Peter Zaffino's Radical Simplification
When Peter Zaffino became CEO of AIG in March 2021, he inherited a company still haunted by 2008. Despite returning taxpayer funds with profit by 2012, AIG remained bloated—sprawling insurance operations across 80+ countries, legacy liabilities from decades of acquisitions, and a reputation that made "too big to fail" synonymous with the company name. Zaffino, a 40-year insurance veteran who joined AIG in 2017 as president, had a clear mandate: simplify, focus, and restore profitability.
By 2025, Zaffino's transformation is largely complete. AIG sold or exited over $50 billion in non-core businesses—commercial mortgages, international life operations (Fortitude Re deal), retail mutual fund business (SunAmerica), and subscale country operations. The company now operates two core segments: General Insurance (commercial property & casualty) and Life & Retirement (life insurance, annuities, retirement services). Underwriting discipline has improved dramatically—the combined ratio (claims + expenses / premiums) dropped from 103% in 2019 to ~95% by 2024, indicating profitable underwriting. The result: AIG generates 10%+ ROE, produces $5 billion in annual free cash flow, and trades at a valuation discount reflecting its past, not its present reality.
Business Model & Competitive Moat
AIG operates two primary divisions: General Insurance (60% of premiums) provides commercial property & casualty coverage to corporations globally—aviation insurance for airlines, energy insurance for oil/gas companies, D&O coverage for executives, cyber insurance, and specialty lines; Life & Retirement (40%) offers life insurance, fixed and variable annuities, and retirement services to individuals and institutions. Revenue comes from insurance premiums, investment income on float ($300B+ portfolio), and fees on retirement products.
AIG's competitive advantages center on scale and expertise: Commercial market leadership—top 3 globally in commercial insurance with deep client relationships; specialty lines expertise—decades of underwriting experience in complex risks (aviation, energy, marine) that require technical knowledge; global distribution—operates in 80+ countries with local market access; investment portfolio—$300B+ in assets generating 3-4% yields supplementing underwriting profits; brand recognition—despite 2008, AIG remains a trusted name for complex commercial risks; and regulatory barriers—insurance requires massive capital and regulatory approvals limiting new entrants. These advantages generate stable underwriting profits and predictable cash flows through economic cycles.
Financial Performance
AIG's financials reflect the transformation—improved profitability and capital generation:
- •Total Revenue (2024): $50.3 billion; stable with 3-5% growth from premium increases and investment income
- •Net Premiums: $35B+ across General Insurance ($21B) and Life & Retirement ($14B)
- •Combined Ratio (Gen Insurance): ~95%; below 100% indicates profitable underwriting
- •Return on Equity: 10-12%; solid for P&C insurers, reflects underwriting discipline
- •Adjusted EPS: ~$7.00 for 2024-2025; consistent growth from operations and buybacks
- •Free Cash Flow: $5B+ annually; supports $2B dividends + $3B buybacks
- •Book Value per Share: $70+; trading at ~1.0x book value indicates fair valuation
- •Credit Rating: AA- (S&P); strong financial strength
AIG targets 10%+ ROE sustainably, with capital return of $5B+ annually split between dividends (2.1% yield) and opportunistic buybacks. The company has reduced share count by 15%+ since 2019, creating per-share value as profitability improves.
Growth Catalysts
- •Commercial Insurance Pricing: Hard market conditions driving 5-10% annual premium increases in specialty lines
- •Cyber Insurance Growth: Exploding demand for cyber coverage; AIG is a market leader with pricing power
- •Aviation Recovery: Commercial aviation insurance rebounding as air travel normalizes post-pandemic
- •Life & Retirement Stability: Fixed annuities benefit from higher interest rates; recurring premiums provide cash flow
- •Investment Yield Expansion: Rising rates boost portfolio yields; every 1% = $3B additional income
- •Operational Efficiency: Simplification and technology reducing expense ratios by 2-3 points
- •Capital Deployment: $5B+ annual cash flow for dividends, buybacks, and bolt-on acquisitions
Risks & Challenges
- •Catastrophe Risk: Hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires create lumpy underwriting results; climate change increasing frequency
- •Reputation Overhang: 2008 bailout still colors investor perception despite transformation
- •Competition: Chubb, Zurich, Munich Re, and Lloyd's syndicates competing for commercial business
- •Regulatory Capital: Insurance regulations require holding significant capital, limiting leverage and returns
- •Economic Sensitivity: Recession reduces commercial insurance demand and increases claims (D&O, trade credit)
- •Investment Risk: $300B portfolio exposed to credit, equity, and real estate risks
- •Execution Risk: Transformation incomplete in some areas; integration challenges remain
Competitive Landscape
AIG competes in global commercial insurance and U.S. life/retirement markets. In commercial P&C, competitors include Chubb (CB)—the premium brand with better underwriting margins, Zurich Insurance—Swiss global giant, Munich Re—reinsurance leader, and Travelers (TRV)—strong in U.S. commercial. In Life & Retirement, competitors include MetLife, Prudential, and Lincoln Financial.
| Company | Market Cap | Primary Business | Dividend Yield | P/E | ROE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIG | $50B | Commercial + Life/Retirement | 2.1% | 10x forward | 10-12% |
| Chubb (CB) | $110B | Premium commercial | 1.5% | 13x | 12-14% |
| Travelers (TRV) | $55B | U.S. commercial | 2.0% | 11x | 12-14% |
| MetLife (MET) | $60B | Life + annuities | 2.5% | 10x | 12-14% |
| Prudential (PRU) | $40B | Life + retirement | 4.5% | 9x | 10-12% |
AIG trades at a discount to Chubb (10x vs. 13x P/E) despite similar businesses, reflecting reputation concerns and investor skepticism about the transformation's sustainability. For value investors, this creates opportunity—AIG's fundamentals have improved dramatically, but the market hasn't fully recognized it.
Who Is This Stock Suitable For?
Perfect For
- ✓Value investors seeking turnaround stories at discounts (10x P/E, 1.0x book)
- ✓Dividend growth investors comfortable with 2.1% yield + buybacks
- ✓Insurance sector allocators wanting commercial P&C exposure
- ✓Contrarians betting on reputation rehabilitation and multiple expansion
- ✓Those seeking exposure to commercial insurance hard market
Less Suitable For
- ✗Risk-averse investors uncomfortable with AIG's 2008 history
- ✗High-growth seekers (insurance is mature, slow-growth industry)
- ✗High-yield investors (2.1% is modest compared to other insurers)
- ✗ESG-focused investors (fossil fuel exposure through energy insurance)
- ✗Short-term traders (insurance stocks move slowly)
Investment Thesis
AIG is the ultimate value play on corporate transformation. Peter Zaffino has executed a radical simplification, shedding $50+ billion in assets, improving underwriting discipline, and restoring profitability. The company now generates 10%+ ROE, produces $5 billion in annual free cash flow, and operates with a fortress balance sheet. Yet AIG trades at 10x forward earnings—a 30% discount to peers like Chubb and Travelers—because investors can't forget 2008. This creates opportunity for those willing to separate past from present.
The investment case hinges on multiple expansion. If AIG can sustain 10%+ ROE and prove the transformation is permanent, the market should re-rate the stock toward peer valuations (12-13x P/E), implying 20-30% upside plus dividends. The commercial insurance hard market provides tailwinds (pricing power), higher interest rates boost investment income, and capital return (dividends + buybacks) compounds per-share value. Risks include catastrophe losses and reputation overhang—but at 10x earnings and 1.0x book value, much bad news is already priced in. For value investors seeking insurance exposure with asymmetric upside, AIG offers compelling risk-reward. Expect 12-15% annual returns over 3-5 years as the transformation story gains recognition.