In June 2026 catastrophe-reinsurance prices fell the fastest in over a decade and Berkshire wrote less — exactly as it did in reverse after Katrina. A look at the counter-cyclical discipline you can measure, and why the float still hit a record $176.9 billion.
The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index leads GEICO's loss ratio by approximately twelve months because auto insurance rate filings can't adjust fast enough. The index turned up in late 2025 — the same signal that preceded GEICO's 2022 $1.9 billion underwriting loss. But the scale is different, and bodily-injury severity is the bigger wildcard the index cannot forecast.
Q1 2026 was the first quarter in three years that both halves of GEICO's combined ratio moved against the company at the same time. Losses up 4.9 points on tariff-driven repair costs and bodily-injury severity. Expenses up 2.6 points on a 29% surge in policy acquisition spend. Half the story is hiding on the other side of the ledger.
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group's first-quarter property-casualty premiums earned fell 6.2% as the group walked away from soft pricing — and on April 1, a ten-year whole-account quota-share with Tokio Marine switched on. A scholarly look at what these contracts mean and why disciplined reinsurers shrink in markets like this.
Fifty years ago this spring, a 43-year-old actuary named Jack Byrne walked into a District of Columbia insurance company three weeks from the graveyard. What happened next turned a $4M morning stock order into a $2.4B half-stake and rewired Berkshire's identity for the next half-century.
Todd Combs took a bleeding GEICO — losing $1.9 billion in 2022 — and rebuilt it into a $6.8 billion profit machine by slashing 14,000 jobs, gutting 600 legacy apps, and betting on AI. Now Nancy Pierce inherits the most technologically ambitious insurer in America. Here is the full story of GEICO's transformation.
In 2024, GEICO has undergone a remarkable transformation, delivering record underwriting profits.
The Greater LA Fires have left everyone in shock. As the situation continues to unfold, we turn our attention to Berkshire's position.
In Q3 2024, Berkshire Hathaway faced mixed insurance results, heavily influenced by catastrophic weather events. However, GEICO emerged as a beacon of hope with impressive underwriting performance, showcasing resilience amidst challenges.
Berkshire Hathaway's insurance operations, led by GEICO and the Primary Group, fueled impressive earnings in Q2 2024. We analyze the key drivers, strategic initiatives, and historical context that underscore the company's resilience and growth potential.