Underwriting loss(1) was approximately $1.8 million resulting in a combined ratio of 102.8% compared to underwriting loss of $24.0 million and a combined ratio of 157.1% during the same period last year. The Company’s adjusted combined ratio excluding catastrophe losses(1) was 73.2% in the third quarter compared to 68.9% during the same period last year.
Investment Results
Net investment income increased by 4.6% to $2.2 million compared to $2.1 million in the prior year’s third quarter. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to a higher average balance of investments held during the three months ended September 30, 2021, offset by lower yields on invested assets. Funds are generally invested in high quality securities, including government agency, asset and mortgage-backed securities, municipal and corporate bonds with an average credit quality of “A2/A”. The weighted average duration of the fixed-maturity investment portfolio, including cash equivalents, was 4.04 years at September 30, 2021. Cash and invested assets totaled $467.0 million at September 30, 2021. During the current year third quarter, the Company recognized realized and unrealized losses of $0.3 million due to unrealized losses on equity securities as compared to realized and unrealized gains of $0.02 million in last year’s third quarter.
Tax Rate
The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2021 was negative 101.6% compared to 28.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2020. For both periods, the effective tax rate differed from the statutory rate primarily due to the tax impact of the permanent component of employee stock option exercises.
Stockholders’ Equity and Returns
Stockholders' equity was $377.8 million at September 30, 2021, compared to $363.7 million at December 31, 2020. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company’s annualized return on equity was 0.3% compared to negative 17.0% for the same period last year while annualized adjusted return on equity was 1.8% compared to negative 16.5% for the same period last year.
The Company did not repurchase any of its shares during the current quarter relating to its previously announced $40 million share purchase authorization. For the current year to date, the Company has repurchased approximately $15.8 million or 239,000 shares of its common stock.
Fourth quarter 2021 Outlook
For the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company expects to achieve adjusted net income of $17.0 million to $18.5 million, excluding any losses from a catastrophe.
Conference Call
As previously announced, Palomar will host a conference call November 4, 2021, to discuss its third quarter 2021 results at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-423-9813 (domestic) or 1-201-689-8573 (international) and asking for the Palomar Third Quarter 2021 Earnings Call. A telephonic replay will be available approximately two hours after the call and can be accessed by dialing 1-844-512-2921, or for international callers 1-412-317-6671 and providing the access code 13723673. The telephonic replay will be available until 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on November 11, 2021.
Interested investors and other parties may also listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto the investor relations section of the Company’s website at http://ir.plmr.com/. The online replay will remain available for a limited time beginning immediately following the call.
About Palomar Holdings, Inc.
Palomar Holdings, Inc. is the holding company of subsidiaries Palomar Specialty Insurance Company (“PSIC”), Palomar Specialty Reinsurance Company Bermuda Ltd., Palomar Insurance Agency, Inc. and Palomar Excess and Surplus Insurance Company. Palomar is an innovative insurer that focuses on the provision of specialty insurance for residential and commercial clients. Palomar’s underwriting and analytical expertise allow it to concentrate on certain markets that it believes are underserved by other insurance companies, such as the markets for earthquake, hurricane and flood insurance. Palomar’s insurance subsidiaries, Palomar Specialty Insurance Company, Palomar Specialty Reinsurance Company Bermuda Ltd., and Palomar Excess and Surplus Insurance Company, have a financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent) from A.M. Best.
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Non-GAAP and Key Performance Indicators
Palomar discusses certain key performance indicators, described below, which provide useful information about the Company’s business and the operational factors underlying the Company’s financial performance.