Fitch says Hurricane Milton will push 2024 insured losses over $100 billion
By Matt Tracy
WASHINGTON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Hurricane Milton could cause up to $50 billion in insured losses for Florida property owners, pushing insurers' estimated losses in the state over $100 billion in 2024 alone, Fitch Ratings said in a report published on Thursday.
On Thursday morning, the Category 3 storm cut a destructive path across the Sunshine State, killing at least 10 people and leaving millions without power.
But the state appears to have avoided the "worst-case scenario" outlined by analysts, which on Wednesday forecast as much as $100 billion in insured losses from Milton alone.
Now Fitch analysts are estimating Milton will lead to between $30 billion and $50 billion in insured losses, according to their report published Thursday, which noted it would be the largest insured loss since Hurricane Ian in 2022.
Coming on the heels of Hurricane Helene two weeks prior, Milton would further push total insured losses for insurers in the state over $100 billion for the fifth straight year, the Fitch analysts wrote.
Ultimate losses will depend in part on the level of demand for the supplies needed to repair and rebuild damaged properties following the storm, which historically can increase insured losses by 20% or more, according to Fitch.
Milton is unlikely to affect the credit of well-capitalized large rated property & casualty insurers and global reinsurers, the report noted.
Domestic insurers are also likely to absorb the expected losses through their reinsurance programs, the Fitch analysts wrote. They warned, however, that these state specialists will be exposed should another storm hit the state this hurricane season.
"The Florida homeowners’ insurance market’s precarious position will weaken further with the destruction generated by Milton."
Reporting by Matt Tracy in Washington; editing by Diane Craft
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
