Investments | Investments a) The following tables summarize the Company's available-for-sale investments. Commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities include securities issued by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and U.S. government agencies. June 30, 2017 (dollars in thousands) Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Holding Gains Gross Unrealized Holding Losses Unrealized Other-Than- Temporary Impairment Losses Estimated Fair Value Fixed maturities: U.S. Treasury securities $ 138,404 $ 81 $ (844 ) $ — $ 137,641 U.S. government-sponsored enterprises 372,560 10,745 (1,426 ) — 381,879 Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions 4,477,463 196,535 (20,632 ) — 4,653,366 Foreign governments 1,310,376 143,572 (2,231 ) — 1,451,717 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 1,188,439 8,014 (13,054 ) — 1,183,399 Residential mortgage-backed securities 830,679 21,786 (3,690 ) — 848,775 Asset-backed securities 37,856 25 (84 ) — 37,797 Corporate bonds 1,313,879 48,340 (3,301 ) — 1,358,918 Total fixed maturities 9,669,656 429,098 (45,262 ) — 10,053,492 Equity securities: Insurance, banks and other financial institutions 888,805 976,110 (586 ) — 1,864,329 Industrial, consumer and all other 1,764,205 1,721,110 (8,817 ) — 3,476,498 Total equity securities 2,653,010 2,697,220 (9,403 ) — 5,340,827 Short-term investments 1,704,359 67 (10 ) — 1,704,416 Investments, available-for-sale $ 14,027,025 $ 3,126,385 $ (54,675 ) $ — $ 17,098,735 December 31, 2016 (dollars in thousands) Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Holding Gains Gross Unrealized Holding Losses Unrealized Other-Than- Temporary Impairment Losses Estimated Fair Value Fixed maturities: U.S. Treasury securities $ 259,379 $ 99 $ (894 ) $ — $ 258,584 U.S. government-sponsored enterprises 418,457 9,083 (4,328 ) — 423,212 Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions 4,324,332 145,678 (41,805 ) — 4,428,205 Foreign governments 1,306,324 159,291 (2,153 ) — 1,463,462 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 1,055,947 3,953 (19,544 ) — 1,040,356 Residential mortgage-backed securities 779,503 18,749 (5,048 ) (2,258 ) 790,946 Asset-backed securities 27,494 2 (158 ) — 27,338 Corporate bonds 1,420,298 49,146 (9,364 ) (673 ) 1,459,407 Total fixed maturities 9,591,734 386,001 (83,294 ) (2,931 ) 9,891,510 Equity securities: Insurance, banks and other financial institutions 846,343 857,063 (5,596 ) — 1,697,810 Industrial, consumer and all other 1,635,105 1,421,080 (8,154 ) — 3,048,031 Total equity securities 2,481,448 2,278,143 (13,750 ) — 4,745,841 Short-term investments 2,336,100 57 (6 ) — 2,336,151 Investments, available-for-sale $ 14,409,282 $ 2,664,201 $ (97,050 ) $ (2,931 ) $ 16,973,502 b) The following tables summarize gross unrealized investment losses by the length of time that securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position. June 30, 2017 Less than 12 months 12 months or longer Total (dollars in thousands) Estimated Fair Value Gross Unrealized Holding and Other-Than- Temporary Impairment Losses Estimated Fair Value Gross Unrealized Holding and Other-Than- Temporary Impairment Losses Estimated Fair Value Gross Unrealized Holding and Other-Than- Temporary Impairment Losses Fixed maturities: U.S. Treasury securities $ 95,984 $ (741 ) $ 7,427 $ (103 ) $ 103,411 $ (844 ) U.S. government-sponsored enterprises 137,702 (1,426 ) — — 137,702 (1,426 ) Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions 706,155 (17,574 ) 31,626 (3,058 ) 737,781 (20,632 ) Foreign governments 122,855 (2,231 ) — — 122,855 (2,231 ) Commercial mortgage-backed securities 536,397 (12,801 ) 14,693 (253 ) 551,090 (13,054 ) Residential mortgage-backed securities 123,791 (1,806 ) 74,672 (1,884 ) 198,463 (3,690 ) Asset-backed securities 22,992 (51 ) 5,106 (33 ) 28,098 (84 ) Corporate bonds 378,552 (2,351 ) 74,071 (950 ) 452,623 (3,301 ) Total fixed maturities 2,124,428 (38,981 ) 207,595 (6,281 ) 2,332,023 (45,262 ) Equity securities: Insurance, banks and other financial institutions 955 (60 ) 1,375 (526 ) 2,330 (586 ) Industrial, consumer and all other 88,643 (5,877 ) 9,288 (2,940 ) 97,931 (8,817 ) Total equity securities 89,598 (5,937 ) 10,663 (3,466 ) 100,261 (9,403 ) Short-term investments 56,385 (10 ) — — 56,385 (10 ) Total $ 2,270,411 $ (44,928 ) $ 218,258 $ (9,747 ) $ 2,488,669 $ (54,675 ) At June 30, 2017 , the Company held 572 securities with a total estimated fair value of $2.5 billion and gross unrealized losses of $54.7 million . Of these 572 securities, 89 securities had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for one year or longer and had a total estimated fair value of $218.3 million and gross unrealized losses of $9.7 million . Of these securities, 73 securities were fixed maturities and 16 were equity securities. The Company does not intend to sell or believe it will be required to sell these fixed maturities before recovery of their amortized cost. The Company has the ability and intent to hold these equity securities for a period of time sufficient to allow for the anticipated recovery of their fair value. December 31, 2016 Less than 12 months 12 months or longer Total (dollars in thousands) Estimated Fair Value Gross Unrealized Holding and Other-Than- Temporary Impairment Losses Estimated Fair Value Gross Unrealized Holding and Other-Than- Temporary Impairment Losses Estimated Fair Value Gross Unrealized Holding and Other-Than- Temporary Impairment Losses Fixed maturities: U.S. Treasury securities $ 122,950 $ (894 ) $ — $ — $ 122,950 $ (894 ) U.S. government-sponsored enterprises 220,333 (4,324 ) 7,618 (4 ) 227,951 (4,328 ) Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions 1,004,947 (37,685 ) 31,723 (4,120 ) 1,036,670 (41,805 ) Foreign governments 68,887 (2,145 ) 5,005 (8 ) 73,892 (2,153 ) Commercial mortgage-backed securities 749,889 (19,091 ) 29,988 (453 ) 779,877 (19,544 ) Residential mortgage-backed securities 181,557 (4,987 ) 79,936 (2,319 ) 261,493 (7,306 ) Asset-backed securities 14,501 (106 ) 5,869 (52 ) 20,370 (158 ) Corporate bonds 494,573 (8,357 ) 93,790 (1,680 ) 588,363 (10,037 ) Total fixed maturities 2,857,637 (77,589 ) 253,929 (8,636 ) 3,111,566 (86,225 ) Equity securities: Insurance, banks and other financial institutions 8,808 (410 ) 37,973 (5,186 ) 46,781 (5,596 ) Industrial, consumer and all other 98,406 (4,772 ) 29,650 (3,382 ) 128,056 (8,154 ) Total equity securities 107,214 (5,182 ) 67,623 (8,568 ) 174,837 (13,750 ) Short-term investments 504,211 (6 ) — — 504,211 (6 ) Total $ 3,469,062 $ (82,777 ) $ 321,552 $ (17,204 ) $ 3,790,614 $ (99,981 ) At December 31, 2016 , the Company held 654 securities with a total estimated fair value of $3.8 billion and gross unrealized losses of $100.0 million . Of these 654 securities, 109 securities had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for one year or longer and had a total estimated fair value of $321.6 million and gross unrealized losses of $17.2 million . Of these securities, 93 securities were fixed maturities and 16 were equity securities. The Company completes a detailed analysis each quarter to assess whether the decline in the fair value of any investment below its cost basis is deemed other-than-temporary. All securities with unrealized losses are reviewed. The Company considers many factors in completing its quarterly review of securities with unrealized losses for other-than-temporary impairment, including the length of time and the extent to which fair value has been below cost and the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer. For equity securities, the ability and intent to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery is considered. For fixed maturities, the Company considers whether it intends to sell the security or if it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery, the implied yield-to-maturity, the credit quality of the issuer and the ability to recover all amounts outstanding when contractually due. For equity securities, a decline in fair value that is considered to be other-than-temporary is recognized in net income based on the fair value of the security at the time of assessment, resulting in a new cost basis for the security. For fixed maturities where the Company intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost, a decline in fair value is considered to be other-than-temporary and is recognized in net income based on the fair value of the security at the time of assessment, resulting in a new cost basis for the security. If the decline in fair value of a fixed maturity below its amortized cost is considered to be other-than-temporary based upon other considerations, the Company compares the estimated present value of the cash flows expected to be collected to the amortized cost of the security. The extent to which the estimated present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost of the security represents the credit-related portion of the other-than-temporary impairment, which is recognized in net income, resulting in a new cost basis for the security. Any remaining decline in fair value represents the non-credit portion of the other-than-temporary impairment, which is recognized in other comprehensive income. The discount rate used to calculate the estimated present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is the effective interest rate implicit for the security at the date of purchase. When assessing whether it intends to sell a fixed maturity or if it is likely to be required to sell a fixed maturity before recovery of its amortized cost, the Company evaluates facts and circumstances including decisions to reposition the investment portfolio, potential sales of investments to meet cash flow needs and, ultimately, current market prices. c) The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturities at June 30, 2017 are shown below by contractual maturity. (dollars in thousands) Amortized Cost Estimated Fair Value Due in one year or less $ 455,586 $ 457,635 Due after one year through five years 1,224,123 1,267,114 Due after five years through ten years 1,568,950 1,645,516 Due after ten years 4,364,023 4,613,256 7,612,682 7,983,521 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 1,188,439 1,183,399 Residential mortgage-backed securities 830,679 848,775 Asset-backed securities 37,856 37,797 Total fixed maturities $ 9,669,656 $ 10,053,492 d) The following table presents the components of net investment income. Quarter Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, (dollars in thousands) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Interest: Municipal bonds (tax-exempt) $ 22,758 $ 22,563 $ 45,130 $ 44,485 Municipal bonds (taxable) 17,793 16,222 35,298 32,110 Other taxable bonds 36,296 36,959 71,184 72,278 Short-term investments, including overnight deposits 5,834 2,654 10,783 4,945 Dividends on equity securities 19,017 16,758 39,623 34,410 Income from equity method investments 1,802 3,921 6,395 3,668 Other 24 190 (205 ) 2,674 103,524 99,267 208,208 194,570 Investment expenses (4,225 ) (4,271 ) (8,541 ) (8,280 ) Net investment income $ 99,299 $ 94,996 $ 199,667 $ 186,290 e) The following table presents net realized investment gains and the change in net unrealized gains on investments. Quarter Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, (dollars in thousands) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Realized gains: Sales of fixed maturities $ 554 $ 699 $ 757 $ 967 Sales of equity securities 1,295 17,798 16,533 45,526 Other 4,259 353 4,826 773 Total realized gains 6,108 18,850 22,116 47,266 Realized losses: Sales of fixed maturities (412 ) (142 ) (602 ) (555 ) Sales of equity securities (786 ) (1,780 ) (1,216 ) (2,498 ) Other-than-temporary impairments (604 ) (3,675 ) (3,817 ) (12,080 ) Other (81 ) (718 ) (286 ) (2,996 ) Total realized losses (1,883 ) (6,315 ) (5,921 ) (18,129 ) Gains on securities measured at fair value through net income 13,402 4,706 22,297 9,283 Net realized investment gains $ 17,627 $ 17,241 $ 38,492 $ 38,420 Change in net unrealized gains on investments included in other comprehensive income: Fixed maturities $ 79,413 $ 213,026 $ 84,060 $ 452,982 Equity securities 204,372 42,786 423,424 139,744 Short-term investments 133 32 6 (35 ) Net increase $ 283,918 $ 255,844 $ 507,490 $ 592,691 |