---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000011544-26-000008"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WRB"
cik: "0000011544"
company_name: "BERKLEY W R CORP"
filed_at: "2026-04-21T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-15T05:03:43.862962+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# W.R. Berkley Q1 net income up 23.4% to $515.2M; operating income record $514.3M

## Summary
- Diluted EPS $1.31 net / $1.30 operating; annualized ROE of 21.2%.
- Net premiums written $3.17B (+1.3% YoY); gross premiums $3.79B (+2.8%).
- Net investment income record $404.3M, up 12.2% on higher assets and portfolio yields.
- Combined ratio 90.7% (accident year ex-cat 88.3%); average rate increase ex-WC +7.2%.
- Returned $336.1M to shareholders via $302.4M buybacks and $33.7M dividends.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000011544-26-000008
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WRB
- cik: 0000011544
- company_name: BERKLEY W R CORP
- filed_at: 2026-04-21T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/11544/000001154426000008/0000011544-26-000008-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/11544/000001154426000008/wrb-20260421.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000011544-26-000008
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000011544-26-000008.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000011544-26-000008.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  BERKLEY W R CORP reported the first quarter of 2026 results: net income $515.2 million, EPS $1.31.
  - Period: the first quarter of 2026
  - Net income: $515.2 million
  - EPS: $1.31
  - Result: reported results
  source text: President - External Financial Communications (203) 629-3000 W. R. Berkley Corporation Reports First Quarter 2026 Results Return on Equity of 21.2%; Net Income Grew 23.4% to $515.2 Million and Operating Income Grew 22.5% to a Record $514.3 Million Greenwich, CT, April 21, 2026 - W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) today reported its first quarter 2026 results.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/11544/000001154426000008/0000011544-26-000008-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.