Safety Announces First Quarter 2021 Results and Declares Second Quarter 2021 Dividend

Rhea-AI Summary

Safety Insurance Group (NASDAQ:SAFT) reported a strong first quarter 2021, achieving net income of $36.2 million, or $2.42 per diluted share, a turnaround from a net loss of $2.0 million in Q1 2020. Non-GAAP operating income rose to $1.93 per diluted share. However, direct written premiums fell by 2.6% to $192.2 million. The company declared a $0.90 per share dividend, payable June 15, 2021. Q1 2021 saw loss and loss adjustment expenses decrease by 7.7%, indicating better claims management.

Positive

• Net income increased to $36.2 million, up from a net loss of $2 million in Q1 2020.
• Non-GAAP operating income rose to $1.93 per diluted share from $1.57.
• Dividend of $0.90 per share declared, showing commitment to shareholders.
• Decrease in loss and loss adjustment expenses by $9.2 million, improving overall financial health.

Negative

• Direct written premiums decreased by $5.1 million (2.6%) compared to Q1 2020.
• Net earned premiums fell by $5 million (2.5%) year-over-year.
• Increased expense ratio due to system modernization costs.

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAFT) (“the Company”) today reported first quarter 2021 results.

Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was $36.2 million, or $2.42 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $2.0 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the comparable 2020 period. Non-generally accepted accounting principles (“non-GAAP”) operating income, as defined below, for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was $1.93 per diluted share, compared to $1.57 per diluted share, for the comparable 2020 period. Safety’s book value per share increased to $59.42 at March 31, 2021 from $59.40 at December 31, 2020. Safety paid $0.90 per share in dividends to investors during the quarters ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Safety paid $3.60 per share in dividends to investors during the year ended December 31, 2020.

Beginning in March 2020, the global pandemic associated with the novel coronavirus COVID-19 (“COVID-19”) and related economic conditions caused significant economic effects including temporary closures of many businesses and reduced consumer activity due to shelter-in-place, stay-at-home and other governmental actions. The Company continues to take actions that address the health and well-being of our employees while still serving the needs of our agents and insureds.

Direct written premiums for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 decreased by $5.1 million, or 2.6%, to $192.2 million from $197.3 million for the comparable 2020 period. The decrease is primarily in our private passenger automobile line of business and is a result of a decrease in policy counts. Net written premiums for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 decreased by $4.7 million, or 2.5%, to $184.2 million from $188.9 million for the comparable 2020 period. Net earned premiums for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 decreased by $5.0 million, or 2.5%, to $192.9 million from $197.8 million for the comparable 2020 period.

The pandemic has resulted in fewer cars on the road, resulting in a decrease in frequency of claims, primarily in our private passenger automobile line of business. As a result, for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred decreased by $9.2 million, or 7.7%, to $111.5 million from $120.7 million for the comparable 2020 period. Loss, expense, and combined ratios for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 were 57.8%, 33.7%, and 91.5%, respectively, compared to 61.0%, 31.9%, and 92.9%, respectively, for the comparable 2020 period. The increase in the expense ratio is driven by costs associated with various system modernization in our claims, billing and underwriting areas and an increase in contingent commission expenses. Total prior year favorable development included in the pre-tax results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was $12.5 million compared to $9.6 million for the comparable 2020 period.

Net investment income for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 increased by $0.8 million, or 7.7%, to $11.5 million from $10.7 million for the comparable 2020 period. The increase is a result of an increase in net effective annualized yield on the investment portfolio which was 3.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 3.1% for the comparable 2020 period. Our duration was 3.3 years at March 31, 2021 compared to 3.2 years at December 31, 2020.

Today, our Board of Directors approved and declared a $0.90 per share quarterly cash dividend on its issued and outstanding common stock, payable on June 15, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 1, 2021.

Non-GAAP Measures

Management has included certain non-GAAP financial measures in presenting the Company’s results. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures better explain the Company’s results of operations and allow for a more complete understanding of the underlying trends in the Company’s business. These measures should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). In addition, our definitions of these items may not be comparable to the definitions used by other companies.

Non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating income per diluted share consist of our GAAP net income adjusted by the net realized gains (losses) on investments, changes in net unrealized gains on equity investments, credit loss benefit (expense) and taxes related thereto. For the quarter ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $6.2 million for the change in unrealized gains on equity investments was recognized within income (loss) before income taxes, compared to a decrease of $30.0 million for the change in unrealized gains on equity investments in the comparable 2020 period. Net income (loss) and earnings (loss) per diluted share are the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating income per diluted share, respectively. A reconciliation of the GAAP financial measures to these non-GAAP measures is included in the financial highlights below.

About Safety: Safety Insurance Group, Inc., based in Boston, MA, is the parent of Safety Insurance Company, Safety Indemnity Insurance Company, Safety Property and Casualty Insurance Company, and Safety Northeast Insurance Company. Operating exclusively in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, Safety is a leading writer of property and casualty insurance products, including private passenger automobile, commercial automobile, homeowners, dwelling fire, umbrella and business owner policies.

Additional Information: Press releases, announcements, U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Filings and investor information are available under “About Safety,” “Investor Information” on our Company website located at { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "name": "Safety Announces First Quarter 2021 Results and Declares Second Quarter 2021 Dividend FAQs", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What were the dividend details for Safety Insurance (SAFT) in 2021?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Safety Insurance declared a dividend of $0.90 per share, payable on June 15, 2021, to shareholders of record by June 1, 2021." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How did Safety Insurance's net income in Q1 2021 compare to Q1 2020?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Net income in Q1 2021 was $36.2 million, in contrast to a net loss of $2.0 million in Q1 2020." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What were the main factors affecting Safety Insurance's premiums in Q1 2021?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Direct written premiums decreased by 2.6%, primarily due to fewer policy counts in the private passenger automobile line." } } ] }

FAQ

What were the dividend details for Safety Insurance (SAFT) in 2021?

Safety Insurance declared a dividend of $0.90 per share, payable on June 15, 2021, to shareholders of record by June 1, 2021.

How did Safety Insurance's net income in Q1 2021 compare to Q1 2020?

Net income in Q1 2021 was $36.2 million, in contrast to a net loss of $2.0 million in Q1 2020.

What were the main factors affecting Safety Insurance's premiums in Q1 2021?

Direct written premiums decreased by 2.6%, primarily due to fewer policy counts in the private passenger automobile line.