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Ward's 50® Certification Methodology

Ward's 50 Methodology

Life-Health Ward's 50®

Criteria for Selection

Must be an insurance company with at least five consecutive years of operating history.

Must meet the following criteria:

  • Surplus of at least $50 million for each of the five years analyzed
  • Adjusted net income in at least 4 of the last 5 years. If applicable, the one loss year must be less than 10% of surplus
  • Risk-based capital ratio of at least 150% for each of the five years analyzed
  • Compound annual growth in premiums between -10% and +40%
  • Must pass Ward Group's evaluation of company operations

Companies are measured and ranked in performance based on the following metrics:

  • Five year average Return on Average Equity
  • Five year average Return on Average Assets
  • Five year average Return on Total Revenue
  • Five year growth in Total Revenue
  • Five year growth in Surplus

Property-Casualty Ward's 50®

Criteria for Selection

Must be an insurance company with at least five consecutive years of operating history.

Must meet the following criteria:

  • Surplus and premiums of at least $50 million for each of the 5 years analyzed
  • Net income in at least 4 of the last 5 years
  • Risk-based capital ratio of at least 100% for each of the 5 years analyzed
  • Compound annual growth in premiums between -10% and +40%
  • Must pass Ward Group's evaluation of company operations

Companies are measured and ranked in performance based on the following metrics:

  • Five year average Return on Average Equity
  • Five year average Return on Average Assets
  • Five year average Return on Total Revenue
  • Five year growth in Net Premiums Written
  • Five year improvement in Leverage Ratio
  • Five year average Combined Ratio


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