15.0%, comprised of a catastrophe loss ratio of negative 2.5%(1) and an attritional loss ratio of 17.5%, compared to a loss ratio of 44.2% during the same period last year comprised of a catastrophe loss ratio of 37.2% and attritional loss ratio of 7.0%. Underwriting income(1) was $17.0 million resulting in a combined ratio of 75.0% compared to underwriting loss of $5.0 million and a combined ratio of 112.8% during the same period last year. Excluding expenses related to transactions, stock-based compensation, amortization of intangibles, and catastrophe bonds, the Company’s adjusted combined ratio(1) was 70.7% in the fourth quarter compared to 111.0% during the same period last year. Non-catastrophe losses and loss ratio increased mainly due to the growth of lines of business subject to attritional losses, such as Specialty Homeowners, Flood, and Inland Marine.
Investment Results
Net investment income increased by 4.6% to $2.4 million compared to $2.3 million in the prior year’s fourth quarter. The year over year increase was primarily due to a higher average balance of investments held during the three months ended December 31, 2021 due to cash generated from operations, offset by lower yields on invested assets. Funds are generally invested conservatively in high quality securities, including government agency, asset and mortgage-backed securities, municipal and corporate bonds with an average credit quality of "A1/A". The weighted average duration of the fixed-maturity investment portfolio, including cash equivalents, was 3.99 years at December 31, 2021. Cash and invested assets totaled $516.3 million at December 31, 2021. During the fourth quarter, the Company recorded realized and unrealized gains of $2.0 million related to its investment portfolio as compared to realized and unrealized gains of $245 thousand in last year’s fourth quarter.
Tax Rate
The effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2021 was 22.3% compared to 23.1% for the three months ended December 31, 2020. For the current quarter, the Company’s income tax rate differed from the statutory rate due primarily to non-deductible executive compensation expense. The 2020 fourth quarter tax rate differed from the statutory rate due to the tax impact of the permanent component of employee stock option exercises.
Stockholders’ Equity and Returns
Stockholders' equity was $394.2 million at December 31, 2021, compared to $363.7 million at December 31, 2020. For the three months ended December 31, 2021, the Company’s annualized return on equity was 17.2% compared to negative 2.0% for the same period in the prior year while adjusted return on equity(1) was 19.9% compared to negative 1.4% for the same period in the prior year.
Full Year 2022 Outlook
For the full year 2022, the Company expects to achieve adjusted net income of $80 million to $85 million.
Conference Call
As previously announced, Palomar will host a conference call Thursday February 17, 2022, to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 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 Fourth Quarter and Full Year 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 13726650. The telephonic replay will be available until 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on February 24, 2022.
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.palomarspecialty.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 (“PESIC”). 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.
To learn more, visit PLMR.com.
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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.