Strongest and Weakest Business Insurers		Back

A weak business insurance company represents a potential for financial loss to its policyholders, as well as a number of headaches and hassles. In addition to the loss of their premium dollars, the policyholders with a failed insurer are forced to scramble to purchase replacement coverage from other carriers, often at higher rates. And those who were unfortunate enough to have a claim outstanding with the failed company can end up footing the bill themselves.

That's why it is important to check the financial security offered by an insurer prior to purchasing a policy and then periodically monitor the company's condition going forward. Low-rated companies should be avoided in favor of highly rated companies.

The following U.S. business insurance underwriters received the highest ratings from TheStreet.com Ratings.

Strongest Business Insurers Data as of 01/27/2010 Company Name State TheStreet.com Financial Strength Rating HASTINGS MUTUAL INS CO  MI  A+  AUTO-OWNERS INS CO  MI  A  SENTRY INS A MUTUAL CO  WI  A  COUNTRY MUTUAL INS CO  IL  A  TENNESSEE FARMERS MUTUAL INS CO  TN  A  NORTH CAROLINA FARM BU MUTUAL INS CO  NC  A  TOKIO MARINE & NICHIDO FIRE INS LTD  NY  A  KENTUCKY FARM BUREAU MUTUAL INS CO  KY  A  HOME-OWNERS INS CO  MI  A  CHURCH MUTUAL INS CO  WI  A  FRANKENMUTH MUTUAL INS CO  MI  A  MERRIMACK MUTUAL FIRE INS CO  MA  A  MOUNTAIN WEST FARM BU MUTUAL INS CO  WY  A  PIONEER STATE MUTUAL INS CO  MI  A  TRAVELERS INDEMNITY CO  CT  A-  CINCINNATI INS CO  OH  A-  FEDERATED MUTUAL INS CO  MN  A-  OWNERS INS CO  OH  A-  MERCURY CASUALTY CO  CA  A-  GRANGE MUTUAL CAS CO  OH  A-

The following U.S. business insurance underwriters received the lowest ratings from TheStreet.com Ratings.

Weakest Business Insurers Data as of 01/27/2010 Company Name State TheStreet.com Financial Strength Rating AGRINATIONAL INS CO  VT  E  COLONIAL COOPERATIVE INS CO  NY  E  NUCLEAR ELECTRIC INS LTD  DE  E+  LINCOLN GENERAL INS CO  PA  E+  UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYDS LONDON  IL  E+  SCHOOL BOARDS INS CO OF PA INC  PA  E+  GRANADA INS CO  FL  E+  WASHINGTON COUNTY CO-OPERATIVE INS  NY  E+  GIBRALTAR NATIONAL INS CO  AR  E+  UNION MUTUAL INS CO  OK  E+  COMMONWEALTH MUTUAL INS CO  MD  E+  QBE SPECIALTY INS CO  NY  D-  AMERICAN COASTAL INS CO  FL  D-  GLOBAL LIBERTY INS CO OF NY  NY  D-  KENSINGTON INS CO  NY  D-  CALIFORNIA MUTUAL INS CO  CA  D-  GENESEE PATRONS COOP INS  NY  D-  MANITOWOC MUTUAL INS CO  WI  D-  LITTLE BLACK MUTUAL INS CO  WI  D-  INDIANA OLD NATIONAL INS CO  VT  D

Just because a particular insurer does not appear on this list of lowest rated business insurance companies, it does not necessarily mean that the company is safe or highly rated.  To check the rating of a specific company, Weiss Ratings offers several online options and publications covering property and casualty insurers.

A =  Excellent B =  Good C =  Fair D =  Weak E =  Very Weak

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