Loews Corporation (Loews (L)) shares took a dive on Monday after the company reported first-quarter earnings that left investors feeling a bit mixed. The headline number—net income of $337 million, or $1.63 per share—was down from $370 million, or $1.74 per share, a year ago. That's not the kind of trend anyone wants to see, especially when the broader market is humming along.
The culprit? Its insurance segment, CNA Financial (CNA (CNA)), which contributed $194 million in net income to Loews, down from $252 million last year. Core income at CNA dropped to $225 million from $281 million, thanks to weaker underwriting results and some unfavorable prior-year loss reserve development. Basically, CNA had to set aside more money for past claims, which ate into profits. On the bright side, net investment income rose, helped by higher returns from fixed-income securities and a larger invested asset base. Net earned premiums inched up 3%, and net written premiums grew 1%—not exactly gangbusters, but steady.
Total revenue for Loews came in at $4.555 billion, up from $4.494 billion a year ago. Book value per share ticked up to $90.90 from $90.71 at year-end, and book value excluding AOCI rose to $97.20 from $95.89. The parent company had $4.5 billion in cash and investments as of March 31, with $1.8 billion in debt. Loews also bought back 0.3 million shares for $31 million during the quarter—a small but consistent signal of confidence.
Now for the good stuff. Loews Hotels had a standout quarter: net income jumped to $26 million from less than $1 million a year ago, and adjusted EBITDA soared 53% to $124 million. The magic was largely at Universal Orlando Resort, where higher average daily rates and more occupied room nights—plus contributions from three new hotels opened in 2025—drove the improvement. It's a reminder that when people want to vacation, they really want to vacation.
Boardwalk Pipelines also delivered. Net income rose to $159 million from $152 million, and EBITDA increased to $360 million from $346 million. The gains came from stronger contracting rates, higher utilization-based gas transportation revenues, and better pricing in storage, parking, and lending services. Nothing flashy, but solid execution.
So why did the stock fall 7.05% to $103.82 on Monday? The insurance drag was the main story. Even though hotels and pipelines performed well, CNA is a big piece of the Loews puzzle, and when that piece wobbles, the whole picture looks shakier. Investors are probably waiting to see if CNA's underwriting issues are a one-quarter blip or something more persistent. For now, the market is voting with its feet—down.













