RLI Corp. Promotes Two Leaders in Claims Organization
RLI Corp. announced the promotion of two leaders within its Claim organization, effective April 1, 2026. Cory Figiel, Vice President, Claim, has been promoted to Chief Claim Officer, where she will lead strategy and operations for RLI's Claim organization across all product lines. She succeeds Bob Handzel, who retired March 31, 2026, after 20 years of service with RLI and a 47-year career in the insurance industry. Figiel joined RLI in 2016 as Director, Claim Counsel and has since held several claim leadership roles, most recently as Vice President, Claim, with executive responsibility for Professional Liability, Environmental Liability, Executive Products and Surety claims. She brings nearly 20 years of legal and insurance experience to her new role. Figiel holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and a Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology. In addition, Charles Spiekerman, Assistant Vice President, Professional Liability Claims, has been promoted to Vice President, Claim. He will lead RLI's Professional Liability, Environmental Liability, Executive Products and Surety claim teams.
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- Significant Revenue Growth: Reliance Industries reported a 10% revenue increase and a 13.5% rise in EBITDA for FY '25-'26, reflecting strong overall business performance, particularly in the expanding digital services sector.
- Surge in Digital Services Users: The digital services segment saw a 16% increase in subscriber base and a 40% growth in 5G users, enhancing the company's market competitiveness and laying a solid foundation for future revenue growth.
- Record Retail Performance: The retail segment achieved a record quarterly revenue of 98,000 crores, growing 14% post-RCPL demerger, indicating robust performance in the fast-moving consumer goods market despite supply chain challenges.
- Agile International Sourcing: In response to geopolitical challenges, Reliance Industries has adeptly sourced crude oil from regions like Venezuela and Russia, processing over 200 grades of crude, ensuring supply chain stability despite declines in overall production and reserves.
- Earnings Announcement Date: RLI is set to release its Q1 earnings on April 22 after market close, with consensus EPS estimated at $0.78, reflecting a 15.2% year-over-year decline, while revenue is projected at $445.15 million, indicating a 9.2% year-over-year growth, showcasing resilience in revenue generation.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, RLI has surpassed EPS estimates 88% of the time and revenue estimates 63% of the time, indicating a level of stability and reliability in financial performance that bolsters investor confidence.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen one upward revision and five downward adjustments, while revenue estimates have experienced one upward and one downward revision, reflecting analyst divergence on the company's future performance, which may impact market expectations.
- Rating Changes: Jefferies upgraded RLI from Underperform to Hold, highlighting the company's disciplined underwriting strategy and 33% book value growth in a competitive market, which may attract more investor interest.
- Rating Upgrade: AM Best has upgraded RLI Corp.'s financial strength rating to A++ (Superior), reflecting its robust balance sheet and strong operating performance, which enhances market confidence in its stability.
- Long-Term Credit Rating Boost: The long-term issuer credit ratings for RLI's insurance subsidiaries and its parent company have been upgraded to aa+ and a+, respectively, which will help bolster investor trust and attractiveness.
- Stable Outlook Revision: AM Best revised the outlook for these credit ratings from positive to stable, indicating that RLI is expected to maintain consistency in its financial performance and risk management, aiding its competitive edge in the insurance market.
- Sustained Profitability: RLI has paid and increased regular dividends for 50 consecutive years while achieving underwriting profits for 30 years, a stable financial performance that not only boosts investor confidence but also lays a solid foundation for future growth.
- Rating Upgrade: AM Best has upgraded RLI Group's Financial Strength Rating from A+ to A++, and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings from 'aa' to 'aa+', reflecting its exceptional balance sheet strength and strong operating performance.
- Financial Flexibility: RLI Corp.'s modest financial leverage and very strong fixed-charge coverage support its ratings, demonstrating effective strategies in capital management and risk control.
- Liquidity Advantage: Despite elevated common stock leverage and significant earthquake exposure, RLI's overall liquidity ratios outperform industry benchmarks, with policyholder surplus reaching $1.9 billion as of Q3 2025, showcasing its sustained capital generation capacity.
- Stable Outlook: AM Best expects RLI to maintain strong underwriting and operating profitability, with the rating outlook revised from positive to stable, indicating the company's competitive position and market standing in the insurance industry will continue to strengthen.
- Rating Upgrade: AM Best has upgraded RLI Group's Financial Strength Rating from A+ to A++ and Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings from 'aa' to 'aa+', reflecting the company's exceptional financial stability and operational performance, which is expected to enhance investor confidence and attract more capital inflow.
- Strong Financial Position: RLI's balance sheet is assessed as the strongest, supported by effective capital management strategies and strong underwriting controls, maintaining industry-leading liquidity ratios despite elevated common stock leverage and significant earthquake exposure, showcasing its resilience against risks.
- Stable Profitability: AM Best expects RLI to maintain strong underwriting and operating profitability, with a stable outlook reflecting the company's sustained profitability under diversified investments and rigorous pricing discipline, further solidifying its competitive position in the insurance market.
- Capital Generation Capability: RLI has achieved consistent internal capital generation over the past five years, with policyholder surplus reaching $1.9 billion, despite returning substantial capital to RLI Corp., demonstrating its flexibility in capital management and strong financial resilience.
- Rating Upgrade: AM Best upgraded RLI Group's Financial Strength Rating from A+ to A++ and Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings from 'aa' to 'aa+', reflecting its exceptional financial health and operational performance, which is expected to enhance investor confidence and market competitiveness.
- Capital Management Strength: The ratings highlight RLI's robust balance sheet and effective capital management strategies, maintaining industry-leading liquidity ratios despite elevated common stock leverage and significant earthquake exposure, showcasing its excellence in risk management.
- Stable Profitability: RLI's consistent underwriting results are driven by rigorous pricing discipline and diversification, with internal capital generation enabling growth, as evidenced by policyholder surplus reaching $1.9 billion in Q3 2025, further solidifying its market position.
- Stable Outlook: AM Best revised RLI's outlook from positive to stable, indicating the company's expectation to maintain strong underwriting and operating profitability, ensuring its competitive edge and long-term sustainability in the insurance industry.







