Arch Capital yesterday posted a profit of more than $215 million for the fourth quarter of last year.

On a per share basis, Arch’s net income of $1.60 — $1.15 after adjustments — for the final quarter of 2014 topped analysts’ estimates.

The average estimate of analysts tracked by Yahoo Finance was for earnings of $1.06 a share.

The property and casualty insurance specialist posted revenue of $1 billion for the period.

And for the full year, Arch reported profits of $834.4 million — equivalent to $6.02 a share — on revenue of $3.89 billion.

That compares to figures of $687.8 millon or $5.07 per share for 2013,

The book value per common share at the end of 2014 was was $45.58 — a 14.5 per cent increase on the $39.82 per share logged at the end of the previous year.