Mercury General (MCY) 10-Q 29 Oct 19 2019 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Cover Page

Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 24, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-12257
Entity Registrant Name	MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	CA
Entity Tax Identification Number	95-2211612
Entity Address, Address Line One	4484 Wilshire Boulevard
Entity Address, City or Town	Los Angeles,
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	90010
City Area Code	323
Local Phone Number	937-1060
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	MCY
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		55,354,691
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0000064996
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
ASSETS
Fixed maturity securities (amortized cost $3,013,260; $2,969,541)	$ 3,139,439	$ 2,985,161
Equity securities (cost $604,609; $544,082)	657,135	529,631
Short-term investments (cost $421,895; $254,518)	421,574	253,299
Total investments	4,218,148	3,768,091
Cash	315,370	314,291
Receivables:
Premium	629,836	555,038
Accrued investment income	41,492	45,373
Other	5,554	6,132
Total receivables	676,882	606,543
Reinsurance recoverables	103,448	221,088
Deferred policy acquisition costs	237,694	215,131
Fixed assets (net of accumulated depreciation $372,876; $359,269)	168,294	153,023
Operating lease right-of-use assets	45,834
Current income taxes	13,265	38,885
Deferred income taxes	0	13,339
Goodwill	42,796	42,796
Other intangible assets, net	11,903	15,534
Other assets	39,608	45,008
Total assets	5,873,242	5,433,729
Liabilities
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	1,855,211	1,829,412
Unearned premiums	1,383,965	1,236,181
Notes payable	372,034	371,734
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	156,276	115,071
Operating lease liabilities	48,699
Deferred income taxes	21,068	0
Other liabilities	233,445	263,647
Total liabilities	4,070,698	3,816,045
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock without par value or stated value: Authorized 70,000 shares; issued and outstanding 55,355; 55,340	98,683	98,026
Retained earnings	1,703,861	1,519,658
Total shareholders’ equity	1,802,544	1,617,684
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 5,873,242	$ 5,433,729

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Amortized cost on fixed maturities trading investments	$ 3,013,260	$ 2,969,541
Cost - equity security trading investments	604,609	544,082
Cost - short-term investments	421,895	254,518
Fixed assets, accumulated depreciation	$ 372,876	$ 359,269
Common Stock
Common stock, no par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	70,000,000	70,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	55,355,000	55,340,000
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	55,355,000	55,340,000

Consolidated Statements Of Oper

Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenues:
Net premiums earned	$ 915,012	$ 858,135	$ 2,674,034	$ 2,500,178
Net investment income	36,356	38,159	105,562	104,455
Net realized investment gains (losses)	33,324	(3,910)	197,726	(48,355)
Other	2,603	2,427	7,203	7,108
Total revenues	987,295	894,811	2,984,525	2,563,386
Expenses:
Losses and loss adjustment expenses	680,928	614,069	1,967,921	1,851,850
Policy acquisition costs	150,929	142,295	447,971	424,799
Other operating expenses	70,341	63,904	206,250	190,125
Interest	4,257	4,257	12,779	12,779
Total expenses	906,455	824,525	2,634,921	2,479,553
Income before income taxes	80,840	70,286	349,604	83,833
Income tax expense	11,558	11,708	61,205	7,682
Net income	$ 69,282	$ 58,578	$ 288,399	$ 76,151
Net income per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.25	$ 1.06	$ 5.21	$ 1.38
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.25	$ 1.06	$ 5.21	$ 1.38
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	55,355	55,337	55,349	55,334
Diluted (in shares)	55,366	55,341	55,360	55,337

Consolidated Statements of Shar

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity Statement - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]
Shareholders' equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017		$ 97,523	$ 1,663,864
Proceeds from stock options exercised		340
Share-based compensation expense		104
Withholding tax on stock options exercised		0
Net income	$ 76,151		76,151
Dividends paid to shareholders			(103,752)
Shareholders' equity, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	1,734,230	97,967	1,636,263
Shareholders' equity, beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2018		97,586	1,612,272
Proceeds from stock options exercised		340
Share-based compensation expense		41
Withholding tax on stock options exercised		0
Net income	58,578		58,578
Dividends paid to shareholders			(34,587)
Shareholders' equity, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	1,734,230	97,967	1,636,263
Shareholders' equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	1,617,684	98,026	1,519,658
Proceeds from stock options exercised		591
Share-based compensation expense		88
Withholding tax on stock options exercised		(22)
Net income	288,399		288,399
Dividends paid to shareholders			(104,196)
Shareholders' equity, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	1,802,544	98,683	1,703,861
Shareholders' equity, beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2019		98,647	1,669,315
Proceeds from stock options exercised		0
Share-based compensation expense		36
Withholding tax on stock options exercised		0
Net income	69,282		69,282
Dividends paid to shareholders			(34,736)
Shareholders' equity, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 1,802,544	$ 98,683	$ 1,703,861

Consolidated Statements Of Cash

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 288,399	$ 76,151
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	47,412	43,730
Net realized investment (gains) losses	(197,726)	48,355
Increase in premiums receivable	(74,797)	(83,944)
Decrease in reinsurance recoverables	117,640	2,930
Changes in current and deferred income taxes	60,026	18,459
Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs	(22,563)	(18,328)
Increase in loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	25,799	69,441
Increase in unearned premiums	147,784	138,849
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	40,764	31,628
Share-based compensation	88	104
Other, net	(19,233)	(2,180)
Net cash provided by operating activities	413,593	325,195
Fixed maturity securities available for sale in nature:
Purchases	(384,991)	(547,385)
Sales	55,882	148,421
Calls or maturities	258,810	243,982
Equity securities available for sale in nature:
Purchases	(852,903)	(778,405)
Sales	805,752	641,159
Changes in securities payable and receivable	3,771	13,647
(Increase) decrease in short-term investments	(168,378)	39,650
Purchases of fixed assets	(31,824)	(20,649)
Other, net	4,972	8,064
Net cash used in investing activities	(308,909)	(251,516)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Dividends paid to shareholders	(104,196)	(103,752)
Proceeds from stock options exercised	591	340
Net cash used in financing activities	(103,605)	(103,412)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	1,079	(29,733)
Cash:
Beginning of the year	314,291	291,413
End of period	315,370	261,680
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW DISCLOSURE
Interest paid	16,567	16,567
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	$ 1,178	$ (10,778)

General

General	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
General	General Consolidation and Basis of Presentation The interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Mercury General Corporation and its subsidiaries (referred to herein collectively as the “Company”). For the list of the Company’s subsidiaries, see Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 . These interim financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), which differ in some respects from those filed in reports to insurance regulatory authorities. The financial data of the Company included herein are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments of a normal recurring nature have been made to present fairly the Company’s financial position at September 30, 2019 and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Certain financial information that is normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, but that is not required for interim reporting purposes, has been omitted from the accompanying interim consolidated financial statements and related notes. Readers are urged to review the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 for more complete descriptions and discussions. Operating results and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019 . Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates require the Company to apply complex assumptions and judgments, and often the Company must make estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain and will likely change in subsequent periods. The most significant assumptions in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements relate to reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates. See Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 . Earnings per Share There were no potentially dilutive securities with anti-dilutive effect for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 . Potentially dilutive securities representing approximately 82,000 and 73,000 shares of common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Dividends per Share The Company declared and paid a dividend per share of $0.6275 and $0.6250 during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and dividends per share of $1.8825 and $1.8750 during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs Deferred policy acquisition costs consist of commissions paid to outside agents, premium taxes, salaries, and certain other underwriting costs that are incremental or directly related to the successful acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts and are amortized over the life of the related policy in proportion to premiums earned. Deferred policy acquisition costs are limited to the amount that will remain after deducting from unearned premiums and anticipated investment income, the estimated losses and loss adjustment expenses, and the servicing costs that will be incurred as premiums are earned. The Company’s deferred policy acquisition costs are further limited by excluding those costs not directly related to the successful acquisition of insurance contracts. Deferred policy acquisition cost amortization was $150.9 million and $142.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and $448.0 million and $424.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. The Company does not defer advertising expenditures but expenses them as incurred. The Company recorded net advertising expense of approximately $12.5 million and $11.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and $36.1 million and $34.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. Reinsurance Unearned premiums and loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are stated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements before deductions for ceded reinsurance. Unearned premiums and loss and loss adjustment expense reserves that are ceded to reinsurers are carried in other assets and reinsurance recoverables, respectively, in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Earned premiums are stated net of deductions for ceded reinsurance. The Company is party to a Catastrophe Reinsurance Treaty ("Treaty") covering a wide range of perils that is effective through June 30, 2020. The Treaty provides $590 million of coverage on a per occurrence basis after covered catastrophe losses exceed the $40 million Company retention limit. The Treaty specifically excludes coverage for any Florida business and for California earthquake losses on fixed property policies, such as homeowners, but does cover losses from fires following an earthquake. In addition, the Treaty provides for one full reinstatement of coverage limits and excludes losses from wildfires on certain coverage layers of the Treaty. The Company recognized ceded premiums earned of approximately $13 million and $9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and $44 million and $34 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, which are included in net premiums earned in its consolidated statements of operations. The Company recognized ceded losses and loss adjustment expenses of approximately $1 million and $14 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and $(51) million and $13 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, which are included in losses and loss adjustment expenses in its consolidated statements of operations. The large negative ceded losses and loss adjustment expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 resulted from the re-estimation of the catastrophe loss reserves, including estimated subrogation, on the 2018 Camp and Woolsey Fires and the 2017 Southern California wildfires, which have previously been ceded to reinsurers under the Treaty, in conjunction with the sale of the Company's subrogation rights during the first quarter of 2019. The re-estimation primarily benefited the Company's reinsurers. See Note 11. Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves for additional information. The Company's insurance subsidiaries, as primary insurers, are required to pay losses to the extent reinsurers are unable to discharge their obligations under the reinsurance agreements. Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) The Company's revenue from contracts with customers is commission income earned from third-party insurers by its 100% owned insurance agencies, which amounted to approximately $4.2 million and $4.0 million , with related expenses of $2.5 million and $2.2 million , for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and $12.5 million and $12.3 million , with related expenses of $7.8 million and $7.6 million , for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. All of the commission income, net of related expenses, is included in other revenues in the Company's consolidated statements of operations, and in other income of the Property and Casualty business segment in the Company's segment reporting (see Note 14. Segment Information). As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , the Company had no contract assets and contract liabilities, and no

Recently Issued Accounting Stan

Recently Issued Accounting Standards	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]
Recently Issued Accounting Standards	Recently Issued Accounting Standards In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2018-15, " Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40), Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. " ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software under Subtopic 350-40. This ASU also requires an entity to expense the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract over the term of the hosting arrangement and present such expense in the same line item in the statement of income as the fees associated with the hosting element (service) of the arrangement and classify payments for capitalized implementation costs in the statement of cash flows in the same manner as payments made for fees associated with the hosting element. The entity is also required to present the capitalized implementation costs in the statement of financial position in the same line item that a prepayment for the fees of the associated hosting arrangement would be presented. ASU 2018-15 will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of ASU 2018-15 on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, " Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement ." The amendments in this ASU require certain existing disclosure requirements in Topic 820 to be modified or removed, and certain new disclosure requirements to be added to the Topic. In addition, this ASU allows entities to exercise more discretion when considering fair value measurement disclosures. ASU 2018-13 will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of ASU 2018-13 on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, " Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. " ASU 2017-04 removes the requirement to compare the implied fair value of goodwill with its carrying amount as part of Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test and requires an entity to recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. ASU 2017-04 will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company does not anticipate that ASU 2017-04 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, " Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326).

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Financial Instruments, Owned, at Fair Value [Abstract]
Financial Instruments	Financial Instruments Financial instruments recorded in the consolidated balance sheets include investments, note receivable, other receivables, options sold, total return swap, accounts payable, and unsecured notes payable. Due to their short-term maturities, the carrying values of other receivables and accounts payable approximate their fair values. All investments are carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. The following table presents the fair values of financial instruments: September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 (Amounts in thousands) Assets Investments $ 4,218,148 $ 3,768,091 Note receivable 5,653 5,557 Liabilities Total return swap $ 1,167 $ 4,851 Options sold 237 3 Unsecured notes 394,129 362,674 Investments The Company applies the fair value option to all fixed maturity and equity securities and short-term investments at the time an eligible item is first recognized. The cost of investments sold is determined on a first-in and first-out method and realized gains and losses are included in net realized investment gains (losses) i n the Company's consolidated statements of operations . See Note 4. Fair Value Option for additional information. In the normal course of investing activities, the Company either forms or enters into relationships with variable interest entities ("VIEs"). A VIE is an entity that either has investors that lack certain essential characteristics of a controlling financial interest, such as simple majority kick-out rights, or lacks sufficient funds to finance its own activities without financial support provided by other entities. The Company performs ongoing qualitative assessments of the VIEs to determine whether the Company has a controlling financial interest in the VIE and therefore is the primary beneficiary. The Company is deemed to have a controlling financial interest when it has both the ability to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Based on the Company's assessment, if it determines it is the primary beneficiary, the Company consolidates the VIE in its consolidated financial statements. The Company forms special purpose investment vehicles to facilitate its investment activities involving derivative instruments such as total return swaps, or limited partnerships such as private equity funds. These special purpose investment vehicles are consolidated VIEs as the Company has determined it is the primary beneficiary of such VIEs. Creditors have no recourse against the Company in the event of default by these VIEs. The Company had no implied or unfunded commitments to these VIEs at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 . The Company's financial or other support provided to these VIEs and its loss exposure are limited to its collateral and original investment. The Company also invests directly in limited partnerships such as private equity funds. These investments are non-consolidated VIEs as the Company has determined it is not the primary beneficiary. The Company's maximum exposure to loss is limited to the total carrying value that is included in equity securities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , the Company had no outstanding unfunded commitments to these VIEs whereby the Company may be called by the partnerships during the commitment period to fund the purchase of new investments and the expenses of the partnerships. Note Receivable In August 2017, the Company completed the sale of approximately six acres of land located in Brea, California (the "Property"), for a total sale price of approximately $12.2 million . Approximately $5.7 million of the total sale price was received in the form of a promissory note (the "Note") and the remainder in cash. The Note is secured by a first trust deed and an assignment of rents on the Property, and bears interest at an annual rate of 3.5% , payable in monthly installments. The Note matures in August 2020. Interest earned on the Note is recognized in other revenues in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. The Company elected to apply the fair value option to the Note at the time it was first recognized. The fair value of note receivable is included in other assets in the Company's consolidated balance sheets, while the changes in fair value of note receivable are included in net realized investment gains or losses in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. Options Sold The Company writes covered call options through listed and over-the-counter exchanges. When the Company writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received by the Company is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current fair value of the option written. Premiums received from writing options that expire unexercised are treated by the Company as realized gains from investments on the expiration date. If a call option is exercised, the premium is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether the Company has realized a gain or loss. The Company, as writer of an option, bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option. Liabilities for covered call options are included in other liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Total Return Swap The fair value of the total return swap reflects the estimated amount that, upon termination of the contract, would be received for selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction. Unsecured Notes The fair value of the Company’s publicly traded $375 million unsecured notes at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was obtained from a third party pricing service. For additional disclosures regarding methods and assumptions used in estimating fair values, see Note 5. Fair Value Measurements.

Fair Value Option

Fair Value Option	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Fair Value Option [Abstract]
Fair Value Option	Fair Value Option The Company applies the fair value option to all fixed maturity and equity investment securities and short-term investments at the time an eligible item is first recognized. In addition, the Company elected to apply the fair value option to the note receivable recognized as part of the sale of land in August 2017. The primary reasons for electing the fair value option were simplification and cost-benefit considerations as well as the expansion of the use of fair value measurement by the Company consistent with the long-term measurement objectives of the FASB for accounting for financial instruments. Gains or losses due to changes in fair value of financial instruments measured at fair value pursuant to application of the fair value option are included in net realized investment gains or losses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Interest and dividend income on investment holdings are recognized on an accrual basis at each measurement date and are included in net investment income in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations, while interest earned on the note receivable is included in other revenues in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The following table presents gains (losses) due to changes in fair value of investments and the note receivable that are measured at fair value pursuant to application of the fair value option: Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 2019 2018 (Amounts in thousands) Fixed maturity securities $ 22,403 $ (22,257 ) $ 110,559 $ (68,246 ) Equity securities 1,928 9,253 66,976 5,900 Short-term investments (326 ) 99 898 (249 ) Total investments $ 24,005 $ (12,905 ) $ 178,433 $ (62,595 ) Note receivable 18 (2 ) 96 (51 ) Total gains (losses) $ 24,023 $ (12,907 ) $ 178,529 $ (62,646 )

Fair Value Measurement

Fair Value Measurement	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Financial Instruments, Financial Assets, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurement	Fair Value Measurements The Company employs a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date using the exit price. Accordingly, when market observable data are not readily available, the Company’s own assumptions are used to reflect those that market participants would be presumed to use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets are categorized based on the level of judgment associated with inputs used to measure their fair values and the level of market price observability, as follows: Level 1 Unadjusted quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Level 2 Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are based on the following: • Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; • Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets; or • Either directly or indirectly observable inputs as of the reporting date. Level 3 Pricing inputs are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement, and the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. In certain cases, inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Thus, a Level 3 fair value measurement may include inputs that are observable (Level 1 or Level 2) and unobservable (Level 3). The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and consideration of factors specific to the asset or liability. The Company uses prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date, including during periods of market disruption. In periods of market disruption, the ability to observe prices and inputs may be reduced for many instruments. This condition could cause an instrument to be reclassified from Level 1 to Level 2, or from Level 2 to Level 3. The Company recognizes transfers between levels at either the actual date of the event or a change in circumstances that caused the transfer. Summary of Significant Valuation Techniques for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities The Company’s fair value measurements are based on the market approach, which utilizes market transaction data for the same or similar instruments. The Company obtained unadjusted fair values on 98.5% of its investment portfolio at fair value from an independent pricing service at September 30, 2019 . For a private equity fund that was classified as Level 3 and included in equity securities at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , the Company obtained specific unadjusted broker quotes based on net fund value and, to a lesser extent, unobservable inputs from at least one knowledgeable outside security broker to determine the fair value. The fair value of the private equity fund was $1.2 million and $1.4 million at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. Level 1 measurements - Fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities are obtained from an independent pricing service, and are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Additional pricing services and closing exchange values are used as a comparison to ensure that reasonable fair values are used in pricing the investment portfolio. U.S. government bonds /Short-term bonds : Valued using unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets in active markets. Common stock : Comprised of actively traded, exchange listed U.S. and international equity securities and valued based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets. Money market instruments : Valued based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets. Options sold : Comprised of free-standing exchange listed derivatives that are actively traded and valued based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Level 2 measurements - Fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities are obtained from an independent pricing service or outside brokers, and are based on prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or valuation models whose inputs are observable, directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. Additional pricing services are used as a comparison to ensure reliable fair values are used in pricing the investment portfolio. Municipal securities : Valued based on models or matrices using inputs such as quoted prices for identical or similar assets in active markets. Mortgage-backed securities : Comprised of securities that are collateralized by residential and commercial mortgage loans valued based on models or matrices using multiple observable inputs, such as benchmark yields, reported trades and broker/dealer quotes, for identical or similar assets in active markets. The Company had holdings of $21.0 million and $24.8 million at fair value in commercial mortgage-backed securities at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. Corporate securities/Short-term bonds : Valued based on a multi-dimensional model using multiple observable inputs, such as benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes and issue spreads, for identical or similar assets in active markets. Non-redeemable preferred stock : Valued based on observable inputs, such as underlying and common stock of same issuer and appropriate spread over a comparable U.S. Treasury security, for identical or similar assets in active markets. Total return swap : Valued based on multi-dimensional models using inputs such as interest rate yield curves, underlying debt/credit instruments and the appropriate benchmark spread for similar assets in active markets, observable for substantially the full term of the contract. Collateralized loan obligations ("CLOs") : Valued based on underlying debt instruments and the appropriate benchmark spread for similar assets in active markets. Other asset-backed securities : Comprised of securities that are collateralized by non-mortgage assets, such as automobile loans, valued based on models or matrices using multiple observable inputs, such as benchmark yields, reported trades and broker/dealer quotes, for identical or similar assets in active markets. Note receivable : Valued based on observable inputs, such as benchmark yields, and considering any premium or discount for the differential between the stated interest rate and market interest rates, based on quoted market prices of similar instruments. Level 3 measurements - Fair values of financial assets are based on inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement, including any items in which the evaluated prices obtained elsewhere were deemed to be of a distressed trading level. Private equity fund : Private equity fund, excluding a private equity fund measured at net asset value ("NAV"), is valued based on underlying investments of the fund or assets similar to such investments in active markets, taking into consideration specific unadjusted broker quotes based on net fund value and unobservable inputs from at least one knowledgeable outside security broker related to liquidity assumptions. Fair value measurement using NAV practical expedient - The fair value of the Company's investment in private equity fund measured at net asset value is determined using NAV as advised by the external fund manager and the third party administrator. The NAV of the Company's limited partnership interest in this fund is based on the manager's and the administrator's valuation of the underlying holdings in accordance with the fund's governing documents and GAAP. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, this investment, measured at fair value using the NAV practical expedient, is not classified in the fair value hierarchy. The strategy of the fund is to provide current income to investors by investing mainly in equity tranches and sub-investment grade rated debt tranches of CLO issuers in the new and secondary markets, and equity interests in vehicles established to purchase and warehouse loans in anticipation of a CLO closing or to satisfy regulatory risk retention requirements associated with certain CLOs. The Company has made all of its capital contributions in the fund and had no outstanding unfunded commitments at September 30, 2019 with respect to this fund. The underlying assets of the fund are expected to be liquidated over the period of approximately one to four years from September 30, 2019 . The Company does not have the contractual option to redeem but will receive distributions based on the liquidation of the underlying assets and the interest proceeds from the underlying assets. In addition, the Company does not have the ability to withdraw from the fund, or to sell, assign, pledge or transfer its investment, without the consent from the general partner of the fund. The Company’s financial instruments at fair value are reflected in the consolidated balance sheets on a trade-date basis. Related unrealized gains or losses are recognized in net realized investment gains or losses in the consolidated statements of operations. Fair value measurements are not adjusted for transaction costs. The following tables present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine such fair values: September 30, 2019 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total (Amounts in thousands) Assets Fixed maturity securities: U.S. government bonds $ 23,273 $ — $ — $ 23,273 Municipal securities — 2,650,547 — 2,650,547 Mortgage-backed securities — 42,815 — 42,815 Corporate securities — 221,594 — 221,594 Collateralized loan obligations — 173,006 — 173,006 Other asset-backed securities — 28,204 — 28,204 Total fixed maturity securities 23,273 3,116,166 — 3,139,439 Equity securities: Common stock 561,190 — — 561,190 Non-redeemable preferred stock — 34,422 — 34,422 Private equity fund — — 1,204 1,204 Private equity fund measured at net asset value (1) 60,319 Total equity securities 561,190 34,422 1,204 657,135 Short-term investments: Short-term bonds 2,326 37,480 — 39,806 Money market instruments 381,768 — — 381,768 Total short-term investments 384,094 37,480 — 421,574 Other assets: Note receivable — 5,653 — 5,653 Total assets at fair value $ 968,557 $ 3,193,721 $ 1,204 $ 4,223,801 Liabilities Other liabilities: Total return swap $ — $ 1,167 $ — $ 1,167 Options sold 237 — — 237 Total liabilities at fair value $ 237 $ 1,167 $ — $ 1,404 December 31, 2018 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total (Amounts in thousands) Assets Fixed maturity securities: U.S. government bonds $ 25,003 $ — $ — $ 25,003 Municipal securities — 2,620,132 — 2,620,132 Mortgage-backed securities — 30,952 — 30,952 Corporate securities — 105,524 — 105,524 Collateralized loan obligations — 165,789 — 165,789 Other asset-backed securities — 37,761 — 37,761 Total fixed maturity securities 25,003 2,960,158 — 2,985,161 Equity securities: Common stock 430,973 — — 430,973 Non-redeemable preferred stock — 31,433 — 31,433 Private equity fund — — 1,445 1,445 Private equity fund measured at net asset value (1) 65,780 Total equity securities 430,973 31,433 1,445 529,631 Short-term investments: Short-term bonds 31,472 16,784 — 48,256 Money market instruments 205,043 — — 205,043 Total short-term investments 236,515 16,784 — 253,299 Other assets: Note receivable — 5,557 — 5,557 Total assets at fair value $ 692,491 $ 3,013,932 $ 1,445 $ 3,773,648 Liabilities Other liabilities: Total return swap $ — $ 4,851 $ — $ 4,851 Options sold 3 — — 3 Total liabilities at fair value $ 3 $ 4,851 $ — $ 4,854 __________ (1) The fair value is measured using the NAV practical expedient; therefore, it is not categorized within the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amount is presented in this table to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The following table presents a summary of changes in fair value of Level 3 financial assets and financial liabilities: Private Equity Fund Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 2019 2018 (Amounts in thousands) Beginning balance $ 1,206 $ 1,450 $ 1,445 $ 1,481 Realized (losses) gains included in earnings (2 ) (4 ) 102 (35 ) Settlements — — (343 ) — Ending balance $ 1,204 $ 1,446 $ 1,204 $ 1,446 The amount of total (losses) gains for the period included in earnings attributable to assets still held at September 30 $ (2 ) $ (4 ) $ 94 $ (35 ) There were no transfers between Levels 1, 2, and 3 of the fair value hierarchy during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 . At September 30, 2019 , the Company did not have any nonrecurring fair value measurements of nonfinancial assets or nonfinancial liabilities. Financial Instruments Disclosed, But Not Carried, at Fair Value The following tables present the carrying value and fair value of the Company’s financial instruments disclosed, but not carried, at fair value, and the level within the fair value hierarchy at which such instruments are categorized: September 30, 2019 Carrying Value Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (Amounts in thousands) Liabilities Notes payable: Unsecured notes $ 372,034 $ 394,129 $ — $ 394,129 $ — December 31, 2018 Carrying Value Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (Amounts in thousands) Liabilities Notes payable: Unsecured notes $ 371,734 $ 362,674 $ — $ 362,674 $ — Unsecured Notes The fair value of the Company’s publicly traded $375 million unsecured notes at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was based on the spreads above the risk-free yield curve. These spreads are generally obtained from the new issue market, secondary trading and broker-dealer quotes.

Leases

Leases	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
Leases	Leases The Company adopted ASU 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)," which supersedes the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 840, "Leases," on January 1, 2019, using a modified retrospective transition, with the cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the effective date (the "effective date method"). Under the effective date method, financial results reported in periods prior to 2019 are unchanged. In addition, the Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which allowed the Company not to reassess (a) whether arrangements contain leases, (b) lease classification and (c) initial direct costs. Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recognition of operating lease right-of-use ("ROU") assets and operating lease liabilities of approximately $41 million and $43 million , respectively, at the adoption date for the Company's operating leases. The difference of approximately $2 million between the operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities represents reclassification of deferred rent liability (the difference between the straight-line rent expenses and paid rent amounts under the leases) to operating lease ROU assets from other liabilities at the adoption date. The Company did not have any cumulative-effect adjustment as a result of the adoption. The Company has operating leases for office space for insurance operations and administrative functions, automobiles for certain employees and general uses, and office equipment such as printers and computers. As of September 30, 2019 , the Company's leases had remaining terms ranging from less than one year to approximately 8 years . These leases may contain provisions for periodic adjustments to rates and charges applicable under such lease agreements. These rates and charges also may vary with the Company's level of uses. Certain of these leases include one or more options to renew or early terminate, and the exercise of these options is at the Company's sole discretion. Certain leases also include options to purchase the leased property. The Company's lease agreements do not contain any residual value guarantees. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. ROU assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate for office space and office equipment leases, which is derived from information available at the lease commencement date, in determining the present value of lease payments, as the rate implicit in the lease is not readily available for such leases. The Company gives consideration to its recent debt issuances as well as publicly available data for instruments with similar characteristics when calculating its incremental borrowing rates. For automobile leases, the Company uses the rate implicit in the lease at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments, as the readily-determinable implicit rate is provided in such leases. The Company's lease terms include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that it will exercise that option. The Company does not use the short-term lease exemption practical expedient and records all leases on the balance sheets, including leases with a term of twelve months or less. The Company accounts for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component for all of its leases. Lease expense for scheduled lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The components of lease expense were as follows: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Lease Cost Classification September 30, 2019 September 30, 2019 (Amounts in thousands) Operating lease cost (1) Other operating expenses $ 3,902 $ 11,216 Variable lease cost (1) Other operating expenses 561 1,717 Total lease cost $ 4,463 $ 12,933 __________ (1) Includes short-term leases, which are immaterial. Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows: September 30, 2019 (Amounts in thousands) Operating lease ROU assets $ 45,834 Operating lease liabilities 48,699 Weighted-average lease term and discount rate were as follows: September 30, 2019 Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years): Operating leases 4.4 Weighted-average discount rate: Operating leases 3.09 % Supplemental cash flow and other information related to leases was as follows: Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 (Amounts in thousands) Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 10,596 ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities: Operating leases 12,843 Maturities of lease liabilities as of September 30, 2019 were as follows: Year Operating Leases (Amounts in thousands) Remainder of 2019 $ 3,739 2020 14,067 2021 11,587 2022 9,380 2023 6,193 2024 and thereafter 7,223 Total lease payments $ 52,189 Less: Imputed interest 3,490 Total lease obligations $ 48,699 As of September 30, 2019 , the Company had additional operating lease commitments that have not yet commenced of approximately $2 million with each lease term ranging from approximately 1 year to 3 years . These operating leases will commence in 2019 and 2020. Disclosures related to periods prior to adoption of ASC Topic 842 Total rent expense recognized under the Company's various lease agreements was $3.8 million and $11.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. The following table presents future minimum commitments for operating leases as of December 31, 2018 : Year Ending December 31, Operating Leases (Amounts in thousands) 2019 $ 12,812 2020 11,547 2021 8,732 2022 6,972 2023 3,659 Thereafter 1,966

Derivative Financial Instrument

Derivative Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
General Discussion of Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]
Derivative Financial Instruments	Derivative Financial Instruments The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. The primary risk managed by using derivative instruments is equity price risk. Equity contracts (options sold) on various equity securities are intended to manage the price risk associated with forecasted purchases or sales of such securities. The Company also enters into derivative contracts to enhance returns on its investment portfolio. On February 13, 2014 , Fannette Funding LLC (“FFL”), a special purpose investment vehicle formed by and consolidated into the Company, entered into a total return swap agreement with Citibank. Under the agreement, FFL receives the income equivalent on underlying obligations due to Citibank and pays to Citibank interest on the outstanding notional amount of the underlying obligations. The Company paid interest at the rate of LIBOR plus 128 basis points prior to the renewal of the agreement in January 2018, LIBOR plus 120 basis points subsequent to the January 2018 renewal through July 2018, and LIBOR plus 105 basis points subsequent to the July 2018 renewal on the outstanding notional amount of the underlying obligations, which was approximately $73 million and $100 million as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. The agreement had an initial term of one year , subject to periodic renewal. In July 2018, the agreement was renewed through January 24, 2020, and the interest rate was changed to LIBOR plus 105 basis points. The following tables present the location and amounts of derivative fair values in the consolidated balance sheets and derivative gains or losses in the consolidated statements of operations: Liability Derivatives September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 (Amount in thousands) Options sold - Other liabilities $ 237 $ 3 Total return swap - Other liabilities 1,167 4,851 Total derivatives $ 1,404 $ 4,854 Gains (Losses) Recognized in Income Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 2019 2018 (Amounts in thousands) Total return swap - Net realized investment gains (losses) $ (376 ) $ 393 $ 1,905 $ 674 Options sold - Net realized investment gains (losses) 1,559 2,141 4,904 7,872 Total $ 1,183 $ 2,534 $ 6,809 $ 8,546 Most options sold consist of covered calls. The Company writes covered calls on underlying equity positions held as an enhanced income strategy that is permitted for the Company’s insurance subsidiaries under statutory regulations. The Company manages the risk associated with covered calls through strict capital limitations and asset diversification throughout various industries. See Note 5. Fair Value Measurements for additional disclosures regarding options sold.

Goodwill and Other Intangible A

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill There were no changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 . Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment and more frequently if potential impairment indicators exist. No impairment indicators were identified during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 . All of the Company's goodwill is associated with the Property and Casualty business segment (See Note 14. Segment Information for additional information on the reportable business segment). Other Intangible Assets The following table presents the components of other intangible assets: Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Useful Lives (Amounts in thousands) (in years) As of September 30, 2019: Customer relationships $ 53,213 $ (51,212 ) $ 2,001 11 Trade names 15,400 (6,898 ) 8,502 24 Technology 4,300 (4,300 ) — 10 Insurance license 1,400 — 1,400 Indefinite Total other intangible assets, net $ 74,313 $ (62,410 ) $ 11,903 As of December 31, 2018: Customer relationships $ 53,048 $ (47,897 ) $ 5,151 11 Trade names 15,400 (6,417 ) 8,983 24 Technology 4,300 (4,300 ) — 10 Insurance license 1,400 — 1,400 Indefinite Total other intangible assets, net $ 74,148 $ (58,614 ) $ 15,534 Other intangible assets are reviewed annually for impairment and more frequently if potential impairment indicators exist. No impairment indicators were identified during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 . Other intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives. Other intangible assets amortization expense was $1.3 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and $3.8 million and $4.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. The following table presents the estimated future amortization expense related to other intangible assets as of September 30, 2019 : Year Amortization Expense (Amounts in thousands) Remainder of 2019 $ 1,267 2020 922 2021 902 2022 878 2023 714 Thereafter 5,820 Total $ 10,503

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Share-based Compensation, Allocation and Classification in Financial Statements [Abstract]
Share-Based Compensation	Share-Based Compensation In February 2015, the Company's Board of Directors adopted the 2015 Incentive Award Plan (the "2015 Plan"), replacing the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan which expired in January 2015. The 2015 Plan was approved at the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders in May 2015. A maximum of 4,900,000 shares of common stock are authorized for issuance under the 2015 Plan upon exercise of stock options, stock appreciation rights and other awards, or upon vesting of restricted stock unit ("RSU") or deferred stock awards. As of September 30, 2019 , the Company had 70,000 stock options granted that were exercised or outstanding, and 4,830,000 shares of common stock available for future grant under the 2015 Plan. Share-based compensation expenses for all stock options granted or modified are based on their estimated grant-date fair values. These compensation costs are recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award. The Company estimates forfeitures expected to occur in determining the amount of compensation cost to be recognized in each period. As of September 30, 2019 , all outstanding stock options have a term of ten years from the date of grant and become exercisable in four equal installments on the first through fourth anniversaries of the grant date. The fair value of stock option awards is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the grant-date assumptions and weighted-average fair values. In February 2018, the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors awarded a total of 80,000 stock options to four senior executives under the 2015 Plan which will vest over the four -year requisite service period. 10,000 of these stock options were forfeited in February 2019 following the departure of a senior executive. The fair values of these stock options were estimated on the date of grant using a closed-form option valuation model (Black-Scholes). The following table provides the assumptions used in the calculation of grant-date fair values of these stock options based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model: Weighted-average grant-date fair value $ 8.09 Expected volatility 33.18 % Risk-free interest rate 2.62 % Expected dividend yield 5.40 % Expected term in months 72 Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of the Company’s stock over the term of the stock options. The Company estimated the expected term of stock options, which represents the period of time that stock options granted are expected to be outstanding, by using historical exercise patterns and post-vesting termination behavior. The risk-free interest rate is determined based on U.S. Treasury yields with equivalent remaining terms in effect at the time of the grant. As of September 30, 2019 , the Company had $0.3 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options awarded under the 2015 Plan, which will be recognized ratably over the remaining vesting period of approximately 2.4 years . The fair value of each RSU grant was determined based on the market price of the Company's common stock on the grant date for awards classified as equity and on each reporting date for awards classified as liability. The RSUs vested at the end of a three -year performance period beginning with the year of the grant, and then only if, and to the extent that, the Company’s performance during the performance period achieved the threshold established by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. Performance thresholds were based on the Company’s cumulative underwriting income, annual underwriting income, and net earned premium growth. Compensation cost was recognized based on management’s best estimate of the performance goals that would be achieved at the end of the performance period, taking into account expected forfeitures. If the minimum performance goals were not expected to be met, no compensation cost was recognized and any recognized compensation cost was reversed. In February 2019, based on certification by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors of the results of the three -year performance period ended December 31, 2018 , all of the outstanding RSUs granted in 2016 expired unvested because the Company did not meet the minimum three -year performance threshold. In March 2018, based on certification by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors of the results of the three -year performance period ended December 31, 2017 , all of the outstanding RSUs granted in 2015 expired unvested because the Company did not meet the minimum three -year performance threshold. No RSUs or stock options were awarded during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 .

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes For financial statement purposes, the Company recognizes tax benefits related to positions taken, or expected to be taken, on a tax return only if the positions are “more-likely-than-not” sustainable. Once this threshold has been met, the Company’s measurement of its expected tax benefits is recognized in its consolidated financial statements. There was a $2,266,000 decrease to the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits related to tax uncertainties during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 . The decrease was primarily the result of tax positions taken regarding research and development federal tax credits based on management’s best judgment given the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting date. The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and the taxing authorities of various states. Tax years that remain subject to examination by major taxing jurisdictions are 2016 through 2018 for federal taxes and 2011 through 2018 for California state taxes. For tax years 2003 through 2010, the Company achieved a resolution with the Franchise Tax Board (“FTB”) in December 2017 and paid a negotiated settlement amount in accordance with the settlement agreement provided by the FTB and signed by the Company. The settlement agreement was approved and executed in the first quarter of 2019. The Company is currently under examination for tax years 2011 through 2016. For tax years 2011 through 2013, the FTB issued Notices of Proposed Assessments ("NPAs") to the Company, for which the Company submitted a formal protest in 2018. If a reasonable settlement is not reached, the Company intends to pursue other options, including a formal hearing with the FTB, an appeal with the California Office of Tax Appeals, or litigation in Superior Court. For tax years 2014 through 2016, the FTB commenced its audit in December 2017 and has not yet completed its audit. The Company believes that the resolution of these examinations and assessments will not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial reporting basis and the respective tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities, and expected benefits of utilizing net operating loss, capital loss, and tax-credit carryforwards. The Company assesses the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be realized and, to the extent management does not believe these assets are more likely than not to be realized, a valuation allowance is established. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates or laws is recognized in earnings in the period that includes the enactment date. At September 30, 2019 , the Company’s deferred income taxes were in a net liability position, which included a combination of ordinary and capital deferred tax expenses or benefits. In assessing the Company’s ability to realize deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon generating sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character within the carryback and carryforward periods available under the tax law. Management considers the reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income of an appropriate nature, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. The Company believes that through the use of prudent tax planning strategies and the generation of capital gains, sufficient income will be realized in order to maximize the full benefits of its deferred tax assets. Although realization is not assured, management believes that it is more likely than not that the Company’s deferred tax assets will be realized.

Loss And Loss Adjustment Expens

Loss And Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Insurance Loss Reserves [Abstract]
Loss And Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves	Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves The following table presents the activity in loss and loss adjustment expense reserves: Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 (Amounts in thousands) Gross reserves at January 1 $ 1,829,412 $ 1,510,613 Less reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses (180,859 ) (64,001 ) Net reserves at January 1 1,648,553 1,446,612 Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses related to: Current year 1,957,598 1,781,452 Prior years 10,323 70,398 Total incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses 1,967,921 1,851,850 Loss and loss adjustment expense payments related to: Current year 1,149,659 1,072,758 Prior years 715,451 695,678 Total payments 1,865,110 1,768,436 Net reserves at September 30 1,751,364 1,530,026 Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses 103,847 50,028 Gross reserves at September 30 $ 1,855,211 $ 1,580,054 The increase in the provision for insured events of prior years in 2019 of $10.3 million was primarily attributable to higher than estimated defense and cost containment expenses in the California automobile line of insurance business, partially offset by favorable development in certain of the Company's other lines of insurance business. The increase in the provision for insured events of prior years in 2018 of $70.4 million was primarily attributable to higher than estimated California automobile losses resulting from severity in excess of expectations for bodily injury claims as well as higher than estimated defense and cost containment expenses in the California automobile line of insurance business. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , the Company recorded catastrophe losses net of reinsurance of approximately $17 million and $24 million , respectively. Catastrophe losses due to the catastrophe events that occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 totaled approximately $20 million , with no reinsurance benefits used for these losses, resulting primarily from winter storms in California, a hurricane in Texas, and tornadoes and wind and hail storms in the Midwest. These losses were partially offset by favorable development of approximately $3 million on prior years' catastrophe losses, primarily from reductions in the Company’s retained portion of losses on the Camp and Woolsey Fires, as described further below. Catastrophe losses before reinsurance benefits totaled approximately $34 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The majority of the 2018 catastrophe losses were caused by the Carr Wildfire in Northern California, which resulted in $21 million of gross losses ( $10 million of net losses after reinsurance benefits). Weather-related catastrophes across several states made up the remainder of the 2018 catastrophe losses. During the first quarter of 2019, the Company completed the sale of its subrogation rights related to the 2018 Camp and Woolsey Fires and the 2017 Thomas Fire (which was a component of the "2017 Southern California fires") to a third party. The Company’s reinsurers were the primary beneficiaries of this transaction, as they had absorbed most of the losses under the terms of the Treaty. The Company re-estimated its gross and net losses from the 2018 Camp and Woolsey Fires and the 2017 Southern California fires in conjunction with this sale, and its total gross losses from these catastrophes, after accounting for the assignment of subrogation rights and adjustments made to claims reserves as part of normal reserving procedures, were approximately $208 million , and its total net losses, after reinsurance benefits, were approximately $40 million at March 31, 2019. The Company benefited by approximately $10 million

Notes Payable

Notes Payable	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Notes Payable [Abstract]
Notes Payable	Notes Payable The following table presents information about the Company's notes payable: Lender Interest Rate Maturity Date September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 (Amounts in thousands) Senior unsecured notes (1) Publicly traded 4.40% March 15, 2027 $ 375,000 $ 375,000 Unsecured credit facility (2) Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank LIBOR plus 112.5-162.5 basis points March 29, 2022 — — Total principal amount 375,000 375,000 Less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs (3) 2,966 3,266 Total debt $ 372,034 $ 371,734 __________ (1) On March 8, 2017, the Company completed a public debt offering issuing $375 million of senior notes. The notes are unsecured, senior obligations of the Company with a 4.4% annual coupon payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year commencing September 15, 2017. These notes mature on March 15, 2027. The Company used the proceeds from the notes to pay off amounts outstanding under the existing loan and credit facilities and for general corporate purposes. The Company incurred debt issuance costs of approximately $3.4 million , inclusive of underwriters' fees. The notes were issued at a slight discount of 99.847% of par, resulting in the effective annualized interest rate including debt issuance costs of approximately 4.45% . (2) On March 29, 2017, the Company entered into an unsecured credit agreement that provides for revolving loans of up to $50 million and matures on March 29, 2022. The interest rates on borrowings under the credit facility are based on the Company's debt to total capital ratio and range from LIBOR plus 112.5 basis points when the ratio is under 15% to LIBOR plus 162.5 basis points when the ratio is greater than or equal to 25%. Commitment fees for the undrawn portions of the credit facility range from 12.5 basis points when the ratio is under 15% to 22.5 basis points when the ratio is greater than or equal to 25%. The debt to total capital ratio is expressed as a percentage of (a) consolidated debt to (b) consolidated shareholders' equity plus consolidated debt. The Company's debt to total capital ratio was 17.2% at September 30, 2019 , resulting in a 15 basis point commitment fee on the $50 million undrawn portion of the credit facility. As of October 24, 2019 , there have been no borrowings under this facility. (3) The unamortized discount and debt issuance costs are associated with the publicly traded $375 million senior unsecured notes. These are amortized to interest expense over the life of the notes, and the unamortized balance is presented in the Company's consolidated balance sheets as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the debt. The unamortized debt issuance cost of approximately $0.1 million associated with the $50 million five

Contingencies

Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingencies	Contingencies The Company is, from time to time, named as a defendant in various lawsuits or regulatory actions incidental to its insurance business. The majority of lawsuits brought against the Company relate to insurance claims that arise in the normal course of business and are reserved for through the reserving process. For a discussion of the Company’s reserving methods, see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 . In March 2006, the California DOI issued an Amended Notice of Non-Compliance to a Notice of Non-Compliance originally issued in February 2004 (as amended, “2004 NNC”) alleging that the Company charged rates in violation of the California Insurance Code, willfully permitted its agents to charge broker fees in violation of California law, and willfully misrepresented the actual price insurance consumers could expect to pay for insurance by the amount of a fee charged by the consumer's insurance broker. The California DOI sought to impose a fine for each policy on which the Company allegedly permitted an agent to charge a broker fee, to impose a penalty for each policy on which the Company allegedly used a misleading advertisement, and to suspend certificates of authority for a period of one year. In January 2012, the administrative law judge bifurcated the 2004 NNC between (a) the California DOI’s order to show cause (the “OSC”), in which the California DOI asserts the false advertising allegations and accusation, and (b) the California DOI’s notice of noncompliance (the “NNC”), in which the California DOI asserts the unlawful rate allegations. In February 2012, the administrative law judge (“ALJ”) submitted a proposed decision dismissing the NNC, but the Commissioner rejected the ALJ’s proposed decision. The Company challenged the rejection in Los Angeles Superior Court in April 2012, and the Commissioner responded with a demurrer. Following a hearing, the Superior Court sustained the Commissioner’s demurrer, based on the Company’s failure to exhaust its administrative remedies, and the Company appealed. The Court of Appeal affirmed the Superior Court's ruling that the Company was required to exhaust its administrative remedies, but expressly preserved for later appeal the legal basis for the ALJ’s dismissal: violation of the Company’s due process rights. Following an evidentiary hearing in April 2013, post-hearing briefs, and an unsuccessful mediation, the ALJ closed the evidentiary record on April 30, 2014. Although a proposed decision was to be submitted to the Commissioner on or before June 30, 2014, after which the Commissioner would have 100 days to accept, reject or modify the proposed decision, the proposed decision was not submitted until December 8, 2014. On January 7, 2015, the Commissioner adopted the ALJ’s proposed decision, which became the Commissioner’s adopted order (the "Order"). The decision and Order found that from the period July 1, 1996, through 2006, the Company’s "brokers" were actually operating as "de facto agents" and that the charging of "broker fees" by these producers constituted the charging of "premium" in excess of the Company's approved rates, and assessed a civil penalty in the amount of $27.6 million against the Company. On February 9, 2015, the Company filed a Writ of Administrative Mandamus and Complaint for Declaratory Relief (the “Writ”) in the Orange County Superior Court seeking, among other things, to require the Commissioner to vacate the Order, to stay the Order while the Superior Court action is pending, and to judicially declare as invalid the Commissioner’s interpretation of certain provisions of the California Insurance Code. Subsequent to the filing of the Writ, a consumer group petitioned and was granted the right to intervene in the Superior Court action. The Court did not order a stay, and the $27.6 million assessed penalty was paid in March 2015. The Company filed an amended Writ on September 11, 2015, adding an explicit request for a refund of the penalty, with interest. On August 12, 2016, the Superior Court issued its ruling on the Writ, for the most part granting the relief sought by the Company. The Superior Court found that the Commissioner and the California DOI did commit due process violations, but declined to dismiss the case on those grounds. The Superior Court also agreed with the Company that the broker fees at issue were not premium, and that the penalties imposed by the Commissioner were improper, and therefore vacated the Order imposing the penalty. The Superior Court entered final judgment on November 17, 2016, issuing a writ requiring the Commissioner to refund the entire penalty amount within 120 days, plus prejudgment interest at the statutory rate of 7% . On January 12, 2017, the California DOI filed a notice of appeal of the Superior Court's judgment. While the appeal was pending, the California DOI returned the entire penalty amount plus accrued interest, a total of $30.9 million , to the Company in June 2017 in order to avoid accruing further interest. Because the matter had not been settled or otherwise finally resolved at the time, the Company did not recognize the $30.9 million as a gain in the consolidated statements of operations; instead, it recorded the $30.9 million plus interest earned in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company had filed a motion to dismiss the false advertising portion of the case based on the Superior Court's findings, but the ALJ denied that motion after the appeal was filed. The ALJ did, however, grant the Company's alternative request to stay further proceedings pending the final determination of the appeal. On May 7, 2019, the California Court of Appeal issued its decision reversing the Superior Court’s original judgment and directing the Superior Court to enter a new judgment in favor of the California DOI. The Company filed a petition for rehearing, which was denied, and subsequently filed a petition for review in the Supreme Court of California. Based on the decision of the California Court of Appeal, the Company accrued approximately $3 million in the second quarter of 2019, which represented an estimated amount of statutory interest the Company might be ordered to pay beyond the actual interest it had earned on the $30.9 million . The California Supreme Court denied the Company's petition for review on August 14, 2019, and the Commissioner's Order became final. On August 30, 2019, the Company paid approximately $35 million to the California DOI, which consisted of the $30.9 million received from the California DOI in June 2017 plus statutory interest. On October 1, 2019, the Company and the California DOI entered into a settlement agreement resolving the case involving the 2004 NNC, along with the related false advertising action that had been stayed pending the outcome of that case. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, the Company paid an additional amount of approximately $6 million to the California DOI on October 2, 2019, bringing the total settlement amount to approximately $41.2 million , in full settlement of the entire case including the false advertising action; the Company has not admitted to any allegations raised in the case. As a result of the settlement, the Company recognized approximately $6 million of incremental expense in its consolidated statements of operations in the third quarter of 2019 relating to the settlement. The Company establishes reserves for non-insurance claims related lawsuits, regulatory actions, and other contingencies when the Company believes a loss is probable and is able to estimate its potential exposure. For loss contingencies believed to be reasonably possible, the Company also discloses the nature of the loss contingency and an estimate of the possible loss, range of loss, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. While actual losses may differ from the amounts recorded and the ultimate outcome of the Company's pending actions is generally not yet determinable, the Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of currently pending legal or regulatory proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or cash flows. In all cases, the Company vigorously defends itself unless a reasonable settlement appears appropriate. For a discussion of legal matters, see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Segment Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Information	Segment Information The Company is primarily engaged in writing personal automobile insurance and provides related property and casualty insurance products to its customers through 14 subsidiaries in 11 states, principally in California. The Company has one reportable business segment - the Property and Casualty business segment. The Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker evaluates operating results based on pre-tax underwriting results which is calculated as net premiums earned less (a) losses and loss adjustment expenses and (b) underwriting expenses (policy acquisition costs and other operating expenses). Expenses are allocated based on certain assumptions that are primarily related to premiums and losses. The Company’s net investment income, net realized investment gains or losses, other income, and interest expense are excluded in evaluating pretax underwriting profit. The Company does not allocate its assets, including investments, or income taxes in evaluating pre-tax underwriting profit. Property and Casualty Lines The Property and Casualty business segment offers several insurance products to the Company’s individual customers and small business customers. These insurance products are: private passenger automobile which is the Company’s primary business, and related insurance products such as homeowners, commercial automobile and commercial property. These related insurance products are primarily sold to the Company’s individual customers and small business customers, which increases retention of the Company’s private passenger automobile client base. The insurance products comprising the Property and Casualty business segment are sold through the same distribution channels, mainly through independent and 100% owned insurance agents, and go through a similar underwriting process. Other Lines The Other business segment represents net premiums written and earned from an operating segment that does not meet the quantitative thresholds required to be considered a reportable segment. This operating segment offers automobile mechanical protection warranties which are primarily sold through automobile dealerships and credit unions. The following tables present the Company's operating results by reportable segment: Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 Property & Casualty Other Total Property & Casualty Other Total (Amounts in millions) Net premiums earned $ 907.9 $ 7.1 $ 915.0 $ 850.5 $ 7.6 $ 858.1 Less: Losses and loss adjustment expenses 677.3 3.6 680.9 610.2 3.9 614.1 Underwriting expenses 217.8 3.5 221.3 202.8 3.3 206.1 Underwriting gain 12.8 — 12.8 37.5 0.4 37.9 Investment income 36.4 38.2 Net realized investment gains (losses) 33.3 (3.9 ) Other income 2.6 2.4 Interest expense (4.3 ) (4.3 ) Pre-tax income $ 80.8 $ 70.3 Net income $ 69.3 $ 58.6 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 Property & Casualty Other Total Property & Casualty Other Total (Amounts in millions) Net premiums earned $ 2,652.8 $ 21.2 $ 2,674.0 $ 2,476.9 $ 23.3 $ 2,500.2 Less: Losses and loss adjustment expenses 1,957.4 10.5 1,967.9 1,840.1 11.8 1,851.9 Underwriting expenses 643.8 10.4 654.2 604.0 10.9 614.9 Underwriting gain 51.6 0.3 51.9 32.8 0.6 33.4 Investment income 105.6 104.5 Net realized investment gains (losses) 197.7 (48.4 ) Other income 7.2 7.1 Interest expense (12.8 ) (12.8 ) Pre-tax income $ 349.6 $ 83.8 Net income $ 288.4 $ 76.2 The following tables present the Company’s net premiums earned and direct premiums written by reportable segment and line of insurance business: Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 Property & Casualty Other Total Property & Casualty Other Total (Amounts in millions) Private passenger automobile $ 698.2 $ — $ 698.2 $ 659.6 $ — $ 659.6 Homeowners 133.5 — 133.5 120.0 — 120.0 Commercial automobile 53.5 — 53.5 48.7 — 48.7 Other 22.7 7.1 29.8 22.2 7.6 29.8 Net premiums earned $ 907.9 $ 7.1 $ 915.0 $ 850.5 $ 7.6 $ 858.1 Private passenger automobile $ 743.9 $ — $ 743.9 $ 695.1 $ — $ 695.1 Homeowners 162.9 — 162.9 140.7 — 140.7 Commercial automobile 55.2 — 55.2 50.3 — 50.3 Other 25.8 9.2 35.0 24.5 6.9 31.4 Direct premiums written $ 987.8 $ 9.2 $ 997.0 $ 910.6 $ 6.9 $ 917.5 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 Property & Casualty Other Total Property & Casualty Other Total (Amounts in millions) Private passenger automobile $ 2,055.1 $ — $ 2,055.1 $ 1,932.1 $ — $ 1,932.1 Homeowners 376.7 — 376.7 340.5 — 340.5 Commercial automobile 154.5 — 154.5 140.3 — 140.3 Other 66.5 21.2 87.7 64.0 23.3 87.3 Net premiums earned $ 2,652.8 $ 21.2 $ 2,674.0 $ 2,476.9 $ 23.3 $ 2,500.2 Private passenger automobile $ 2,146.8 $ — $ 2,146.8 $ 2,035.1 $ — $ 2,035.1 Homeowners 452.8 — 452.8 394.0 — 394.0 Commercial automobile 165.4 — 165.4 149.9 — 149.9 Other 76.2 24.0 100.2 73.6 20.5 94.1 Direct premiums written $ 2,841.2 $ 24.0 $ 2,865.2 $ 2,652.6 $ 20.5 $ 2,673.1

General (Policies)

General (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Consolidation and Basis of Presentation	The interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Mercury General Corporation and its subsidiaries (referred to herein collectively as the “Company”). For the list of the Company’s subsidiaries, see Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 . These interim financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), which differ in some respects from those filed in reports to insurance regulatory authorities. The financial data of the Company included herein are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments of a normal recurring nature have been made to present fairly the Company’s financial position at September 30, 2019 and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Certain financial information that is normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, but that is not required for interim reporting purposes, has been omitted from the accompanying interim consolidated financial statements and related notes. Readers are urged to review the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 for more complete descriptions and discussions. Operating results and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019 . Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
Use of Estimates	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates require the Company to apply complex assumptions and judgments, and often the Company must make estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain and will likely change in subsequent periods. The most significant assumptions in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements relate to reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates. See Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018
Earnings per Share	There were no potentially dilutive securities with anti-dilutive effect for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 . Potentially dilutive securities representing approximately 82,000 and 73,000 shares of common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs	Deferred policy acquisition costs consist of commissions paid to outside agents, premium taxes, salaries, and certain other underwriting costs that are incremental or directly related to the successful acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts and are amortized over the life of the related policy in proportion to premiums earned. Deferred policy acquisition costs are limited to the amount that will remain after deducting from unearned premiums and anticipated investment income, the estimated losses and loss adjustment expenses, and the servicing costs that will be incurred as premiums are earned. The Company’s deferred policy acquisition costs are further limited by excluding those costs not directly related to the successful acquisition of insurance contracts. Deferred policy acquisition cost amortization was $150.9 million and $142.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and $448.0 million and $424.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. The Company does not defer advertising expenditures but expenses them as incurred. The Company recorded net advertising expense of approximately $12.5 million and $11.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and $36.1 million and $34.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively.
Reinsurance	Unearned premiums and loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are stated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements before deductions for ceded reinsurance. Unearned premiums and loss and loss adjustment expense reserves that are ceded to reinsurers are carried in other assets and reinsurance recoverables, respectively, in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Earned premiums are stated net of deductions for ceded reinsurance. The Company is party to a Catastrophe Reinsurance Treaty ("Treaty") covering a wide range of perils that is effective through June 30, 2020. The Treaty provides $590 million of coverage on a per occurrence basis after covered catastrophe losses exceed the $40 million Company retention limit. The Treaty specifically excludes coverage for any Florida business and for California earthquake losses on fixed property policies, such as homeowners, but does cover losses from fires following an earthquake. In addition, the Treaty provides for one full reinstatement of coverage limits and excludes losses from wildfires on certain coverage layers of the Treaty. The Company recognized ceded premiums earned of approximately $13 million and $9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and $44 million and $34 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, which are included in net premiums earned in its consolidated statements of operations. The Company recognized ceded losses and loss adjustment expenses of approximately $1 million and $14 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and $(51) million and $13 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, which are included in losses and loss adjustment expenses in its consolidated statements of operations. The large negative ceded losses and loss adjustment expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 resulted from the re-estimation of the catastrophe loss reserves, including estimated subrogation, on the 2018 Camp and Woolsey Fires and the 2017 Southern California wildfires, which have previously been ceded to reinsurers under the Treaty, in conjunction with the sale of the Company's subrogation rights during the first quarter of 2019. The re-estimation primarily benefited the Company's reinsurers. See Note 11. Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves for additional information. The Company's insurance subsidiaries, as primary insurers, are required to pay losses to the extent reinsurers are unable to discharge their obligations under the reinsurance agreements.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards	In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2018-15, " Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40), Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. " ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software under Subtopic 350-40. This ASU also requires an entity to expense the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract over the term of the hosting arrangement and present such expense in the same line item in the statement of income as the fees associated with the hosting element (service) of the arrangement and classify payments for capitalized implementation costs in the statement of cash flows in the same manner as payments made for fees associated with the hosting element. The entity is also required to present the capitalized implementation costs in the statement of financial position in the same line item that a prepayment for the fees of the associated hosting arrangement would be presented. ASU 2018-15 will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of ASU 2018-15 on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, " Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement ." The amendments in this ASU require certain existing disclosure requirements in Topic 820 to be modified or removed, and certain new disclosure requirements to be added to the Topic. In addition, this ASU allows entities to exercise more discretion when considering fair value measurement disclosures. ASU 2018-13 will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of ASU 2018-13 on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, " Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. " ASU 2017-04 removes the requirement to compare the implied fair value of goodwill with its carrying amount as part of Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test and requires an entity to recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. ASU 2017-04 will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company does not anticipate that ASU 2017-04 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, " Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326).

Financial Instruments (Tables)

Financial Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Financial Instruments, Owned, at Fair Value [Abstract]
Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments	The following table presents the fair values of financial instruments: September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 (Amounts in thousands) Assets Investments $ 4,218,148 $ 3,768,091 Note receivable 5,653 5,557 Liabilities Total return swap $ 1,167 $ 4,851 Options sold 237 3 Unsecured notes 394,129 362,674

Fair Value Option (Tables)

Fair Value Option (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Fair Value Option [Abstract]
Gains And Losses Due To Changes In Fair Value Of Investments	The following table presents gains (losses) due to changes in fair value of investments and the note receivable that are measured at fair value pursuant to application of the fair value option: Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 2019 2018 (Amounts in thousands) Fixed maturity securities $ 22,403 $ (22,257 ) $ 110,559 $ (68,246 ) Equity securities 1,928 9,253 66,976 5,900 Short-term investments (326 ) 99 898 (249 ) Total investments $ 24,005 $ (12,905 ) $ 178,433 $ (62,595 ) Note receivable 18 (2 ) 96 (51 ) Total gains (losses) $ 24,023 $ (12,907 ) $ 178,529 $ (62,646 )

Fair Value Measurement (Tables)

Fair Value Measurement (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Financial Instruments, Financial Assets, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Schedule Of Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis Valuation Techniques	The following tables present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine such fair values: September 30, 2019 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total (Amounts in thousands) Assets Fixed maturity securities: U.S. government bonds $ 23,273 $ — $ — $ 23,273 Municipal securities — 2,650,547 — 2,650,547 Mortgage-backed securities — 42,815 — 42,815 Corporate securities — 221,594 — 221,594 Collateralized loan obligations — 173,006 — 173,006 Other asset-backed securities — 28,204 — 28,204 Total fixed maturity securities 23,273 3,116,166 — 3,139,439 Equity securities: Common stock 561,190 — — 561,190 Non-redeemable preferred stock — 34,422 — 34,422 Private equity fund — — 1,204 1,204 Private equity fund measured at net asset value (1) 60,319 Total equity securities 561,190 34,422 1,204 657,135 Short-term investments: Short-term bonds 2,326 37,480 — 39,806 Money market instruments 381,768 — — 381,768 Total short-term investments 384,094 37,480 — 421,574 Other assets: Note receivable — 5,653 — 5,653 Total assets at fair value $ 968,557 $ 3,193,721 $ 1,204 $ 4,223,801 Liabilities Other liabilities: Total return swap $ — $ 1,167 $ — $ 1,167 Options sold 237 — — 237 Total liabilities at fair value $ 237 $ 1,167 $ — $ 1,404 December 31, 2018 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total (Amounts in thousands) Assets Fixed maturity securities: U.S. government bonds $ 25,003 $ — $ — $ 25,003 Municipal securities — 2,620,132 — 2,620,132 Mortgage-backed securities — 30,952 — 30,952 Corporate securities — 105,524 — 105,524 Collateralized loan obligations — 165,789 — 165,789 Other asset-backed securities — 37,761 — 37,761 Total fixed maturity securities 25,003 2,960,158 — 2,985,161 Equity securities: Common stock 430,973 — — 430,973 Non-redeemable preferred stock — 31,433 — 31,433 Private equity fund — — 1,445 1,445 Private equity fund measured at net asset value (1) 65,780 Total equity securities 430,973 31,433 1,445 529,631 Short-term investments: Short-term bonds 31,472 16,784 — 48,256 Money market instruments 205,043 — — 205,043 Total short-term investments 236,515 16,784 — 253,299 Other assets: Note receivable — 5,557 — 5,557 Total assets at fair value $ 692,491 $ 3,013,932 $ 1,445 $ 3,773,648 Liabilities Other liabilities: Total return swap $ — $ 4,851 $ — $ 4,851 Options sold 3 — — 3 Total liabilities at fair value $ 3 $ 4,851 $ — $ 4,854 __________ (1) The fair value is measured using the NAV practical expedient; therefore, it is not categorized within the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amount is presented in this table to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The following tables present the carrying value and fair value of the Company’s financial instruments disclosed, but not carried, at fair value, and the level within the fair value hierarchy at which such instruments are categorized: September 30, 2019 Carrying Value Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (Amounts in thousands) Liabilities Notes payable: Unsecured notes $ 372,034 $ 394,129 $ — $ 394,129 $ — December 31, 2018 Carrying Value Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (Amounts in thousands) Liabilities Notes payable: Unsecured notes $ 371,734 $ 362,674 $ — $ 362,674 $ —
Summary Of Changes In Fair Value Of Level 3 Financial Assets And Financial Liabilities Held At Fair Value	The following table presents a summary of changes in fair value of Level 3 financial assets and financial liabilities: Private Equity Fund Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 2019 2018 (Amounts in thousands) Beginning balance $ 1,206 $ 1,450 $ 1,445 $ 1,481 Realized (losses) gains included in earnings (2 ) (4 ) 102 (35 ) Settlements — — (343 ) — Ending balance $ 1,204 $ 1,446 $ 1,204 $ 1,446 The amount of total (losses) gains for the period included in earnings attributable to assets still held at September 30 $ (2 ) $ (4 ) $ 94 $ (35 )

Leases (Tables)

Leases (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
Lease, Cost	The components of lease expense were as follows: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Lease Cost Classification September 30, 2019 September 30, 2019 (Amounts in thousands) Operating lease cost (1) Other operating expenses $ 3,902 $ 11,216 Variable lease cost (1) Other operating expenses 561 1,717 Total lease cost $ 4,463 $ 12,933 __________ (1) Includes short-term leases, which are immaterial. Weighted-average lease term and discount rate were as follows: September 30, 2019 Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years): Operating leases 4.4 Weighted-average discount rate: Operating leases 3.09 % Supplemental cash flow and other information related to leases was as follows: Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 (Amounts in thousands) Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 10,596 ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities: Operating leases 12,843
Assets And Liabilities, Lease	Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows: September 30, 2019 (Amounts in thousands) Operating lease ROU assets $ 45,834 Operating lease liabilities 48,699
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Maturity	Maturities of lease liabilities as of September 30, 2019 were as follows: Year Operating Leases (Amounts in thousands) Remainder of 2019 $ 3,739 2020 14,067 2021 11,587 2022 9,380 2023 6,193 2024 and thereafter 7,223 Total lease payments $ 52,189 Less: Imputed interest 3,490 Total lease obligations $ 48,699
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases	Total rent expense recognized under the Company's various lease agreements was $3.8 million and $11.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. The following table presents future minimum commitments for operating leases as of December 31, 2018 : Year Ending December 31, Operating Leases (Amounts in thousands) 2019 $ 12,812 2020 11,547 2021 8,732 2022 6,972 2023 3,659 Thereafter 1,966

Derivative Financial Instrume_2

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
General Discussion of Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]
Summary Of Location And Amounts Of Derivative Fair Values In The Consolidated Balance Sheets	The following tables present the location and amounts of derivative fair values in the consolidated balance sheets and derivative gains or losses in the consolidated statements of operations: Liability Derivatives September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 (Amount in thousands) Options sold - Other liabilities $ 237 $ 3 Total return swap - Other liabilities 1,167 4,851 Total derivatives $ 1,404 $ 4,854
Schedule Of Derivative Gains And Losses In The Consolidated Statements Of Operations	Gains (Losses) Recognized in Income Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 2019 2018 (Amounts in thousands) Total return swap - Net realized investment gains (losses) $ (376 ) $ 393 $ 1,905 $ 674 Options sold - Net realized investment gains (losses) 1,559 2,141 4,904 7,872 Total $ 1,183 $ 2,534 $ 6,809 $ 8,546

Goodwill and Other Intangible_2

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule Of Components Of Other Intangible Assets	The following table presents the components of other intangible assets: Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Useful Lives (Amounts in thousands) (in years) As of September 30, 2019: Customer relationships $ 53,213 $ (51,212 ) $ 2,001 11 Trade names 15,400 (6,898 ) 8,502 24 Technology 4,300 (4,300 ) — 10 Insurance license 1,400 — 1,400 Indefinite Total other intangible assets, net $ 74,313 $ (62,410 ) $ 11,903 As of December 31, 2018: Customer relationships $ 53,048 $ (47,897 ) $ 5,151 11 Trade names 15,400 (6,417 ) 8,983 24 Technology 4,300 (4,300 ) — 10 Insurance license 1,400 — 1,400 Indefinite Total other intangible assets, net $ 74,148 $ (58,614 ) $ 15,534
Schedule Of Estimated Future Amortization Expense Related To Intangible Assets	The following table presents the estimated future amortization expense related to other intangible assets as of September 30, 2019 : Year Amortization Expense (Amounts in thousands) Remainder of 2019 $ 1,267 2020 922 2021 902 2022 878 2023 714 Thereafter 5,820 Total $ 10,503

Share-Based Compensation (Table

Share-Based Compensation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Share-based Compensation, Allocation and Classification in Financial Statements [Abstract]
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions	The following table provides the assumptions used in the calculation of grant-date fair values of these stock options based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model: Weighted-average grant-date fair value $ 8.09 Expected volatility 33.18 % Risk-free interest rate 2.62 % Expected dividend yield 5.40 % Expected term in months 72

Loss And Loss Adjustment Expe_2

Loss And Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Insurance Loss Reserves [Abstract]
Activity In The Reserves For Losses And Loss Adjustment Expenses	The following table presents the activity in loss and loss adjustment expense reserves: Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 (Amounts in thousands) Gross reserves at January 1 $ 1,829,412 $ 1,510,613 Less reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses (180,859 ) (64,001 ) Net reserves at January 1 1,648,553 1,446,612 Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses related to: Current year 1,957,598 1,781,452 Prior years 10,323 70,398 Total incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses 1,967,921 1,851,850 Loss and loss adjustment expense payments related to: Current year 1,149,659 1,072,758 Prior years 715,451 695,678 Total payments 1,865,110 1,768,436 Net reserves at September 30 1,751,364 1,530,026 Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses 103,847 50,028 Gross reserves at September 30 $ 1,855,211 $ 1,580,054

Notes Payable (Tables)

Notes Payable (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Notes Payable [Abstract]
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments	The following table presents information about the Company's notes payable: Lender Interest Rate Maturity Date September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 (Amounts in thousands) Senior unsecured notes (1) Publicly traded 4.40% March 15, 2027 $ 375,000 $ 375,000 Unsecured credit facility (2) Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank LIBOR plus 112.5-162.5 basis points March 29, 2022 — — Total principal amount 375,000 375,000 Less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs (3) 2,966 3,266 Total debt $ 372,034 $ 371,734 __________ (1) On March 8, 2017, the Company completed a public debt offering issuing $375 million of senior notes. The notes are unsecured, senior obligations of the Company with a 4.4% annual coupon payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year commencing September 15, 2017. These notes mature on March 15, 2027. The Company used the proceeds from the notes to pay off amounts outstanding under the existing loan and credit facilities and for general corporate purposes. The Company incurred debt issuance costs of approximately $3.4 million , inclusive of underwriters' fees. The notes were issued at a slight discount of 99.847% of par, resulting in the effective annualized interest rate including debt issuance costs of approximately 4.45% . (2) On March 29, 2017, the Company entered into an unsecured credit agreement that provides for revolving loans of up to $50 million and matures on March 29, 2022. The interest rates on borrowings under the credit facility are based on the Company's debt to total capital ratio and range from LIBOR plus 112.5 basis points when the ratio is under 15% to LIBOR plus 162.5 basis points when the ratio is greater than or equal to 25%. Commitment fees for the undrawn portions of the credit facility range from 12.5 basis points when the ratio is under 15% to 22.5 basis points when the ratio is greater than or equal to 25%. The debt to total capital ratio is expressed as a percentage of (a) consolidated debt to (b) consolidated shareholders' equity plus consolidated debt. The Company's debt to total capital ratio was 17.2% at September 30, 2019 , resulting in a 15 basis point commitment fee on the $50 million undrawn portion of the credit facility. As of October 24, 2019 , there have been no borrowings under this facility. (3) The unamortized discount and debt issuance costs are associated with the publicly traded $375 million senior unsecured notes. These are amortized to interest expense over the life of the notes, and the unamortized balance is presented in the Company's consolidated balance sheets as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the debt. The unamortized debt issuance cost of approximately $0.1 million associated with the $50 million five

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Reconciliation of operating results by reportable segment	The following tables present the Company's operating results by reportable segment: Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 Property & Casualty Other Total Property & Casualty Other Total (Amounts in millions) Net premiums earned $ 907.9 $ 7.1 $ 915.0 $ 850.5 $ 7.6 $ 858.1 Less: Losses and loss adjustment expenses 677.3 3.6 680.9 610.2 3.9 614.1 Underwriting expenses 217.8 3.5 221.3 202.8 3.3 206.1 Underwriting gain 12.8 — 12.8 37.5 0.4 37.9 Investment income 36.4 38.2 Net realized investment gains (losses) 33.3 (3.9 ) Other income 2.6 2.4 Interest expense (4.3 ) (4.3 ) Pre-tax income $ 80.8 $ 70.3 Net income $ 69.3 $ 58.6 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 Property & Casualty Other Total Property & Casualty Other Total (Amounts in millions) Net premiums earned $ 2,652.8 $ 21.2 $ 2,674.0 $ 2,476.9 $ 23.3 $ 2,500.2 Less: Losses and loss adjustment expenses 1,957.4 10.5 1,967.9 1,840.1 11.8 1,851.9 Underwriting expenses 643.8 10.4 654.2 604.0 10.9 614.9 Underwriting gain 51.6 0.3 51.9 32.8 0.6 33.4 Investment income 105.6 104.5 Net realized investment gains (losses) 197.7 (48.4 ) Other income 7.2 7.1 Interest expense (12.8 ) (12.8 ) Pre-tax income $ 349.6 $ 83.8 Net income $ 288.4 $ 76.2
Schedule direct premiums attributable to segment	The following tables present the Company’s net premiums earned and direct premiums written by reportable segment and line of insurance business: Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 Property & Casualty Other Total Property & Casualty Other Total (Amounts in millions) Private passenger automobile $ 698.2 $ — $ 698.2 $ 659.6 $ — $ 659.6 Homeowners 133.5 — 133.5 120.0 — 120.0 Commercial automobile 53.5 — 53.5 48.7 — 48.7 Other 22.7 7.1 29.8 22.2 7.6 29.8 Net premiums earned $ 907.9 $ 7.1 $ 915.0 $ 850.5 $ 7.6 $ 858.1 Private passenger automobile $ 743.9 $ — $ 743.9 $ 695.1 $ — $ 695.1 Homeowners 162.9 — 162.9 140.7 — 140.7 Commercial automobile 55.2 — 55.2 50.3 — 50.3 Other 25.8 9.2 35.0 24.5 6.9 31.4 Direct premiums written $ 987.8 $ 9.2 $ 997.0 $ 910.6 $ 6.9 $ 917.5 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 Property & Casualty Other Total Property & Casualty Other Total (Amounts in millions) Private passenger automobile $ 2,055.1 $ — $ 2,055.1 $ 1,932.1 $ — $ 1,932.1 Homeowners 376.7 — 376.7 340.5 — 340.5 Commercial automobile 154.5 — 154.5 140.3 — 140.3 Other 66.5 21.2 87.7 64.0 23.3 87.3 Net premiums earned $ 2,652.8 $ 21.2 $ 2,674.0 $ 2,476.9 $ 23.3 $ 2,500.2 Private passenger automobile $ 2,146.8 $ — $ 2,146.8 $ 2,035.1 $ — $ 2,035.1 Homeowners 452.8 — 452.8 394.0 — 394.0 Commercial automobile 165.4 — 165.4 149.9 — 149.9 Other 76.2 24.0 100.2 73.6 20.5 94.1 Direct premiums written $ 2,841.2 $ 24.0 $ 2,865.2 $ 2,652.6 $ 20.5 $ 2,673.1

General (Details)

General (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Potentially dilutive securities (in shares)	0	82,000	0	73,000
Common stock dividends (in dollars per share)	$ 0.6275	$ 0.6250	$ 1.8825	$ 1.8750
Deferred policy acquisition cost amortization	$ 150,929,000	$ 142,295,000	$ 447,971,000	$ 424,799,000
Advertising expenses	12,500,000	11,800,000	36,100,000	34,300,000
Reinsurance policy, amount of coverage			590,000,000
Reinsurance policy, amount retained			40,000,000
Ceded premiums earned	13,000,000	9,000,000	44,000,000	34,000,000
Policyholder benefits and claims incurred, ceded	1,000,000	14,000,000	(51,000,000)	13,000,000
Revenue from contract with customer	4,200,000	4,000,000	12,500,000	12,300,000
Cost of goods and services sold	2,500,000	$ 2,200,000	7,800,000	$ 7,600,000
Contract with customer, asset	0		0		$ 0
Contract with customer, liability	0		0		0
Revenue, remaining performance obligation	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0

Financial Instruments (Estimate

Financial Instruments (Estimated Fair Values Of Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Investments [Member]
Assets
Total assets, fair value	$ 4,218,148	$ 3,768,091
Financing Receivable [Member]
Assets
Total assets, fair value	5,653	5,557
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Liabilities
Liabilities, fair value	1,404	4,854
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Call Option [Member]
Liabilities
Liabilities, fair value	237	3
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Total Return Swap [Member]
Liabilities
Liabilities, fair value	1,167	4,851
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Borrowings [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member]
Liabilities
Liabilities, fair value	$ 394,129	$ 362,674

Financial Instruments (Narrativ

Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2017USD ($)a	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Number of acres | a	6
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	$ 12.2
Promissory note received in sale of property, plant, and equipment	$ 5.7
Stated interest rate on promissory note	3.50%
Borrowings [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Unsecured notes		$ 375	$ 375

Fair Value Option (Gains And Lo

Fair Value Option (Gains And Losses Due To Changes In Fair Value Of Investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
(Losses) gains due to changes in fair value of investments	$ 24,023	$ (12,907)	$ 178,529	$ (62,646)
Fixed maturity securities [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
(Losses) gains due to changes in fair value of investments	22,403	(22,257)	110,559	(68,246)
Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
(Losses) gains due to changes in fair value of investments	1,928	9,253	66,976	5,900
Short-term investments [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
(Losses) gains due to changes in fair value of investments	(326)	99	898	(249)
Investments [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
(Losses) gains due to changes in fair value of investments	24,005	(12,905)	178,433	(62,595)
Financing Receivable [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
(Losses) gains due to changes in fair value of investments	$ 18	$ (2)	$ 96	$ (51)

Fair Value Measurement (Narrati

Fair Value Measurement (Narrative) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)broker	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Percentage of portfolio of unadjusted fair values obtained	98.50%
Minimum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Number of knowledgeable outside security brokers consulted to determine fair value | broker	1
Borrowings [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Unsecured notes	$ 375,000,000	$ 375,000,000
Commercial Mortgage Back Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading securities, fair value disclosure	21,000,000	24,800,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets, fair value disclosure	0
Liabilities, fair value	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets, fair value disclosure	4,223,801,000	3,773,648,000
Liabilities, fair value	1,404,000	4,854,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets, fair value disclosure	3,193,721,000	3,013,932,000
Liabilities, fair value	1,167,000	4,851,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Borrowings [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, fair value	394,129,000	362,674,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Borrowings [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, fair value	394,129,000	362,674,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Private Equity Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets, fair value disclosure	$ 1,200,000	$ 1,400,000

Fair Value Measurement (Schedul

Fair Value Measurement (Schedule Of Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis Valuation Techniques) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	$ 3,139,439	$ 2,985,161
Equity securities:	657,135	529,631
Short-term investments:	421,574	253,299
Equity contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Derivative liability	237	3
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	3,139,439	2,985,161
Equity securities:	657,135	529,631
Short-term investments:	421,574	253,299
Note receivable	5,653	5,557
Assets, fair value disclosure	4,223,801	3,773,648
Liabilities, fair value	1,404	4,854
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	23,273	25,003
Equity securities:	561,190	430,973
Short-term investments:	384,094	236,515
Note receivable	0	0
Assets, fair value disclosure	968,557	692,491
Liabilities, fair value	237	3
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	3,116,166	2,960,158
Equity securities:	34,422	31,433
Short-term investments:	37,480	16,784
Note receivable	5,653	5,557
Assets, fair value disclosure	3,193,721	3,013,932
Liabilities, fair value	1,167	4,851
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	0	0
Equity securities:	1,204	1,445
Short-term investments:	0	0
Note receivable	0	0
Assets, fair value disclosure	1,204	1,445
Liabilities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	23,273	25,003
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	23,273	25,003
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Municipal Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	2,650,547	2,620,132
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Municipal Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Municipal Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	2,650,547	2,620,132
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Municipal Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	42,815	30,952
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	42,815	30,952
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	221,594	105,524
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	221,594	105,524
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Collateralized Loan Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	173,006	165,789
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Collateralized Loan Obligations [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Collateralized Loan Obligations [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	173,006	165,789
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Collateralized Loan Obligations [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Other Asset-Backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	28,204	37,761
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Other Asset-Backed Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Other Asset-Backed Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	28,204	37,761
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Other Asset-Backed Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Equity securities:	561,190	430,973
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Common Stock [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Equity securities:	561,190	430,973
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Common Stock [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Equity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Common Stock [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Equity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Equity securities:	34,422	31,433
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Equity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Equity securities:	34,422	31,433
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Equity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Private Equity Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Equity securities:	1,204	1,445
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Private Equity Funds [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Equity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Private Equity Funds [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Equity securities:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Private Equity Funds [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Equity securities:	1,204	1,445
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Private Equity Funds Net Asset Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Equity securities:	60,319	65,780
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Short-term Debt [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Short-term investments:	39,806	48,256
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Short-term Debt [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Short-term investments:	2,326	31,472
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Short-term Debt [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Short-term investments:	37,480	16,784
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Short-term Debt [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Short-term investments:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Short-term investments:	381,768	205,043
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Short-term investments:	381,768	205,043
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Short-term investments:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Short-term investments:	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Total Return Swap [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Derivative liability	1,167	4,851
Liabilities, fair value	1,167	4,851
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Total Return Swap [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Derivative liability	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Total Return Swap [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Derivative liability	1,167	4,851
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Total Return Swap [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Derivative liability	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Equity contracts [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Derivative liability	237	3
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Equity contracts [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Derivative liability	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Equity contracts [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Derivative liability	$ 0	$ 0

Fair Value Measurement (Summary

Fair Value Measurement (Summary Of Changes In Fair Value Of Level 3 Financial Assets And Financial Liabilities Held At Fair Value) (Details) - Private Equity Funds [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 1,206	$ 1,450	$ 1,445	$ 1,481
Realized (losses) gains included in earnings	(2)	(4)	102	(35)
Settlements	0	0	(343)	0
Ending balance	1,204	1,446	1,204	1,446
The amount of total (losses) gains for the period included in earnings attributable to assets still held at September 30	$ (2)	$ (4)	$ 94	$ (35)

Fair Value Measurement Fair Val

Fair Value Measurement Fair Value Measurement (Financial Instruments Disclosed, But Not Carried, At Fair Value) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notes payable	$ 372,034	$ 371,734
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, fair value	1,404	4,854
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, fair value	237	3
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, fair value	1,167	4,851
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, fair value	0	0
Borrowings [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notes payable	372,034	371,734
Borrowings [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, fair value	394,129	362,674
Borrowings [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, fair value	0	0
Borrowings [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, fair value	394,129	362,674
Borrowings [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities, fair value	$ 0	$ 0

Leases (Narrative) (Details)

Leases (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease right-of-use assets			$ 45,834
Operating lease liabilities			$ 48,699
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years):			4 years 4 months 24 days
Lessee, operating lease, not yet commenced, amount			$ 2,000
Rent expense	$ 3,800	$ 11,400
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease right-of-use assets				$ 41,000
Operating lease liabilities				43,000
Deferred rent credit				$ 2,000
Minimum [Member]
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years):			1 year
Lessee, operating lease, lease not yet commenced, term of contract			1 year
Maximum [Member]
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years):			8 years
Lessee, operating lease, lease not yet commenced, term of contract			3 years

Leases (Lease Cost) (Details)

Leases (Lease Cost) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
Operating lease cost	$ 3,902	$ 11,216
Variable lease cost	561	1,717
Total lease cost	$ 4,463	$ 12,933

Leases (Supplemental Balance Sh

Leases (Supplemental Balance Sheet Information) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
Operating lease ROU assets	$ 45,834
Operating lease liabilities	$ 48,699

Leases (Weighted Average Lease

Leases (Weighted Average Lease Term and Discount Rate) (Details)	Sep. 30, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years):	4 years 4 months 24 days
Weighted-average discount rate:	3.09%

Leases (Supplemental Cash Flow

Leases (Supplemental Cash Flow Information) (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$ 10,596
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:	$ 12,843

Leases (Maturities of Operating

Leases (Maturities of Operating Lease Liabilities After ASU Adoption) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
Remainder of 2019	$ 3,739
2020	14,067
2021	11,587
2022	9,380
2023	6,193
2024 and thereafter	7,223
Total lease payments	52,189
Less: Imputed interest	3,490
Total lease obligations	$ 48,699

Leases (Future Rent Expense Due

Leases (Future Rent Expense Due Prior To ASU Adoption) (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
2019	$ 12,812
2020	11,547
2021	8,732
2022	6,972
2023	3,659
Thereafter	$ 1,966

Derivative Financial Instrume_3

Derivative Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) - FFL [Member] - Swap [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Feb. 13, 2014	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2018	Jan. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notional amount		$ 73	$ 100
Term of swap agreement	1 year
LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.28%			1.05%	1.20%

Derivative Financial Instrume_4

Derivative Financial Instruments (Summary Of Location And Amounts Of Derivative Fair Values In The Consolidated Balance Sheets) (Details) - Non-hedging derivatives [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Derivative [Line Items]
Liability Derivatives	$ 1,404	$ 4,854
Option contracts [Member] | Other liabilities [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Liability Derivatives	237	3
Total Return Swap [Member] | Other liabilities [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Liability Derivatives	$ 1,167	$ 4,851

Derivative Financial Instrume_5

Derivative Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Derivative Gains And Losses In The Consolidated Statements Of Operations) (Details) - Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain Recognized in Income (Loss)	$ 1,183	$ 2,534	$ 6,809	$ 8,546
Total Return Swap [Member] | Net realized investment (losses) gains [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain Recognized in Income (Loss)	(376)	393	1,905	674
Equity contracts [Member] | Net realized investment (losses) gains [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain Recognized in Income (Loss)	$ 1,559	$ 2,141	$ 4,904	$ 7,872

Goodwill and Other Intangible_3

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Change in Goodwill	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Goodwill, impairment	0	0	0	0
Intangible assets amortization expense	$ 1,300,000	$ 1,400,000	$ 3,800,000	$ 4,100,000

Goodwill and Other Intangible_4

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Schedule Of Components Of Other Intangible Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 74,313	$ 74,148
Accumulated Amortization	(62,410)	(58,614)
Net Carrying Amount	11,903	15,534
Customer relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	53,213	53,048
Accumulated Amortization	(51,212)	(47,897)
Net Carrying Amount	$ 2,001	$ 5,151
Useful Lives (in years)	11 years	11 years
Trade names [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 15,400	$ 15,400
Accumulated Amortization	(6,898)	(6,417)
Net Carrying Amount	$ 8,502	$ 8,983
Useful Lives (in years)	24 years	24 years
Technology [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 4,300	$ 4,300
Accumulated Amortization	(4,300)	(4,300)
Net Carrying Amount	$ 0	$ 0
Useful Lives (in years)	10 years	10 years
Licensing Agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 1,400	$ 1,400
Net Carrying Amount	$ 1,400	$ 1,400

Goodwill and Other Intangible_5

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Schedule Of Estimated Future Amortization Expense Related To Intangible Assets) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Remainder of 2019	$ 1,267
2020	922
2021	902
2022	878
2023	714
Thereafter	5,820
Total	$ 10,503

Share-Based Compensation (Narra

Share-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2019shares	Feb. 28, 2018executiveshares	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)shares	Feb. 28, 2015shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of executives awarded stock options | executive		4
Unrecognized compensation expense | $			$ 0.3
Period for recognition for unrecognized compensation expense			2 years 4 months 24 days
Performance period of restricted stock units (in years)			3 years
Incentive Award Plan 2015 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized (in shares)				4,900,000
RSUs awarded (in shares)			0
Incentive Award Plan 2015 [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares available for grant (in shares)			4,830,000
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Option vesting term (in years)			10 years
Employee Stock Option [Member] | Incentive Award Plan 2015 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of nonvested options (in shares)			70,000
Grants in period (in shares)		80,000
Requisite service period		4 years
Nonvested options forfeited (in shares)	10,000

Share-Based Compensation (Stock

Share-Based Compensation (Stock Option Valuation Assumptions) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019$ / shares
Share-based Compensation, Allocation and Classification in Financial Statements [Abstract]
Weighted-average grant-date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 8.09
Expected volatility	33.18%
Risk-free interest rate	2.62%
Expected dividend yield	5.40%
Expected term in months	72 months

Income Taxes (Details)

Income Taxes (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Decrease in unrecognized tax benefit	$ 2,266

Loss And Loss Adjustment Expe_3

Loss And Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves (Activity In The Reserves For Losses And Loss Adjustment Expenses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Roll Forward]
Gross reserves at January 1	$ 1,829,412	$ 1,510,613
Less reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses	(180,859)	(64,001)
Net reserves at January 1	1,648,553	1,446,612
Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses related to:
Current year	1,957,598	1,781,452
Prior years	10,323	70,398
Total incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses	1,967,921	1,851,850
Loss and loss adjustment expense payments related to:
Current year	1,149,659	1,072,758
Prior years	715,451	695,678
Total payments	1,865,110	1,768,436
Net reserves at September 30	1,751,364	1,530,026
Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses	103,847	50,028
Gross reserves at September 30	$ 1,855,211	$ 1,580,054

Loss And Loss Adjustment Expe_4

Loss And Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Prior year claims and claims adjustment expense		$ 10,323	$ 70,398
Adjustments for prior year claims		715,451	695,678
Catastrophe [Member]
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Loss from catastrophes, net of reinsurance benefits		17,000	24,000
Loss from catastrophes		20,000	34,000
Adjustments for prior year claims		$ 3,000
Fire [Member]
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Loss from catastrophes, net of reinsurance benefits	$ 40,000		10,000
Loss from catastrophes	208,000		$ 21,000
Benefit from sale of subrogation rights	$ 10,000

Notes Payable (Schedule of Long

Notes Payable (Schedule of Long-term Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 08, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			4.40%
Total principal amount	$ 375,000	$ 375,000
Less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs(3)	2,966	3,266
Notes payable	372,034	371,734
Unsecured debt [Member] | Borrowings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable	$ 372,034	371,734
Unsecured debt [Member] | Borrowings [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Unsecured Notes One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	4.40%
Unsecured debt	$ 375,000	375,000
Unsecured debt [Member] | Borrowings [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Unsecured Notes Two [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured debt	$ 0	$ 0
LIBOR [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member] | Borrowings [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Unsecured Notes Two [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.1125%
LIBOR [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member] | Borrowings [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Unsecured Notes Two [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.1625%

Notes Payable (Narrative) (Deta

Notes Payable (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Mar. 08, 2017USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate				4.40%
Debt issuance cost				$ 3,400
Debt instrument, discount percent				99.847%
Effective interest rate				4.45%
Debt to total capital ratio		0.172
Unamortized debt issuance cost		$ 100
Unsecured Notes Two [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loan maximum borrowing capacity	$ 50,000
Revolving credit facility term	5 years
Unsecured Notes Two [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt to total capital ratio	0.15
Commitment fee on undrawn portion of facility	0.125%	0.15%
Unsecured Notes Two [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt to total capital ratio	0.25
Commitment fee on undrawn portion of facility	0.225%
Unsecured Notes Two [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | LIBOR [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.125%
Debt to total capital ratio	0.15
Unsecured Notes Two [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | LIBOR [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.625%
Debt to total capital ratio	0.25
Level 2 [Member] | Borrowings [Member] | Unsecured Notes One [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured debt		$ 375,000	$ 375,000
Interest rate		4.40%
Level 2 [Member] | Borrowings [Member] | Unsecured Notes Two [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured debt		$ 0	$ 0
Level 2 [Member] | Borrowings [Member] | Unsecured Notes Two [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member] | LIBOR [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		0.1125%
Level 2 [Member] | Borrowings [Member] | Unsecured Notes Two [Member] | Unsecured debt [Member] | LIBOR [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		0.1625%

Contingencies - Narrative (Deta

Contingencies - Narrative (Details) - California DOI [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 02, 2019	Aug. 30, 2019	Feb. 09, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2017	Nov. 17, 2016
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation, penalty assessed			$ 27.6		$ 6
Payments for assessed penalty		$ 35		$ 27.6
Penalty interest assessed, statutory rate							7.00%
Accured estimated interest payment					$ 3
Other liabilities [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Gain contingency						$ 30.9
Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments for assessed penalty	$ 41.2

Segment Information - Summary o

Segment Information - Summary of Operating Results by Segment (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)State	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)SubsidiarysegmentState	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of insurance companies | Subsidiary			14
Number of states in which company operates | State	11		11
Number of reportable segments | segment			1
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	$ 915,012	$ 858,135	$ 2,674,034	$ 2,500,178
Losses and loss adjustment expenses	680,928	614,069	1,967,921	1,851,850
Underwriting expenses	221,300	206,100	654,200	614,900
Underwriting gain (loss)	12,800	37,900	51,900	33,400
Net investment income	36,356	38,159	105,562	104,455
Net realized investment gains (losses)	33,324	(3,910)	197,726	(48,355)
Other	2,603	2,427	7,203	7,108
Interest expense	(4,257)	(4,257)	(12,779)	(12,779)
Pre-tax income	80,840	70,286	349,604	83,833
Net income	69,282	58,578	288,399	76,151
Property and Casualty Lines [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	907,900	850,500	2,652,800	2,476,900
Losses and loss adjustment expenses	677,300	610,200	1,957,400	1,840,100
Underwriting expenses	217,800	202,800	643,800	604,000
Underwriting gain (loss)	12,800	37,500	51,600	32,800
Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	7,100	7,600	21,200	23,300
Losses and loss adjustment expenses	3,600	3,900	10,500	11,800
Underwriting expenses	3,500	3,300	10,400	10,900
Underwriting gain (loss)	$ 0	$ 400	$ 300	$ 600

Segment Information - Summary_2

Segment Information - Summary of Premiums Written and Earned by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	$ 915,012	$ 858,135	$ 2,674,034	$ 2,500,178
Direct Premiums Written	997,000	917,500	2,865,200	2,673,100
Private Passenger Automobile Line [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	698,200	659,600	2,055,100	1,932,100
Direct Premiums Written	743,900	695,100	2,146,800	2,035,100
Homeowners Line [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	133,500	120,000	376,700	340,500
Direct Premiums Written	162,900	140,700	452,800	394,000
Commercial Automobile Line [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	53,500	48,700	154,500	140,300
Direct Premiums Written	55,200	50,300	165,400	149,900
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	29,800	29,800	87,700	87,300
Direct Premiums Written	35,000	31,400	100,200	94,100
Property and Casualty Lines [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	907,900	850,500	2,652,800	2,476,900
Direct Premiums Written	987,800	910,600	2,841,200	2,652,600
Property and Casualty Lines [Member] | Private Passenger Automobile Line [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	698,200	659,600	2,055,100	1,932,100
Direct Premiums Written	743,900	695,100	2,146,800	2,035,100
Property and Casualty Lines [Member] | Homeowners Line [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	133,500	120,000	376,700	340,500
Direct Premiums Written	162,900	140,700	452,800	394,000
Property and Casualty Lines [Member] | Commercial Automobile Line [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	53,500	48,700	154,500	140,300
Direct Premiums Written	55,200	50,300	165,400	149,900
Property and Casualty Lines [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	22,700	22,200	66,500	64,000
Direct Premiums Written	25,800	24,500	76,200	73,600
Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	7,100	7,600	21,200	23,300
Direct Premiums Written	9,200	6,900	24,000	20,500
Other Segments [Member] | Private Passenger Automobile Line [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	0	0	0	0
Direct Premiums Written	0	0	0	0
Other Segments [Member] | Homeowners Line [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	0	0	0	0
Direct Premiums Written	0	0	0	0
Other Segments [Member] | Commercial Automobile Line [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	0	0	0	0
Direct Premiums Written	0	0	0	0
Other Segments [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned	7,100	7,600	21,200	23,300
Direct Premiums Written	$ 9,200	$ 6,900	$ 24,000	$ 20,500