Laura Kaster, CFA - Senior Director of North and South American Financial Institutions, Fitch Ratings

Laura Kaster, CFA – Senior Director of North and South American Financial Institutions, Fitch Ratings

Accomplished finance executive with expertise in securities and corporate analysis, sales and investment banking. Published financial analyst with extensive public speaking and marketing experience. Diverse background includes in-depth analysis of corporate capital structure and allocation, accounting methodologies and strategic advisory for both publicly traded and privately held companies.

Latest reviews by Laura Kaster
U.S. Property & Casualty Insurers Will See Some Relief in 2024" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="U.S. Property & Casualty Insurers Will See Some Relief in 2024">
U.S. Property & Casualty Insurers Will See Some Relief in 2024
U.S. property and casualty insurers will see some relief in 2024 year following a rough 2023 as a personal auto line recovery contributes to statutory profit improvement
P&C insurance results" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="U.S. P&C Insurance: Weak Performance and Neutral Outlook for 2024">
U.S. P&C Insurance: Weak Performance and Neutral Outlook for 2024
The U.S. property and casualty (P&C) insurance sector experienced subdued statutory financial performance, primarily due to a decline in personal lines
Business Models and Investment Strategies of US Life Insurers" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Business Models and Investment Strategies of US Life Insurers">
Business Models and Investment Strategies of US Life Insurers
Private credit investments are increasingly important to the business models and investment strategies of US life insurers
Ratings of U.S. Life Insurers Are Not at Risk from CRE Exposure" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Ratings of U.S. Life Insurers Are Not at Risk from CRE Exposure">
Ratings of U.S. Life Insurers Are Not at Risk from CRE Exposure
Ratings of U.S. life insurers are not currently at risk from commercial real estate (CRE) exposure, given stable investment portfolios comprised of high-quality
U.S. Life Insurance Companies Investment Portfolio" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="2023 U.S. Life Insurance Companies Investment Portfolio">
2023 U.S. Life Insurance Companies Investment Portfolio
Rising interest rates are expected to continue to reduce investment maintenance reserve (IMR) balances for U.S. life insurers
U.S. Commercial Auto Insurance to Remain Unprofitable in 2023" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="U.S. Commercial Auto Insurance to Remain Unprofitable in 2024">
U.S. Commercial Auto Insurance to Remain Unprofitable in 2024
The U.S. commercial auto insurance segment to remain unprofitable in 2023, with rising claims severity from inflation and burgeoning litigation risk
US P&C Insurance Industry Generates Underwriting Losses" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="US P&C Insurance Generates Underwriting Losses in 1H2023">
US P&C Insurance Generates Underwriting Losses in 1H2023
US P&C insurance industry continued to generate significant underwriting losses in 1H2023 despite strong premium growth
U.S. D&O Liability Insurance Continued to Generate Loss" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="U.S. D&O Liability Insurance Continued to Generate Loss">
U.S. D&O Liability Insurance Continued to Generate Loss
The U.S. directors & officers (D&O) liability insurance segment continued to generate favorable loss ratios through the first half of 2023
2023 US Life & Non-Life Insurance Market: Asset & Investment Portfolio" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="2023 US Life & Non-Life Insurance Market: Asset & Investment Portfolio">
2023 US Life & Non-Life Insurance Market: Asset & Investment Portfolio
The US non-life insurance market’s holdings of commercial real estate (CRE) and other real estate should withstand the challenging economic environment
2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Market Review: Premiums & Underwriting Losses" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="U.S. Auto Insurance Market Review 1H2023: Premiums & Underwriting Losses">
U.S. Auto Insurance Market Review 1H2023: Premiums & Underwriting Losses
Most U.S. personal auto insurers continue to report underwriting losses despite sharper improvement in premium rates of 2023
U.S. & European Life Insurers’ CRE Exposure is Via Commercial Mortgage Loans" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="U.S. & European Life Insurers’ CRE Exposure is Via Commercial Mortgage Loans">
U.S. & European Life Insurers’ CRE Exposure is Via Commercial Mortgage Loans
U.S. life insurers’ commercial real estate (CRE) exposure is predominantly via commercial mortgage loans, with more modest exposure
Large U.S. Health Insurers Have Expanded Participation in Individual Insurance" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Large U.S. Health Insurers Have Expanded Participation in Individual Insurance">
Large U.S. Health Insurers Have Expanded Participation in Individual Insurance
Fitch Ratings does not expect rating implications for U.S. health insurers from the expiration of Medicaid continuous enrollment
Cyber Insurance Market Will Maintains Premium Growth & Underwriting" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Cyber Insurance Market Will Maintains Premium Growth & Underwriting in 2023">
Cyber Insurance Market Will Maintains Premium Growth & Underwriting in 2023
Cyber insurance market is anticipated to maintain favorable premium growth and underwriting results through 2023
US P&C Insurance Market Underwriting Results Improves in 2023" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="US P&C Insurance Market Underwriting Results Improves in 2023">
US P&C Insurance Market Underwriting Results Improves in 2023
US property and casualty P&C industry underwriting results are likely to improve in 2023 as premium rates rise significantly in underperforming auto
U.S. Homeowners Insurance Results: 2023 Premium Growth & Underwriting Loss" class="attachment-csco-thumbnail size-csco-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="U.S. Homeowners Insurance Results: 2023 Premium Growth & Underwriting Loss">
U.S. Homeowners Insurance Results: 2023 Premium Growth & Underwriting Loss
U.S. homeowners’ insurance is poised to post a statutory underwriting loss for reported results, as insurers continue to face above-average catastrophe losses