Verisk Analytics, Inc. - VRSK STOCK NEWS

Verisk (VRSK) reported strong Q3 2024 financial results with consolidated revenues of $725 million, up 7.0% year-over-year. Income from continuing operations increased 17.4% to $220 million, while adjusted EBITDA grew 9.4% to $401 million. Diluted EPS rose 19.4% to $1.54, and diluted adjusted EPS increased 9.9% to $1.67. The company demonstrated robust cash flow with operating cash flow up 18.4% to $296 million. Verisk completed a $400 million accelerated share repurchase program and increased its quarterly dividend by 15% to 39 cents per share.

Verisk (Nasdaq: VRSK) has launched its Statistical Services accelerator integration with Guidewire, designed to automate critical data extractions for insurers' compliance processes. This new technology aims to enhance operational efficiency and consistency in meeting expanding data reporting requirements. Key features include:

1. Configurable solution for extracting event-driven data from Guidewire PolicyCenter and ClaimCenter
2. Direct connection to Verisk's statistical reporting platform
3. Leverages Verisk's expertise for regulatory obligations

The accelerator addresses the industry need to modernize compliance and reporting processes within an insurer's ecosystem. It is the latest addition to over 40 Verisk integrations available on Guidewire Marketplace, supporting underwriting and claims across the insurance industry.

Scope Technologies, a leading provider of exterior building measurements, has integrated its RoofScope reports with Verisk's Xactimate system. This integration allows property and casualty insurers, adjusters, and contractors to access RoofScope reports directly within Xactimate and XactAnalysis. RoofScope-generated sketches and detailed roofing measurements can now be sent directly into Xactimate for estimate writing.

The integration aims to reduce processing time and facilitate remote claim services, supporting a smoother claims experience for insureds. Scope Technologies is sponsoring a pilot program for users to experience the accuracy and speed of the RoofScope-Xactimate integration. This collaboration enhances workflow and accuracy for industry professionals, offering reliable throughput during peak events or when other providers lack necessary imagery.

Verisk (Nasdaq: VRSK) announced that its president and CEO, Lee Shavel, has been appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance (FACI). FACI advises the Federal Insurance Office within the U.S. Department of the Treasury on monitoring the insurance industry. The committee is to 25 members, including industry leaders, regulators, academics, and consumer advocates.

Shavel expressed his commitment to bringing Verisk's perspective to FACI, emphasizing the importance of a healthy insurance market in the face of evolving risks and increasing weather catastrophes. Under his leadership, Verisk has focused on partnering with the global insurance industry to enhance resilience. Shavel has expanded insurance ecosystem partnerships, invested in new datasets and emerging technologies like AI, and promoted industry collaboration.

Verisk (Nasdaq: VRSK) estimates that insured industry losses for Hurricane Milton will range between USD 30 billion to USD 50 billion. This estimate covers onshore property losses due to wind, privately insured storm surge, and precipitation-induced flood losses from Milton's landfall in Florida. The majority of the insured loss is attributed to wind damage.

Milton rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 hurricane in less than 24 hours, reaching peak intensity with 180 mph winds and a minimum central pressure of 897 mb. The hurricane made landfall in Siesta Key and South Sarasota as a Category 3 storm, causing significant flooding, storm surge, and wind damage across Florida's Gulf Coast and inland areas.

The estimate includes losses to residential, commercial, and industrial properties, as well as automobiles. It does not include losses covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, litigation-related losses, or damage to infrastructure and uninsured properties.

Verisk (Nasdaq: VRSK), a leading global data analytics and technology provider, has announced it will report its fiscal third-quarter 2024 financial results on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, before the market opens. The press release and accompanying financial information will be available on the Verisk investor website.

The company's management team will host a live audio webcast to discuss the results and business highlights on the same day at 8:30 a.m. ET. Interested parties can access the webcast through the Verisk investor website or via dial-in numbers provided for U.S./Canada and international participants. A replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days on the investor website and through a conference call number for U.S. and Canada participants.

Verisk (Nasdaq: VRSK) estimates industry insured losses for Hurricane Helene in the U.S. will range between USD 6 billion to USD 11 billion, excluding NFIP losses. Helene made landfall on September 26 near Perry, Florida as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, becoming the strongest hurricane to hit the Big Bend region in recorded history.

The hurricane caused significant damage along Florida's Gulf coast and into Georgia, with record storm surge and rainfall in some areas. The impact was similar to 2023's Hurricane Idalia but with a larger storm surge footprint. Substantial flooding occurred in North and South Carolina due to hurricane-induced precipitation.

Florida's building codes and flood insurance coverage were highlighted, noting that many affected areas may have insufficient flood insurance. Verisk is also monitoring Hurricane Milton, forecast to make landfall in Florida on October 9.

Verisk (Nasdaq: VRSK) has announced the U.S. launch of Whitespace, an all-in-one digital platform for the global (re)insurance market. This expansion follows Whitespace's success in the London market, where nearly 170,000 lines have been written in 2024, more than triple the amount in 2022.

Whitespace connects brokers, underwriters, and MGAs in the excess and surplus (E&S) and specialty insurance markets, supporting the entire (re)insurance lifecycle. The platform addresses key business issues like slow processes and inefficiencies, enabling clients to focus on value-added tasks.

Benefits of Whitespace include:

• Operational efficiency and digital distribution
• Actionable insights through Verisk's predictive analytics
• Intuitive user experience with real-time communication

The U.S. E&S market reached over $115 billion in direct premiums written in 2023, highlighting the segment's growing significance and the need for digital solutions in the evolving insurance ecosystem.

Verisk's Extreme Event Solutions group estimates that insured industry losses from the September 2024 flooding in Czechia, Poland, and Austria will range from EUR 2 billion to EUR 3 billion. The event, caused by a Vb weather system, resulted in extensive property damage across several European nations. In Poland, over 11,500 residential buildings and 6,000 agricultural and commercial buildings were affected. The Czech Insurance Association reported over 60,000 claims totaling approximately EUR 770 million in insured losses. Austria's Lower Austria region experienced catastrophic impacts, with floodwaters reaching levels seen only once in 1,000 years on average.

The estimates include insured physical damage to property, additional living expenses, and business interruption claims. Insurance coverage varies by country, with Austria and Czechia having higher flood insurance take-up rates compared to Poland.