Travelers Companies Inc. posted second-quarter revenue of $12.12 billion, up 7.4% from a year earlier, as stronger underwriting and investment returns helped the U.S. property-and-casualty insurer far outpace Wall Street profit forecasts. Net income rose to $1.51 billion, or $6.53 a share, nearly tripling the prior-year period and beating analysts’ expectations of about $3.65 a share. Core earnings per share were $6.51. The insurer’s combined ratio improved to 90.3%, while the underlying combined ratio—a closely watched measure of underwriting profitability—fell to 84.7%. Catastrophe losses narrowed to $927 million from $1.51 billion a year earlier, reflecting milder weather-related claims. Net investment income increased 6% to $942 million, providing an additional lift to results. Net premiums written totaled $11.54 billion. The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.10 per share.