Quarterly Financial Results
Third quarter 2019 net income was $8.1 million compared to $6.0 million in the prior year quarter. The increase primarily reflects higher net premiums earned, a lower net expense ratio and lower interest expense, partly offset by a higher net loss ratio.
Gross premiums written were $237.3 million in third quarter 2019, up 1.6% from $233.6 million in the prior year quarter. The increase reflects 7.9% growth outside Florida, partly offset by a 4.8% exposure management driven decline in Florida, particularly in the state’sTri-County region. The Florida decline reflects a deceleration from second quarter 2019’s 11.9% decrease.
Premiums-in-force were $926.8 million, up 0.5% from second quarter 2019, with the increase stemming from 2.1% growth outside Florida, partly offset by a 1.0% decline in Florida. The Florida decline reflects a deceleration from 2Q19’s 3.4% decline from first quarter 2019.
Gross premiums earned were $231.6 million in third quarter 2019, down 1.1% from $234.2 million in the prior year quarter. The decrease primarily reflects organic gross premiums written declines in second quarter 2019 and the third and fourth quarters of 2018, partly offset by positive organic gross premiums written growth in the first and third quarters of 2019.
The ceded premium ratio was 46.5% in third quarter 2019, down 3.0 points from 49.5% in the prior year quarter. The decrease is primarily attributable to reinsurance synergies associated with the renewal of remaining legacy NBIC reinsurance coverage on a consolidated basis and elimination of NBIC’s 8.0% gross quota share reinsurance program as of June 1, 2019, partly offset by additional catastropheexcess-of-loss reinsurance coverage and an increase in NBIC’s net quota share reinsurance program from 49.5% to 52.0% as of December 31, 2018.
The net loss ratio was 56.6% in third quarter 2019, up 7.0 points from 49.6% in the prior year quarter. The increase primarily relates to lower cost savings from vertically integrated operations, higher current accident yearnon-catastrophe weather losses and less favorable prior year reserve development, partly offset by lower current accident year catastrophe losses and the beneficial ceded premium ratio impact of NBIC-related reinsurance synergies.
The net expense ratio was 38.9% in third quarter 2019, down 5.4 points from 44.3% in the prior year quarter. The decrease primarily stems fromnon-core business acquisition related expenses in the prior year quarter and the beneficial ceded premium ratio impact of NBIC-related reinsurance synergies in the current year quarter.
The net combined ratio was 95.5% in third quarter 2019, up 1.6 points from 93.9% in the prior year quarter. The increase stems from a higher net loss ratio, partly offset by a lower net expense ratio, as described above.
Book Value Analysis
Book value per share increased 6.5% (8.8% compound annual growth rate) fromyear-end 2018 and 2.5% (10.5% compound annual growth rate) from June 30, 2019 to $15.37 at September 30, 2019.
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| | As Of | |
Book Value Per Share | | September 30, 2019 | | | June 30, 2019 | | | December 31, 2018 | |
Numerator: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common stockholders’ equity | | $ | 445,230 | | | $ | 438,850 | | | $ | 425,333 | |
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Denominator: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Shares Outstanding | | | 28,963,841 | | | | 29,274,577 | | | | 29,477,756 | |
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Book Value Per Common Share | | $ | 15.37 | | | $ | 14.99 | | | $ | 14.43 | |
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Conference Call Details:
Friday, November 1, 2019 – 8:30 a.m. EDT
ParticipantDial-in Numbers Toll Free:1-888-346-3095
Participant International Dial In:1-412-902-4258
Canada Toll Free:1-855-669-9657
Webcast:
To listen to the live webcast, please go tohttp://investors.heritagepci.com/. This webcast will be archived and accessible on the Company’s website.