Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. Reports 2020 Third Quarter Results

In this article:

RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: KNSL) reported net income of $14.9 million, $0.65 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2020 compared to $13.0 million, $0.58 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2019. Net income included after-tax catastrophe losses of $13.2 million in the third quarter of 2020 and $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2019. Net income was $50.2 million, $2.21 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2020 compared to $45.5 million, $2.07 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2019. After-tax catastrophe losses were $13.5 million for the first nine months of 2020 and $1.2 million for the first nine months of 2019.

Net operating earnings(1) were $9.6 million, $0.42 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2020 compared to $12.6 million, $0.57 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2019. Net operating earnings(1) were $46.0 million, $2.02 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2020 compared to $38.9 million, $1.77 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2019.

Highlights for the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 included:

  • Net income increased by 14.8% compared to the third quarter of 2019, which was largely due to growth in the business and higher returns on investments, offset in part by higher catastrophe losses

  • Net operating earnings(1) of $9.6 million decreased by 23.9% compared to the third quarter of 2019 and was negatively impacted by catastrophe losses

  • 47.8% growth in gross written premiums to $144.8 million compared to the third quarter of 2019

  • 33.1% increase in net investment income to $7.0 million compared to the third quarter of 2019

  • Underwriting income(2) of $2.9 million in the third quarter of 2020, resulting in a combined ratio of 97.3%

  • 13.0% annualized operating return on equity(1) for the nine months ended September 30, 2020

(1) Net operating earnings and annualized operating return on equity are non-GAAP financial measures. See discussion of "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

“Our third quarter results again reflected strong premium growth of 48% as E&S market conditions remain favorable. Our underlying business continues to generate positive results for the quarter over last year and we achieved a combined ratio of just over 97%, which included 15.4 points of incurred losses from catastrophe events. Looking forward, we believe we are well positioned to take advantage of the E&S market trajectory as a result of our disciplined underwriting model and our equity raise in August of this year,” said President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael P. Kehoe.

Results of Operations

Underwriting Results

Gross written premiums were $144.8 million for the third quarter of 2020 compared to $98.0 million for the third quarter of 2019, an increase of 47.8%. Gross written premiums were $402.9 million for the first nine months of 2020 compared to $277.6 million for the first nine months of 2019, an increase of 45.2%. Growth in gross written premiums during the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 over the same periods last year was driven by higher submission activity and rates on bound accounts.

Underwriting income(2) was $2.9 million, resulting in a combined ratio of 97.3%, for the third quarter of 2020, compared to $9.5 million and a combined ratio of 86.9% for the same period last year. The decrease in underwriting income(2) in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019, was largely due to higher catastrophe losses incurred, offset in part by premium growth and higher net favorable development of loss reserves in prior accident years. Loss and expense ratios were 76.1% and 21.2%, respectively, for the third quarter of 2020 compared to 61.7% and 25.2% for the third quarter of 2019. The loss ratio for the third quarter of 2020 included 15.4 points of net incurred losses related to catastrophes compared to 1.2 points for the third quarter of 2019. Results for the third quarters of 2020 and 2019 included favorable development of loss reserves in prior accident years of $3.0 million, or 2.8 points, and $0.5 million, or 0.7 points, respectively.

Underwriting income(2) was $33.0 million, resulting in a combined ratio of 88.8%, for the first nine months of 2020, compared to $31.7 million and a combined ratio of 84.2% for the same period last year. The increase in underwriting income(2) for the first nine months of 2020 was due primarily to premium growth period over period, offset in part by higher catastrophe losses incurred. Loss and expense ratios were 65.9% and 22.9%, respectively, for the first nine months of 2020 compared to 59.0% and 25.2% for the first nine months of 2019. The loss ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 included 5.8 points of net incurred losses related to catastrophes compared to 0.8 points for the same period last year. Results for the first nine months of 2020 and 2019 included favorable development on loss reserves from prior accident years of $9.6 million, or 3.3 points, and $8.4 million, or 4.2 points, respectively.

Summary of Operating Results

The Company’s operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 are summarized as follows:

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2020

2019

2020

2019

($ in thousands)

Gross written premiums

$

144,777

$

97,984

$

402,904

$

277,557

Ceded written premiums

(22,529

)

(11,232

)

(54,996

)

(35,051

)

Net written premiums

$

122,248

$

86,752

$

347,908

$

242,506

Net earned premiums

$

108,244

$

72,621

$

294,962

$

200,199

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

82,431

44,810

194,468

118,121

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses

22,927

18,324

67,471

50,377

Underwriting income(2)

$

2,886

$

9,487

$

33,023

$

31,701

Loss ratio

76.1

%

61.7

%

65.9

%

59.0

%

Expense ratio

21.2

%

25.2

%

22.9

%

25.2

%

Combined ratio

97.3

%

86.9

%

88.8

%

84.2

%

Annualized return on equity(3)

12.0

%

14.9

%

14.3

%

18.5

%

Annualized operating return on equity(4)

7.8

%

14.5

%

13.0

%

15.9

%

(2) Underwriting income is a non-GAAP financial measure. See discussion of "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

(3) Annualized return on equity is net income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average stockholders’ equity during the period.

(4) Annualized operating return on equity is net operating earnings expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average stockholders’ equity during the period. See discussion of "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

The following tables summarize losses incurred for the current accident year and the development of prior accident years for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:

Three Months Ended
September 30, 2020

Three Months Ended
September 30, 2019

Losses and
Loss
Adjustment
Expenses

% of Earned
Premiums

Losses and
Loss
Adjustment
Expenses

% of Earned
Premiums

Loss ratio:

($ in thousands)

Current accident year

$

68,764

63.5

%

$

44,459

61.2

%

Current accident year - catastrophe losses

16,670

15.4

%

885

1.2

%

Effect of prior accident year development

(3,003

)

(2.8

)

%

(534

)

(0.7

)

%

Total

$

82,431

76.1

%

$

44,810

61.7

%


Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2020

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2019

Losses and
Loss
Adjustment
Expenses

% of Earned
Premiums

Losses and
Loss
Adjustment
Expenses

% of Earned
Premiums

Loss ratio:

($ in thousands)

Current accident year

$

186,965

63.4

%

$

124,917

62.4

%

Current accident year - catastrophe losses

17,131

5.8

%

1,554

0.8

%

Effect of prior accident year development

(9,628

)

(3.3

)

%

(8,350

)

(4.2

)

%

Total

$

194,468

65.9

%

$

118,121

59.0

%

Investment Results

The Company’s net investment income was $7.0 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to $5.3 million in the third quarter of 2019, an increase of 33.1%. The Company’s net investment income was $19.6 million in the first nine months of 2020 compared to $14.6 million in the first nine months of 2019, an increase of 34.5%. This increase was primarily due to growth in our investment portfolio balance generated from the investment of excess operating funds since September 30, 2019 and from proceeds from our equity offerings. The Company’s investment portfolio, excluding cash and cash equivalents, had an annualized gross investment return(5) of 3.0% for both the first nine months of 2020 and 2019. Funds are generally invested conservatively in high quality securities, including government agency, asset- and mortgage-backed securities, and municipal and corporate bonds with an average credit quality of "AA-." The weighted average duration of the fixed-maturity investment portfolio, including cash equivalents, was 4.7 years at September 30, 2020 and 4.3 years at December 31, 2019. Cash and invested assets totaled $1.2 billion at September 30, 2020 compared to $908.2 million at December 31, 2019.

(5) Gross investment return is investment income from fixed-maturity and equity securities, before any deductions for fees and expenses, expressed as a percentage of average beginning and ending balances of those investments during the period.

Other

Total comprehensive income, which includes the change in after-tax unrealized gains and losses from the Company’s available-for-sale investments, was $21.4 million for the third quarter of 2020 compared to $16.2 million for the third quarter of 2019. Total comprehensive income was $74.6 million for the first nine months of 2020 compared to $62.0 million for the first nine months of 2019. The increase in total comprehensive income for both the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 over the prior year periods was due to higher net income as well as an increase in the fair values of the Company's fixed-maturity investments.

The effective tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were 12.8% and 16.6%, respectively. In the first nine months of 2020 and 2019, the effective tax rate was lower than the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the tax benefits from stock-based compensation and tax-exempt investment income.

On August 7, 2020, the Company completed an underwritten public offering and sold and issued 310,500 shares of its common stock at a price of $190 per share. After deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, the Company received net proceeds from the offering of $56.7 million, which will be used for general corporate purposes, including to fund organic growth.

Stockholders' equity was $534.1 million at September 30, 2020, compared to $405.9 million at December 31, 2019. Annualized operating return on equity(4) was 13.0% for the first nine months of 2020, a decrease from 15.9% for the first nine months of 2019, which was attributable primarily to the proceeds received from the Company's equity offering in the third quarter of 2020 and catastrophe losses incurred during the period.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Net Operating Earnings

Net operating earnings is defined as net income excluding the effects of the net change in the fair value of equity securities, after taxes, and net realized gains and losses on investments, after taxes. Management believes the exclusion of these items provides a more useful comparison of the Company's underlying business performance from period to period. Net operating earnings and percentages or calculations using net operating earnings (e.g., diluted operating earnings per share and annualized operating return on equity) are non-GAAP financial measures. Net operating earnings should not be viewed as a substitute for net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, and other companies may define net operating earnings differently.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, net income and diluted earnings per share reconcile to net operating earnings and diluted operating earnings per share as follows:

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2020

2019

2020

2019

($ in thousands, except per share data)

Net operating earnings:

Net income

$

14,890

$

12,976

$

50,238

$

45,463

Change in the fair value of equity securities, after taxes

(4,764

)

(194

)

(2,930

)

(6,359

)

Net realized gains on investments, after taxes

(511

)

(146

)

(1,324

)

(182

)

Net operating earnings

$

9,615

$

12,636

$

45,984

$

38,922

Diluted operating earnings per share:

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.65

$

0.58

$

2.21

$

2.07

Change in the fair value of equity securities, after taxes, per share

(0.21

)

(0.01

)

(0.13

)

(0.29

)

Net realized gains on investments, after taxes, per share

(0.02

)

(0.06

)

(0.01

)

Diluted operating earnings per share(1)

$

0.42

$

0.57

$

2.02

$

1.77

Operating return on equity:

Average stockholders' equity(2)

$

495,123

$

348,972

$

470,006

$

327,011

Annualized return on equity(3)

12.0

%

14.9

%

14.3

%

18.5

%

Annualized operating return on equity(4)

7.8

%

14.5

%

13.0

%

15.9

%

(1) Diluted operating earnings per share may not add due to rounding.

(2) Computed by adding the total stockholders' equity as of the date indicated to the prior quarter-end or year-end total, as applicable, and dividing by two.

(3) Annualized return on equity is net income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average stockholders’ equity during the period.

(4) Annualized operating return on equity is net operating earnings expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average stockholders’ equity during the period.

Underwriting Income

Underwriting income is defined as net income excluding net investment income, the net change in the fair value of equity securities, net realized gains and losses on investments, other income, other expenses and income tax expense. The Company uses underwriting income as an internal performance measure in the management of its operations because the Company believes it gives management and users of the Company's financial information useful insight into the Company's results of operations and underlying business performance. Underwriting income should not be viewed as a substitute for net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, and other companies may define underwriting income differently.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, net income reconciles to underwriting income as follows:

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2020

2019

2020

2019

(in thousands)

Net income

$

14,890

$

12,976

$

50,238

$

45,463

Income tax expense

1,231

2,217

7,355

9,066

Income before income taxes

16,121

15,193

57,593

54,529

Other expenses

1,022

1,022

57

Net investment income

(7,008

)

(5,265

)

(19,613

)

(14,586

)

Change in the fair value of equity securities

(6,031

)

(246

)

(3,709

)

(8,050

)

Net realized investment gains

(647

)

(185

)

(1,676

)

(230

)

Other income

(571

)

(10

)

(594

)

(19

)

Underwriting income

$

2,886

$

9,487

$

33,023

$

31,701

Conference Call

Kinsale Capital Group will hold a conference call to discuss this press release on Friday, October 30, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). Members of the public may access the conference call by dialing (844) 239-5282, conference ID# 3956358, or via the Internet by going to www.kinsalecapitalgroup.com and clicking on the "Investor Relations" link. A replay of the call will be available on the website until the close of business on December 30, 2020.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, such forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as "believe," "expect," "seek," "may," "will," "intend," "project," "plan," "estimate" or similar words. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Although it is not possible to identify all of these risks and factors, they include, among others, the following: inadequate loss reserves to cover the Company's actual losses; inherent uncertainty of models resulting in actual losses that are materially different than the Company's estimates; adverse economic factors; a decline in the Company's financial strength rating; loss of one or more key executives; loss of a group of brokers that generate significant portions of the Company's business; failure of any of the loss limitations or exclusions the Company employs, or change in other claims or coverage issues; adverse performance of the Company's investment portfolio; adverse market conditions that affect its excess and surplus lines insurance operations; and other risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.

About Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. is a specialty insurance group headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, focusing on the excess and surplus lines market.

Contact

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.
Bryan Petrucelli
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
804-289-1272
ir@kinsalecapitalgroup.com


KINSALE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2020

2019

2020

2019

Revenues

(in thousands, except per share data)

Gross written premiums

$

144,777

$

97,984

$

402,904

$

277,557

Ceded written premiums

(22,529

)

(11,232

)

(54,996

)

(35,051

)

Net written premiums

122,248

86,752

347,908

242,506

Change in unearned premiums

(14,004

)

(14,131

)

(52,946

)

(42,307

)

Net earned premiums

108,244

72,621

294,962

200,199

Net investment income

7,008

5,265

19,613

14,586

Change in the fair value of equity securities

6,031

246

3,709

8,050

Net realized investment gains

647

185

1,676

230

Other income

571

10

594

19

Total revenues

122,501

78,327

320,554

223,084

Expenses

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

82,431

44,810

194,468

118,121

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses

22,927

18,324

67,471

50,377

Other expenses

1,022

1,022

57

Total expenses

106,380

63,134

262,961

168,555

Income before income taxes

16,121

15,193

57,593

54,529

Total income tax expense

1,231

2,217

7,355

9,066

Net income

14,890

12,976

50,238

45,463

Other comprehensive income

Change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments, net of taxes

6,554

3,242

24,339

16,577

Total comprehensive income

$

21,444

$

16,218

$

74,577

$

62,040

Earnings per share:

Basic

$

0.66

$

0.60

$

2.26

$

2.13

Diluted

$

0.65

$

0.58

$

2.21

$

2.07

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

Basic

22,398

21,660

22,220

21,348

Diluted

22,928

22,277

22,775

21,965


KINSALE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

September 30, 2020

December 31, 2019

Assets

(in thousands)

Investments:

Fixed-maturity securities at fair value

$

1,024,889

$

729,532

Equity securities at fair value

116,011

78,294

Total investments

1,140,900

807,826

Cash and cash equivalents

78,696

100,408

Investment income due and accrued

6,245

4,743

Premiums receivable, net

47,646

34,483

Reinsurance recoverable

88,305

72,574

Ceded unearned premiums

22,870

16,118

Deferred policy acquisition costs, net of ceding commissions

30,293

23,564

Intangible assets

3,538

3,538

Deferred income tax asset, net

3,374

Other assets

50,096

23,922

Total assets

$

1,468,589

$

1,090,550

Liabilities & Stockholders' Equity

Liabilities:

Reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses

$

603,200

$

460,058

Unearned premiums

247,075

187,374

Payable to reinsurers

11,636

7,151

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

10,400

12,366

Credit facility

40,138

16,744

Deferred income tax liability, net

1,248

Other liabilities

20,761

977

Total liabilities

934,458

684,670

Stockholders' equity

534,131

405,880

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

1,468,589

$

1,090,550


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