Universal Reports First Quarter 2023 Results

• Diluted earnings per common share of $0.79; diluted adjusted* earnings per common share of $0.79

• Annualized return on average common equity (“ROCE”) of 31.7%, annualized adjusted* return on average common equity of 23.9%
• Direct premiums written of $410.1 million, up 3.4% from the prior year quarter
• Book value per share of $10.57, up 11.6% from fourth quarter 2022; adjusted book value per share of $13.52, up 4.9% from fourth quarter 2022

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Universal Insurance Holdings (NYSE: UVE) (“Universal” or the “Company”) reported first quarter 2023 results.

“It was a strong quarter, including a 23.9% annualized adjusted return on common equity and 23.4% adjusted diluted EPS growth year-on-year,” said Stephen J. Donaghy, Chief Executive Officer. “There are multiple factors benefiting our business and I’m optimistic as I look towards the future - the Florida legislature passed meaningful reforms at the December special session, which we believe will improve the long-term stability and profitability of our core business, while rate adequacy improves and higher fixed income yields boost the productivity of our investment portfolio. Additionally, as we sit here today, we already have our core all states property catastrophe reinsurance tower for the 2023-2024 period fully supported and secured with no material changes to our historical reinsurance partners or our terms and conditions, while the costs are well within our budget parameters. We are very pleased with the progress we have made in the current environment, which is a testament to the strength of our business.”

^{*Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures are provided in the attached tables.}

Net Income and Adjusted Net Income

Net income available to common stockholders was $24.2 million, up from $17.5 million in the prior year quarter, and adjusted net income available to common stockholders was $24.0 million, up from $20.0 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in adjusted net income available to common stockholders mostly stems from higher net premiums earned, net investment income and commission revenue and a lower net expense ratio, partly offset by a higher net loss ratio.

Revenues

Revenue was $316.5 million, up 10.1% from the prior year quarter and core revenue was $316.3 million, up 8.8% from the prior year quarter. The increase in core revenue primarily stems from higher net premiums earned, net investment income and commission revenue.

Direct premiums written were $410.1 million, up 3.4% from the prior year quarter. The increase stems from 0.9% growth in Florida and 17.2% growth in other states. Growth reflects rate increases, partly offset by lower policies in force.

Direct premiums earned were $455.4 million, up 9.8% from the prior year quarter. The increase stems from rate-driven direct premiums written growth over the past twelve months.

The ceded premium ratio was 38.0%, up from 35.1% in the prior year quarter. The increase primarily reflects reinstatement premiums associated with Hurricane Ian, which were partly offset by reinsurance brokerage commissions earned on those reinstatement premiums, as referenced in the commissions, policy fees and other revenue section below. Additionally, the higher ceded premium ratio reflects higher reinsurance pricing and higher reinsurance costs associated with the increase in insured values, partly offset by direct premiums earned growth associated with primary rate increases and reinsurance savings associated with leveraging our self-insured captive to a greater degree than the prior year.

Net premiums earned were $282.2 million, up 4.9% from the prior year quarter. The increase is primarily attributable to higher direct premiums earned, partly offset by a higher ceded premium ratio, as described above.

Net investment income was $10.7 million, up from $4.0 million in the prior year quarter. The increase primarily stems from higher fixed income reinvestment yields and higher yields on cash.

Commissions, policy fees and other revenue were $23.4 million, up 32.2% from the prior year quarter. The increase primarily reflects higher reinsurance brokerage commission revenue, which benefited from higher ceded premiums, including reinstatement premiums associated with Hurricane Ian, and the difference in our reinsurance program’s structure relative to the prior year quarter, partly offset by a decline in policy fees associated with lower policies in force.

Margins

The GAAP operating income margin was 10.9%, up from a GAAP operating income margin of 8.4% in the prior year quarter and the adjusted operating income margin was 10.8%, up from an adjusted operating income margin of 9.4% in the prior year quarter. The higher adjusted operating income margin primarily reflects higher net investment income and commission revenue and a lower net expense ratio, partly offset by a higher net loss ratio.

The net loss ratio was 73.1%, up 4.3 points compared to the prior year quarter. The increase primarily reflects a higher attritional initial accident year loss pick and higher prior year reserve development as a percentage of net premiums earned, partly offset by lower weather losses as a percentage of net premiums earned.

The net expense ratio was 26.9%, down 2.2 points from 29.1% in the prior year quarter. The reduction primarily reflects lower renewal commission rates paid to distribution partners.

The net combined ratio was 100.0%, up 2.1 points compared to the prior year quarter. The increase reflects a higher net loss ratio, partly offset by a lower net expense ratio, as described above.

Capital Deployment

On April 12, 2023, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 16 cents per share of common stock, payable on May 19, 2023, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 12, 2023.

Conference Call and Webcast

• Friday, April 28, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. ET

• Investors and other interested parties may listen to the call by accessing the online, real-time webcast at universalinsuranceholdings.com/investors or by registering in advance via teleconference at https://register.vevent.com/register/BI602cbc3e0b814bbda9b9d8a759ea4a58. Once registration is completed, participants will be provided with a dial-in number containing a personalized conference code to access the call. An online replay of the call will be available at universalinsuranceholdings.com/investors soon after the investor call concludes.

About Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.

Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UVE) is a holding company providing property and casualty insurance and value-added insurance services. We develop, market, and write insurance products for consumers predominantly in the personal residential homeowners lines of business and perform substantially all other insurance-related services for our primary insurance entities, including risk management, claims management and distribution. We provide insurance products through both our appointed independent agents and through our direct online distribution channels in the United States across 19 states (primarily Florida). Learn more at universalinsuranceholdings.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Performance Indicators

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including core revenue, adjusted net income available to common stockholders and diluted adjusted earnings (loss) per common share, which exclude the impact of net realized gains (losses) on investments and net change in unrealized gains (losses) of equity securities. Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income margin exclude the impact of net realized gains (losses) on investments and net change in unrealized gains (losses) of equity securities and interest and amortization of debt issuance costs. Adjusted common stockholders’ equity and adjusted book value per share exclude accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI), net of taxes. Adjusted return on common equity excludes after-tax net realized gains (losses) on investments and net change in unrealized gains (losses) of equity securities from the numerator and AOCI, net of taxes, and current period after-tax net realized gains (losses) on investments and net change in unrealized gains (losses) of equity securities from the denominator. A “non-GAAP financial measure” is generally defined as a numerical measure of a company’s historical or future performance that excludes or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments, so as to be different from the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). UVE management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are meaningful, as they allow investors to evaluate underlying revenue and profitability trends and enhance comparability across periods. When considered together with the GAAP financial measures, management believes these metrics provide information that is useful to investors in understanding period-over-period operating results separate and apart from items that may, or could, have a disproportionately positive or negative impact on results in any particular period. UVE management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures enhance the ability of investors to analyze UVE’s business trends and to understand UVE’s operational performance. UVE’s management utilizes these non-GAAP financial measures as guides in long-term planning. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information regarding our key performance indicators, please refer to the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Key Performance Indicators” in our forthcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “will,” “plan,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. Such statements may include commentary on plans, products and lines of business, marketing arrangements, reinsurance programs and other business developments and assumptions relating to the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, including those risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and supplemented in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Future results could differ materially from those described, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. For further information regarding risk factors that could affect the Company’s operations and future results, refer to the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

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Arash Soleimani, CFA, CPA, CPCU

Chief Strategy Officer

954-804-8874

[email protected]

Source: Universal Insurance Holdings