Best's Market Segment Outlooks

Our market segment outlooks examine the impact of current trends on companies operating in particular segments of the insurance industry over the next 12 months. Typical factors we would consider include current and forecast economic conditions; the regulatory environment and potential changes; emerging product developments; and competitive issues that could impact the success of these companies. Best’s ratings take into account the manner in which companies manage these factors and trends.

A Best’s Market Segment Outlook, like a Best’s Credit Rating Outlook for a company, can be Positive, Negative, or Stable.

• A Positive market segment outlook indicates that AM Best expects market trends to have a positive influence on companies operating in the market over the next 12 months. However, a Positive outlook for a particular market segment does not mean that the outlook for all the companies operating in that market segment will be Positive.
• A Negative market segment outlook indicates that AM Best expects market trends to have a negative influence on companies operating in the market over the next 12 months. However, a Negative outlook for a particular market segment does not mean that the outlook for all the companies operating in that market segment will be Negative.
• A Stable market segment outlook indicates that AM Best expects market trends to have a neutral influence on companies operating in that market segment over the next 12 months.

We update our market segment outlooks annually, but may revisit them at any time during the year if regulatory, financial, or market conditions warrant.