EX-99.1 2 d582849dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

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Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2018 Results

Fort Lauderdale, FL, July 25, 2018 – Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UVE) today reported net income and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $46.1 million and $1.29, respectively for the second quarter of 2018.

Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sean P. Downes commented: “Universal once again reported excellent top line growth and strong underwriting profitability, leading to a solid bottom line result and an annualized ROE of 37.8% for the second quarter. We continue to post strong organic growth in our home state of Florida, while our expansion efforts into Other States remain on track and are delivering excellent results. Universal DirectSM continues to generate steady growth, and contributed in each of our active states during the quarter. Our vertically integrated structure again contributed favorably to results, with improved profitability at Universal Adjusting Corporation (UAC) resulting from increased service activity following Hurricane Irma. Our balance sheet remains strong and conservatively positioned, and we completed our 2018-2019 reinsurance program during the quarter, building further on the recent trend of adding conservatism to our reinsurance program while lowering the percentage of premium spent on reinsurance. We were also active on the capital management front during the quarter, repurchasing $8.4 million of UVE stock and announcing an increased quarterly dividend beginning in the third quarter. We are very pleased with our second quarter results and believe Universal remains well positioned to deliver outstanding value to shareholders going forward.”

Second Quarter 2018 Highlights

 

    Organic Growth Continues – Direct premiums written grew 15.7% in the second quarter, with 13.0% growth in Florida and 36.5% growth in Other States, as Universal DirectSM contributed to growth in all geographies. We began writing in New Hampshire in April and currently write in 17 states with licenses in 3 other states.

 

    Strong Underwriting Profitability – The second quarter net combined ratio was 77.2% compared to 81.3% in the prior year’s quarter, with improvement in both the loss and LAE ratio and the G&A expense ratio. Second quarter results include $5.0 million (2.6 points) of weather events beyond plan and $2.3 million (1.2 points) of unfavorable prior year reserve development, primarily related to Hurricane Matthew. The quarter also includes $8.4 million (4.4 points) of estimated pretax profit from additional income generated by UAC following Hurricane Irma. Additionally, second quarter results included a benefit of $6.5 million (3.4 points) related to a settlement of prior year premium tax audits. Our underlying underwriting results reflect increased loss trends resulting from the impact of continued geographic expansion, an increased level of catastrophic activity in recent years, and marketplace dynamics within Florida, including Assignment of Benefits (AOB) related claims.

 

    Solid Balance Sheet – Book value per share grew 6.2% from March 31, 2018 (16.7% from June 30, 2017) to $14.11. Our investment portfolio is conservatively positioned, we have minimal debt or goodwill, we believe our loss reserves are appropriately set at current levels, and we are protected by a comprehensive reinsurance program, which was further enhanced during the second quarter to provide greater balance sheet protection.

 

    Focused on Shareholder Returns – Annualized Return on Average Common Equity (ROE) was 37.8% for the second quarter of 2018. We paid dividends of $0.14 per share in the second quarter, and announced that we have increased the quarterly dividend to $0.16 per share beginning in the third quarter. During the second quarter, we repurchased 250,000 shares for $8.4 million ($33.48 per share) and $8.7 million remains on our current share repurchase authorization.

 

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Second Quarter 2018 Results

Direct premiums written grew 15.7% from the prior year’s quarter to $342.8 million, with 13.0% growth in our Florida book and 36.5% growth in our Other States book. Our Florida organic growth strategy continues to produce solid results, with underlying growth in policies in force bolstered by the average statewide rate increase of 3.4% approved in late 2017. Our Other States organic geographic expansion efforts also continue to deliver excellent results, and in early April, we wrote our first policy in New Hampshire, our 17th state of operation. For the quarter, net premiums earned grew 13.8% to $192.3 million.

Commission revenue grew by 22.9% versus the prior year’s quarter to $5.7 million, including a benefit of approximately $0.9 million of reinstatement commissions received by Blue Atlantic Reinsurance Corporation during the second quarter of 2018. Policy fees grew by 9.8% versus the prior year’s quarter to $5.8 million, driven by an increase in the number of new and renewal policies written compared to the prior year. Other revenue of $1.6 million declined modestly by 1.1% compared to the prior year’s quarter.

The net combined ratio was 77.2% in the second quarter of 2018 compared to 81.3% in the prior year’s quarter, driven by a reduction in both the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio and the general and administrative expense ratio.

The net loss and LAE ratio was 46.7% in the second quarter of 2018, compared to 47.4% for the prior year’s quarter. The main drivers of the change in the loss and LAE ratio are as follows:

 

    The current year’s quarter includes $5.0 million (2.6 points) of weather events beyond plan, related to the Hawaiian Volcano and several other meaningful weather events during 2018. The prior year’s quarter included $6.0 million (3.6 points) of weather events beyond plan, which was the result of an increase to our underlying core loss ratio to reflect an increase of expected weather-related losses.

 

    Second quarter 2018 results include $2.3 million (1.2 points) of unfavorable prior year reserve development, primarily related to Hurricane Matthew (which occurred in the fourth quarter of 2016). The prior year’s quarter included $1.1 million (0.7 points) of unfavorable prior year reserve development, also related to Hurricane Matthew.

 

    Universal Adjusting Corporation (UAC) generated additional revenues following Hurricane Irma (which occurred during the third quarter of 2017). During the second quarter of 2018, UAC produced $8.4 million (4.4 points) of pretax profit, the vast majority related to additional revenues resulting from Hurricane Irma.

 

    Our underlying loss and LAE ratio reflects continued geographic expansion into states outside of Florida (where non-catastrophe loss ratios are generally higher than in Florida), an increased level of catastrophic activity in recent years, and the marketplace dynamics within our home state of Florida, including the impact of Assignment of Benefits (AOB) related claims.

The net general and administrative expense ratio was 30.5% in the second quarter of 2018, compared to 33.9% for the prior year’s quarter, as both the policy acquisition cost ratio and the other operating expense ratio declined compared to the prior period. The net policy acquisition cost ratio was 17.4% compared to 19.5% in the prior year, while the net other operating expense ratio was 13.0% compared to 14.4% in the prior year. General and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2018 included a benefit of $6.5 million (3.4 points), included within policy acquisition costs, related to a settlement of prior year premium tax audits.

 

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Net investment income grew by 79.5% from the prior year’s quarter to $5.8 million, driven by an increase in total cash and invested assets compared to the prior year, a shift in asset mix, and an increased yield as compared to the prior year’s quarter. Net realized investment gains were $0.1 million in the second quarter of 2018, compared to net realized gains of $1.7 million in the prior year’s quarter. Net unrealized investment losses were $1.5 million during the second quarter of 2018; we highlight that this line item was added during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, because of the adoption of accounting guidance for equity securities, and as such, this item was not presented in the comparable prior year’s quarter. Total unrestricted cash and invested assets was $1.06 billion at June 30, 2018, growth of 20.2% from $880.4 million at June 30, 2017.

Interest expense was $90 thousand for the second quarter of 2018, compared to $86 thousand in the prior year’s quarter, with long term debt of $12.1 million at June 30, 2018 (debt-to-equity of 2.5%), compared to $13.6 million as of June 30, 2017 (debt-to-equity of 3.2%).    

The effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2018 was 24.8%, compared to 38.7% in the prior year’s quarter. The decrease in our effective tax rate is primarily the result of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which resulted in a reduction in the federal corporate tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0% effective January 1, 2018. The current year’s quarter included net discrete items of $0.6 million, primarily from excess tax benefits resulting from stock-based awards that vested and/or were exercised during the second quarter, benefitting the current quarter’s effective tax rate by 1.0 percentage points.

Stockholders’ equity was $492.1 million at June 30, 2018, growth of 5.8% from March 31, 2018 or 16.9% from June 30, 2017. Book value per common share was $14.11 at June 30, 2018, growth of 6.2% from March 31, 2018 or 16.7% from June 30, 2017. Annualized Return on Average Common Equity (ROE) was 37.8% for the second quarter of 2018 compared to 27.9% for the second quarter of 2017.

During the second quarter, the Company repurchased 250,000 shares for $8.4 million, or an average cost of $33.48 per share. Our current share repurchase authorization program has $8.7 million remaining and runs through December 31, 2018.

On April 12, 2018, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.14 per share of common stock, which was paid on May 4, 2018 to shareholders of record as of April 27, 2018. On May 29, 2018, the company announced that its Board of Directors declared an increased quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share of common stock for the third quarter of 2018, an increase of $0.02 per share or 14.3% from the dividend paid in the first and second quarters of 2018. The third quarter dividend was paid on July 16, 2018 to shareholders of record on July 2, 2018.

Conference Call

Members of the Universal management team will host a conference call on Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 10:00 AM ET to discuss second quarter 2018 financial results. Following prepared remarks, management will conduct a question and answer session. The call will be accessible by dialing toll free at (855) 752-6647 or internationally (toll) at (503) 343-6667 using the Conference ID: 4628248. A live audio webcast of the call will also be accessible on the Universal Insurance website at www.universalinsuranceholdings.com. A replay of the call can be accessed toll free at (855) 859-2056 or internationally (toll) at (404) 537-3406 using the Conference ID: 4628248, and will be available through August 9, 2018.

 

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About Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.

Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc., with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a vertically integrated insurance holding company performing all aspects of insurance underwriting, distribution and claims. Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company (UPCIC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, is one of the leading writers of homeowners insurance in Florida and is now fully licensed and has commenced its operations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Hawaii, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Delaware, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Michigan, Alabama, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and New Hampshire. American Platinum Property and Casualty Insurance Company (APPCIC), also a wholly-owned subsidiary, currently writes homeowners multi-peril insurance on Florida homes valued in excess of $1 million, which are limits and coverages currently not targeted through its affiliate UPCIC. APPCIC is additionally licensed and has commenced writing Fire, Commercial Multi-Peril, and Other Liability lines of business in Florida. For additional information on the Company, please visit our investor relations website at www.universalinsuranceholdings.com.

Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. Such statements may include commentary on plans, products and lines of business, marketing arrangements, reinsurance programs and other business developments and assumptions relating to the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Future results could differ materially from those described, and the Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements. For further information regarding risk factors that could affect the Company’s operations and future results, refer to the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.

 

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UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

     June 30,     December 31,  
     2018     2017  
ASSETS     

Invested Assets

    

Fixed maturities, at fair value

   $ 656,762     $ 639,334  

Equity securities, at fair value

     70,866       62,215  

Short-term investments, at fair value

     —         10,000  

Investment real estate, net

     19,539       18,474  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total invested assets

     747,167       730,023  

Cash and cash equivalents

     311,088       213,486  

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

     2,635       2,635  

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

     310,618       132,806  

Reinsurance recoverable

     117,851       182,405  

Premiums receivable, net

     67,186       56,500  

Property and equipment, net

     34,792       32,866  

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     88,756       73,059  

Goodwill

     2,319       2,319  

Other assets

     28,865       28,900  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 1,711,277     $ 1,454,999  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

LIABILITIES:

    

Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses

     151,916       248,425  

Unearned premiums

     608,921       532,444  

Advance premium

     38,230       26,216  

Reinsurance payable, net

     341,912       110,381  

Long-term debt

     12,132       12,868  

Other liabilities

     66,093       84,677  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,219,204       1,015,011  

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

    

Cumulative convertible preferred stock ($0.01 par value) 1

     —         —    

Common stock ($0.01 par value) 2

     463       458  

Treasury shares, at cost - 11,385 and 11,043

     (116,239     (105,123

Additional paid-in capital

     85,925       86,186  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes

     (9,161     (6,281

Retained earnings

     531,085       464,748  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     492,073       439,988  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 1,711,277     $ 1,454,999  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Notes:

1 - Cumulative convertible preferred stock ($0.01 par value): Authorized - 1,000 shares; Issued - 10 and 10 shares; Outstanding - 10 and 10 shares; Minimum liquidation preference - $9.99 and $9.99 per share.

2 - Common stock ($0.01 par value): Authorized - 55,000 shares; Issued - 46,257 and 45,778 shares; Outstanding 34,872 and 34,735 shares.

 

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UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended      Six Months Ended  
     June 30,      June 30,  
     2018     2017      2018     2017  

REVENUES

         

Net premiums earned

   $ 192,272     $ 169,009      $ 374,849     $ 330,568  

Net investment income

     5,786       3,223        10,571       5,927  

Net realized gains/(losses) on investments

     145       1,710        (2,496     1,647  

Net unrealized gains/(losses) on investments

     (1,521     —          (6,630     —    

Commission revenue

     5,709       4,644        10,980       9,242  

Policy fees

     5,764       5,250        10,539       9,733  

Other revenue

     1,633       1,651        3,475       3,244  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     209,788       185,487        401,288       360,361  

EXPENSES

         

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

     89,842       80,184        165,768       150,754  

Policy acquisition costs

     33,545       33,022        71,588       65,450  

Other operating expenses

     25,063       24,272        50,816       48,674  

Interest expense

     90       86        169       189  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     148,540       137,564        288,341       265,067  

Income before income tax expense

     61,248       47,923        112,947       95,294  

Income tax expense

     15,164       18,547        26,808       34,719  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCOME

   $ 46,084     $ 29,376      $ 86,139     $ 60,575  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SHARE AND PER SHARE INFORMATION

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
     June 30,     June 30,  
     2018     2017     2018     2017  

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic

     34,909       34,959       34,874       35,049  

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted

     35,589       35,958       35,636       36,061  

Shares outstanding, end of period

     34,872       34,821       34,872       34,821  

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 1.32     $ 0.84     $ 2.47     $ 1.73  

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 1.29     $ 0.82     $ 2.42     $ 1.68  

Cash dividend declared per common share

   $ 0.14     $ 0.14     $ 0.28     $ 0.28  

Book value per share, end of period

   $ 14.11     $ 12.09     $ 14.11     $ 12.09  

Annualized return on average equity (ROE)

     37.8     27.9     36.1     29.6

 

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UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

(in thousands, except Policies In-Force)

 

     Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
     June 30,     June 30,  
     2018     2017     2018     2017  

Premiums

        

Direct premiums written - Florida

   $ 295,337     $ 261,430     $ 529,515     $ 479,868  

Direct premiums written - Other States

     47,444       34,761       83,250       61,738  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Direct premiums written - Total

   $ 342,781     $ 296,191     $ 612,765     $ 541,606  

Net premiums written

   $ 3,530     $ (15,147   $ 273,514     $ 230,082  

Direct premiums earned

   $ 274,027     $ 244,623     $ 536,288     $ 480,998  

Net premiums earned

   $ 192,272     $ 169,009     $ 374,849     $ 330,568  

Underwriting Ratios - Net

        

Loss and loss adjustment expense ratio

     46.7     47.4     44.2     45.6

Policy acquisition cost ratio

     17.4     19.5     19.1     19.8

Other operating expense ratio

     13.0     14.4     13.6     14.7

General and administrative expense ratio

     30.5     33.9     32.7     34.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Combined ratio

     77.2     81.3     76.9     80.1

Other Items

        

(Favorable)/Unfavorable prior year reserve development

     2,310       1,109       2,266       1,205  

Points on the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio

     1.2     0.7     0.6     0.4

 

     As of  
     June 30,  
     2018      2017  

Policies In-Force

     

Florida

     631,611        596,044  

Other States

     169,106        125,729  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     800,717        721,773  

In-Force Premium

     

Florida

   $ 975,765      $ 888,206  

Other States

     153,862        112,815  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,129,627      $ 1,001,021  

Total Insured Value

     

Florida

   $ 152,391,202      $ 139,758,417  

Other States

     61,900,130        43,473,191  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 214,291,332      $ 183,231,608  

 

Contacts:

 

  
Investors    Media
Dean Evans    Andy Brimmer / Mahmoud Siddig
VP Investor Relations    Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
954-958-1306    212-355-4449
de0130@universalproperty.com   

 

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