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Retained earnings is the accumulated portion of net income that is not distributed to shareholders. RLI's retained earnings for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was $1,921 Mil.
RLI's quarterly retained earnings
declined
from Sep. 2025 ($1,989 Mil) to Dec. 2025 ($1,881 Mil) but then
increased
from Dec. 2025 ($1,881 Mil) to Mar. 2026 ($1,921 Mil).
RLI's annual retained earnings
increased
from Dec. 2023 ($1,610 Mil) to Dec. 2024 ($1,720 Mil) and
increased
from Dec. 2024 ($1,720 Mil) to Dec. 2025 ($1,881 Mil).
RLI (NYSE:RLI) Retained Earnings Explanation
Historically profitable companies sometimes have negative retained earnings. This is because they have cumulatively paid out more to shareholders than they reported in profits.
For example, in 2011, Microsoft had negative retained earnings. This does not mean the company lost more money than it made over the years. It just means it paid out more money than it earned.
If a company has negative retained earnings, investors should check the 10-year financial results. They should not assume that negative retained earnings prove a company has generally lost money in the past.
Of course, many companies with negative retained earnings have indeed lost money in the past.
Retained Earnings: Warren Buffett's Secret.
One of the most important indicators of durable competitive advantage. Net earnings can be paid out as dividends, used to buy back shares or retained for growth.
If the company loses more than it has accumulated, retained earnings is negative.
If a company isn't adding to its retained earnings, it isn't growing its net worth.
Rate of growth of retained earnings is good indicator whether it's benefiting from a competitive advantage.
Microsoft is negative because it chose to buyback stock and pay dividends.
The more earnings retained, the faster it grows and increases growth rate for future earnings.
RLI Retained Earnings Historical Data
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The historical data trend for RLI's Retained Earnings can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Retained Earnings is the accumulated portion of net income that is not distributed to shareholders. Because the net income was not distributed to shareholders, shareholders' equity is increased by the same amount.
Of course, if a company loses, it is called retained losses, or accumulated losses.
RLI (RLI) has a Retained Earnings of $1,921 Mil as of Mar. 2026. Retained earnings is the amount of net income not issued to shareholders. View historical data on RLI and its competitors.
Is RLI's Retained Earnings too high?
RLI's current Retained Earnings is $1,921 Mil. Overall, RLI has a GF Score™ of 79/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does RLI's Retained Earnings compare to WTM and SIGI?
RLI's Retained Earnings of $1,921 Mil can be compared against companies in the Insurance industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Retained Earnings for an Insurance company?
A good Retained Earnings depends on the Insurance industry context. However, Retained Earnings should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Retained Earnings mean?
A high Retained Earnings can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Retained earnings is the amount of net income not issued to shareholders. View historical data on RLI and its competitors. RLI's current Retained Earnings is $1,921 Mil. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is RLI stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, RLI (RLI) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $77.35, compared to a current price of $58.05 — trading 25% below its estimated fair value. The current Retained Earnings is $1,921 Mil. RLI's overall GF Score™ is 79/100 with 2 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Retained Earnings calculated?
Retained Earnings is calculated from a company's financial statements. For RLI (RLI), the current Retained Earnings is $1,921 Mil as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is RLI (RLI) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, RLI stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $58.05 is trading 25% below its estimated GF Value™ of $77.35.
GuruFocus considers RLI to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for RLI:
Retained Earnings: $1,921 Mil
GF Value™: $77.35 vs. price of $58.05 (25% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the RLI stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
RLI Corp underwrites property and casualty insurance through its subsidiaries. The company offers insurance coverage in the specialty admitted market, where the products are designed for special risks. It also offers products in the excess and surplus markets, which provides an alternative for customers with risks or loss exposures that generally cannot be written in the standard admitted market. RLI distributes property and casualty insurance through its wholly-owned branch offices that market to wholesale and retail producers. The company's insurance operation segments include Casualty, Property, and Surety, and it derives a majority of its revenue from the Casualty segment.
79GF Score
Get the complete analysis for RLI
Retained Earnings is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
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