{"url_path":"/sec/cinf/10-q/2026/item-3","section_key":"item-3","section_title":"Item 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk","topic":"sec","document":{"doc_type":"10-Q","doc_date":"2026-04-27","source_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/20286/0000020286-26-000026-index.html","accession_number":"0000020286-26-000026","cik":"0000020286","ticker":"CINF","issuer_name":"CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORP","edgar_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/20286/0000020286-26-000026-index.html","primary_entity_key":"0000020286","primary_entity_name":"CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORP"},"word_count":3086,"has_tables":true,"body_markdown":"Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk\n\nOur greatest exposure to market risk is through our investment portfolio. Market risk is the potential for a decrease in securities' fair value resulting from broad yet uncontrollable forces such as: inflation, economic growth or recession, interest rates, world political conditions or other widespread unpredictable events. It is comprised of many individual risks that, when combined, create a macroeconomic impact.\n\n \n\nOur view of potential risks and our sensitivity to such risks is discussed in our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, Page 109.\n\n \n\nThe fair value of our investment portfolio was $31.163 billion at March 31, 2026, up $198 million from year-end 2025, including a $422 million increase in the fixed-maturity portfolio, a $125 million decrease in the equity portfolio and a $99 million decrease in short-term investments.\n\n(Dollars in millions)At March 31, 2026At December 31, 2025\n\nCost or \namortized cost Percent \nof totalFair valuePercent \nof totalCost or \namortized cost Percent of totalFair valuePercent\nof total\n\nTaxable fixed maturities$14,765 63.0 %$14,469 46.4 %$14,134 62.5 %$14,010 45.2 %\n\nTax-exempt fixed maturities4,181 17.9 4,076 13.1 4,170 18.4 4,113 13.3 \n\nCommon equities4,071 17.4 12,260 39.3 3,792 16.8 12,373 40.0 \n\nNonredeemable preferred\n  equities355 1.5 309 1.0 363 1.6 321 1.0 \n\nShort-term investments49 0.2 49 0.2 148 0.7 148 0.5 \n\nTotal$23,421 100.0 %$31,163 100.0 %$22,607 100.0 %$30,965 100.0 %\n\nAt March 31, 2026, substantially all of our consolidated investment portfolio, measured at fair value, is classified as Level 1 or Level 2. See Item 1, Note 3, Fair Value Measurements, for additional discussion of our valuation techniques.\n\n \n\nIn addition to our investment portfolio, the total investments amount reported in our condensed consolidated balance sheets includes Other invested assets. Other invested assets included $656 million of private equity investments, $128 million of real estate through direct property ownership and development projects in the United States, $39 million of life policy loans and $15 million in Lloyd's deposit at March 31, 2026.\n\nCincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2026 10-Q\n\nPage 59\n\n[Table of Contents](#i008e31b7022c4527a7af91f6a624fbd5_7)\n\nFIXED-MATURITY SECURITIES INVESTMENTS\n\nBy maintaining a well-diversified fixed-maturity portfolio, we attempt to reduce overall risk. We invest new money in the bond market on a regular basis, targeting what we believe to be optimal risk-adjusted, after-tax yields. Risk, in this context, includes interest rate, call, reinvestment rate, credit and liquidity risk. We do not make a concerted effort to alter duration on a portfolio basis in response to anticipated movements in interest rates. By regularly investing in the bond market, we build a broad, diversified portfolio that we believe mitigates the impact of adverse economic factors.\n\nIn the first three months of 2026, the increase in fair value of our fixed-maturity portfolio was due to net purchases of securities, partially offset by an increase in our net unrealized loss position that reflected an increase in U.S. Treasury yields and a widening of corporate credit spreads. At March 31, 2026, our fixed-maturity portfolio with an average rating of A2/A was valued at 97.9% of its amortized cost, compared with 99.0% at December 31, 2025.\n\n \n\nAt March 31, 2026, our investment-grade fixed-maturity securities represented 98.1% of the portfolio based on ratings provided by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations or the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.\n\nAttributes of the fixed-maturity portfolio include:\n\nAt March 31, 2026At December 31, 2025\n\nWeighted average yield-to-amortized cost5.13 %5.11 %\n\nWeighted average maturity11.4yrs10.9yrs\n\nEffective duration5.9yrs5.6yrs\n\n \n\nWe discuss maturities of our fixed-maturity portfolio in our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 8, Note 2, Investments, Page 131, and in this quarterly report Item 2, Investments Results.\n\nCincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2026 10-Q\n\nPage 60\n\n[Table of Contents](#i008e31b7022c4527a7af91f6a624fbd5_7)\n\nTAXABLE FIXED MATURITIES\n\nOur taxable fixed-maturity portfolio, with a fair value of $14.469 billion at March 31, 2026, included:\n\n(Dollars in millions) At March 31, 2026At December 31, 2025\n\nInvestment-grade corporate$9,833 $9,505 \n\nGovernment-sponsored enterprises2,511 2,359 \n\nStates, municipalities and political subdivisions798 806 \n\nAsset-backed766 797 \n\nUnited States government331 313 \n\nNoninvestment-grade corporate202 206 \n\nForeign government28 24 \n\nTotal$14,469 $14,010 \n\n \n\nOur strategy is to buy, and typically hold, fixed-maturity investments to maturity, but we monitor credit profiles and fair value movements when determining holding periods for individual securities. With the exception of United States agency issues that include government-sponsored enterprises, no individual issuer's securities accounted for more than 0.9% of the taxable fixed-maturity portfolio at March 31, 2026. Our investment-grade corporate bonds had an average rating of Baa1 by Moody's or BBB+ by S&P Global Ratings and represented 68.0% of the taxable fixed-maturity portfolio's fair value at March 31, 2026, compared with 67.8% at year-end 2025.\n\n \n\nThe heaviest concentration in our investment-grade corporate bond portfolio, based on fair value at\n\nMarch 31, 2026, was the financial sector. It represented 27.1% of our investment-grade corporate bond portfolio, compared with 28.8% at year-end 2025. The utility and energy sectors represented 13.6% and 11.4%, compared with 13.3% and 11.2%, respectively, at year-end 2025. No other sector exceeded 10% of our investment-grade corporate bond portfolio.\n\nAs discussed in our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1A, Risk Factors, Page 30, investments in the financial sector include various risks. See risk factors entitled “Financial disruption or a prolonged economic downturn could affect our investment performance” and “Our ability to achieve our performance objectives could be affected by changes in the financial, credit and capital markets or the general economy.”\n\nOur taxable fixed-maturity portfolio at March 31, 2026, included $766 million of asset-backed securities at fair value with an average rating of Aa2/AA.\n\nTAX-EXEMPT FIXED MATURITIES\n\nAt March 31, 2026, we had $4.076 billion of tax-exempt fixed-maturity securities at fair value with an average rating of Aa2/AA by Moody's and S&P Global Ratings. We traditionally have purchased municipal bonds focusing on general obligation and essential services issues, such as water, waste disposal or others. The portfolio is well diversified among approximately 2,000 municipal bond issuers. No single municipal issuer accounted for more than 0.5% of the tax-exempt fixed-maturity portfolio at March 31, 2026.\n\nINTEREST RATE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS\n\nBecause of our strong surplus, long-term investment horizon and ability to hold most fixed-maturity investments until maturity, we believe the company is adequately positioned if interest rates were to rise. Although the fair values of our existing holdings may suffer, a higher rate environment would provide the opportunity to invest cash flow in higher-yielding securities, while reducing the likelihood of untimely redemptions of currently callable securities. While higher interest rates would be expected to continue to increase the number of fixed-maturity holdings trading below 100% of amortized cost, we believe lower fixed-maturity security values due solely to interest rate changes would not signal a decline in credit quality. We continue to manage the portfolio with an eye toward both meeting current income needs and managing interest rate risk.\n\n \n\nOur dynamic financial planning model uses analytical tools to assess market risks. As part of this model, the effective duration of the fixed-maturity portfolio is continually monitored by our investment department to evaluate the theoretical impact of interest rate movements.\n\n \n\nCincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2026 10-Q\n\nPage 61\n\n[Table of Contents](#i008e31b7022c4527a7af91f6a624fbd5_7)\n\nThe table below summarizes the effect of hypothetical changes in interest rates on the fair value of the fixed-maturity portfolio:\n\n(Dollars in millions)Effect from interest rate change in basis points\n\n-200  -100 —100 200\n\nAt March 31, 2026$20,742 $19,646 $18,545 $17,355 $16,192 \n\nAt December 31, 2025$20,177 $19,142 $18,123 $17,008 $15,891 \n\n \n\nThe effective duration of the fixed-maturity portfolio as of March 31, 2026, was 5.9 years, up from 5.6 years at year-end 2025. The above table is a theoretical presentation showing that an instantaneous, parallel shift in the yield curve of 100 basis points could produce an approximately 6.2% change in the fair value of the fixed-maturity portfolio. Generally speaking, the higher a bond is rated, the more directly correlated movements in its fair value are to changes in the general level of interest rates, exclusive of call features. The fair values of average- to lower-rated corporate bonds are additionally influenced by the expansion or contraction of credit spreads.\n\n \n\nIn our dynamic financial planning model, the selected interest rate change of 100 to 200 basis points represents our view of a shift in rates that is quite possible over a one-year period. The rates modeled should not be considered a prediction of future events as interest rates may be much more volatile in the future. The analysis is not intended to provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in rates on our results or financial condition, nor does it take into account any actions that we might take to reduce exposure to such risks.\n\nSHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS\n\nOur short-term investments consist of commercial paper purchased within one year of maturity. We make short-term investments primarily with funds to be used to make upcoming cash payments, such as dividends, taxes or other corporate purposes. At March 31, 2026, we had $49 million of short-term investments.\n\nEQUITY INVESTMENTS\n\nOur equity investments, with a fair value totaling $12.569 billion at March 31, 2026, included $12.260 billion of common stock securities of companies generally with strong indications of paying and growing their dividends. Other criteria we evaluate include increasing sales and earnings, proven management and a favorable outlook. We believe our equity investment style is an appropriate long-term strategy. While our long-term financial position would be affected by prolonged changes in the market valuation of our investments, we believe our strong surplus position and cash flow provide a cushion against short-term fluctuations in valuation. Continued payment of cash dividends by the issuers of our common equity holdings can provide a floor to their valuation.\n\nThe table below summarizes the effect of hypothetical changes in market prices on fair value of our equity portfolio.\n\n(Dollars in millions)Effect from market price change in percent\n\n -30%-20%-10%—10%20%30%\n\nAt March 31, 2026$8,798 $10,055 $11,312 $12,569 $13,826 $15,083 $16,340 \n\nAt December 31, 2025$8,886 $10,155 $11,425 $12,694 $13,963 $15,233 $16,502 \n\nAt March 31, 2026, Apple Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL) was our largest single common stock holding with a fair value of $881 million, or 7.2% of our publicly traded common stock portfolio and 2.8% of the total investment portfolio. Forty-six holdings (among ten different sectors) each had a fair value greater than $100 million. \n\nCincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2026 10-Q\n\nPage 62\n\n[Table of Contents](#i008e31b7022c4527a7af91f6a624fbd5_7)\n\nCommon Stock Portfolio Sector Distribution\n\n Percent of common stock portfolio\n\n At March 31, 2026At December 31, 2025\n\nCincinnati\n FinancialS&P 500\nWeightingsCincinnati\nFinancialS&P 500\nWeightings\n\nSector:    \n\nInformation technology30.9 %32.9 %35.4 %34.4 %\n\nIndustrials15.0 9.0 14.4 8.2 \n\nFinancial13.4 12.6 13.0 13.4 \n\nHealthcare9.8 9.5 10.0 9.6 \n\nConsumer discretionary7.6 9.9 7.3 10.4 \n\nConsumer staples6.8 5.3 6.5 4.7 \n\nEnergy5.8 4.0 4.2 2.8 \n\nMaterials3.9 2.1 3.3 1.8 \n\nUtilities3.3 2.5 3.0 2.3 \n\nReal estate2.2 1.9 1.9 1.8 \n\nTelecomm services1.3 10.3 1.0 10.6 \n\nTotal100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %\n\n \n\nUNREALIZED INVESTMENT GAINS AND LOSSES\n\nAt March 31, 2026, unrealized investment gains before taxes for the fixed-maturity portfolio totaled $131 million and unrealized investment losses amounted to $532 million before taxes.\n\n \n\nThe $401 million net unrealized loss position in our fixed-maturity portfolio at March 31, 2026, increased in the first three months of 2026, primarily due to an increase in U.S. Treasury yields and a widening of corporate credit spreads. The net loss position for our current fixed-maturity holdings will naturally decline over time as individual securities approach maturity. In addition, changes in interest rates can cause rapid, significant changes in fair values of fixed-maturity securities and the net loss position, as discussed in Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.\n\nFor federal income tax purposes, taxes on gains from appreciated investments generally are not due until securities are sold. We believe that the appreciated value of equity securities, compared with the cost of securities that is generally used as a tax basis, is a useful measure to help evaluate how fair value can change over time. On this basis, the net unrealized investment gains at March 31, 2026, consisted of a net gain position in our equity portfolio of $8.143 billion. Events or factors such as economic growth or recession can affect the fair value and unrealized investment gains of our equity securities. The five largest holdings in our common stock portfolio at March 31, 2026, were Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp (Nasdaq:MSFT), Broadcom Inc. (Nasdaq:AVGO), JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM), and Lam Research Corporation (Nasdaq:LRCX), which had a combined fair value of $3.139 billion.\n\nUnrealized Investment Losses\n\nWe expect the number of fixed-maturity securities trading below amortized cost to fluctuate as interest rates rise or fall and credit spreads expand or contract due to prevailing economic conditions. Further, amortized costs for some securities are revised through write-downs recognized in prior periods. At March 31, 2026, 3,356 of the 5,442 fixed-maturity and short-term securities we owned had fair values below amortized cost, compared with 2,597 of the 5,358 securities we owned at year-end 2025. The 3,356 holdings with fair values below amortized cost at March 31, 2026, represented 62.1% of the fair value of our fixed-maturity and short-term investments portfolio and $532 million in unrealized losses.\n\n•2,628 of the 3,356 holdings had fair value between 90% and 100% of amortized cost at March 31, 2026. These primarily consist of securities whose current valuation is largely the result of interest rate factors. The fair value of these 2,628 securities was $10.223 billion, and they accounted for $241 million in unrealized losses.\n\n•711 of the 3,356 holdings had fair value between 70% and 90% of amortized cost at March 31, 2026. We believe the 711 securities will continue to pay interest and ultimately pay principal upon maturity.\n\nCincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2026 10-Q\n\nPage 63\n\n[Table of Contents](#i008e31b7022c4527a7af91f6a624fbd5_7)\n\nThe issuers of these 711 securities have strong cash flow to service their debt and meet their contractual obligation to make principal payments. The fair value of these securities was $1.299 billion, and they accounted for $277 million in unrealized losses.\n\n•17 of the 3,356 holdings had fair value below 70% of amortized cost at March 31, 2026. We believe these securities will continue to pay interest and ultimately pay principal upon maturity. The fair value of these securities was $21 million, and they accounted for $14 million in unrealized losses.\n\nThe table below reviews fair values and unrealized losses by investment category and by the overall duration of the securities' continuous unrealized loss position.\n\n(Dollars in millions)Less than 12 months12 months or moreTotal\n\nAt March 31, 2026Fair valueUnrealized\n lossesFair valueUnrealized\n lossesFair\n valueUnrealized\n losses\n\nFixed-maturity:      \n\nCorporate $3,031 $55 $2,767 $219 $5,798 $274 \n\nStates, municipalities and political subdivisions808 7 2,319 214 3,127 221 \n\nGovernment-sponsored enterprises2,018 23 97 2 2,115 25 \n\nAsset-backed157 3 185 7 342 10 \n\nUnited States government126 1 20 1 146 2 \n\nForeign government15 — — — 15 — \n\nTotal fixed-maturity$6,155 $89 $5,388 $443 $11,543 $532 \n\nAt December 31, 2025      \n\nFixed-maturity:     \n\nCorporate $849 $15 $2,926 $188 $3,775 $203 \n\nStates, municipalities and political subdivisions204 2 2,346 179 2,550 181 \n\nGovernment-sponsored enterprises983 3 195 1 1,178 4 \n\nAsset-backed101 2 184 6 285 8 \n\nUnited States government69 — 20 1 89 1 \n\nTotal fixed-maturity$2,206 $22 $5,671 $375 $7,877 $397 \n\n \n\nAt March 31, 2026, applying our invested asset impairment policy, we determined that the total of $532 million, for securities in an unrealized loss position in the table above, was not the result of a credit loss.\n\nDuring the first three months of 2026, no fixed maturity securities were written down to fair value, due to an intention to be sold. The allowance for credit losses decreased less than $1 million during the first three months of 2026. During the first three months of 2025, no fixed maturity securities were written down to fair value, due to an intention to be sold. The increase in the allowance for credit losses was $2 million during the first three months of 2025.\n\nDuring the full year of 2025, no securities were written down to fair value. At December 31, 2025, 2,597 fixed-maturity and short-term securities with a total unrealized loss of $397 million were in an unrealized loss position. Of that total, 13 securities had fair values below 70% of amortized cost.\n\nCincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2026 10-Q\n\nPage 64\n\n[Table of Contents](#i008e31b7022c4527a7af91f6a624fbd5_7)\n\nThe following table summarizes the investment portfolio by severity of decline:\n\n(Dollars in millions)Number\nof issuesAmortized\ncostFair valueGross unrealized \ngain (loss)Gross investment income\n\nAt March 31, 2026\n\nTaxable fixed maturities:\n\nFair valued below 70% of amortized cost8 $23 $14 $(9)$— \n\nFair valued at 70% to less than 100% of amortized cost1,759 9,477 9,079 (398)112 \n\nFair valued at 100% and above of amortized cost1,032 5,265 5,376 111 77 \n\nInvestment income on securities sold in current year— — — — 7 \n\nTotal2,799 14,765 14,469 (296)196 \n\nTax-exempt fixed maturities:     \n\nFair valued below 70% of amortized cost9 12 7 (5)— \n\nFair valued at 70% to less than 100% of amortized cost1,580 2,563 2,443 (120)21 \n\nFair valued at 100% and above of amortized cost1,052 1,606 1,626 20 17 \n\nInvestment income on securities sold in current year— — — — — \n\nTotal2,641 4,181 4,076 (105)38 \n\nFixed-maturities summary:     \n\nFair valued below 70% of amortized cost17 35 21 (14)— \n\nFair valued at 70% to less than 100% of amortized cost3,339 12,040 11,522 (518)133 \n\nFair valued at 100% and above of amortized cost2,084 6,871 7,002 131 94 \n\nInvestment income on securities sold in current year— — — — 7 \n\nTotal5,440 18,946 18,545 (401)234 \n\nShort-term investments:     \n\nFair valued below 70% of cost— — — — — \n\nFair valued at 70% to less than 100% of cost— — — — — \n\nFair valued at 100% and above of cost2 49 49 — — \n\nInvestment income on securities sold in current year— — — — 5 \n\nTotal2 49 49 — 5 \n\nFixed maturities and short-term investments summary:     \n\nFair valued below 70% of cost17 35 21 (14)— \n\nFair valued at 70% to less than 100% of cost3,339 12,040 11,522 (518)133 \n\nFair valued at 100% and above of cost2,086 6,920 7,051 131 94 \n\nInvestment income on securities sold in current year— — — — 12 \n\nTotal5,442 $18,995 $18,594 $(401)$239 \n\nAt December 31, 2025     \n\nFixed maturities and short-term investments summary:     \n\nFair valued below 70% of amortized cost13 $30 $17 $(13)$1 \n\nFair valued at 70% to less than 100% of amortized cost2,584 8,244 7,860 (384)311 \n\nFair valued at 100% and above of amortized cost2,761 10,178 10,394 216 440 \n\nInvestment income on securities sold in current year— — — — 126 \n\nTotal5,358 $18,452 $18,271 $(181)$878 \n\n \n\nSee our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 7, Critical Accounting Estimates, Asset Impairment, Page 54.\n\nCincinnati Financial Corporation First-Quarter 2026 10-Q\n\nPage 65\n\n[Table of Contents](#i008e31b7022c4527a7af91f6a624fbd5_7)"}