Insurance Carriers Industry Profile

Companies in this industry underwrite insurance policies and annuities that are paid out in the case of death, injury, or damage to property. Major companies include AIG, Hartford Financial Services Group, MetLife, and Prudential Financial (all based in the US), along with Allianz (Germany), Assicurazioni Generali (Italy), AXA (France), and Japan Post Insurance Company.

Insurance growth rates have been highest in Asia and Latin America. Insurance carriers are expanding into emerging markets such as China, India, and Brazil where there is a growing demand for insurance products among an expanding middle class.

The US insurance carriers industry includes about 7,500 companies with combined annual revenue of more than $1 trillion. Moderate growth is forecast for the next two years. Key growth drivers include favorable demographic trends and increased use of technology.

Providers of title insurance and health insurance, which are included in the industry, are covered in separate industry profiles. Insurance agents and brokers also are covered in a separate profile.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by demographics and commercial transactions, as well as by legal or financial requirements affecting customers. Consumers are usually required by states to buy auto insurance and by lenders to buy homeowners insurance, for example. The profitability of individual companies depends on effective marketing and on the ability to accurately estimate future payments. Large companies have big economies of scale in administration and in access to capital, as ...