OREANDA-NEWS. Loews Corporation (NYSE:L) today reported a net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2016 of $65 million, or $0.19 per share, compared to net income of $170 million, or $0.46 per share, in the prior year period. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $37 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to $279 million, or $0.75 per share, in the prior year period.

Results include asset impairment charges at Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. of $267 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and $158 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the six months ended June 30, 2015.

Book value per share excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) increased to $52.84 at June 30, 2016 from $52.72 at December 31, 2015.

CONSOLIDATED HIGHLIGHTS

(In millions, except per share data)

June 30,

Three Months

Six Months

2016

2015

2016

2015

Income (loss) before net investment gains (losses)

$   (67)

$  167

$    52

$ 268

Net investment gains (losses)

2

3

(15)

11

Net income (loss) attributable to Loews Corporation

$   (65)

$  170

$    37

$  279

Net income (loss) per share

$ (0.19)

$ 0.46

$ 0.11

$ 0.75
     
 

June 30, 2016

December 31, 2015

  Book value per share

$  53.19

$  51.67

  Book value per share excluding AOCI

52.84

52.72

Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 Compared to 2015

Results for the three months ended June 30, 2016 decreased $235 million as compared to the prior year due to an asset impairment charge at Diamond Offshore partially offset by higher earnings at CNA Financial Corporation and improved results from the parent company investment portfolio due to higher income from equity securities.

CNA's earnings increased due to the impact of a $49 million charge (after tax and noncontrolling interests) in 2015 related to the 2010 retroactive reinsurance agreement to cede its legacy asbestos and environmental pollution liabilities (loss portfolio transfer or LPT). CNA's earnings also benefited from increased favorable net prior year development.

Diamond Offshore's earnings decreased due to an asset impairment charge of $680 million ($267 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) related to the carrying value of eight drilling rigs. Absent this charge, Diamond Offshore's earnings declined due to a substantial reduction in the number of rigs operating as compared to the year ago period partially offset by lower depreciation expense resulting mainly from the asset impairment charges recorded in 2015.

Boardwalk Pipeline's earnings increased partially due to new rates in effect following the Gulf South rate case and proceeds received from a one-time legal settlement. Additionally, the Evangeline pipeline, which was placed into service in mid-2015, and new growth projects contributed to earnings.

Loews Hotels' earnings decreased due to an impairment charge related to a joint venture property.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 Compared to 2015

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 decreased primarily due to lower earnings at CNA and Diamond Offshore partially offset by higher earnings at Boardwalk Pipeline and improved results from the parent company investment portfolio due to higher income from equity securities.

CNA's earnings decreased due to lower net investment income driven by limited partnership investment results, realized investment losses in 2016 as compared to gains in 2015 and a higher LPT charge in 2016 as compared to the prior year period. These items were partially offset by increased favorable net prior year development.

Diamond Offshore's earnings decreased due to increased asset impairment charges. Excluding these impairment charges, year-over-year earnings decreased as a result of a substantial reduction in the number of operating rigs partially offset by revenue earned by newbuild drillships and lower depreciation expense as a result of the asset impairment charges recorded in 2015.

The change in Boardwalk Pipeline's and Loews Hotels' results are primarily due to the reasons discussed above in the three month comparison.

SHARE REPURCHASES

At June 30, 2016, there were 337.4 million shares of Loews common stock outstanding. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company repurchased 1.6 million and 2.6 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $65 million and $98 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company also purchased 0.3 million shares of CNA common stock at an aggregate cost of $8 million. Depending on market conditions, the Company may from time to time purchase shares of its and its subsidiaries' outstanding common stock in the open market or otherwise.

ABOUT LOEWS CORPORATION

Loews Corporation is a diversified company with three publicly-traded subsidiaries: CNA Financial Corporation (NYSE: CNA), Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE: DO) and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (NYSE: BWP); and one wholly owned subsidiary, Loews Hotels & Resorts.

Loews Corporation and Subsidiaries

        

Selected Financial Information 

        
           
           
   

June 30,
   

Three Months

Six Months

(In millions)

2016

2015

2016

2015

Revenues:

        

  CNA Financial 

$       2,335

$       2,329

$       4,566

$       4,671

  Diamond Offshore

390

632

861

1,259

  Boardwalk Pipeline

308

299

655

629

  Loews Hotels

189

167

352

306

  Investment income and other

84

10

73

40
   

3,306

3,437

6,507

6,905

Investment gains (losses):

        

CNA Financial

13

(2)

(15)

8

Corporate and other 

(12)

  

(12)

  
   

1

(2)

(27)

8

Total

$       3,307

$       3,435

$       6,480

$       6,913
           

Income (Loss) Before Income Tax:

        

  CNA Financial (a)

$          277

$          167

$          363

$          471

  Diamond Offshore (b)

(657)

106

(574)

(181)

  Boardwalk Pipeline

65

38

164

115

  Loews Hotels 

4

14

13

24

  Investment income, net

85

10

72

39

  Other (c)

(51)

(38)

(92)

(76)
   

(277)

297

(54)

392

Investment gains (losses):

        

CNA Financial

13

(2)

(15)

8

Corporate and other 

(12)

  

(12)

  
   

1

(2)

(27)

8

Total

$        (276)

$          295

$          (81)

$          400
           

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Loews Corporation:

        

  CNA Financial (a)

$          183

$          121

$          260

$          323

  Diamond Offshore (b)

(290)

45

(247)

(81)

  Boardwalk Pipeline

17

12

48

37

  Loews Hotels 

1

8

4

13

  Investment income, net

56

7

48

26

  Other (c)

(34)

(26)

(61)

(50)
   

(67)

167

52

268

Investment gains (losses):

        

CNA Financial

6

3

(11)

11

Corporate and other 

(4)

  

(4)

  
   

2

3

(15)

11

Net income (loss) attributable to Loews Corporation

$          (65)

$          170

$            37

$          279

(a)

Includes a charge of $127 million ($74 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and a charge of $84 million ($49 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 related to retroactive reinsurance accounting for the Loss Portfolio Transfer.

(b)

Includes asset impairment charges of $680 million ($267 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and $359 million ($158 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the six months ended June 30, 2015  related to the carrying value of Diamond Offshore's drilling rigs.
 

(c)

Consists primarily of corporate interest expense and other unallocated expenses.

Loews Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Financial Review
           
           
   

June 30,
   

Three Months

Six Months

(In millions, except per share data)

2016

2015

2016

2015

Revenues:

        

  Insurance premiums

$       1,730

$       1,735

$       3,429

$       3,422

  Net investment income

587

510

1,009

1,098

  Investment gains (losses)

1

(2)

(27)

8

  Contract drilling revenues

357

617

801

1,217

  Other revenues

632

575

1,268

1,168

Total

3,307

3,435

6,480

6,913
           

Expenses:

        

  Insurance claims & policyholders' benefits (a)

1,339

1,469

2,747

2,808

  Contract drilling expenses

198

344

411

695

  Other operating expenses (b) 

2,046

1,327

3,403

3,010

Total

3,583

3,140

6,561

6,513
           

Income (loss) before income tax 

(276)

295

(81)

400

Income tax expense

(12)

(48)

(8)

(104)

Net income (loss)

(288)

247

(89)

296

Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests

223

(77)

126

(17)

Net income (loss) attributable to Loews Corporation

$          (65)

$          170

$            37

$          279
           

Income (loss) per share attributable to Loews Corporation

$       (0.19)

$         0.46

$         0.11

$         0.75
           

Weighted average number of shares

338.72

369.97

339.10

371.57

(a)

Includes a charge of $127 million ($74 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and a charge of $84 million ($49 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 related to retroactive reinsurance accounting for the Loss Portfolio Transfer.

(b)

Includes asset impairment charges of $680 million ($267 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and $359 million ($158 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the six months ended June 30, 2015 related to the carrying value of Diamond Offshore's drilling rigs.