Quarterly Profits Up 3% at 20th Century Industries

20th Century Industries Inc., the Woodland Hills-based parent of 20th Century Insurance, said its third-quarter profit edged up 3% from a year earlier, to $34.5 million from $33.5 million.

The higher earnings in the quarter ended Sept. 30 came on an 11% increase in 20th Century’s earned premiums--a measure roughly equivalent to gross revenue--to $226.8 million from $205.2 million.

20th Century said its combined ratio amounted to 93.5% in the latest quarter, meaning it paid 93.5 cents in claims and overhead expenses for each dollar of premiums and retained 6.5 cents.

For the first nine months of this year, 20th Century’s profit rose 12%, to $94 million from $83.9 million a year earlier, and its nine-month earned premiums increased 11%, to $663.9 million from $596.5 million.