Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Available-for-sale securities at fair value:
Equity securities (cost: 2016 - $2,637,787; 2015 - $2,740,984)	$ 2,889,055	$ 3,005,908
Debt securities (amortized cost: 2016 - $13,385,266; 2015 - $13,529,923)	13,618,212	13,605,963
Short-term investments	493,614	365,810
Marketable Securities, Total	17,000,881	16,977,681
Commercial mortgage loans	279,906	177,947
Other invested assets	694,607	676,811
Total investments	17,975,394	17,832,439
Cash	509,743	475,267
Accrued investment income	114,681	115,313
Premium balances receivable	755,811	752,103
Reinsurance recoverables	1,203,188	1,249,948
Ceded unearned premiums	190,366	190,368
Deferred acquisition costs	449,645	419,448
Property and equipment at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization	99,958	101,306
Goodwill	141,015	141,015
Intangible assets, net of amortization	209,704	212,790
Current taxes receivable	31,030	12,129
Net deferred tax assets	344,294	468,440
Other assets	1,030,514	868,513
Total assets	23,055,343	22,839,079
Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests and Stockholders' Equity
Loss and loss adjustment expenses	10,758,730	10,799,242
Unearned premiums	2,170,059	2,076,061
Senior Notes	1,383,572	1,383,086
Reinsurance payable	88,164	69,297
Other liabilities	857,216	930,967
Total liabilities	15,257,741	15,258,653
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	25,866	25,719
Common stock (shares authorized: 2016 and 2015 - 22,000,000; shares issued: 2016 and 2015 - 17,459,961)	17,460	17,460
Contributed capital	3,611,715	3,611,631
Accumulated other comprehensive income	229,376	116,273
Treasury stock, at cost (2016 - 2,022,329 shares; 2015 - 1,915,884 shares)	(798,447)	(747,784)
Retained earnings	4,711,632	4,557,127
Total stockholders' equity attributable to Alleghany stockholders	7,771,736	7,554,707
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders' equity	$ 23,055,343	$ 22,839,079