W R Berkley Corp (NYSE:WRB) stock rose 1.53% (As on July 22, 11:24:08 AM UTC-4, Source: Google Finance) after the company reported a rise in second-quarter profit, boosted by robust investment gains and steady underwriting performance. The earnings underscore investor preference for companies shielded from tariff-related risks amid persistent uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policy. The Greenwich, Connecticut-based insurer’s net written premiums rose 7.2% to a record $3.35 billion in the quarter, as businesses and individuals continued to invest in insurance coverage to guard against risks despite a period of economic uncertainty. Net investment income rose 1.9% to a record $379.3 million in the second quarter, largely driven by higher returns from its growing domestic fixed maturity portfolio. The company’s quarterly catastrophe losses surged more than 10.7% to $99.2 million from $89.7 million a year earlier. The company reported a combined ratio of 91.6%, compared to 91.1% a year earlier. A ratio below 100% shows that an insurer earned more in premiums than it paid out in claims. Cash flow from operations was $1.5 billion in the first half of 2025, down 11.1% year over year. Operating return on equity contracted 200 bps to 20%.

Moreover, net premiums written at the Insurance segment increased 7.2% year over year to $3 billion in the quarter, primarily due to higher premiums from other liability, short-tail lines, auto, workers’ compensation and professional liability. Net premiums written in the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment increased 6.8% year over year to $337.7 million due to higher premiums at Casualty, Property and Monoline excess.

WRB in the second quarter of FY25 has reported the adjusted earnings per share of $1.05, beating the analysts’ estimates for the adjusted earnings per share of $1.03, according to the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company had reported the adjusted revenue growth of 7.9 percent to $3.6 billion in the second quarter of FY25, beating the analysts’ estimates for revenue by 1.8%. W.R. Berkley exited the second quarter of 2025 with total assets worth $42.7 billion, up 5.5% from year-end 2024. Senior notes and other debt remained flat from 2024 end levels at $1.8 billion. Book value per share increased 6.8% from 2024 end level to $24.50 as of June 30, 2025. WRB returned $223.8 million to shareholders, consisting of $189.7 million of special dividends and $34.1 million of ordinary dividends.