Conifer Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNFR) (“Conifer”
or the “Company”) today announced results for the first quarter
ended March 31, 2023.
First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights
(compared to the prior year period)
- Combined ratio was 99.5%, an
improvement of 13.0 percentage points from Q1 2022
- Gross written premium increased
9.9% to $36.2 million
- Net income of $1.0 million, or
$0.08 per share, based on 12.2 million weighted average shares
outstanding
- Book value of $1.82 per share, up
17% or $0.27 from $1.55 at year end
Management Comments James
Petcoff, Executive Chairman and Co-CEO, commented, “We are pleased
to see the 2023 first quarter results validate our significant team
efforts. The initiatives we undertook over the last several years
are now beginning to bear fruit, and we are confident that we have
laid a strong foundation for continued profitability going
forward.”
2023 First Quarter Financial Results
Overview
|
|
At and for the Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
% Change |
|
|
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share
amounts) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross written premiums |
$ |
36,214 |
|
|
$ |
32,964 |
|
|
9.9 |
% |
Net written premiums |
|
18,342 |
|
|
|
18,021 |
|
|
1.8 |
% |
Net earned premiums |
|
21,952 |
|
|
|
23,955 |
|
|
-8.4 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income |
|
1,307 |
|
|
|
507 |
|
|
157.8 |
% |
Net realized investment gains (losses) |
|
- |
|
|
|
(69 |
) |
|
** |
Change in fair value of equity investments |
|
694 |
|
|
|
280 |
|
|
147.9 |
% |
Other gains (losses) |
|
- |
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
1,001 |
|
|
|
(2,870 |
) |
|
** |
|
Net income
(loss) per share, diluted |
$ |
0.08 |
|
|
$ |
(0.30 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted operating income (loss)* |
|
307 |
|
|
|
(3,076 |
) |
|
** |
|
Adjusted
operating income (loss) per share, diluted* |
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
$ |
(0.32 |
) |
|
** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Book value per common share outstanding |
$ |
1.82 |
|
|
$ |
3.13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
|
12,215,849 |
|
|
|
9,707,817 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underwriting ratios: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss ratio
(1) |
|
62.2 |
% |
|
|
75.0 |
% |
|
|
|
Expense
ratio (2) |
|
37.3 |
% |
|
|
37.5 |
% |
|
|
|
Combined
ratio (3) |
|
99.5 |
% |
|
|
112.5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* The "Definitions of
Non-GAAP Measures" section of this release defines and reconciles
data that are not based on generally accepted accounting
principles. |
** Percentage is not
meaningful |
(1) The loss ratio is
the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of net losses and loss
adjustment expenses to net earned premiums and other income from
underwriting operations. |
(2) The expense ratio
is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of policy acquisition
costs and other underwriting expenses to net earned premiums and
other income from underwriting operations. |
(3) The combined ratio
is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio. A combined
ratio under 100% indicates an underwriting profit. A combined ratio
over 100% indicates an underwriting loss. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2023 First Quarter Premiums
Gross Written PremiumsGross written premiums
increased 9.9% in the first quarter of 2023 to $36.2 million,
compared to $33.0 million in the prior year period. The increase is
a result of a combination of rate and continued expansion into
select key verticals, specifically in the Company’s small business
programs where GWP increased 10.4% in the first quarter of 2023 to
$23.6 million. Personal lines premium continues to compliment
Conifer’s profitable top line growth, specifically through its
low-value dwelling line of business, where premium increased 49% in
the first quarter of 2023 to $5.4 million.
Net Earned PremiumsNet earned premiums decreased
8.4% to $22.0 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to
$24.0 million for the prior year period. The decrease was largely
due to higher specific loss property reinsurance rates, effective
January 1, 2023.
Commercial Lines Financial and Operational
Review
Commercial
Lines Financial Review |
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
% Change |
|
|
(dollars in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross written premiums |
$ |
28,975 |
|
|
$ |
28,586 |
|
|
1.4 |
% |
Net written premiums |
|
12,241 |
|
|
|
14,340 |
|
|
-14.6 |
% |
Net earned premiums |
|
17,123 |
|
|
|
20,524 |
|
|
-16.6 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underwriting ratios: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
ratio |
|
61.4 |
% |
|
|
80.7 |
% |
|
|
|
Expense
ratio |
|
36.2 |
% |
|
|
36.5 |
% |
|
|
|
Combined
ratio |
|
97.6 |
% |
|
|
117.2 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contribution to combined ratio from net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(favorable)
adverse prior year development |
|
-4.8 |
% |
|
|
27.9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accident year combined ratio (1) |
|
102.4 |
% |
|
|
89.3 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) The accident year
combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio,
less changes in net ultimate loss estimates from prior accident
year loss reserves. The accident year combined ratio provides
management with an assessment of the specific policy year's
profitability and assists management in their evaluation of product
pricing levels and quality of business written. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Company’s commercial lines of business
represented 80% of total gross written premium in the first quarter
of 2023. The Company took significant steps over the past several
years to re-underwrite its book, electing to focus on select key
verticals in specialty markets where the Company has deep
underwriting knowledge and experience, strong agent relationships,
and runway for selective growth.
Commercial lines gross written premium increased
1.4% in the first quarter of 2023 to $29.0 million, as the Company
maintained its focus on writing only the most profitable specialty
lines while simultaneously continuing its exit from unprofitable
lines.
The Commercial lines combined ratio was 97.6%
for the three months ended March 31, 2023; this represents a
significant improvement of 19.6 percentage points compared to the
same period in 2022. The loss ratio was 61.4% for the quarter, down
19.3 percentage points from 80.7% in the prior year period.
The expense ratio was 36.2% for the first
quarter of 2023, marking sustained improvement from the prior year
period.
Personal Lines Financial and Operational
Review
Personal
Lines Financial Review |
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
% Change |
|
|
(dollars in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross written premiums |
$ |
7,239 |
|
|
$ |
4,378 |
|
|
65.3 |
% |
Net written premiums |
|
6,101 |
|
|
|
3,681 |
|
|
65.7 |
% |
Net earned premiums |
|
4,829 |
|
|
|
3,431 |
|
|
40.7 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underwriting ratios: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
ratio |
|
65.3 |
% |
|
|
41.0 |
% |
|
|
|
Expense
ratio |
|
40.8 |
% |
|
|
43.5 |
% |
|
|
|
Combined
ratio |
|
106.1 |
% |
|
|
84.5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contribution to combined ratio from net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(favorable)
adverse prior year development |
|
-8.1 |
% |
|
|
-6.3 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accident year combined ratio |
|
114.2 |
% |
|
|
90.8 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Personal lines, representing 20% of total gross
written premium for the first quarter of 2023, consists mainly of
low-value dwelling homeowner’s insurance.
Personal lines gross written premium increased
65.3% to $7.2 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the
prior year period, led by growth in the Company’s low-value
dwelling line of business in Texas and Oklahoma.
Personal lines combined ratio was 106.1% for the
three months ended March 31, 2023. This increase was due in large
part to CAT activity in the quarter, specifically a tornado in
southern Oklahoma and northern Texas that brought significant hail
damage. Overall, we anticipate a return to normalized profitability
moving forward.
Combined Ratio Analysis
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underwriting ratios: |
|
|
|
|
Loss ratio |
62.2 |
% |
|
75.0 |
% |
|
Expense
ratio |
37.3 |
% |
|
37.5 |
% |
|
Combined
ratio |
99.5 |
% |
|
112.5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
Contribution to combined ratio from net (favorable) |
|
|
|
|
adverse
prior year development |
-5.6 |
% |
|
23.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
Accident year combined ratio |
105.1 |
% |
|
89.5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
Combined Ratio:The Company's combined ratio was
99.5% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, down 13.0 percentage
points from the prior year period. This improvement speaks to the
significant efforts made throughout 2021 and 2022 to re-underwrite
the Company’s book of business and bolster reserves, including
through the execution of a Loss Portfolio Transfer reinsurance
agreement (LPT) in late 2022.
The Company saw net favorable reserve
development of 5.6% for the quarter as a result of
better-than-expected loss emergence primarily related to accident
years 2022 and 2021 during the quarter. There was $1.8 million of
adverse development relating to accident years 2019 and prior that
was covered by the LPT. The Company reported adverse reserve
development of 23.0% in the prior year period.
Loss Ratio: The Company’s losses and loss
adjustment expenses were $13.7 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2023, down from $18.0 million in the prior year period.
This resulted in a loss ratio of 62.2% for the first quarter of
2023, down from 75.0% for the same period in 2022.
Expense Ratio: The expense ratio continues to
improve, due in large part to the Company’s sustained emphasis on
expense management: the expense ratio for the first quarter of 2023
was 37.3%, down from 37.5% in the prior year period as the Company
approaches its near-term target expense ratio of 35%.
Net Investment IncomeNet
investment income was $1.3 million during the quarter ended March
31, 2023, compared to $507,000 in the prior year period.
Net Realized Investment Gains
(Losses)The Company did not have any realized investment
gains or losses during the first quarter of 2023. Net realized
investment losses were $69,000 in the prior year period.
Change in Fair Value of Equity
SecuritiesDuring the quarter, the Company reported a gain
of $694,000 from the change in fair value of equity investments,
compared to a gain of $280,000 in the prior year period.
Net Income (Loss) The Company
reported net income of $1.0 million, or $0.08 per share, for the
first quarter of 2023; a significant improvement compared to a net
loss of $2.9 million, or $0.30 per share, in the prior year
period.
Book ValueShareholders’ equity
per share increased to $1.82 for the first quarter of 2023; up 17%
from $1.55 at 2022 year end. This increase resulted from a
combination of net income and unrealized investment gains: in
addition to the Company’s reported net income of $1.0 million,
there were $2.3 million in unrealized investment gains due to
market improvements in the Company’s bond portfolio.
Adjusted Operating Income
(Loss)In the first quarter of 2023, the Company reported
an adjusted operating income of $307,000, or $0.03 per share,
compared to an adjusted operating loss of $3.1 million, or $0.32
per share, for the same period in 2022. See Definitions of Non-GAAP
Measures.
Earnings Conference Call with
Accompanying Slide PresentationThe Company will hold a
conference call/webcast on Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. ET
to discuss results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.
Investors, analysts, employees and the general
public are invited to listen to the conference call via:
Webcast: |
On the Event Calendar at IR.CNFRH.com |
Conference Call: |
844-868-8843 (domestic) or 412-317-6589 (international) |
The webcast will be archived on the Conifer
Holdings website and available for replay for at least one
year.
About Conifer HoldingsConifer
Holdings, Inc. is a specialty insurance holding company, offering
customized coverage solutions tailored to the needs of our insureds
nationwide. Conifer is traded on the NASDAQ exchange under the
symbol “CNFR”. Additional information is available on the Company’s
website at www.CNFRH.com.
Definitions of Non-GAAP
Measures
Conifer prepares its public financial statements
in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America (GAAP). Statutory data is prepared in
accordance with statutory accounting rules as defined by the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) Accounting
Practices and Procedures Manual, and therefore is not reconciled to
GAAP data.
We believe that investors’ understanding of
Conifer’s performance is enhanced by our disclosure of adjusted
operating income. Our method for calculating this measure may
differ from that used by other companies and therefore
comparability may be limited. We define adjusted operating income
(loss), a non-GAAP measure, as net income (loss) excluding the
after-tax amounts of: 1) net realized investment gains and losses,
2) change in fair value of equity securities and 3) Other gains
(losses). We use adjusted operating income as an internal
performance measure in the management of our operations because we
believe it gives our management and other users of our financial
information useful insight into our results of operations and our
underlying business performance.
Reconciliations of adjusted operating income and adjusted
operating income per share:
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
(dollar in thousands, except share and per share amounts) |
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
$ |
1,001 |
|
|
$ |
(2,870 |
) |
Less: |
|
|
|
Net realized investment gains (losses), net of tax |
|
- |
|
|
|
(69 |
) |
Other gains (losses), net of tax |
|
- |
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
Change in fair value of equity securities, net of tax |
|
694 |
|
|
|
280 |
|
Adjusted
operating income (loss) |
$ |
307 |
|
|
$ |
(3,076 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average common shares, diluted |
|
12,215,849 |
|
|
|
9,707,817 |
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
income (loss) per common share: |
|
|
|
Net income
(loss) |
$ |
0.08 |
|
|
$ |
(0.30 |
) |
Less: |
|
|
|
Net realized investment gains (losses), net of tax |
|
- |
|
|
|
(0.01 |
) |
Other gains (losses), net of tax |
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Change in fair value of equity securities, net of tax |
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
Adjusted
operating income (loss), per share |
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
$ |
(0.32 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events
or our future financial or operating performance, and include
Conifer’s expectations regarding premiums, earnings, its capital
position, expansion, and growth strategies. The forward-looking
statements contained in this press release are based on
management’s good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on
current information. The forward-looking statements are qualified
by important factors, risks and uncertainties, many of which are
beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ
materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including
those described in our form 10-K (“Item 1A Risk Factors”) filed
with the SEC on March 27, 2023 and subsequent reports filed with or
furnished to the SEC. Any forward-looking statement made by us in
this report speaks only as of the date hereof or as of the date
specified herein. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any
applicable laws or regulations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conifer
Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries |
Consolidated
Balance Sheets |
(dollars in
thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
Assets |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
Investment securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
Debt securities, at fair value (amortized cost of $125,274 and |
|
$ |
110,633 |
|
|
$ |
110,201 |
|
|
|
$127,119, respectively) |
|
|
|
|
|
Equity securities, at fair value (cost of $2,369 and $1,905,
respectively) |
|
|
2,425 |
|
|
|
1,267 |
|
|
Short-term investments, at fair value |
|
|
28,055 |
|
|
|
25,929 |
|
|
|
Total investments |
|
|
141,113 |
|
|
|
137,397 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
21,549 |
|
|
|
28,035 |
|
Premiums and agents' balances receivable, net |
|
|
21,713 |
|
|
|
21,802 |
|
Receivable from Affiliate |
|
|
1,245 |
|
|
|
1,261 |
|
Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses |
|
|
61,101 |
|
|
|
82,651 |
|
Reinsurance recoverables on paid losses |
|
|
9,023 |
|
|
|
6,653 |
|
Prepaid reinsurance premiums |
|
|
21,929 |
|
|
|
16,399 |
|
Deferred policy acquisition costs |
|
|
8,326 |
|
|
|
10,290 |
|
Other assets |
|
|
7,172 |
|
|
|
7,862 |
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
293,171 |
|
|
$ |
312,350 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
and Shareholders' Equity |
|
|
|
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses |
|
$ |
145,362 |
|
|
$ |
165,539 |
|
|
Unearned premiums |
|
|
69,807 |
|
|
|
67,887 |
|
|
Reinsurance premiums payable |
|
|
7,463 |
|
|
|
6,144 |
|
|
Debt |
|
|
33,954 |
|
|
|
33,876 |
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
|
|
14,293 |
|
|
|
19,954 |
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
270,879 |
|
|
|
293,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders' equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, no par value (100,000,000 shares authorized;
12,215,849 |
|
|
|
|
|
issued and outstanding, respectively) |
|
|
97,968 |
|
|
|
97,913 |
|
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(59,759 |
) |
|
|
(60,760 |
) |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
|
(15,917 |
) |
|
|
(18,203 |
) |
|
|
Total shareholders' equity |
|
|
22,292 |
|
|
|
18,950 |
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity |
|
$ |
293,171 |
|
|
$ |
312,350 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conifer
Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries |
Consolidated
Statements of Operations (Unaudited) |
(dollars in
thousands, except share and per share data) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
|
|
March 31 |
|
|
|
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue and Other Income |
|
|
|
|
|
Premiums |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross earned premiums |
|
$ |
34,294 |
|
|
$ |
32,764 |
|
|
|
Ceded earned premiums |
|
|
(12,342 |
) |
|
|
(8,809 |
) |
|
|
|
Net earned premiums |
|
|
21,952 |
|
|
|
23,955 |
|
|
Net investment income |
|
|
1,307 |
|
|
|
507 |
|
|
Net realized investment gains (losses) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(69 |
) |
|
Change in fair value of equity securities |
|
|
694 |
|
|
|
280 |
|
|
Other gains (losses) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
Other income |
|
|
626 |
|
|
|
698 |
|
|
|
|
Total
revenue and other income |
|
|
24,579 |
|
|
|
25,366 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
Losses and loss adjustment expenses, net |
|
|
13,713 |
|
|
|
18,018 |
|
|
Policy acquisition costs |
|
|
4,721 |
|
|
|
5,464 |
|
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
4,279 |
|
|
|
4,160 |
|
|
Interest expense |
|
|
686 |
|
|
|
711 |
|
|
|
|
Total
expenses |
|
|
23,399 |
|
|
|
28,353 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before equity earnings in Affiliate and income
taxes |
|
|
1,180 |
|
|
|
(2,987 |
) |
|
Equity earnings in Affiliate, net of tax |
|
|
(179 |
) |
|
|
76 |
|
|
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(41 |
) |
Net income (loss) |
|
|
1,001 |
|
|
|
(2,870 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) per common share, |
|
|
|
|
|
basic and diluted |
|
$ |
0.08 |
|
|
$ |
(0.30 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average common shares outstanding, |
|
|
|
|
|
basic and diluted |
|
|
12,215,849 |
|
|
|
9,707,817 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For Further Information:Jessica
Gulis, 248.559.0840ir@cnfrh.com
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