London Global Broking Centre Property teams, the platform will expand to additional business lines and geographies throughout 2025 and 2026. Aon Broker Copilot also demonstrates the firm's 3x3 Plan in action—raising the bar on service delivery and scaling innovation across the firm. Specifically, in 2024, Aon committed $1 billion to help clients make better decisions on interconnected issues through its Risk Capital and Human Capital capabilities, while deploying AI and advanced analytics to turn data into real-time, actionable insight. With Aon Broker Copilot, the firm advances that mission and modernizes the business of broking, bringing together the firm's global scale, proprietary data and AI capabilities to help clients access capital with greater speed, clarity and confidence.
