--- ticker: CINF company: CINF filing_type: 10-K year_current: 2025 year_prior: 2024 risks_added: 1 risks_removed: 3 risks_modified: 8 risks_unchanged: 9 source: SEC EDGAR url: https://riskdiff.com/cinf/2025-vs-2024/ markdown_url: https://riskdiff.com/cinf/2025-vs-2024/index.md generated: 2026-06-01 --- # CINF: 10-K Risk Factor Changes 2025 vs 2024 > Source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR) > Generated: 2026-06-01 > All data extracted directly from official filings. No hallucinated content. ## Summary | Status | Count | |--------|-------| | New risks added | 1 | | Risks removed | 3 | | Risks modified | 8 | | Unchanged | 9 | --- ## New in Current Filing: Our ability to react to changes in consumer behavior and preferences. The appeal of our value proposition could be affected by an unexpected change in the commoditization of insurance products. Policyholders may choose a competitor's product rather than our own because of real or perceived differences in price, terms and conditions, coverage or service. If the quality of the independent agencies with which we do business were to decline, that also might cause policyholders to purchase their insurance through different agencies or channels. Consumers, especially in the personal insurance industry segment, may increasingly choose to purchase insurance from distribution channels other than independent insurance agents. Increased advertising by insurers, especially direct marketers, could cause consumers to shift their buying habits, bypassing independent agents altogether. Innovation, new or changing technologies and/or buying trends or consumer preferences could reduce or eliminate the need or demand for products we sell. Economic downturns or other events have in the past and may in the future result in a softening of the insurance market and agents or consumers choosing a competitor's product that may in turn adversely affect our premium revenues and underwriting profit. Such economic events experienced during recent periods included elevated inflation, global supply chain disruptions, increasing interest rates, tightening credit markets and higher fuel costs. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 34 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 34 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 34 Table of Contents Table of Contents --- ## No Match in Current: The outbreak of COVID-19 could result in an unusually high level of losses. *This section from the 2024 filing does not have a high-confidence textual match in 2025. It may have been removed, merged, or substantially reworded.* In March 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, was recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The outbreak was widespread in the U.S., including in the markets in which we operate. Like many companies in the property casualty insurance industry, our property casualty subsidiaries were named as defendants in lawsuits seeking insurance coverage under commercial property insurance policies issued by the company for alleged losses resulting from the shutdown or suspension of their businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Risks to our business include legislation or court decisions that extend business interruption insurance in commercial property coverage forms to cover claims for pure economic loss related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Legislative initiatives and pending litigation are ongoing in numerous jurisdictions, and we cannot provide assurance that we will not be impacted by adverse legislation or adverse judicial rulings in certain of these jurisdictions. These actions seek to extend coverage beyond the terms and conditions we intended for those policies, including policies that do not contain specific virus exclusions. Therefore we could be forced to pay claims when no coverage was contemplated and for which no premium was collected. If these actions are successful, the aggregate amount of these claims could have a material, adverse impact on our business, financial condition, reputation, results of operations and cash flows. --- ## No Match in Current: Our net losses and loss adjustment expenses are estimates and actual net losses could be higher. *This section from the 2024 filing does not have a high-confidence textual match in 2025. It may have been removed, merged, or substantially reworded.* Our estimates for COVID-19 losses and loss adjustment expenses represent our best estimates as of December 31, 2023, based upon information currently available. These estimates are based on reported claims, policy level reviews, judicial rulings and other litigation developments. However, assumptions about coverage, Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 33 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 33 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 33 Table of Contents Table of Contents liability and reinsurance continue to be subject to on-going judicial review and may be subject to further government action. While we believe our net reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses for COVID-19 as of December 31, 2023, are adequate based on information available at this time, we continue to closely monitor reported claims, government actions, judicial decisions and changes in the levels of worldwide social disruption and economic activity arising from the pandemic and will adjust our estimates of gross and net losses as new information becomes available. Factors that affect our estimates of losses and loss adjustment expenses or our ability to reasonably estimate such losses include the number of policyholders that will ultimately submit claims or file lawsuits; the lack of submitted proofs of loss for allegedly covered claims; judicial rulings in similar litigation involving other companies in the insurance industry; difference in state law and developing case law; litigation trends, including varying legal theories advanced by policyholders; whether and to what degree any class of policyholders may be certified; and the inherent unpredictability of litigation. Such adjustments to our reserves for COVID-19 losses and loss adjustment expenses may be material to our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. --- ## No Match in Current: Developments relating to the United Kingdom leaving the European Union could adversely affect Cincinnati Global's operations. *This section from the 2024 filing does not have a high-confidence textual match in 2025. It may have been removed, merged, or substantially reworded.* The terms of the U.K.'s withdrawal from the European Union (Brexit) and the relationship between the U.K. and the European Union going forward can affect economic conditions, including the terms of trade between them. The ultimate impact of Brexit is uncertain and will depend on any agreements that the U.K. makes to retain access to Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 36 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 36 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 36 Table of Contents Table of Contents European Union markets. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and potentially divergent national laws and regulations as the U.K. determines which European Union laws to replace or replicate. These or other adverse consequences from Brexit could adversely affect the operations and business opportunities of Cincinnati Global. With a view to mitigating the potential effects of Brexit on business underwritten through it, Lloyd's has set up an insurance company subsidiary in Belgium, Lloyd's Europe, underwriting European Economic Area insurance business via that subsidiary. --- ## Modified: Our ability to achieve our performance objectives could be affected by changes in the financial, credit and capital markets or the general economy. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "The value of our invested assets is an important component of shareholders' equity or book value per share and changes in their valuation can have a significant impact." - Reworded sentence: "The ability to increase investment income and generate longer-term growth in book value is affected by factors beyond our control, such as: inflation, economic growth, interest rates, world political conditions, changes in laws and regulations, future actions or inactions of the U.S." - Reworded sentence: "If there is significant expansion of wars beyond these regions, it may have adverse effects on our investment performance." - Reworded sentence: "For a more detailed discussion of risks associated with our investments, refer to Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk." - Reworded sentence: "We also have life policy reserves established for traditional life policies including term, whole life and other products." **Prior (2024):** We invest premiums received from policyholders and other available cash to generate investment income and capital appreciation, while also maintaining sufficient liquidity to pay covered claims and operating expenses, service our debt obligations and pay dividends. The value of our invested assets is an important component of shareholders' equity, also known as book value. Changes in the valuation of invested assets can significantly affect changes in book value per share, a key performance objective as discussed in Item 7, Executive Summary of Management's Discussion and Analysis. For fixed-maturity investments such as bonds, which represented 55.7% of the fair value of our investment portfolio at the end of 2023, the inverse relationship between interest rates and bond prices leads to falling bond values during periods of increasing interest rates. Significant increases in the general level of interest rates, such as we experienced during recent periods, have an adverse effect on our shareholders' equity. Investment income is an important component of our revenues and net income. The ability to increase investment income and generate longer-term growth in book value is affected by factors beyond our control, such as: inflation, economic growth, interest rates, world political conditions, changes in laws and regulations, future actions or Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 37 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 37 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 37 Table of Contents Table of Contents inactions of the U.S. government, epidemic events, terrorism attacks or threats, war, adverse events affecting other companies in our industry or the industries in which we invest, market events leading to credit constriction, and other widespread unpredictable events. These events have in the past and may in the future adversely affect the economy generally and cause our investment income or the value of securities we own to decrease. Wars can occur anywhere in the world and have an adverse effect on our investment portfolio, especially if effects of wars expand over time and space. We do not have material exposure to investments based in Russia, Ukraine, Israel or Gaza. If there is significant expansion of wars to regions beyond these countries, it may have an adverse effect. Any significant decline in our investment income will have an adverse effect on our net income, and thereby on our shareholders' equity and our statutory capital and surplus. For a more detailed discussion of risks associated with our investments, please refer to Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. We have issued universal life contracts with guaranteed minimum returns, referred to as bank-owned life insurance contracts (BOLIs). A BOLI is designed with the bank as the policy owner and the policy beneficiary. We legally segregate and record as separate accounts the assets and liabilities for certain BOLIs, when required by the specific contract provisions. Minimum investment returns, account values and death benefits are guaranteed by us for our separate account BOLIs. We could incur losses in the performance of these guarantees. We also have life policy reserves established for traditional life policies including term, whole and other products. Reserve variability will increase with the adoption of ASU 2018-12 as discussed in Item 8, Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, as reserves are based on certain cash flow assumptions as well as a discount rate assumption. This discount rate assumption is based on updated market value discount rates. Life policy reserves are required to be recorded using an updated discount rate assumption quarterly. Remeasurement adjustments are now required to be remeasured for the updated discount rate and are recorded as an increase or decrease to life policy reserves with an offsetting increase or decrease to accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI). As the discount rate increases during the quarter, life policy reserves decrease and AOCI increases. Conversely, as the discount rate decreases during the quarter, life policy reserves increase and AOCI decreases. A significant decrease in discount rates, relative to the prior quarter, would have an adverse effect on shareholders' equity. Our investment performance also could suffer because of the types of investments, industry groups and/or individual securities in which we choose to invest. Market value changes related to these choices could cause a material change in our financial condition or results of operations. At year-end 2023, common stock holdings made up 42.9% of our investment portfolio. Adverse news or events affecting the global or U.S. economy or the equity markets, such as we experienced during recent years, will affect our net income, book value and overall results, and could affect our ability to pay our common stock dividend. See Item 7, Investments Results, and Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, for a discussion of our investment activities. Deterioration in the banking sector or in banks with which we have relationships could affect our results of operations. Our ability to maintain or obtain short-term lines of credit could be affected if the banks from which we obtain these lines are acquired, fail or are otherwise negatively affected. We may lose premium revenue if a bank that owns appointed agencies were to change its strategies. We could experience increased losses in our director and officer liability line of business if claims were made against insured financial institutions. A deterioration of credit and market conditions could also impair our ability to access credit markets and could affect existing or future lending arrangements. Our overall results are affected if a significant portion of our commercial lines or personal lines policyholders are adversely affected by marked or prolonged economic downturns and events such as a downturn in construction and related sectors, tightening credit markets and higher fuel costs experienced during recent periods. Such events make it more difficult for policyholders to finance new projects, complete projects or expand their businesses, and can lead to lower premiums from reduced payrolls and sales and lower purchases of equipment and vehicles. These events could also cause claims, including surety claims, to increase due to a policyholder's inability to secure necessary financing to complete projects or to collect on underlying lines of credit in the claims process. Such economic downturns and events have a greater impact in the construction sector where we have a concentration of risks and in geographic areas that are hardest hit by economic downturns. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 38 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 38 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 38 Table of Contents Table of Contents Deteriorating economic conditions could also increase the degree of credit risk associated with amounts due from independent agents who collect premiums for payment to us and could hamper our ability to recover amounts due from reinsurers. **Current (2025):** We invest premiums received from policyholders and other available cash to generate investment income and capital appreciation, while also maintaining sufficient liquidity to pay covered claims and operating expenses, service our debt obligations and pay dividends. The value of our invested assets is an important component of shareholders' equity or book value per share and changes in their valuation can have a significant impact. Changes in book value per share is a key performance objective as discussed in Item 7, Executive Summary of Management's Discussion and Analysis. For fixed-maturity investments such as bonds, which represented 58.4% of the fair value of our investment portfolio at the end of 2024, the inverse relationship between interest rates and bond prices leads to falling bond values during periods of increasing interest rates. Significant increases in the general level of interest rates, such as we experienced during recent periods, have an adverse effect on our shareholders' equity. Investment income is an important component of our revenues and net income. The ability to increase investment income and generate longer-term growth in book value is affected by factors beyond our control, such as: inflation, economic growth, interest rates, world political conditions, changes in laws and regulations, future actions or inactions of the U.S. government, epidemic events, terrorism attacks or threats, war, adverse events affecting other companies in our industry or the industries in which we invest, market events leading to credit constriction, and other widespread unpredictable events. These events have in the past and may in the future adversely affect the economy generally and cause our investment income or the value of securities we own to decrease. Wars can occur anywhere in the world and have an adverse effect on our investment portfolio, especially if effects of wars expand over time and space. We do not have material exposure to investments based in Russia, Ukraine, Israel or Gaza. If there is significant expansion of wars beyond these regions, it may have adverse effects on our investment performance. Any significant decline in our investment income will have an adverse effect on our net income, and thereby on our shareholders' equity and our statutory capital and surplus. For a more detailed discussion of risks associated with our investments, refer to Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. We have issued universal life contracts with guaranteed minimum returns, referred to as bank-owned life insurance contracts (BOLIs). A BOLI is designed with the bank as the policy owner and the policy beneficiary. We legally segregate and record as separate accounts the assets and liabilities for certain BOLIs, when required by the specific contract provisions. Minimum investment returns, account values and death benefits are guaranteed by us for our separate account BOLIs. We could incur losses in the performance of these guarantees. We also have life policy reserves established for traditional life policies including term, whole life and other products. Reserve variability can occur as reserves are based on certain cash flow assumptions as well as a discount rate assumption. Life policy reserves are required to be recorded using a discount rate assumption that is updated quarterly. As the discount rate increases during the quarter, life policy reserves decrease and accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) increases. Conversely, as the discount rate decreases during the quarter, life policy reserves increase and AOCI decreases. A significant decrease in discount rates, relative to the prior quarter, would have an adverse effect on shareholders' equity. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 36 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 36 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 36 Table of Contents Table of Contents Our investment performance also could suffer because of the types of investments, industry groups and/or individual securities in which we choose to invest. Market value changes related to these choices could cause a material change in our financial condition or results of operations. Our investments in private equity, private credit, real property assets, private limited partnerships, and other alternative investments are subject to a higher level of illiquidity, economic volatility and real estate market deterioration. They lack quoted prices and active trade markets, and are subject to changing tax laws and an increased focus from the SEC and other regulators. These alternative investments have in the past, and may in the future result in reduced net investment returns, losses on sales of these investments, and/or the writing down the value of these investments, which would result in an adverse impact on operating results. We also are exposed to credit risk related to guarantee and indemnification arrangements, which support our alternative investments and insurance operations. Our exposure to these guarantee and indemnification risks could materially and adversely affect our results of operations. At year-end 2024, common stock holdings made up 39.2% of our investment portfolio. Adverse news or events affecting the global or U.S. economy or the equity markets, such as we experienced during recent years, will affect our net income, book value and overall results, and could affect our ability to pay our common stock dividend. See Item 7, Investments Results, and Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, for a discussion of our investment activities. Deterioration in the banking sector or in banks with which we have relationships could affect our results of operations. Our ability to maintain or obtain short-term lines of credit could be affected if the banks from which we obtain these lines are acquired, fail or are otherwise negatively affected. We may lose premium revenue if a bank that owns appointed agencies were to change its strategies. We could experience increased losses in our director and officer liability line of business if claims were made against insured financial institutions. A deterioration of credit and market conditions could also impair our ability to access credit markets and could affect existing or future lending arrangements. In addition, a failure to comply with covenants and other requirements under our credit facilities, senior debt and other debt obligations could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to access the credit markets. Our overall results are affected if a significant portion of our commercial lines or personal lines policyholders are adversely affected by marked or prolonged economic downturns and events such as a downturn in construction and related sectors, tightening credit markets and higher fuel costs experienced during recent periods. Such events make it more difficult for policyholders to finance new projects, complete projects or expand their businesses, and can lead to lower premiums from reduced payrolls and sales and lower purchases of equipment and vehicles. These events could also cause claims, including surety claims, to increase due to a policyholder's inability to secure necessary financing to complete projects or to collect on underlying lines of credit in the claims process. Such economic downturns and events have a greater impact in the construction sector where we have a concentration of risks and in geographic areas that are hardest hit by economic downturns. Deteriorating economic conditions could also increase the degree of credit risk associated with amounts due from independent agents who collect premiums for payment to us and could hamper our ability to recover amounts due from reinsurers. --- ## Modified: Our pricing and capital models could be flawed. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "The output of these techniques and models assists us in making underwriting, pricing, reinsurance, reserving and capital decisions and helps us set our strategic direction." - Added sentence: "Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 32 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 32 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 32 Table of Contents Table of Contents" **Prior (2024):** We use various actuarial pricing methods, predictive pricing and underwriting models, stochastic models and/or forecasting techniques to help us understand our business, analyze risk and estimate future trends. The output of these techniques and models is used to assist us in making underwriting, pricing, reinsurance, reserving and capital decisions and helps us set our strategic direction. These models contain numerous assumptions, including the assumption that the data used is sufficient and accurate. They are also subject to uncertainties and limitations inherent in any statistical analysis. Actual results may be materially different from modeled output, resulting in pricing our products incorrectly, overestimating or underestimating reserves, or inaccurately forecasting the impact of modeled events on our results. This could materially adversely impact the results of our operations. **Current (2025):** We use various actuarial pricing methods, predictive pricing and underwriting models, stochastic models and/or forecasting techniques to help us understand our business, analyze risk and estimate future trends. The output of these techniques and models assists us in making underwriting, pricing, reinsurance, reserving and capital decisions and helps us set our strategic direction. These models contain numerous assumptions, including the assumption that the data used is sufficient and accurate. They are also subject to uncertainties and limitations inherent in any statistical analysis. Actual results may be materially different from modeled output, resulting in pricing our products incorrectly, overestimating or underestimating reserves, or inaccurately forecasting the impact of modeled events on our results. This could materially adversely impact the results of our operations. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 32 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 32 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 32 Table of Contents Table of Contents --- ## Modified: Our business depends on the uninterrupted operation of our facilities, systems, people and business functions. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "During tight labor markets, such as we experienced in recent years, there is intense competition for associates qualified to execute important business functions." - Reworded sentence: "Loss of key personnel or an inability to successfully execute on succession plans could negatively impact growth, essential business relationships, profitability, and other business operations." **Prior (2024):** Our business depends on our associates' ability to perform necessary business functions, such as processing new and renewal policies and handling claims. We increasingly rely on technology and systems to accomplish these business functions in an efficient and uninterrupted fashion. Our inability to access our headquarters facilities for certain critical functions or a failure of technology, telecommunications or other systems or the loss or failure of services provided by key vendors, could significantly impair our ability to perform such functions on a timely basis or affect the accuracy of transactions. If sustained or repeated, such a business interruption or system failure could result in a deterioration of our ability to write and process new and renewal business, serve our agents and policyholders, pay claims in a timely manner, collect receivables or perform other necessary business functions. If our disaster recovery and business continuity plans did not sufficiently consider, address or reverse the circumstances of an interruption or failure, this could result in a materially adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. Our ability to successfully execute business functions also depends on hiring and retaining the qualified associates we employ. Competition for high-quality executives and other key associates occurs within the insurance industry and from other industries. We also must effectively develop and manage associates, including providing training and resources. Such tools and information can allow them to effectively perform critical business functions and adapt to changing business needs. During some periods, such as we experienced in recent years, labor markets are tight and there is intense competition for associates qualified to execute important business functions. Many markets in which we operate are experiencing a low unemployment rate and labor shortages are affecting many industries. If we are unable to attract and retain certain associates, or if we fail to provide adequate training or resources, or fail to provide a work environment that is attractive to associates, we could limit the success of executing our strategic plans and vital business functions. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 39 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 39 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 39 Table of Contents Table of Contents **Current (2025):** Our business depends on our associates' ability to perform necessary business functions, such as processing new and renewal policies and handling claims. We increasingly rely on technology and systems to accomplish these business functions in an efficient and uninterrupted fashion. Our inability to access our headquarters facilities for certain critical functions or a failure of technology, telecommunications or other systems or the loss or failure of services provided by key vendors, could significantly impair our ability to perform such functions on a timely basis or affect the accuracy of transactions. If sustained or repeated, such a business interruption or system failure could result in a deterioration of our ability to write and process new and renewal business, serve our agents and policyholders, pay claims in a timely manner, collect receivables or perform other necessary business functions. If our disaster recovery and business continuity plans did not sufficiently consider, address or reverse the circumstances of an interruption or failure, this could result in a materially adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. Our ability to successfully execute business functions also depends on hiring and retaining the qualified associates we employ. Competition for high-quality executives and other key associates occurs within the insurance industry and from other industries. We also must effectively develop and manage associates, including providing training and resources. Such tools and information can allow them to effectively perform critical business functions and adapt to changing business needs. During tight labor markets, such as we experienced in recent years, there is intense competition for associates qualified to execute important business functions. Many markets in which we operate are experiencing a low unemployment rate and labor shortages are affecting many industries. If we are unable to attract and retain certain associates, or if we fail to provide adequate training or resources, or fail to provide a work environment that is attractive to associates, we could limit the success of executing our strategic plans and vital business functions. Loss of key personnel or an inability to successfully execute on succession plans could negatively impact growth, essential business relationships, profitability, and other business operations. Specifically, in May 2024, we underwent a CEO transition as part of a long-term succession plan. An inability to successfully execute on the leadership transition could result in an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 40 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 40 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 40 Table of Contents Table of Contents --- ## Modified: Our status as an insurance holding company with no direct operations could affect our ability to pay dividends in the future. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "Cincinnati Financial Corporation is a regulated holding company that transacts substantially all of its business through its subsidiaries." - Reworded sentence: "Generally, the maximum dividend that may be paid is limited to the greater of 10% of statutory capital and surplus or 100% of statutory net income for the prior calendar year." - Reworded sentence: "Meanwhile, other subsidiaries are also limited in their payment of dividends to the lead Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 37 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 37 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 37 Table of Contents Table of Contents insurance subsidiary under applicable insurance laws." **Prior (2024):** Cincinnati Financial Corporation is a holding company that transacts substantially all of its business through its subsidiaries. Our primary assets are the stock in our operating subsidiaries and our investments. Consequently, our cash flow to pay cash dividends and interest on our long-term debt depends on dividends we receive from our operating subsidiaries and income earned on investments held at the parent-company level. Dividends received from our lead insurance subsidiary are restricted by the insurance laws of Ohio, its domiciliary state. These laws establish minimum solvency and liquidity thresholds and limits. In 2024, the maximum dividend that may be paid without prior regulatory approval is limited to the greater of 10% of statutory capital and surplus or 100% of statutory net income for the prior calendar year, up to the amount of statutory unassigned capital and surplus as of the end of the prior calendar year. Dividends exceeding these limitations may be paid only with prior approval of the Ohio Department of Insurance. We might not be able to receive dividends from our insurance subsidiaries, or we might not receive dividends in the amounts necessary to meet our debt obligations or to pay dividends on our common stock without liquidating securities. This could affect our financial position. Please see Item 1, Regulation, and Item 8, Note 9 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, for a discussion of insurance holding company dividend regulations. **Current (2025):** Cincinnati Financial Corporation is a regulated holding company that transacts substantially all of its business through its subsidiaries. Our primary assets are the stock in our operating subsidiaries and our investments. Consequently, our cash flow to pay cash dividends and interest on our long-term debt depends on dividends we receive from our operating subsidiaries and income earned on investments held at the parent-company level. Dividends received from our lead insurance subsidiary are restricted by the insurance laws of Ohio, its domiciliary state. These laws establish minimum solvency and liquidity thresholds and limits. Generally, the maximum dividend that may be paid is limited to the greater of 10% of statutory capital and surplus or 100% of statutory net income for the prior calendar year. Dividends exceeding these limitations may be paid only with prior approval of the Ohio Department of Insurance. Meanwhile, other subsidiaries are also limited in their payment of dividends to the lead Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 37 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 37 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 37 Table of Contents Table of Contents insurance subsidiary under applicable insurance laws. We might not be able to receive dividends in the amounts necessary to meet our debt obligations or to pay dividends on our common stock without liquidating securities. See Item 1, Regulation, and Item 8, Note 9 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, for a discussion of insurance holding company dividend regulations. --- ## Modified: Our credit ratings or financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries could be downgraded. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "We believe our strong insurer financial strength ratings, in particular, the A+ (Superior) ratings from A.M." - Reworded sentence: "See Item 1, Our Business and Our Strategy, Financial Strength, for additional discussion of our financial strength ratings." **Prior (2024):** A downgrade in one or more of our company's credit or debt ratings could adversely impact our borrowing costs or limit our access to capital. Financial strength ratings reflect a rating agency's opinion of our insurance subsidiaries' financial strength, operating performance, strategic position and ability to meet obligations to policyholders. Our ratings are subject to periodic review and there is no assurance that our ratings will not be changed. Rating agencies could change or expand their requirements or could find that our insurance subsidiaries no longer meet the criteria established for current ratings. If our property casualty or life insurance subsidiary insurer financial strength ratings were to be downgraded, our agents might find it more difficult to market our products or might choose to emphasize the products of other carriers. **Current (2025):** We believe our strong insurer financial strength ratings, in particular, the A+ (Superior) ratings from A.M. Best for our standard market property casualty insurance group and each subsidiary in that group, are an important competitive advantage. If our property casualty or life insurance subsidiary insurer financial strength ratings were to be downgraded, our agents might find it more difficult to market our products or might choose to emphasize the products of other carriers. Additionally, a downgrade in our ratings may adversely impact our Cincinnati Re operations by reducing our ability to market our reinsurance products or compete with other highly rated reinsurers. A downgrade in one or more of our company's credit or debt ratings could adversely impact our borrowing costs or access to capital. Our ratings are subject to periodic review and there is no assurance that our ratings will not be changed. Rating agencies could change or expand their requirements or could find that our insurance subsidiaries no longer meet the criteria established for current ratings. See Item 1, Our Business and Our Strategy, Financial Strength, for additional discussion of our financial strength ratings. --- ## Modified: We could experience an unusually high level of losses due to natural or man-made catastrophe, terrorism or epidemic events or risk concentrations. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "Our insurance operations expose us to claims arising out of catastrophes, which can be man-made or caused by natural perils in the U.S." - Reworded sentence: "See Item 7, Liquidity and Capital Resources, Modeled Catastrophe Loss Exposure, for a further discussion of the loss estimates derived from these models." - Reworded sentence: "Some of our insurance policies provide coverage for terrorism risk in all areas we serve, including Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities." - Reworded sentence: "Securities pricing might be even less favorable as a result of widespread losses and catastrophic events impacting a number of other companies and insurers." - Reworded sentence: "Cincinnati Re and Cincinnati Global provide reinsurance or insurance coverage for property catastrophe events on a worldwide basis, including coverage for losses due to war, terrorism or political violence." **Prior (2024):** Our insurance operations expose us to claims arising out of catastrophes. Catastrophes can be man-made or caused by natural perils. Man-made catastrophes to which we have been exposed in the past, and may be exposed in the future, include, but are not limited to, industrial accidents, terrorist attacks, wars, cyberattacks, infrastructure failures, social unrest and riot. Other man-made events, such as hydraulic fracturing, could cause damage from earth movement or create environmental and/or health hazards. Natural peril catastrophe events to which we have been exposed in the past, and may be exposed in the future, include, but are not limited to, hurricanes, severe winter weather, wildfires, earthquakes, landslides and severe convective storm effects such as tornadoes, windstorms, hailstorms and flooding. Due to the nature of these events, we are unable to predict precisely the frequency, severity or potential cost of catastrophe occurrences. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured and reinsured exposure in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Our ability to appropriately manage catastrophe risk depends partially on catastrophe models, which may be affected by inaccurate or incomplete data, the uncertainty of the frequency and severity of future events and the uncertain impact of climate change. Additionally, these models are recalibrated and changed over time, with more data availability and changing opinions regarding the effect of current or emerging loss patterns and conditions. According to these models, probable maximum loss estimates from a single hurricane event that combine the effects of property casualty insurance written on a direct basis by The Cincinnati Insurance Companies, the Cincinnati Re reinsurance portfolio and risks insured by Cincinnati Global include the following amounts, net of amounts recoverable through reinsurance ceded and also income taxes, and including the effects of estimated reinstatement premiums: $570 million for a once-in-a-100-year event and $848 million for a once-in-a-250-year event. Please see Item 7, Liquidity and Capital Resources, 2024 Reinsurance Programs, for a discussion of modeled losses considered in evaluating our risk mitigation strategy, which includes our ceded reinsurance program. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 31 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 31 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 31 Table of Contents Table of Contents The geographic regions in which we market insurance and reinsurance are exposed to numerous natural catastrophes, such as: •Hurricanes in the gulf, eastern, southeastern and northeastern coastal regions •Earthquakes in many regions, most particularly in the New Madrid fault zone, California, the Northwest and Southwest •Tornadoes, wind and hail •Wildfires •Winter storms •On a worldwide basis, in the event of a severe catastrophic event or terrorist attack we may be exposed to material losses through our Cincinnati Re and Cincinnati Global operations. The occurrence of terrorist attacks in the geographic areas we serve could result in substantially higher claims under our insurance policies than we have anticipated. Our insurance policies provide coverage for terrorism risk in all areas we serve, including Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. We have exposure to small co-op utilities, water utilities, wholesale fuel distributors, small shopping malls and small colleges throughout our 46 active states and, because of the number of associates located there, our Fairfield, Ohio, headquarters. Additionally, our life insurance subsidiary could be adversely affected in the event of a terrorist event or an epidemic, particularly if the epidemic were to affect a broad range of the population, or affect the overall economy. Our associate health plan is self-funded and could similarly be affected. Our results of operations would be adversely affected if the level of losses we experience over a period of time were to exceed our actuarially determined expectations. In addition, our financial condition may be adversely affected if we were required to sell securities prior to maturity or at unfavorable prices to pay an unusually high level of loss and loss expenses. Securities pricing might be even less favorable if a number of insurance or other companies and other investors needed to sell securities during a short period of time because of unusually high losses from catastrophic events. Our geographic concentration links our performance to business, economic, environmental and regulatory conditions in certain states. We market our standard market property casualty insurance products in 46 states, but our business is concentrated in the Midwest and Southeast. We also have exposure in states where we do not actively market insurance when clients of our independent agencies have businesses or properties in multiple states or we provide insurance through Cincinnati Global and reinsurance through Cincinnati Re. Cincinnati Re and Cincinnati Global provide reinsurance or insurance coverage in many parts of the world, including coverage for losses due to war, terrorism or political violence. Wars can occur anywhere, and our results of operations could be adversely affected, especially if effects of wars expand over time and space. We have limited direct exposure within our insurance operations to businesses or individuals in Russia, Ukraine or Gaza. We have exposure within our insurance operations, primarily through reinsurance treaties, to insured losses related to wars that include risks in the Middle East region. If effects related to the war in Gaza expand significantly in the Middle East region, causing a high frequency of loss events, or a single extreme event, during the coverage period of our treaties or policies, our financial position and results of operations could be materially affected. The Cincinnati Insurance Company continues to expand its Cincinnati Re reinsurance assumed operations and has staffed it with seasoned underwriting and analytical associates who strive to assume risks that we understand, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Business written includes treaties that provide coverage for property catastrophe and terrorism events on a worldwide basis. Based on treaties in effect at January 1, 2024, the largest loss exposure to us for Cincinnati Re is from natural catastrophe events. That exposure includes probable maximum loss estimates, on a marginal basis, of the following amounts: $194 million for a once-in-a-100-year event and $224 million for a once-in-a-250-year event. Those effects represent a single hurricane event and include the effects of income taxes, estimated reinstatement premiums and applicable reinsurance ceded, including any retrocessions for reinsurance assumed, and estimated reinstatement premiums. They are based on probable maximum loss estimates from the Applied Insurance Research Touchstone® version 10.0 catastrophe model. The marginal basis reflects diversification effects of the Cincinnati Re reinsurance portfolio and property casualty insurance written on a direct basis by The Cincinnati Insurance Companies. Ignoring diversification effects provided by those two components, on a standalone basis, probable maximum loss estimates for Cincinnati Re include the following amounts: $231 million for a once-in-a-100-year event and $281 million for a once-in-a-250-year event. If there is a Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 32 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 32 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 32 Table of Contents Table of Contents high frequency of large property catastrophe or terrorism events, or a single extreme event, during the coverage period of these treaties, our financial position and results of operations could be materially affected. We are also expanding Cincinnati Global, our global specialty underwriter with premiums primarily for U.S. and international property exposures. Cincinnati Global also writes North American and United Kingdom (U.K.) contingency and event cancellation coverage and worldwide credit and political risk coverage and political violence coverage. At January 1, 2024, the largest loss exposure to us for Cincinnati Global is from natural catastrophe events. Cincinnati Global's exposure from such events includes probable maximum loss estimates of the following amounts: $46 million for a once-in-a-100-year event and $64 million for a once-in-a-250-year event. Those effects are on a standalone basis and represent a single hurricane event and include the effects of income taxes, applicable reinsurance ceded and estimated reinstatement premiums. They are based on probable maximum loss estimates from the Applied Insurance Research Touchstone version 10.0 catastrophe model. If there is a high frequency of large property catastrophe or terrorism events, or a single extreme event, during the coverage period of its policies, our financial position and results of operations could be materially affected. Additionally, the companies we invest in might be severely affected by a severe catastrophic event, terrorist attack, or epidemic event which could affect our financial condition and results of operations. Our reinsurers might experience significant losses, potentially jeopardizing their ability to pay losses we cede to them. It could also reduce the availability of reinsurance. If we cannot obtain adequate reinsurance or primary insurance coverage at a reasonable cost, it could constrain where we can write business or reduce the amount of business we can write in certain areas. We also may be exposed to state guaranty fund assessments if other carriers in a state cannot meet their obligations to policyholders. A catastrophe or epidemic event also could affect our operations by damaging our headquarters facility, injuring associates and visitors at our Fairfield, Ohio, headquarters or disrupting our associates' ability to perform their assigned tasks. **Current (2025):** Our insurance operations expose us to claims arising out of catastrophes, which can be man-made or caused by natural perils in the U.S. or worldwide. Man-made catastrophes include, but are not limited to, industrial accidents, terrorist attacks, wars, cyberattacks, infrastructure failures, social unrest and riot. Other man-made events, such as hydraulic fracturing could cause damage from earth movement, while chemicals and other contaminants could create environmental and/or health hazards that in turn generate insurance losses. The geographic regions in which we market insurance and reinsurance are exposed to numerous natural catastrophes, such as: •Hurricanes •Earthquakes in many regions, most particularly in the New Madrid fault zone, California, the Northwest and Southwest •Landslides •Severe convective storms, tornadoes, windstorms, hailstorms and flooding •Wildfires •Winter storms On a worldwide basis, in the event of a severe catastrophic event or terrorist attack we may be exposed to material losses through our Cincinnati Re and Cincinnati Global operations. Due to the nature of these events, we are unable to precisely predict the frequency, severity or potential cost of catastrophe occurrences. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured and reinsured exposure in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Our ability to appropriately manage catastrophe risk depends partially on catastrophe models, which may be affected by inaccurate or incomplete data, the uncertainty of the frequency and severity of future events and the uncertain impact of climate change. Additionally, these models are recalibrated and changed over time, with more data availability and changing opinions regarding the effect of current or emerging loss patterns and conditions. See Item 7, Liquidity and Capital Resources, Modeled Catastrophe Loss Exposure, for a further discussion of the loss estimates derived from these models. According to these models, probable maximum loss estimates from a single hurricane event that combines the effects of property casualty insurance written on a direct basis by The Cincinnati Insurance Companies, the Cincinnati Re reinsurance portfolio and risks insured by Cincinnati Global include the following amounts, net of amounts recoverable through reinsurance ceded and income taxes, and including the effects of estimated reinstatement premiums: $625 million for a once-in-a-100-year event and $949 million for a once-in-a-250-year event. See Item 7, Liquidity and Capital Resources, Modeled Catastrophe Loss Exposure, for a discussion of modeled losses considered in evaluating our risk mitigation strategy, which includes our ceded reinsurance program. The occurrence of terrorist attacks in the geographic areas we serve could result in substantially higher claims under our insurance policies than we have anticipated. Some of our insurance policies provide coverage for terrorism risk in all areas we serve, including Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. We have exposure to small co-op utilities, water utilities, wholesale fuel distributors, small shopping malls and small colleges throughout our 46 active states. Because of the number of associates located at our Fairfield, Ohio, headquarters, it is also exposed to terrorism risk. Additionally, our life insurance subsidiary could be adversely affected in the event of a terrorist event or an Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 31 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 31 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2024 10-K - Page 31 Table of Contents Table of Contents epidemic, particularly if the epidemic were to affect a broad range of the population or affect the overall economy. A catastrophe or epidemic event also could affect our operations by damaging our headquarters facility, injuring associates and visitors or disrupting our associates' ability to perform their assigned tasks. Our associate health plan is self-funded and could similarly be affected. Our results of operations would be adversely affected if the level of losses we experience over a period of time were to exceed our actuarially determined expectations. In addition, our financial condition may be adversely affected if we were required to sell securities prior to maturity or at unfavorable prices to pay an unusually high level of loss and loss expenses. Securities pricing might be even less favorable as a result of widespread losses and catastrophic events impacting a number of other companies and insurers. We also may be exposed to state guaranty fund assessments if other carriers in a state cannot meet their obligations to policyholders. We market our standard market property casualty insurance products in 46 states, but our business is concentrated in the Midwest and Southeast, with a growing presence in California and New York. Our geographic concentration links our performance to business, economic, environmental and regulatory conditions in some states more than others. We also have exposure in states where we do not actively market insurance when clients of our independent agencies have businesses or properties in multiple states or we provide insurance through Cincinnati Global and reinsurance through Cincinnati Re. Cincinnati Re and Cincinnati Global provide reinsurance or insurance coverage for property catastrophe events on a worldwide basis, including coverage for losses due to war, terrorism or political violence. Wars can occur anywhere, and our results of operations could be adversely affected, especially if effects of wars expand over time and space. We have limited direct exposure within our insurance operations to businesses or individuals in Russia, Ukraine or Gaza. We have exposure within our insurance operations, primarily through reinsurance treaties, to insured losses related to wars that include risks in the Middle East region. If effects related to the war in Gaza expand significantly in the Middle East region, causing a high frequency of loss events, or a single extreme event, during the coverage period of our treaties or policies, our financial position and results of operations could be materially affected. Cincinnati Re is staffed with seasoned underwriting and analytical associates who strive to assume risks that we understand, both quantitatively and qualitatively, but given their global scope, a failure of their risk selection and modeling could materially affect our financial position and results of operations. We are also expanding Cincinnati Global, our global specialty underwriter with premiums primarily for U.S. and international property exposures. Cincinnati Global also writes North American and United Kingdom (U.K.) contingency and event cancellation coverage and worldwide credit and political risk coverage and political violence coverage. If there is a high frequency of large property catastrophe or terrorism events, or a single extreme event, during the coverage period of Cincinnati Global's policies, our financial position and results of operations could be materially affected. --- ## Modified: Financial disruption or a prolonged economic downturn could affect our investment performance. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "Events, such as global supply chain disruptions, an increasing interest rate environment and inflationary pressures, have contributed to significant disruption and volatility for financial markets and decreased economic activity." - Added sentence: "Additionally, the companies we invest in might be severely affected by a severe catastrophic event, terrorist attack, or epidemic event, which could in turn lower their stock value and affect our financial condition and results of operations." **Prior (2024):** Recent events, including the global supply chain disruptions, increasing interest rate environment and inflationary pressures, have contributed to significant disruption and volatility for financial markets and decreased economic activity. Many companies experienced uncertainty and reduced liquidity. In the event that these conditions continue, recur or result in a prolonged economic downturn or recession, they could further adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Such adverse impacts may be material. These market conditions have in the past, and could in the future, cause our investment income or the value of securities we own to decrease. **Current (2025):** Events, such as global supply chain disruptions, an increasing interest rate environment and inflationary pressures, have contributed to significant disruption and volatility for financial markets and decreased economic activity. In the event that these conditions occur or continue, recur or result in a prolonged economic downturn or recession, they could materially and adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. These market conditions have in the past, and could in the future, cause our investment income or the value of securities we own to decrease. Additionally, the companies we invest in might be severely affected by a severe catastrophic event, terrorist attack, or epidemic event, which could in turn lower their stock value and affect our financial condition and results of operations. --- ## Modified: We rely primarily on independent insurance agents to distribute our products. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "These agents sell our competitors' products and are not obligated to promote our products." - Reworded sentence: "If we do not, these agents may market our competitors' products instead of ours." - Removed sentence: "We believe our strong insurer financial strength ratings, in particular, the A+ (Superior) ratings from A.M." - Removed sentence: "Best for our standard market property casualty insurance group and each subsidiary in that group, are an important competitive advantage." - Removed sentence: "See Item 1, Our Business and Our Strategy, Financial Strength, for additional discussion of our financial strength ratings." **Prior (2024):** We market our main products, insurance policies for businesses and individuals, through independent, nonexclusive insurance agents. These agents are not obligated to promote our products and can and do sell our competitors' products. We must offer insurance products that meet the needs of these agents and their clients. We need to maintain good relationships with the agents who market our products. If we do not, these agents may market our competitors' products instead of ours, which may lead to us having a less desirable mix of business and could affect our results of operations. In addition to our marketing of insurance policies for businesses and individuals, Cincinnati Re reinsures policies written by other insurance companies. This business is marketed through reinsurance intermediaries and is generally not offered by the typical independent agents who market our insurance policies. Certain events or conditions could diminish our agents' desire to produce business for us and the competitive advantage that our independent agents enjoy, including: •Downgrade of the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries. We believe our strong insurer financial strength ratings, in particular, the A+ (Superior) ratings from A.M. Best for our standard market property casualty insurance group and each subsidiary in that group, are an important competitive advantage. See Item 1, Our Business and Our Strategy, Financial Strength, for additional discussion of our financial strength ratings. •Concerns that doing business with us is difficult or not profitable, perceptions that our level of service is no longer a distinguishing characteristic in the marketplace, perceptions that our products do not meet the needs of our agents' clients or perceptions that our business practices are not compatible with agents' business models. •Mergers and acquisitions of agencies could result in a concentration of a significant amount of premium in one agency. •Delays in the development, implementation, performance and benefits of technology systems and enhancements or independent agent perceptions that our technology solutions do not match their needs. A reduction in the number of independent agencies marketing our products, the failure of agencies to successfully market our products or pay amounts due to us, changes in the strategy or operations of agencies or the choice of agencies to reduce their writings of our products could affect our results of operations if we are unable to replace them with agencies that produce adequate and profitable premiums. Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 30 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 30 Cincinnati Financial Corporation - 2023 10-K - Page 30 Table of Contents Table of Contents Further, policyholders may choose a competitor's product rather than our own because of real or perceived differences in price, terms and conditions, coverage or service. If the quality of the independent agencies with which we do business were to decline, that also might cause policyholders to purchase their insurance through different agencies or channels. Consumers, especially in the personal insurance industry segment, may increasingly choose to purchase insurance from distribution channels other than independent insurance agents, such as direct marketers. Increased advertising by insurers, especially direct marketers, could cause consumers to shift their buying habits, bypassing independent agents altogether. Innovation, new or changing technologies and/or buying trends or consumer preferences could reduce or eliminate the need or demand for products we sell. Marked or prolonged economic downturns or other events have in the past and may in the future result in a softening of the insurance market and agents or consumers choosing a competitor's product that may in turn adversely affect our premium revenues and underwriting profit. Such economic events experienced during recent periods included elevated inflation, global supply chain disruptions, increasing interest rates, tightening credit markets and higher fuel costs. **Current (2025):** We market our main products, insurance policies for businesses and individuals, through independent, nonexclusive insurance agents. These agents sell our competitors' products and are not obligated to promote our products. We must offer insurance products that meet the needs of these agents and their clients. We need to maintain good relationships with the agents who market our products. If we do not, these agents may market our competitors' products instead of ours. This could lead to a less desirable mix of business and affect our results of operations. Certain events or conditions could diminish our agents' desire to produce business for us and the competitive advantage that our independent agents enjoy, including: •Downgrade of the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries. •Concerns that doing business with us is difficult or not profitable, perceptions that our level of service is no longer a distinguishing characteristic in the marketplace, perceptions that our products do not meet the needs of our agents' clients or perceptions that our business practices are not compatible with agents' business models. •Mergers and acquisitions of agencies could result in a concentration of a significant amount of premium in one agency or a small number of agencies. •Delays in the development, implementation, performance and benefits of technology systems and enhancements or independent agent perceptions that our technology solutions do not match their needs. Certain changes to our independent agency appointment strategy could affect our results of operations, including: •A reduction in the number of independent agencies marketing our products. •The failure of agencies to successfully market our products or pay amounts due to us, •Changes in the strategy or operations of agencies or the choice of agencies to reduce their writings of our products. •Inability to replace underperforming or nonperforming agencies with agencies that produce adequate and profitable premiums. •A decline in the quality of independent agencies we are appointing. --- *Data sourced from SEC EDGAR. Last updated 2026-06-01.*