EMC Insurance Group Inc. today reported net income of $4.1 million, or 20 cents per share, for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with net income of $11.2 million, or 54 cents per share for the year-ago quarter. Operating income, which excludes realized investment gains and losses, totaled $4.9 million, compared with $6.3 million in third quarter 2015. Although the company’s commercial auto and personal lines of business continue to depress results, EMC expects to see gradual improvement in 2017 from a comprehensive commercial auto profitability project and a nearly complete personal lines initiative, President and CEO Bruce Kelley said. Premiums earned increased 4.4 percent overall and 2.3 percent in the property and casualty segment.