Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. Reports 2021 First Quarter Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Kinsale Capital Group (Nasdaq: KNSL) reported a strong first quarter of 2021, with net income rising to $32.1 million ($1.39 per diluted share), a 530.7% increase from Q1 2020. Net operating earnings reached $25.5 million ($1.11 per diluted share), up 48.1% year-over-year. Key highlights include a 36.2% increase in gross written premiums, totaling $168.9 million, and an underwriting income of $24.6 million, yielding a combined ratio of 80.0%. The company showed a 17.6% annualized operating return on equity, capitalizing on favorable market conditions.

Positive

• Net income increased by 530.7% year-over-year to $32.1 million.
• Net operating earnings rose 48.1% to $25.5 million.
• Gross written premiums grew by 36.2% to $168.9 million.
• Underwriting income of $24.6 million led to a combined ratio of 80.0%.
• Annualized operating return on equity reached 17.6%, up from 17.1%.

Negative

• None.

RICHMOND, Va., April 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: KNSL) reported net income of $32.1 million, $1.39 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2021 compared to $5.1 million, $0.22 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2020. Net operating earnings⁽¹⁾ were $25.5 million, $1.11 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2021 compared to $17.2 million, $0.76 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2020.

Highlights for the first quarter of 2021 included:

• Net income increased by 530.7% compared to the first quarter of 2020, which was due to growth in the business from favorable market conditions and continued rate increases, higher returns on equity investments as a result of a rebound in the financial markets and higher net favorable development of loss reserves from prior accident years
• Net operating earnings⁽¹⁾ of $25.5 million increased by 48.1% compared to the first quarter of 2020
• 36.2% growth in gross written premiums to $168.9 million compared to the first quarter of 2020
• 16.5% increase in net investment income to $6.9 million compared to the first quarter of 2020
• Underwriting income⁽²⁾ of $24.6 million in the first quarter of 2021, resulting in a combined ratio of 80.0%
• 17.6% annualized operating return on equity⁽³⁾ for the three months ended March 31, 2021

“Results for 2021 are off to a good start, reflecting the strength of our dynamic business model and favorable tail winds in the excess and surplus lines market. Our business continues to run on all cylinders with an increase in premiums of over 36% during the quarter and a combined ratio of 80%. Further, we efficiently deployed capital from our recent equity offering to take advantage of these attractive growth opportunities in the E&S market and achieved an annualized operating return on equity of 17.6% for the first quarter of 2021. We remain as committed as ever to exercise underwriting discipline and cost containment by leveraging the effective use of technology and our industry expertise,” said President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael P. Kehoe.

Results of Operations

Underwriting Results

Gross written premiums were $168.9 million for the first quarter of 2021 compared to $124.0 million for the first quarter of 2020, an increase of 36.2%. Growth in gross written premiums during the first quarter of 2021 over the same period last year was driven by higher submission activity from brokers and increased rates.

Underwriting income⁽²⁾ was $24.6 million, resulting in a combined ratio of 80.0%, for the first quarter of 2021, compared to $14.4 million and a combined ratio of 83.9% for the same period last year. The increase in underwriting income⁽²⁾ quarter over quarter, was largely due to premium growth from a positive underwriting environment, continued rate increases and higher net favorable development of loss reserves from prior accident years. Loss and expense ratios were 57.1% and 22.9%, respectively, for the first quarter of 2021 compared to 59.9% and 24.0% for the first quarter of 2020. Results for the first quarters of 2021 and 2020 included net favorable development of loss reserves from prior accident years of $7.1 million, or 5.7 points, and $3.0 million, or 3.3 points, respectively.

Summary of Operating Results

The Company’s operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 are summarized as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021					2020
	($ in thousands)
Gross written premiums	$	168,876				$	124,036
Ceded written premiums	(24,578		)			(15,983		)
Net written premiums	$	144,298				$	108,053
Net earned premiums	$	123,041				$	89,761
Losses and loss adjustment expenses	70,260					53,733
Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses	28,136					21,583
Underwriting income(2)	$	24,645				$	14,445
Loss ratio	57.1			%		59.9			%
Expense ratio	22.9			%		24.0			%
Combined ratio	80.0			%		83.9			%
Annualized return on equity(4)	22.1			%		5.0			%
Annualized operating return on equity(3)	17.6			%		17.1			%

⁽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⁾ 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. See discussion of "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

⁽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.

The following tables summarize losses incurred for the current accident year and the development of prior accident years for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020:

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2021								Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
	Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses				% of Earned Premiums				Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses				% of Earned Premiums
Loss ratio:	($ in thousands)
Current accident year	$	77,257			62.8		%		$	56,671			63.1		%
Current accident year - catastrophe losses	76				—		%		71				0.1		%
Effect of prior accident year development	(7,073		)		(5.7	)	%		(3,009		)		(3.3	)	%
Total	$	70,260			57.1		%		$	53,733			59.9		%

Investment Results

The Company’s net investment income was $6.9 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to $6.0 million in the first quarter of 2020, an increase of 16.5%. This increase was primarily due to growth in our investment portfolio balance generated from the investment of positive operating cash flow since March 31, 2020 and from proceeds from our equity offering in the third quarter of 2020. The Company’s investment portfolio, excluding cash and cash equivalents, had an annualized gross investment return⁽⁵⁾ of 2.6% for the first quarter of 2021 compared to 2.9% for the first quarter of 2020. 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 4.3 years at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. Cash and invested assets totaled $1.4 billion at March 31, 2021 compared to $1.3 billion at December 31, 2020.

⁽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 the average beginning and ending book value 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 $12.5 million for the first quarter of 2021 compared to a loss of $4.1 million for the first quarter of 2020. The increase in total comprehensive income was due to higher net income offset in part by a decrease in the fair values of the Company's fixed-maturity investments, resulting from a higher interest rate environment.

The effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were 18.7% and (1.1)%, respectively. In both the first quarters of 2021 and 2020, 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.

Stockholders' equity was $587.6 million at March 31, 2021, compared to $576.2 million at December 31, 2020. Annualized operating return on equity⁽³⁾ was 17.6% for the first quarter of 2021, an increase from 17.1% for the first quarter of 2020, which was attributable primarily to growth in the business and higher net favorable development of loss reserves from prior accident years.

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 months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, 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,
		2021					2020
		($ in thousands, except per share data)
Net operating earnings:
Net income		$	32,079				$	5,086
Change in the fair value of equity securities, after taxes		(5,602		)			12,767
Net realized gains on investments, after taxes		(946		)			(613		)
Net operating earnings		$	25,531				$	17,240
Diluted operating earnings per share:
Diluted earnings per share		$	1.39				$	0.22
Change in the fair value of equity securities, after taxes, per share		(0.24		)			0.56
Net realized gains on investments, after taxes, per share		(0.04		)			(0.03		)
Diluted operating earnings per share(1)		$	1.11				$	0.76
Operating return on equity:
Average stockholders' equity(2)		$	581,902				$	403,607
Annualized return on equity(3)		22.1			%		5.0			%
Annualized operating return on equity(4)		17.6			%		17.1			%

⁽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 beginning and ending 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 beginning and ending 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 months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, net income reconciles to underwriting income as follows:

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021				2020
		(in thousands)
Net income		$	32,079			$	5,086
Income tax expense (benefit)		7,360				(56		)
Income before income taxes		39,439				5,030
Other expenses		448				—
Net investment income		(6,942		)		(5,960		)
Change in the fair value of equity securities		(7,091		)		16,161
Net realized investment gains		(1,198		)		(776		)
Other income		(11		)		(10		)
Underwriting income		$	24,645			$	14,445

Conference Call

Kinsale Capital Group will hold a conference call to discuss this press release on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). Members of the public may access the conference call by dialing (844) 239-5282, conference ID# 9082678, 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 June 29, 2021.

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 (Loss)

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021				2020
Revenues		(in thousands, except per share data)
Gross written premiums		$	168,876			$	124,036
Ceded written premiums		(24,578		)		(15,983		)
Net written premiums		144,298				108,053
Change in unearned premiums		(21,257		)		(18,292		)
Net earned premiums		123,041				89,761
Net investment income		6,942				5,960
Change in the fair value of equity securities		7,091				(16,161		)
Net realized investment gains		1,198				776
Other income		11				10
Total revenues		138,283				80,346
Expenses
Losses and loss adjustment expenses		70,260				53,733
Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses		28,136				21,583
Other expenses		448				—
Total expenses		98,844				75,316
Income before income taxes		39,439				5,030
Total income tax expense (benefit)		7,360				(56		)
Net income		32,079				5,086
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Change in net unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments, net of taxes		(19,622		)		(9,223		)
Total comprehensive income (loss)		$	12,457			$	(4,137	)
Earnings per share:
Basic		$	1.42			$	0.23
Diluted		$	1.39			$	0.22
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic		22,665				22,109
Diluted		23,069				22,678

KINSALE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

		March 31, 2021				December 31, 2020
Assets		(in thousands)
Investments:
Fixed-maturity securities at fair value		$	1,099,763			$	1,081,800
Equity securities at fair value		140,036				129,662
Total investments		1,239,799				1,211,462
Cash and cash equivalents		132,535				77,093
Investment income due and accrued		6,639				6,637
Premiums receivable, net		55,212				48,641
Reinsurance recoverables		96,191				93,215
Ceded unearned premiums		26,854				24,265
Deferred policy acquisition costs, net of ceding commissions		34,741				31,912
Intangible assets		3,538				3,538
Deferred income tax asset, net		608				—
Other assets		49,221				50,133
Total assets		$	1,645,338			$	1,546,896
Liabilities & Stockholders' Equity
Liabilities:
Reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses		$	688,773			$	636,013
Unearned premiums		284,832				260,986
Payable to reinsurers		15,010				12,672
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		6,502				13,651
Credit facility		42,601				42,570
Deferred income tax liability, net		—				4,648
Other liabilities		20,054				118
Total liabilities		1,057,772				970,658
Stockholders' equity		587,566				576,238
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	1,645,338			$	1,546,896

 

FAQ

What were Kinsale Capital Group's earnings for Q1 2021?

Kinsale Capital Group reported net income of $32.1 million for the first quarter of 2021.

How much did KNSL's gross written premiums increase in Q1 2021?

Gross written premiums increased by 36.2% to $168.9 million compared to Q1 2020.

What was the combined ratio for Kinsale Capital in Q1 2021?

The combined ratio for Kinsale Capital in Q1 2021 was 80.0%.

What was the annualized operating return on equity for KNSL in Q1 2021?

Kinsale Capital reported an annualized operating return on equity of 17.6% for Q1 2021.

How did KNSL's net operating earnings compare to the previous year?

Net operating earnings increased by 48.1% to $25.5 million in Q1 2021 compared to Q1 2020.