AM Best

What AM Best does

AM Best is a privately held global credit rating agency and data analytics provider specializing exclusively in the insurance industry. Founded in 1899 in Oldwick, New Jersey, the company operates from offices in the United States, Singapore, Dubai, London, and Makati City, serving insurance markets in over 100 countries. Its core offering is independent credit ratings assessing the financial strength of insurers and reinsurers, delivered alongside a proprietary Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR) model for evaluating insurer capitalization and risk profiles, with an enhanced online platform launched in June 2026 that adds stress scenario analysis for terrorism, natural catastrophe, and surety risks. The company has also introduced an industry-first Performance Assessment tool for delegated underwriting authority enterprises (MGAs and coverholders), extending its analytical franchise beyond traditional rated entities.

AM Best generates revenue through three subscription-based streams: credit rating services, market research and analytics (including segment reports covering cyber, Japan non-life, US P&C, and other verticals), and data analytics delivered via online platforms. The company sells to enterprise clients through a direct field-sales motion, supplemented by active participation in industry conferences (RIMS RISKWORLD, MGAA, Philippine Insurance Summit), analytical briefings, webinars, and thought-leadership publications. Its senior analysts and managing directors are visible across global insurance events in North America, Europe, MENA, and Asia-Pacific, supporting a globally diversified customer base that includes large rated insurers such as USAA, Intact Financial, Coface SA, Royal Bank of Canada Insurance, Allshores, and Misr Insurance. The company is privately held with no parent company, public ticker, or disclosed funding rounds identified in the source data.

Name

AM Best

Legal name

AM Best

Website

https://ambest.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

AM Best is a privately held global credit rating agency and data analytics provider serving the insurance industry, operating in over 100 countries. It issues independent insurer ratings, the proprietary BCAR capital adequacy model, and market segment reports for insurers, reinsurers, MGAs, and investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Credit Rating Services

NAICS

Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223), Credit Bureaus (561450)

SIC

Services-Consumer Credit Reporting, Collection Agencies (7320)

akta.pro primary industry

Purchase Price Allocation (PPA) & Intangible Asset Valuation (FSAEAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Credit Repair & Credit Score Advisory (FSAEAFAD)

Keywords

• Credit rating services
• Insurance data analytics
• Capital adequacy assessment
• Market segment reports
• Financial strength ratings

Headquarters

HQ city

Oldwick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Credit Rating Services: AM Best provides credit ratings for insurance and reinsurance companies globally. These ratings assess the financial strength and creditworthiness of insurers.
2. Market Research and Analytics: AM Best publishes market segment reports, special reports, and analytical commentary on insurance industry trends, segments, and performance metrics.
3. Data Analytics and Online Platforms: Online platforms providing access to rating data, BCAR models, and analytical tools for insurance industry professionals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AM Best provides independent credit ratings evaluating the financial strength and creditworthiness of insurance and reinsurance companies worldwide. The company also delivers proprietary analytical tools including the Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR) Model and Performance Assessments for Delegated Underwriting Authority Enterprises, complemented by market segment reports and industry outlooks covering global insurance markets in over 100 countries.

Product overview

AM Best is a global credit rating agency and data analytics provider serving the insurance industry worldwide. The company offers a portfolio of credit rating services for insurance companies and related entities, including its proprietary Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR) Model now available as an enhanced online platform. AM Best also provides market segment reports covering various insurance segments globally, and offers Performance Assessments for Delegated Underwriting Authority Enterprises to help evaluate underwriting partners. The company operates with global presence in over 100 countries and serves the insurance industry through rating services, research publications, and data analytics products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR) Model Proprietary capital adequacy ratio model available as an enhanced online platform, enabling evaluation of insurer capitalization and risk profiles using AM Best's standard methodology, with stress scenario analysis for terrorism, natural catastrophe, and surety risks.
• Credit Rating Services for Insurance and Reinsurance Companies Independent credit ratings assessing the financial strength and creditworthiness of insurance and reinsurance companies globally, including Financial Strength Ratings (FSR), Issuer Credit Ratings (ICR), and other rating products distributed on a subscription basis.
• Performance Assessments for Delegated Underwriting Authority Enterprises An industry-first analytical tool designed to help insurers evaluate underwriting partners such as managing general agents (MGAs) and coverholders by assessing their performance and risk characteristics.
• U.S. Cyber Market Segment Report Market segment report providing analysis of U.S. cyber insurance premiums, loss ratios, and market share trends including surplus lines writers' role in the market.
• Japan Non-Life Insurance Market Outlook Market segment report maintaining stable outlook on Japan's non-life insurance segment, covering interest rates, J-ICS regulation, and natural catastrophe loss trends.
• U.S. Property/Casualty Rankings Report Quarterly rankings report tracking U.S. property/casualty net premiums written and combined ratios, with analysis of top insurance groups' market positions.
• Global Reinsurance Market Outlook and ILS Analytics Research and analytics covering global reinsurance market conditions including the approximately $660 billion global reinsurance capital pool and the $120 billion insurance-linked securities market.

Quantifiable outcome

• Global reinsurance capital of approximately $660 billion tracked and rated
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vermont Captive Insurance DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 August 2026AM Best is hosting an analytical briefing on the U.S. captive insurance market featuring representatives from the Vermont Captive Insurance Division, the Vermont Captive Insurance Association, and AM Best senior analytical staff. The briefing will cover captive insurance performance trends, benefits for alternative risk transfer organizations, and how captives integrate within parent organizations' enterprise risk management frameworks.
• Managing General Agents' Association (MGAA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 July 2026AM Best will exhibit at the MGAA Annual Conference on July 7, 2026, showcasing its Performance Assessments for Delegated Underwriting Authority Enterprises. Managing Director Nick Charteris-Black and Senior Director William Mills will be available at exhibit booth 4.
• The Insurance Institute for Asia and the PacificminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2026AM Best is a platinum sponsor and exhibitor at the Philippine Insurance Summit jointly organized with The Insurance Institute for Asia and the Pacific and the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association.
• RIMS (Risk and Insurance Management Society)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 May 2026AM Best will speak and exhibit at RIMS 2026 RISKWORLD, delivering presentations on global reinsurance market conditions and social inflation impacts on insurance pricing.
• InsurTech AmericaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 April 2026AM Best senior director Sridhar Manyem will moderate panels on AI governance and technology-enabled MGAs at the InsurTech America Symposium 2026.
• European Insurance Industry (Germany briefings)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 March 2026AM Best hosts insurance market briefings in Munich and Cologne covering trends in global reinsurance market and issues relevant to primary insurers across Europe, including presentations on IFRS 17.
• MENA II Awards Organizing CommitteecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 February 2026AM Best was named 'Ratings Agency of the Year' at the MENA II Awards 2026, recognizing excellence in insurance credit ratings, research, and thought leadership in the Middle East and North Africa region.
• Insurance Industry Participants (Online Briefing)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 December 2025AM Best hosts online briefing to present its 2026 outlooks for U.S. insurance, global reinsurance, and delegated underwriting authority enterprise markets with networking reception.
• Middle East and North Africa Insurance IndustrycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 November 2025AM Best hosts annual MENA insurance market briefing in Dubai featuring discussions on recent developments and their impact on regional markets, including CEO panel and mock rating committee presentation.
• Vermont Captive Insurance AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting an analytical briefing on the U.S. captive insurance market with AM Best and Vermont Captive Insurance Division representatives on August 4, 2026.
• Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer of the Philippine Insurance Summit where AM Best serves as platinum sponsor and exhibitor.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• S&P Global Ratings: S&P Global Ratings is one of the Big Three NRSROs and a direct competitor in insurance financial strength ratings, though it operates across a much broader scope including sovereigns, corporates, and structured finance. Highly comparable to AM Best on the insurance ratings dimension, with substantially larger scale.
• Moody's Ratings: Moody's is a top-three global NRSRO that rates insurance and reinsurance issuers alongside banks, sovereigns, and structured products. It competes with AM Best for insurance financial strength ratings and benefits from a much broader product portfolio and larger analytical organization.
• Fitch Ratings: Fitch Ratings is the third major NRSRO and provides insurance financial strength ratings as part of a broad credit ratings franchise covering corporates, financial institutions, sovereigns, and structured finance. Direct competitor to AM Best on insurer ratings, with wider geographic and product reach.
• DBRS Morningstar: DBRS Morningstar is a global credit rating agency (now part of Morningstar) that rates insurers and reinsurers across multiple geographies as part of a broader credit ratings business. It is a relevant competitor in the insurance rating space, particularly in Canada and Europe.

Direct peers

• Demotech: Demotech is a U.S.-focused financial stability rating agency specializing in insurance companies, particularly property/casualty insurers and MGAs. It is the closest U.S. pure-play insurance rating competitor to AM Best, focused on a similar niche but with a narrower geographic footprint.

Emerging players

• KBRA (Kroll Bond Rating Agency): KBRA is a relatively newer NRSRO that has expanded into insurance and insurance-linked securities ratings in addition to its structured finance heritage. It competes with AM Best particularly in ILS and reinsurance-related ratings as the ILS market continues to grow.
• Egan-Jones Ratings Company: Egan-Jones is an NRSRO that rates corporates, financial institutions, and insurance companies using a subscriber-pays model. It is an emerging player in insurance ratings with an alternative business model, creating partial competitive overlap with AM Best.

Others

• Verisk Analytics: Verisk provides data analytics, risk assessment, and underwriting solutions to the insurance industry, including ISO statistical services. While not a credit rating agency, it serves many of the same insurance customers with analytics and benchmarking products, making it an adjacent comparator.
• Munich Re: Munich Re is one of the world's largest reinsurers and a rated customer of AM Best. It is an ecosystem participant in the insurance analytics space through its own research publications and risk knowledge sharing, rather than a direct rating competitor.
• Swiss Re Institute: Swiss Re Institute is the research arm of Swiss Re, a major global reinsurer rated by AM Best. It publishes insurance industry insights and sigma reports that overlap thematically with AM Best's market segment reports, though it is not a credit rating agency.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ambestcompany

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AM Best