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Yahoo Finance Plus The Hanover Reports Second Quarter Net Income and Operating Income of $0.63 and $2.32 per Diluted Share, Respectively; Combined Ratio of 96.2%; Combined Ratio, Excluding Catastrophes, of 90.2%
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- THG
Second Quarter Highlights
Net premiums written increase of 10.4%*, with strong growth from each segment
Rate increases(1) of 6.9% in Core Commercial, 8.0% in Specialty and 3.2% in Personal Lines
Renewal price change(1) of 11.0% in Core Commercial, 12.0% in Specialty and 5.4% in Personal Lines
Catastrophe losses of $77.4 million, or 6.0 points of the combined ratio, including favorable development on prior-year catastrophes
Current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ("LAE") ratio, excluding catastrophes(2), of 60.1%, included improved loss ratios within Specialty and Core Commercial, which were more than offset by the impact of higher property severity in Personal Lines
Net investment income of $70.5 million, below the prior-year quarter due to the elevated level of partnership income in the second quarter of 2021
Book value per share of $72.20, down 9.3% from March 31, 2022, primarily driven by a decrease in the fair value of fixed maturity investments due to the higher interest rate environment
WORCESTER, Mass., Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG) today reported net income of $22.6 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $128.5 million, or $3.52 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Operating income(3) was $83.9 million, or $2.32 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2022. This compared to operating income of $104.0 million, or $2.85 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. The difference between net and operating income in the second quarter of 2022 was primarily due to the after-tax decrease in the fair value of equity securities of $46.6 million, or $1.29 per fully diluted share, which is excluded from operating income.
"We are pleased to report another strong quarter – punctuated by an 11.1% operating return on equity(4) and operating earnings per share of $2.32, as well as double-digit premium growth," said John C. Roche, president and chief executive officer at The Hanover. "Year-to-date, we generated an operating ROE of 13.4% and a 24.0% increase in operating income per share to $5.58, reflecting our continued business momentum, and demonstrating our adeptness to navigate our business through the unprecedented complexities of the current economic environment.
"We remain focused on pricing and other levers to address the ongoing headwinds in Personal Lines, in particular in homeowners," said Roche. "At the same time, very strong performance and returns across our commercial businesses helped to largely offset these pressures, culminating in a consolidated ex-CAT combined ratio(5) of 90.2% in the second quarter. We are pleased with the impressive results within our Core Commercial and Specialty lines as they delivered improved profitability, significant renewal price increases of 11% and 12%, and net written premium growth of 7.7% and 14.0%, respectively. With the ongoing support of our robust agency relationships and talented team, we continue to have confidence in our ability to profitably grow our business and deliver superior returns to our valued shareholders."
"Our diversified book of business, proven insurance portfolio and analytical acumen are serving us exceptionally well in this dynamic environment, allowing us to produce consistent underwriting profit," said Jeffrey M. Farber, executive vice president and chief financial officer at The Hanover. "Additionally, our high-quality investment portfolio generated pre-tax net investment income of $70.5 million. Looking ahead, we expect the current rising interest rate environment to be a long-term positive as robust insurance cashflow and maturing assets are reinvested at higher yields.
"Given the continued elevated inflation and supply chain disruption, we are updating our full year outlook," said Farber. "We expect our ex-CAT combined ratio to be in the range of 90.5% to 91.5%, an increase of one point from our original 2022 outlook. The updated range incorporates our year-to-date performance and assumes no additional prior-year development. In addition, we expect pre-tax net investment income to be in the range of $280 to $285 million, up approximately 5% from our original expectations. While we anticipate some continuing near-term pressure within Personal Lines, we have full confidence in our ability to achieve our 14% long-term operating ROE target as we leverage our specialized capabilities and deliver substantial shareholder value."
Three months ended | Six months ended | |||||||
June 30 | June 30 | |||||||
($ in millions, except per share data) | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
Net premiums written | $1,332.8 | $1,207.2 | $2,645.1 | $2,403.3 | ||||
Growth | 10.4 % | 11.7 % | 10.1 % | 8.4 % | ||||
Net premiums earned | $1,293.8 | $1,179.8 | $2,557.6 | $2,341.6 | ||||
Current accident year loss and LAE ratio, excluding catastrophes(2) | 60.1 % | 57.8 % | 59.6 % | 57.1 % | ||||
Prior-year development ratio | (0.7) % | (1.1) % | (0.6) % | (0.9) % | ||||
Catastrophe ratio | 6.0 % | 6.5 % | 4.8 % | 9.0 % | ||||
Expense ratio | 30.8 % | 31.2 % | 31.0 % | 31.4 % | ||||
Combined ratio | 96.2 % | 94.4 % | 94.8 % | 96.6 % | ||||
Combined ratio, excluding catastrophes | 90.2 % | 87.9 % | 90.0 % | 87.6 % | ||||
Current accident year combined ratio, excluding catastrophes(5) | 90.9 % | 89.0 % | 90.6 % | 88.5 % | ||||
Net income | $22.6 | $128.5 | $127.4 | $221.2 | ||||
per diluted share | 0.63 | 3.52 | 3.52 | 6.03 | ||||
Operating income | 83.9 | 104.0 | 201.6 | 165.4 | ||||
per diluted share | 2.32 | 2.85 | 5.58 | 4.50 | ||||
Book value per share | $72.20 | $88.23 | $72.20 | $88.23 | ||||
Ending shares outstanding (in millions) | 35.6 | 35.8 | 35.6 | 35.8 | ||||
*Unless otherwise stated, net premiums written growth and other growth comparisons are to the same period of the prior year |
(1) See information about this and other non-GAAP measures and definitions used throughout this press release on the final pages of this document. |
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. may also be referred to as "The Hanover" or "the company" interchangeably throughout this press release. |
Second Quarter Operating Highlights
Core Commercial
Core Commercial operating income before taxes was $66.9 million in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $69.9 million in the second quarter of 2021. The Core Commercial combined ratio was 92.6%, compared to 91.9% in the prior-year quarter. Catastrophe losses in the second quarter of 2022 were $17.8 million, or 3.7 points of the combined ratio, which is net of $10.9 million of favorable prior-year catastrophe development. This compared to catastrophe losses of $13.8 million, or 3.1 points, in the prior-year quarter, which was net of $8.7 million of favorable prior-year catastrophe development.
Second quarter 2022 results included $2.8 million, or 0.6 points, of net favorable prior-year reserve development, excluding catastrophes, driven primarily by continued favorability in workers' compensation. This compared to net favorable prior-year reserve development of $4.6 million, or 1.0 point, in the second quarter of 2021.
Core Commercial current accident year combined ratio, excluding catastrophes, decreased 0.3 points to 89.5% in the second quarter of 2022, from 89.8% in the prior-year quarter. The current accident year loss and LAE ratio, excluding catastrophes, decreased by 0.6 points to 57.0%, primarily driven by the benefit of rate increases earning in.
Net premiums written were $454.2 million in the quarter, up 7.7% from the prior-year quarter, primarily driven by strong growth of 10.5% in small commercial. Core Commercial average rate increased 6.9% in the second quarter, while renewal price change averaged 11.0%.
The following table summarizes premiums and the components of the combined ratio for Core Commercial:
Three months ended | Six months ended | |||||||
June 30 | June 30 | |||||||
($ in millions) | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
Net premiums written | $454.2 | $421.7 | $980.8 | $902.3 | ||||
Growth | 7.7 % | 11.4 % | 8.7 % | 7.5 % | ||||
Net premiums earned | 480.1 | 447.6 | 954.8 | 882.8 | ||||
Operating income before taxes | 66.9 | 69.9 | 134.4 | 55.1 | ||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 60.1 % | 59.7 % | 60.2 % | 69.1 % | ||||
Expense ratio | 32.5 % | 32.2 % | 32.7 % | 32.6 % | ||||
Combined ratio | 92.6 % | 91.9 % | 92.9 % | 101.7 % | ||||
Prior-year development ratio | (0.6) % | (1.0) % | (1.0) % | (0.8) % | ||||
Catastrophe ratio | 3.7 % | 3.1 % | 3.9 % | 12.3 % | ||||
Combined ratio, excluding catastrophes | 88.9 % | 88.8 % | 89.0 % | 89.4 % | ||||
Combined ratio, excluding catastrophes and prior-year development | 89.5 % | 89.8 % | 90.0 % | 90.2 % | ||||
Specialty
Specialty operating income before taxes was $45.2 million in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $34.5 million in the second quarter of 2021. The Specialty combined ratio was 89.4%, compared to 92.3% in the prior-year quarter. Catastrophe losses in the second quarter of 2022 were $6.6 million, or 2.2 points of the combined ratio, which is net of $3.1 million of favorable prior-year catastrophe development. This compared to catastrophe losses of $4.4 million, or 1.7 points, in the prior-year quarter, which was net of $3.3 million of favorable prior-year catastrophe development.
Second quarter 2022 results included $1.2 million, or 0.4 points, of net favorable prior-year reserve development, excluding catastrophes. This compared to net favorable prior-year reserve development of $3.3 million, or 1.3 points, in the second quarter of 2021.
Specialty current accident year combined ratio, excluding catastrophes, decreased 4.3 points to 87.6% in the second quarter of 2022, from 91.9% in the prior-year quarter. The current accident year loss and LAE ratio, excluding catastrophes, decreased by 4.7 points to 52.3%, due to the benefit of rate increases earning in, as well as the impact of a large property loss in the prior-year second quarter.
Net premiums written were $302.3 million in the quarter, up 14.0% from the prior-year quarter, driven primarily by rate and exposure increases. Specialty average rate increased 8.0% in the second quarter, while renewal price change averaged 12.0%.
The following table summarizes premiums and the components of the combined ratio for Specialty:
Three months ended | Six months ended | |||||||
June 30 | June 30 | |||||||
($ in millions) | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
Net premiums written | $302.3 | $265.1 | $605.1 | $541.9 | ||||
Growth | 14.0 % | 12.2 % | 11.7 % | 12.1 % | ||||
Net premiums earned | 293.5 | 255.8 | 577.3 | 513.5 | ||||
Operating income before taxes | 45.2 | 34.5 | 95.2 | 51.5 | ||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 54.1 % | 57.4 % | 53.2 % | 60.2 % | ||||
Expense ratio | 35.3 % | 34.9 % | 35.4 % | 35.4 % | ||||
Combined ratio | 89.4 % | 92.3 % | 88.6 % | 95.6 % | ||||
Prior-year development ratio | (0.4) % | (1.3) % | (2.5) % | (0.8) % | ||||
Catastrophe ratio | 2.2 % | 1.7 % | 2.5 % | 5.6 % | ||||
Combined ratio, excluding catastrophes | 87.2 % | 90.6 % | 86.1 % | 90.0 % | ||||
Combined ratio, excluding catastrophes and prior-year development | 87.6 % | 91.9 % | 88.6 % | 90.8 % | ||||
Personal Lines
Personal Lines operating income before taxes was $2.8 million in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $32.2 million in the second quarter of 2021. The Personal Lines combined ratio was 103.2%, compared to 97.6% in the prior-year quarter. Catastrophe losses in the second quarter of 2022 were $53.0 million, or 10.2 points of the combined ratio, which includes $2.0 million of unfavorable prior-year catastrophe development. This compared to catastrophe losses of $58.6 million, or 12.3 points of the combined ratio, in the prior-year quarter, which was net of $3.0 million of favorable prior-year catastrophe development.
Second quarter 2022 results included net favorable prior-year reserve development, excluding catastrophes, of $5.2 million, or 1.0 point, driven by both auto and homeowners. This compared to net favorable prior-year reserve development of $5.0 million, or 1.0 point, in the second quarter of 2021, driven by auto.
Personal Lines current accident year combined ratio, excluding catastrophe losses, increased 7.7 points to 94.0% in the second quarter of 2022, from 86.3% in the prior-year quarter. The current accident year loss and LAE ratio, excluding catastrophes, increased 9.2 points to 67.3%. The loss ratio increase in auto was attributable to increased property severity, and higher frequency as compared to the unusually low level of claims experienced in the second quarter of 2021. Loss frequency in auto remains below pre-pandemic levels. The increase in the homeowners loss ratio was primarily due to higher than usual large loss activity, and, to a lesser extent, non-CAT weather and continued inflationary pressures on claims costs.
The expense ratio(6) decreased by 1.5 points to 26.7% in the second quarter of 2022, compared to the second quarter of 2021, primarily attributable to fixed cost leverage from premium growth and lower performance-based agency compensation.
Net premiums written were $576.3 million in the quarter, up 10.7% from the prior-year quarter, driven by strong retention. Personal Lines renewal price change averaged 5.4% in the second quarter of 2022, while average rate increases were 3.2%.
The following table summarizes premiums and components of the combined ratio for Personal Lines:
Three months ended | Six months ended | |||||||
June 30 | June 30 | |||||||
($ in millions) | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
Net premiums written | $576.3 | $520.4 | $1,059.2 | $959.1 | ||||
Growth | 10.7 % | 11.6 % | 10.4 % | 7.1 % | ||||
Net premiums earned | 520.2 | 476.4 | 1,025.5 | 945.3 | ||||
Operating income before taxes | 2.8 | 32.2 | 39.1 | 114.0 | ||||
Loss and LAE ratio | 76.5 % | 69.4 % | 73.3 % | 64.2 % | ||||
Expense ratio | 26.7 % | 28.2 % | 26.9 % | 28.1 % | ||||
Combined ratio | 103.2 % | 97.6 % | 100.2 % | 92.3 % | ||||
Prior-year development ratio | (1.0) % | (1.0) % | 0.8 % | (1.1) % | ||||
Catastrophe ratio | 10.2 % | 12.3 % | 6.9 % | 7.7 % | ||||
Combined ratio, excluding catastrophes | 93.0 % | 85.3 % | 93.3 % | 84.6 % | ||||
Combined ratio, excluding catastrophes and prior-year development | 94.0 % | 86.3 % | 92.5 % | 85.7 % | ||||
Investments
Net investment income was $70.5 million for the second quarter of 2022, below the prior-year quarter of $75.6 million, primarily due to elevated partnership income in the prior-year quarter, partially offset by the continued investment of operational cashflow. Total pre-tax earned yield on the investment portfolio for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, was 3.19%, down from 3.65% in the prior-year quarter. The average pre-tax earned yield on fixed maturities was 2.97% and 3.02% for the quarters ended June 30, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
Net realized and unrealized investment losses recognized in earnings were $77.9 million in the second quarter of 2022, primarily driven by the change in fair value of equity securities. This compared to net realized and unrealized investment gains recognized in earnings of $31.1 million in the second quarter of 2021.
The company held $8.6 billion in cash and invested assets on June 30, 2022. Fixed maturities and cash represented approximately 86% of the investment portfolio. Approximately 95% of the company's fixed maturity portfolio is rated investment grade. Net unrealized losses on the fixed maturity portfolio as of June 30, 2022, were $587.0 million before taxes, a decrease in fair value of $324.4 million since March 31, 2022, primarily due to higher interest rates.
Shareholders' Equity and Capital Actions
On June 30, 2022, book value per share was $72.20, down 9.3% from March 31, 2022, primarily driven by a decrease in the fair value of fixed maturity investments. Book value per share, excluding net unrealized depreciation on fixed maturity investments(7), net of tax, remained flat compared to March 31, 2022, and increased 2.1% from December 31, 2021.
During the quarter, the company repurchased approximately 27,000 shares of common stock in the open market for $4.1 million. The company has approximately $341 million of remaining capacity under its existing share repurchase program.
Earnings Conference Call
The company will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter results on Wednesday, August 3, at 10:00 a.m. E.T. A PowerPoint slide presentation will accompany the prepared remarks and has been posted on The Hanover's website. Interested investors and others can listen to the call and access the presentation through The Hanover's website, located in the "Investors" section at www.hanover.com. Investors may access the conference call by dialing 1-844-413-3975 in the U.S. and 1-412-317-5458 internationally. Webcast participants should go to the website 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A re-broadcast of the conference call will be available on The Hanover's website approximately two hours after the call.
About The Hanover
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for several property and casualty insurance companies, which together constitute one of the largest insurance businesses in the United States. The company provides exceptional insurance solutions through a select group of independent agents and brokers. Together with its agent partners, the company offers standard and specialized insurance protection for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as for homes, automobiles, and other personal items. For more information, please visit hanover.com.
Contact Information
Investors: | Media: | ||||||
Oksana Lukasheva | Michael F. Buckley | Emily P. Trevallion | |||||
Email: olukasheva@hanover.com | Email: mibuckley@hanover.com | Email: etrevallion@hanover.com | |||||
1-508-525-6081 | 1-508-855-3099 | 1-508-855-3263 | |||||
Definition of Reported Segments
Continuing operations include four operating segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines and Other. The Core Commercial segment includes commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers' compensation and other commercial lines coverages provided to small and mid-sized businesses. The Specialty segment includes four divisions of business: professional and executive lines, specialty P&C, marine, and surety and other. Specialty P&C includes coverages such as program business (provides commercial insurance to markets with specialized coverage or risk management needs related to groups of similar businesses), specialty industrial and commercial property, and excess and surplus lines. The Personal Lines segment markets automobile, homeowners and ancillary coverages to individuals and families. The "Other" segment includes Opus Investment Management, Inc., which provides investment management services to institutions, pension funds and other organizations, the operations of the holding company, as well as a block of run-off voluntary property and casualty pools business in which the company has not actively participated since 1995.
Financial Supplement
The Hanover's second quarter news release and financial supplement are available in the "Investors" section of the company's website at hanover.com.
Condensed Financial Statements and Reconciliations
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. |
