Kinsale Capital Group Reports First Quarter 2023 Results

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (NYSE: KNSL) reported net income of $55.8 million, $2.40 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2023 compared to $31.8 million, $1.38 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2022. Net operating earnings(1) were $56.8 million, $2.44 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2023 compared to $37.7 million, $1.63 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2022.

Highlights for the quarter included:

• Net income increased by 75.5% compared to the first quarter of 2022
• Net operating earnings(1) of $56.8 million increased by 50.6% compared to the first quarter of 2022
• Gross written premiums increased by 45.6% to $357.6 million compared to the first quarter of 2022
• Net investment income increased by 127.7% to $20.7 million compared to the first quarter of 2022
• Underwriting income(2) was $51.6 million in the first quarter of 2023, resulting in a combined ratio of 78.2%
• Annualized operating return on equity(5) was 29.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2023

"Our first quarter results demonstrate continued execution of our business model. We delivered gross written premium growth of 46%, a combined ratio of 78% and annualized operating return on equity of 29%. These results reflect the combination of disciplined underwriting, technology-enabled cost advantages and favorable E&S market conditions. We remain confident in our ability to create further shareholder value over the long term,” said President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael P. Kehoe.

Results of Operations

Underwriting Results

Gross written premiums were $357.6 million for the first quarter of 2023 compared to $245.5 million for the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 45.6%. The increase in gross written premiums during the first quarter of 2023 over the same period last year reflected strong submission flow from brokers and a favorable pricing environment.

Underwriting income(2) was $51.6 million, resulting in a combined ratio of 78.2%, for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $37.5 million and a combined ratio of 79.0% for the first quarter of 2022. The increase in underwriting income(2) was due to a combination of premium growth, favorable loss experience, lower net commissions and scale. Loss and expense ratios were 58.6% and 19.6%, respectively, for the first quarter of 2023 compared to 57.4% and 21.6% for the first quarter of 2022. Results for the first quarter of 2023 and 2022 included net favorable development of loss reserves from prior accident years of $9.0 million, or 3.8 points, and $8.3 million, or 4.7 points, respectively.

Summary of Operating Results

The Company’s operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 are summarized as follows:

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

2023

 

2022

 

($ in thousands)

Gross written premiums

$

357,588

 

 

$

245,513

 

Ceded written premiums

 

(58,558

)

 

 

(29,015

)

Net written premiums

$

299,030

 

 

$

216,498

 

 

 

 

 

Net earned premiums

$

237,158

 

 

$

178,562

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

139,034

 

 

 

102,505

 

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses

 

46,545

 

 

 

38,545

 

Underwriting income(2)

$

51,579

 

 

$

37,512

 

 

 

 

 

Loss ratio

 

58.6

%

 

 

57.4

%

Expense ratio

 

19.6

%

 

 

21.6

%

Combined ratio(3)

 

78.2

%

 

 

79.0

%

 

 

 

 

Annualized return on equity(4)

 

28.6

%

 

 

18.6

%

Annualized operating return on equity(5)

 

29.1

%

 

 

22.1

%

(1)

 

Net operating earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure. See discussion of "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

(2)

 

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

(3)

 

The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and expense ratio as presented. Calculations of each component may not add due to rounding.

(4)

 

Annualized return on equity is net income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders’ equity during the period.

(5)

 

Annualized operating return on equity is net operating earnings expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders’ equity during the period.

The following table summarizes losses incurred for the current accident year and the development of prior accident years for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:

 

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2023

 

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2022

 

Losses and

Loss

Adjustment

Expenses

 

% of Earned

Premiums

 

Losses and

Loss

Adjustment

Expenses

 

% of Earned

Premiums

Loss ratio:

($ in thousands)

Current accident year

$

146,503

 

 

61.8

%

 

$

110,789

 

 

62.1

%

Current accident year - catastrophe losses

 

1,574

 

 

0.6

%

 

 

62

 

 

—

%

Effect of prior accident year development

 

(9,043

)

 

(3.8

)%

 

 

(8,346

)

 

(4.7

)%

Total

$

139,034

 

 

58.6

%

 

$

102,505

 

 

57.4

%

Investment Results

Net investment income was $20.7 million in the first three months of 2023 compared to $9.1 million in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 127.7%. This increase was driven by growth in the Company's investment portfolio generated largely from the investment of strong operating cash flows and higher interest rates relative to the prior year period. Net operating cash flows were $197.6 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared to $121.9 million in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 62.1%. The Company’s investment portfolio had an annualized gross investment return(6) of 3.7% for the first quarter of 2023 compared to 2.5% for the same period last year. Funds are generally invested conservatively in high quality securities with an average credit quality of "AA-" and the weighted average duration of the fixed-maturity investment portfolio, including cash equivalents, was 3.4 years and 3.5 years at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Cash and invested assets totaled $2.4 billion at March 31, 2023 and $2.2 billion at December 31, 2022.

(6)

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

Other

The effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were 18.4% and 18.2%, respectively. In both the first quarters of 2023 and 2022, the effective tax rates were lower than the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the tax benefits from stock-based compensation and tax-exempt investment income.

Stockholders' equity was $815.7 million at March 31, 2023 compared to $745.4 million at December 31, 2022. Book value per share was $35.23 at March 31, 2023 compared to $32.28 at December 31, 2022. Annualized operating return on equity(5) was 29.1% for the first quarter of 2023, an increase from 22.1% for the first quarter of 2022, which was primarily due to continued profitable growth in the business from favorable E&S market conditions and rate increases.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Net Operating Earnings

Net operating earnings is defined as net income excluding the effects of the change in the fair value of equity securities, after taxes, net realized investment gains and losses, after taxes, and change in allowance for credit losses on investments, after taxes. Management believes the exclusion of these items provides a 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 months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, net income and diluted earnings per share reconcile to net operating earnings and diluted operating earnings per share as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

2023

 

2022

 

 

($ in thousands, except per share data)

Net operating earnings:

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

55,800

 

 

$

31,791

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

Change in the fair value of equity securities, before taxes

 

 

(3,518

)

 

 

7,751

 

Income tax expense (benefit) (1)

 

 

739

 

 

 

(1,628

)

Change in fair value of equity securities, after taxes

 

 

(2,779

)

 

 

6,123

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized investment losses (gains), before taxes

 

 

4,652

 

 

 

(295

)

Income tax (benefit) expense (1)

 

 

(977

)

 

 

62

 

Net realized investment losses (gains), after taxes

 

 

3,675

 

 

 

(233

)

 

 

 

 

 

Change in allowance for credit losses on investments, before taxes

 

 

81

 

 

 

—

 

Income tax benefit (1)

 

 

(17

)

 

 

—

 

Change in allowance for credit losses on investments, after taxes

 

 

64

 

 

 

—

 

Net operating earnings

 

$

56,760

 

 

$

37,681

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted operating earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

2.40

 

 

$

1.38

 

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

 

 

(0.12

)

 

 

0.27

 

Net realized investment losses (gains), after taxes, per share

 

 

0.16

 

 

 

(0.01

)

Diluted operating earnings per share(2)

 

$

2.44

 

 

$

1.63

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating return on equity:

 

 

 

 

Average equity(3)

 

$

780,590

 

 

$

682,453

 

Annualized return on equity(4)

 

 

28.6

%

 

 

18.6

%

Annualized operating return on equity(5)

 

 

29.1

%

 

 

22.1

%

(1)

 

Income taxes on adjustments to reconcile net income to net operating earnings use a 21% effective tax rate.

(2)

 

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

(3)

 

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.

(4)

 

Annualized return on equity is net income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders’ equity during the period.

(5)

 

Annualized operating return on equity is net operating earnings expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders’ equity during the period.

Underwriting Income

Underwriting income is defined as net income excluding net investment income, the change in the fair value of equity securities, net realized investment gains and losses, change in allowance for credit losses on investments, interest expense, other expenses, other income 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 months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, net income reconciles to underwriting income as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

2023

 

2022

 

 

(in thousands)

Net income

 

$

55,800

 

 

$

31,791

 

Income tax expense

 

 

12,593

 

 

 

7,081

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

68,393

 

 

 

38,872

 

Net investment income

 

 

(20,695

)

 

 

(9,088

)

Change in the fair value of equity securities

 

 

(3,518

)

 

 

7,751

 

Net realized investment losses (gains)

 

 

4,652

 

 

 

(295

)

Change in allowance for credit losses on investments

 

 

81

 

 

 

—

 

Interest expense

 

 

2,570

 

 

 

253

 

Other expenses (6)

 

 

402

 

 

 

143

 

Other income

 

 

(306

)

 

 

(124

)

Underwriting income

 

$

51,579

 

 

$

37,512

 

(6)

Other expenses are comprised of corporate expenses not allocated to the Company's insurance operations.

Conference Call

Kinsale Capital Group will hold a conference call to discuss this press release on Friday, April 28, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). Members of the public may access the conference call by dialing [phone], conference ID# 3573726, 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 May 26, 2023.

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 "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "believes," "seeks," "outlook," "future," "will," "would," "should," "could," "may," "can have," "prospects" 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.

KINSALE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

2023

 

2022

Revenues

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

Gross written premiums

 

$

357,588

 

 

$

245,513

 

Ceded written premiums

 

 

(58,558

)

 

 

(29,015

)

Net written premiums

 

 

299,030

 

 

 

216,498

 

Change in unearned premiums

 

 

(61,872

)

 

 

(37,936

)

Net earned premiums

 

 

237,158

 

 

 

178,562

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income

 

 

20,695

 

 

 

9,088

 

Change in the fair value of equity securities

 

 

3,518

 

 

 

(7,751

)

Net realized investment (losses) gains

 

 

(4,652

)

 

 

295

 

Change in allowance for credit losses on investments

 

 

(81

)

 

 

—

 

Other income

 

 

306

 

 

 

124

 

Total revenues

 

 

256,944

 

 

 

180,318

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

 

139,034

 

 

 

102,505

 

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses

 

 

46,545

 

 

 

38,545

 

Interest expense

 

 

2,570

 

 

 

253

 

Other expenses

 

 

402

 

 

 

143

 

Total expenses

 

 

188,551

 

 

 

141,446

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

68,393

 

 

 

38,872

 

Total income tax expense

 

 

12,593

 

 

 

7,081

 

Net income

 

 

55,800

 

 

 

31,791

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

17,509

 

 

 

(63,930

)

Total comprehensive income (loss)

 

$

73,309

 

 

$

(32,139

)

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

2.43

 

 

$

1.40

 

Diluted

 

$

2.40

 

 

$

1.38

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

23,008

 

 

 

22,753

 

Diluted

 

 

23,290

 

 

 

23,093

 

KINSALE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

 

March 31, 2023

 

December 31, 2022

Assets

 

(in thousands)

Investments:

 

 

 

 

Fixed-maturity securities at fair value

 

$

1,971,800

 

$

1,760,100

Equity securities at fair value

 

 

171,366

 

 

152,471

Real estate investments, net

 

 

76,475

 

 

76,387

Short-term investments

 

 

26,640

 

 

41,337

Total investments

 

 

2,246,281

 

 

2,030,295

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

158,648

 

 

156,274

Investment income due and accrued

 

 

14,948

 

 

14,451

Premiums receivable, net

 

 

128,774

 

 

105,754

Reinsurance recoverables, net

 

 

218,796

 

 

220,454

Ceded unearned premiums

 

 

45,115

 

 

42,935

Deferred policy acquisition costs, net of ceding commissions

 

 

69,444

 

 

61,594

Intangible assets

 

 

3,538

 

 

3,538

Deferred income tax asset, net

 

 

53,320

 

 

56,983

Other assets

 

 

58,958

 

 

54,844

Total assets

 

$

2,997,822

 

$

2,747,122

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities & Stockholders' Equity

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

$

1,354,151

 

$

1,238,402

Unearned premiums

 

 

563,729

 

 

499,677

Payable to reinsurers

 

 

33,111

 

 

32,024

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

12,509

 

 

31,361

Debt

 

 

195,812

 

 

195,747

Other liabilities

 

 

22,779

 

 

4,462

Total liabilities

 

 

2,182,091

 

 

2,001,673

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' equity

 

 

815,731

 

 

745,449

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 

$

2,997,822

 

$

2,747,122

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230427005564/en/

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. Bryan Petrucelli Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer 804-289-1272 [e-mail]