State Auto Financial (NASDAQ:STFC)
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State Auto Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:STFC)
-- Third quarter earnings of $0.41
-- Quarterly GAAP combined ratio of 100.2
-- Catastrophes accounted for 16.0 points of quarterly combined
ratio
-- Return on Equity rises to 19.9%
State Auto Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:STFC) today reported
third quarter net income of $16.8 million, or $0.41 per diluted share,
versus $5.0 million or $0.12 per diluted share for the same period in
2004. Net income from operations(a) per diluted share for the third
quarter of 2005 was $0.34 versus $0.12 for the same period in 2004.
STFC's GAAP combined ratio for the third quarter of 2005 was
100.2, versus 105.1 for the third quarter of 2004. Catastrophe losses
amounted to $42.1 million or 16.0 points of the loss ratio during the
third quarter of 2005 compared to a reported $57.6 million or 22.7
points for the same period in 2004. STFC's third quarter 2005 revenue
was $288.5 million, up from $273.2 million for the same period in
2004.
Revenue for the first nine months of 2005 was $858.6 million, up
4.8% from $819.4 million for the same 2004 period. For the first nine
months of 2005, net income was $96.4 million, or $2.35 per diluted
share, compared to $72.0 million or $1.77 per diluted share for the
same 2004 period, an increase of 32.8%. The GAAP combined ratio for
the first nine months of 2005 was 90.0, as compared to 93.9 for the
same period in 2004. STFC shareholders' book value per share increased
18.2%, from the third quarter of 2004, to $18.20 per share as of
September 30, 2005.
"As we reported a couple of weeks ago, our third quarter results
were negatively impacted by a series of catastrophic storms that
affected several regions throughout our operating territory. Included
were losses from five hurricanes, Cindy, Dennis, Katrina, Ophelia and
Rita and from two significant Midwest hail storms. These storms,
combined with others occurring during the quarter, caused losses
currently estimated to total $42.1 million," said STFC Chairman and
CEO Bob Moone.
"While third quarter weather-related catastrophe losses are a
normal occurrence, over the past two years storm frequency and
severity have been trending higher. Over the past nine years our book
has averaged approximately 8.0 loss ratio points from catastrophes
during the third quarter of the year. As testimony to the intensity of
2004 and 2005 storms, the Company incurred 22.7 and 16.0 loss ratio
points respectively, with no changes to our underwriting strategies.
"The bottom line results for the quarter attest to the fact that
our core book of business continues to perform very well. Given the
outstanding results posted in the first two quarters of the year and
the historically less catastrophe prone fourth quarter ahead, we
believe that 2005 will be a strong year in terms of earnings and
building value for shareholders of STFC," added Moone.
State Auto Financial Corporation, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio,
is a regional property and casualty insurance holding company engaged
primarily in writing both personal and commercial lines of insurance.
The company markets its products through nearly 22,000 independent
insurance agents associated with more than 3,100 agencies in 26
central and eastern states, excluding New York, New Jersey and the New
England states. The company is included in the 2005 Forbes Magazine's
Platinum 400 list of the best-managed companies in America and is one
of only 314 publicly traded companies to earn the Mergent Award for
having increased its dividends for ten or more years in succession.
The State Auto Insurance Companies are rated A+ (Superior) by the A.M.
Best Company. Additional information on the company can be found on
its web page at www.STFC.com.
(a) Net income from operations, a non-GAAP financial measure which
management believes is informative to Company management and
investors, differ from GAAP net earnings only by the exclusion of
realized capital gains or losses, net of applicable taxes, on
investment activity for the periods being reported. For STFC, this
amounts to $0.07 for the third quarter and $0.11 for 2005 year to date
compared to $0.00 and $0.11 for the same periods in 2004.
STFC has scheduled a conference call with interested investors for
Tuesday, October 25, 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the company's
third quarter 2005 performance. Live and archived broadcasts of the
call can be accessed via links on www.STFC.com. A replay of the call
can be heard beginning at noon October 25, by calling 1-800-283-4984.
Supplemental schedules detailing the company's third quarter 2005
financial, sales and underwriting results are made available on
www.STFC.com prior to the conference call.
Except for historical information, all other information in this
news release consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected,
anticipated or implied. The most significant of these uncertainties
are described in State Auto Financial's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q
reports and exhibits to those reports, and include (but are not
limited to) legislative changes at both the state and federal level,
state and federal regulatory rule making promulgations and
adjudications, class action litigation involving the insurance
industry and judicial decisions affecting claims, policy coverages and
the general costs of doing business, the impact of competition on
products and pricing, inflation in the costs of the products and
services insurance pays for, product development, geographic spread of
risk, weather-related events, and other types of catastrophic events.
State Auto Financial undertakes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements.
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*T
STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
($ millions, except per share September 30 September 30
amounts) 2005 2004 2005 2004
--------- -------- ------- -------
Net premiums written $268.5 $262.9 $824.7(B) $778.3
--------- -------- ------- -------
Earned premiums 262.9 253.6 789.7 754.7
Net investment income 20.1 18.0 58.4 53.3
Net realized gain on investments 4.4 0.2 6.8 6.9
Other income 1.1 1.4 3.7 4.5
--------- -------- ------- -------
Total revenue 288.5 273.2 858.6 819.4
--------- -------- ------- -------
Income before federal income taxes 20.2 2.6 132.4 97.8
Federal income tax expense 3.4 (2.4) 36.0 25.8
--------- -------- ------- -------
Net income $16.8 $5.0 $96.4 $72.0
========= ======== ======= =======
Earnings per share:
- basic $0.41 $0.12 $2.39 $1.81
- diluted $0.41 $0.12 $2.35 $1.77
Earnings per share from
operations (A):
- basic $0.34 $0.12 $2.28 $1.70
- diluted $0.34 $0.12 $2.24 $1.66
Weighted average shares outstanding:
- basic 40.4 40.0 40.3 39.8
- diluted 41.2 40.9 41.0 40.7
Book value per share $18.20 $15.40
Dividends paid per share $0.090 $0.045 $0.180 $0.125
Total shares outstanding 40.4 40.0
GAAP ratios:
Loss and LAE ratio 69.3 74.7 58.5 64.0
Expense ratio 30.9 30.4 31.5 29.9
--------- -------- ------- -------
Combined ratio 100.2 105.1 90.0 93.9
========= ======== ======= =======
(A) Net income from operations:
Net income $16.8 $5.0 $96.4 $72.0
Less net realized gains on
investments, less applicable
federal income taxes 2.9 0.1 4.4 4.5
--------- -------- ------- -------
Net income from operations $13.9 $4.9 $92.0 $67.5
========= ======== ======= =======
(B) Net premiums written for the nine months ended September 30, 2005,
includes $23.9 million of unearned premiums transferred to STFC in
connection with the addition of Meridian Security Insurance Company
and Meridian Citizens Mutual Insurance Company to the State Auto Pool,
effective January 1, 2005.
*T