There are no safe havens in the stock market. Every stock carries risk. But some less than others. This column features stocks that have shown one or more of the following characteristics: less volatility, better earnings, larger market caps, safe and increasing dividends. In these times of turmoil, our goal is to show readers better opportunities for investing with fewer risks.

January 28, 2011 - The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV-NYSE), through its subsidiaries, provides various commercial and personal property and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals primarily in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Business Insurance; Financial, Professional, and International Insurance; and Personal Insurance.

Financial, Professional, and International Insurance provides surety and financial liability coverage, which uses a credit-based underwriting process; and property and casualty products primarily in the United States., the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada.

Personal Insurance offers property and casualty insurance covering personal risks, primarily automobile and homeowners insurance to individuals. It distributes through independent agents, sponsoring organizations, joint marketing arrangements with other insurers, and direct marketing. The company was founded in 1853 and is based in New York, New York.

Latest News:
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Travelers met expectations on revenues and missed slightly on earnings per share. Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew and earnings per share dropped significantly. Margins contracted across the board.

Travelers had revenue of $5.6 billion. The 10 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $5.6 billion. Non-GAAP EPS came in at $1.48. The 22 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.50 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $1.57 for Q4 were 19% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.95 per share.

Expectations:

For first quarter 2012: $1.49 vs $1.89 a year ago.
For second quarter 2012: $1.41 compared to - 91 cents a year ago.
For full year 2012: $5.73 vs $3.28 in 2011.
For full year 2013: $5.87

Important Numbers:
- Trailing P/E: 14.73
- Forward P/E: 9.8
- Price to sales ratio: .95
- Price to book value: .96
- Operating margin: 8.71%
- Profit margin: 6.68%
- Return on equity: 6.49%
- Return on assets: 1.29%
- Revenues for last 12 months: $25.46 billion
- Total cash: $5.07 billion
- Cash per share: $12.28
- Total debt: $6.6 billion
- Total debt/equity: 26.24%
- Current ratio: .41
- Book value per share: $60.98
- Beta: .85
- 52 week change: 5.18%
- Total shares outstanding: 412.77 million
- Float: 411.51 million
- Held by insiders: .22%
- Held by institutions: 84.80%
- Dividend: $1.64
- Yield: 2.8%
- Payout ratio: 47%

- Company Web site: www.travelers.com