Quarterly Financial Results
Fourth quarter 2021 net loss was $49.2 million, compared to net income of $2.8 million in the prior year quarter. The year-over-year change was primarily attributed to a $60.5 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge and a large tax benefit in the prior year quarter, partly offset by higher underwriting income associated with rate increases, re-underwriting efforts and normalized weather. The goodwill impairment charge was recorded following the Company’s annual valuation review and principally stemmed from its common stock valuation and prevailing valuation multiples in the property insurance market.
Fourth quarter 2021 non-GAAP adjusted net income** was $11.3 million, up from adjusted net income of $2.8 million in the prior year quarter. Non-GAAP adjusted net income** growth primarily stemmed from higher rates, lower current accident year weather and attritional losses, and lower general and administrative expenses, partly offset by lower favorable prior year reserve development.
Gross premiums written were $278.8 million, down 1.2% year-over-year, as intentional exposure-management and re-underwriting efforts resulted in a 17.8% decline in Florida that was largely offset by 16.7% growth in other states.
Premiums-in-force were $1.2 billion as of fourth quarter 2021, representing a 0.8% annualized decline from third quarter 2021 due to continued proactive underwriting actions. Year-over-year, premiums-in-force were up 8.3%, while policies-in-force were down 1.7%, with the delta primarily reflecting rate increases.
Gross premiums earned were $293.7 million in fourth quarter 2021, up 10.7% from $265.4 million in the prior year quarter. The increase reflects higher gross premiums written over the last twelve months.
The ceded premium ratio was 45.5% in fourth quarter 2021, up 2.6 points from 42.9% in the prior year quarter. The increase primarily stems from ceded premium growth that outpaced gross premiums earned growth due to our exposure management efforts. Additionally, the prior year quarter’s ceded premium ratio benefitted from year-end reinsurance true-ups.
The net loss ratio was 61.9% in fourth quarter 2021, down 8.5 points from 70.4% in the prior year quarter. The decrease primarily stems from a $9.1 million reduction in net current accident quarter weather losses, including a $12.7 million decline in catastrophe losses and a $3.6 million increase in other weather losses, partly offset by lower favorable prior year reserve development. Net current accident quarter weather was $29.8 million in fourth quarter 2021, including $11.7 million of catastrophe losses and $18.1 million of other weather losses.
The net expense ratio was 31.3% in fourth quarter 2021, down 7.0 points from 38.3% in the prior year quarter. The decline stems largely from costs associated with executive management departures and compensation in the prior year quarter.
The net combined ratio was 93.2% in fourth quarter 2021, down 15.5 points from 108.7% in the prior year quarter. The decrease stems from lower net loss and expense ratios, as described above.
Book Value Analysis
Book value per share was $12.82 at December 31, 2021, down 19.6% from fourth quarter 2020.
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| | As Of | |
Book Value Per Share | | December 31, 2021 | | | December 31, 2020 | | | December 31, 2019 | |
Numerator: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common stockholders’ equity | | $ | 343,051 | | | $ | 442,344 | | | $ | 448,799 | |
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Denominator: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Shares Outstanding | | | 26,753,511 | | | | 27,748,606 | | | | 28,650,918 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Book Value Per Common Share | | $ | 12.82 | | | $ | 15.94 | | | $ | 15.66 | |
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Conference Call Details:
Tuesday, March 8, 2021– 9:30 a.m. ET
Participant Dial-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 to http://investors.heritagepci.com/. This webcast will be archived and accessible on the Company’s website.
**Adjusted net income, Adjusted earnings per share, and Adjusted Return on Equity are Non-GAAP measures defined and reconciled to the nearest GAAP financial measures in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measurements” section of this release.