mid-eighties or lower for the second consecutive quarter, resulting in an overall improvement of 4.5 points year-over-year. We continued to achieve broad-based pricing increases well above prospective loss ratio trends in the vast majority of our businesses.”
Mr. Lindner added, “Looking toward the full year 2022, we continue to expect an overall calendar year combined ratio in the range of 85% to 87% and continue to expect net written premiums to be up 8% to 12% when compared to the $5.6 billion reported in 2021. We expect the market to remain firm throughout 2022, allowing us to act on business opportunities and achieve solid renewal rate increases.”
Further details about AFG’s Specialty P&C operations may be found in the accompanying schedules and in our Quarterly Investor Supplement, which is posted on our website.
Investments
P&C Net Investment Income – For the three months ended March 31, 2022, P&C net investment income was approximately 40% higher than the comparable 2021 period and included significantly higher earnings from alternative investments. Earnings from alternative investments may vary from quarter to quarter based on the reported results of the underlying investments, and generally are reported on a quarter lag. The annualized return on alternative investments in the first quarter of 2022 was 29.1%. The $139 million in pretax earnings from alternative investments in the first quarter of 2022 included $41 million in earnings from the sale of certain multi-family housing investments in a very favorable market. The average annual return on alternative investments over the five calendar years ended December 31, 2021 was approximately 13%. Excluding the impact of alternative investments, P&C net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2022 increased 2% year-over-year as the impact of rising interest rates in the first quarter will have a more significant impact beginning in the second quarter of 2022.
Our guidance for 2022 assumes continued interest rate increases throughout the year, and an overall annual yield of approximately 12% on alternative investments, with an average annualized yield of 6% achieved over the remaining three quarters of 2022.
Non-Core Net Realized Gains (Losses) – AFG recorded first quarter 2022 net realized losses on securities of $12 million ($0.14 per share loss) after tax, which included $10 million ($0.12 per share loss) in after-tax net losses to adjust equity securities that the Company continued to own at March 31, 2022, to fair value. By comparison, AFG recorded net realized gains on securities of $61 million ($0.70 per share) in the comparable 2021 period.
After-tax unrealized losses on fixed maturities were $109 million at March 31, 2022. Our portfolio continues to be high quality, with 90% of our fixed maturity portfolio rated investment grade and 98% of our P&C fixed maturity portfolio with a National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ designation of NAIC 1 or 2, its highest two categories.
More information about the components of our investment portfolio may be found in our Quarterly Investor Supplement, which is posted on our website.
Discontinued Annuity Operations
In May 2021, AFG completed the sale of its Annuity business to Mass Mutual for cash proceeds of $3.57 billion. AFG recognized an after-tax non-core gain on the sale of $656 million ($7.62 per AFG share) in the first half of 2021. The sale continues to be subject to tax-related post-closing adjustments, which are not expected to be material and are expected to be settled in 2022.
Page 5