Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. Reports 2022 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (NYSE: KNSL) reported net income of $67.2 million, $2.90 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to $48.3 million, $2.09 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2021. Net income was $159.1 million, $6.88 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $152.7 million, $6.62 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2021. For both the fourth quarters of 2022 and 2021, the impact on net income related to catastrophes was negligible. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, net income included after-tax catastrophe losses of $21.0 million and $6.8 million, respectively.

Net operating earnings⁽¹⁾ were $60.3 million, $2.60 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to $40.7 million, $1.76 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2021. Net operating earnings⁽¹⁾ were $180.4 million, $7.80 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $132.4 million, $5.74 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Highlights for the fourth quarter of 2022 included:

• Net income increased by 39.2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021
• Net operating earnings⁽¹⁾ of $60.3 million increased by 48.1% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021
• Gross written premiums increased by 45.0% to $295.5 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2021
• Net investment income increased by 106.7% to $17.7 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2021
• Underwriting income⁽²⁾ was $59.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, resulting in a combined ratio of 72.4%

Highlights for the full year of 2022 included:

• Net income increased by 4.2% compared to the full year of 2021
• Net operating earnings⁽¹⁾ of $180.4 million increased by 36.2% compared to the full year of 2021
• Gross written premiums increased by 44.2% to $1.1 billion compared to the full year of 2021
• Net investment income increased by 65.2% to $51.3 million compared to the full year of 2021
• Underwriting income⁽²⁾ was $175.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, resulting in a combined ratio of 77.9%
• Operating return on equity⁽⁴⁾ was 25.0% for the year ended December 31, 2022

"Our strong performance during the fourth quarter ended another year of exceptional operating results. Our fourth quarter results were underscored by premium growth of 45% and a combined ratio of 72.4% as we capitalized on favorable E&S market conditions while maintaining underwriting and expense discipline. We are confident that with the strength of our business model and financial position we will deliver another successful year in 2023," said President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael P. Kehoe.

Results of Operations

Underwriting Results

Gross written premiums were $295.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to $203.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 45.0%. Gross written premiums were $1.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $764.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, an increase of 44.2%. Growth in gross written premiums during the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2022 over the same periods last year reflected strong submission flow from brokers and a favorable pricing environment.

Underwriting income⁽²⁾ was $59.5 million, resulting in a combined ratio of 72.4%, for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to $42.2 million, and a combined ratio of 74.5% for the same period last year. The increase in underwriting income⁽²⁾ for the fourth quarter of 2022 was due to a combination of premium growth and favorable rate increases from a strong underwriting environment and lower levels of operating expenses relative to premium growth and management's cost control efforts. Loss and expense ratios were 52.5% and 19.9%, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to 53.1% and 21.4% for the fourth quarter of 2021. Favorable development of reserves from prior accident years was $7.0 million, or 3.3 points, for the fourth quarter of 2022, and $6.6 million, or 4.0 points, for the fourth quarter of 2021.

Underwriting income⁽²⁾ was $175.5 million, resulting in a combined ratio of 77.9%, for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $133.6 million, and a combined ratio of 77.1% for the prior year. The increase in underwriting income⁽²⁾ for the year ended December 31, 2022 was due to a combination of premium growth and favorable rate increases from a strong underwriting environment and lower levels of operating expenses relative to premium growth and management's cost control efforts. These increases were offset in part by higher catastrophe losses incurred during 2022. Loss and expense ratios were 57.7% and 20.2%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to 55.7% and 21.4%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2021. The loss ratios included current accident year catastrophe losses of $26.6 million, or 3.4 points, for the year ended December 31, 2022 and $8.6 million, or 1.5 points, for the year ended December 31, 2021. Catastrophe activity in 2022 primarily related to Hurricane Ian and in 2021 largely related to Hurricane Ida and winter storms in Texas. Favorable development of reserves from prior accident years was $35.9 million, or 4.5 points, for the year ended December 31, 2022 and $32.0 million, or 5.5 points, for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Summary of Operating Results

The Company’s operating results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 are summarized as follows:

The following tables summarize losses incurred for the current accident year and the development of prior accident years for the three months and year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:

Investment Results

Net investment income was $17.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to $8.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 106.7%. Net investment income was $51.3 million for the full year of 2022 compared to $31.0 million for the full year of 2021. These increases were driven by growth in the Company's investment portfolio generated mostly from the investment of strong operating cash flows since December 31, 2021 and higher interest rates relative to the prior year periods. Net operating cash flows were $557.8 million for the full year of 2022 compared to $407.0 million for the full year of 2021, an increase of 37.0%. The Company’s investment portfolio, excluding cash and cash equivalents, had a gross investment return⁽⁵⁾ of 3.0% for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to 2.5% for the year ended December 31, 2021. 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 3.5 years and 4.3 years at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Cash and invested assets totaled $2.2 billion at December 31, 2022 compared to $1.7 billion at December 31, 2021.

Other

The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2022 was 18.6%. The effective tax rate was lower than the federal statutory rate primarily due to the tax benefits from stock-based compensation and tax-exempt investment income.

In November 2022, the Company completed an underwritten public offering and sold and issued 155,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $308.30 per share, to the underwriter. The Company received net proceeds from the offering of $47.5 million, which were used for general corporate purposes, including to fund organic growth.

In December 2022, the Company acquired real estate property adjacent to its current headquarters for $76.6 million. The property is comprised of two office buildings totaling over 580,000 square feet situated on approximately 29 acres of land. The property is expected to provide flexibility for future expansion of operations as well as serve as an investment opportunity. The acquisition was funded primarily through a draw down on the Company's revolving credit facility.

Stockholders' equity was $745.4 million at December 31, 2022, compared to $699.3 million at December 31, 2021. Operating return on equity was 25.0% for the full year of 2022, an increase from 20.8% for the full year of 2021. This increase was due primarily to growth in the business from favorable market conditions and rate increases and a decrease in average stockholders' equity driven by the decline in the fair value of investments as a result of the higher interest rate environment. These increases were offset in part by higher catastrophe losses incurred during 2022.

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 the 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 and year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, net income and diluted earnings per share reconcile to net operating earnings and diluted operating earnings per share as follows:

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, the 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 and year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, net income reconciles to underwriting income as follows:

Conference Call

Kinsale Capital Group will hold a conference call to discuss this press release on Friday, February 17, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). Members of the public may access the conference call by dialing (888) 660-6493, 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 March 17, 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.

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Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.
Bryan Petrucelli
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

804-289-1272

[email protected]

Source: Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.