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NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Corporation (NYSE: L) today reported net income for the year ended December 31, 2018 of $636 million, or $1.99 per share, compared to $1.16 billion, or $3.45 per share, in the prior year. For the three months ended December 31, 2018, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ reported a loss of $165 million, or $0.53 per share, compared to net income of $481 million, or $1.43 per share, in the prior year period.

The loss during the three months ended December 31, 2018 was driven by catastrophe losses at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Financial Corporation, investment results at both ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ and the parent company, and operating results at Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. The $200 million net benefit from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Tax Act"), included in the results for the three months ended December 31, 2017, contributed to the quarterly and annual year-over-year declines.

Book value per share increased to $59.34 at December 31, 2018 from $57.83 at December 31, 2017. Book value per share excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) increased to $62.16 at December 31, 2018 from $57.91 at December 31, 2017.

CONSOLIDATED HIGHLIGHTS

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Three Months Ended December 31, 2018 Compared to 2017

The lower corporate tax rate in 2018 contributed to improved net income for all segments with pretax income. For those segments with pretax losses, the net loss increased on a comparative basis due to the reduced tax benefit in 2018.

ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½'s net income in 2017 was affected by a $78 million net charge related to the Tax Act. Absent this charge, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½'s results in 2018 decreased due to lower net investment income reflecting declines in ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½'s limited partnership and common equity investments and realized investment losses as compared to realized gains in the prior year period. In 2018, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ generated underwriting losses in its core property & casualty business, as compared to underwriting gains in 2017, resulting from higher net catastrophe losses, lower favorable prior year development and a higher underlying loss ratio. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½'s non-core operations also contributed to the unfavorable quarterly impact as compared to the prior year due mainly to the timing of reserve reviews.

Diamond Offshore's net loss increased by $6 million in 2018 as compared to 2017. Excluding the impact of the adjustment to deferred taxes required by the Tax Act, net loss would have increased by $8 million due to lower revenue reflecting current challenging market fundamentals, which negatively affected both rig utilization and dayrates. Results in 2017 were also impacted by an impairment charge related to the carrying value of three drilling rigs and by restructuring costs.

Boardwalk Pipeline's net income in 2017 was affected by a $294 million net benefit related to the Tax Act.Ìý Absent this net tax benefit, net income in 2018 increased as a result of ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ now owning 100% of the company as compared to 51% in the prior year period. This increase was partially offset by lower net transportation revenues, resulting primarily from a contract restructuring and reduced rates on renewing contracts, offset in part by revenues from growth projects.

ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Hotels & Co's net income in 2017 were affected by a $27 million net benefit related to the Tax Act. Absent this net tax benefit, net income decreased primarily due to a state tax adjustment.

Investment results generated by the parent company investment portfolio decreased primarily due to losses in the current period on common equity and limited partnership investments as compared to gains in the prior year, as well as a lower level of invested assets than during 2017.

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared to 2017

The following discussion excludes the 2017 impact on each segment of the Tax Act, which is included in the quarterly discussion described above. However, the discussion below includes the impact of the lower corporate tax rate in 2018 resulting from the Tax Act.

ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½'s net income decreased primarily dueÌýto lower net investment income driven by limited partnership returns, as well as realized investment losses as compared to gains in 2017. Lower favorable net prior year loss reserve development was offset by lower net catastrophe losses. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ also recognized increased losses from its loss portfolio transfer due to the timing of reserve reviews and non-recurring costs associated with the transition to a new IT infrastructure service provider. The lower corporate tax rate partially offset the year-over-year decline in earnings.

Diamond Offshore's results decreased primarily due to lower rig utilization, lower dayrates and a one-time charge related to a legal settlement, partially offset by lower drilling rig impairment charges in 2018, and a charge in 2017 related to the early redemption of debt. The lower corporate tax rate reduced the tax benefit recognized in 2018 as compared to 2017.

Boardwalk Pipeline's net income increased primarily due to the reasons discussed above. Earnings in 2017 were impacted by a loss related to the sale of a processing facility. The lower corporate tax rate contributed to the year-over-year improvement.

ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Hotels & Co's net income increased due to improved results at several owned hotels and the improved operating performance of the Orlando joint venture properties. The lower corporate tax rate contributed to the year-over-year improvement.

Investment results generated by the parent company investment portfolio decreased due to the reasons discussed above.

Corporate and other results improved before income tax due to the absence of costs related to the acquisition of Consolidated Container ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ LLC in 2017. The lowering of the corporate tax rate resulted in a reduced tax benefit in Corporate and other's after-tax 2018 results.

SHARE REPURCHASES

At December 31, 2018, there were 312.1 million shares of ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ common stock outstanding. For the three months and year ended December 31, 2018, the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ repurchased 2.9 million and 20.3 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $135 million and $1.0 billion. From January 1, 2019 to February 8, 2019, the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ repurchased an additional 0.9 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $44 million. Depending on market conditions, the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ may from time to time purchase shares of its and its subsidiaries' outstanding common stock in the open market or otherwise.

CONFERENCE CALLS

A conference call to discuss the fourth quarter results of ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Corporation has been scheduled for today at 11:00 a.m. ET. A live webcast will be available at . Those interested in participating in the question and answer session should dial (877) 692-2592, or for international callers, (973) 582-2757. The conference ID number is 2653937. An online replay will also be available at following the call.

A conference call to discuss the fourth quarter results of ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ has been scheduled for today at 10:00 a.m. ET. A live webcast will be available via the Investor Relations section of . Those interested in participating in the question and answer session should dial (800) 289-0571, or for international callers, (720) 543-0206.

A conference call to discuss the fourth quarter results of Diamond Offshore has been scheduled for today at 9:00 a.m. ET. A live webcast will be available at . Those interested in participating in the question and answer session should dial (844) 492-6043, or for international callers, (478) 219-0839. The conference ID number is 7757436.

ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ LOEWS CORPORATION

ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Corporation is a diversified company with businesses in the insurance, energy, hospitality and packaging industries. Our subsidiaries are: ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Financial Corporation (NYSE: ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½), Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE: DO), Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Hotels & Co and Consolidated Container ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ LLC. Investors are encouraged to view the subsidiary virtual investor presentations found in the 'Events & Presentations' section of ir.loews.com for an in-depth strategic review of each company. For more information please visit .

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected by management of the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. A discussion of the important risk factors and other considerations that could materially impact these matters as well as the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½'s overall business and financial performance can be found in the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½'s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and readers of this release are urged to review those reports carefully when considering these forward-looking statements. Copies of these reports are available through the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½'s website (). Given these risk factors, investors and analysts should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½'s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

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SOURCE ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Corporation