SAFT Safety Insurance Group Inc

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAFT) today reported first quarter 2019 results. Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 was $29.9 million, or $1.95 per diluted share, compared to net income of $9.1 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, for the comparable 2018 period. Non-generally accepted accounting principles (“non-GAAP”) operating income, as defined below, for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 was $1.36 per diluted share, compared to $0.71 per diluted share, for the comparable 2018 period. Safety’s book value per share increased to $49.08 at March 31, 2019 from $47.01 at December 31, 2018. Safety paid $0.80 per share in dividends to investors during each of the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Safety paid $3.20 per share in dividends to investors during the year ended December 31, 2018.

Direct written premiums for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 decreased by $0.3 million, or 0.2%, to $203.4 million from $203.7 million for the comparable 2018 period. Net written premiums for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 decreased by $0.1 million, to $189.9 million from $190.0 million for the comparable 2018 period. Net earned premiums for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 increased by $2.5 million, or 1.3%, to $194.5 million from $192.0 million for the comparable 2018 period.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2019, loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred decreased by $11.6 million, or 8.4%, to $126.0 million from $137.6 million for the comparable 2018 period. Loss, expense, and combined ratios for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 were 64.8%, 31.1%, and 95.9%, respectively, compared to 71.7%, 31.7%, and 103.4%, respectively, for the comparable 2018 period. Total prior year favorable development included in the pre-tax results for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 was $12.0 million compared to $14.2 million for the comparable 2018 period.

Net investment income for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 increased by $1.3 million, or 11.6%, to $11.8 million from $10.5 million for the comparable 2018 period. The increase is a result of an increase in the average invested asset balance and improved investment income yields compared to the prior year. Net effective annualized yield on the investment portfolio for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 was 3.5% compared to 3.3% for the comparable 2018 period. Our duration was 3.2 years at March 31, 2019 and 3.6 years at December 31, 2018, respectively.

Today, our Board of Directors approved and declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.80 per share on the issued and outstanding common stock, payable on June 14, 2019 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 3, 2019.

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 operating income per diluted share consist of our GAAP net income adjusted by the net realized (losses) gains, net impairment losses on investments, change in net unrealized gains on equity securities and taxes related thereto. For the quarter ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $11.8 million for the change in unrealized gains was recognized within income before income taxes, compared to a decrease of $3.5 million recognized in the comparable 2018 period. Net income and earnings 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, and Safety Property and Casualty 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 www.SafetyInsurance.com. Safety filed its December 31, 2018 Form 10-K with the SEC on February 28, 2019 and urges shareholders to refer to this document for more complete information concerning Safety’s financial results.

Cautionary Statement under "Safe Harbor" Provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This press release contains, and Safety may from time to time make, written or oral "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “aim,” “projects,” or words of similar meaning and expressions that indicate future events and trends, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may”. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Company’s strategy for growth, product development, market position, expenditures and financial results, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. There are a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause actual future conditions, events, results or trends to differ significantly and/or materially from historical results or those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include but are not limited to the competitive nature of our industry and the possible adverse effects of such competition. Although a number of national insurers that are much larger than we are do not currently compete in a material way in the Massachusetts private passenger automobile market, if one or more of these companies decided to aggressively enter the market it could have a material adverse effect on us. Other significant factors include conditions for business operations and restrictive regulations in Massachusetts, the possibility of losses due to claims resulting from severe weather, the possibility that the Commissioner of Insurance may approve future Rule changes that change the operation of the residual market, our possible need for and availability of additional financing, and our dependence on strategic relationships, among others, and other risks and factors identified from time to time in our reports filed with the SEC, such as those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the SEC on February 28, 2019.

We are not under any obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. You should carefully consider the possibility that actual results may differ materially from our forward-looking statements.

     

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and SubsidiariesConsolidated Balance Sheets(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

  March 31, December 31, 2019 2018 (Unaudited) Assets Investments: Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $1,161,552 and $1,175,413) $ 1,173,384 $ 1,161,862 Equity securities, at fair value (cost: $143,608 and $142,948) 160,471 148,011 Other invested assets   26,238     23,481   Total investments 1,360,093 1,333,354 Cash and cash equivalents 22,892 37,582 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 188,654 190,062 Receivable for securities sold 1,079 1,039 Accrued investment income 9,450 8,420 Receivable from reinsurers related to paid loss and loss adjustment expenses 29,881 13,691 Receivable from reinsurers related to unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses 109,200 108,398 Ceded unearned premiums 33,537 33,974 Deferred policy acquisition costs 71,905 73,355 Deferred income taxes 2,949 8,749 Equity and deposits in pools 28,505 28,094 Operating lease right-of-use-assets 36,992 — Other assets   22,881     19,522   Total assets $ 1,918,018   $ 1,856,240     Liabilities Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves $ 581,762 $ 584,719 Unearned premium reserves 430,389 435,380 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 53,875 71,896 Payable for securities purchased 5,494 5,156 Payable to reinsurers 18,939 12,220 Taxes payable 8,286 6,090 Operating lease liabilities 36,992 — Other liabilities   27,219     22,135   Total liabilities   1,162,956     1,137,596       Shareholders’ equity Common stock: $0.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 17,663,364 and 17,566,180 shares issued 177 176 Additional paid-in capital 198,014 196,292 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes 9,347 (10,706 ) Retained earnings 631,359 616,717 Treasury stock, at cost: 2,279,570 shares   (83,835 )   (83,835 ) Total shareholders’ equity   755,062     718,644   Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 1,918,018   $ 1,856,240          

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and SubsidiariesConsolidated Statements of Operations(Unaudited)(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

  Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 2018   Net earned premiums $ 194,491 $ 192,033 Net investment income 11,751 10,531 Earnings from partnership investments 835 4,864 Net realized (losses) gains on investments (164 ) 1,306 Change in net unrealized gains on equity investments 11,801 (3,482 ) Net impairment losses on investments (a) (220 ) — Finance and other service income   4,085     4,467   Total revenue   222,579     209,719     Losses and loss adjustment expenses 126,027 137,644 Underwriting, operating and related expenses 60,434 60,856 Interest expense   22     22   Total expenses   186,483     198,522     Income before income taxes 36,096 11,197 Income tax expense   6,150     2,072   Net income $ 29,946   $ 9,125     Earnings per weighted average common share: Basic $ 1.97   $ 0.60   Diluted $ 1.95   $ 0.60     Cash dividends paid per common share $ 0.80   $ 0.80     Number of shares used in computing earnings per share: Basic   15,140,804     15,045,962   Diluted   15,305,785     15,191,139     (a) No portion of the other-than-temporary impairments recognized in the period indicated were included in Other Comprehensive Income.     Reconciliation of Net Income to Non-GAAP Operating Income   Net income $ 29,946 $ 9,125 Exclusions from net income: Net realized losses (gains) on investments 164 (1,306 ) Change in net unrealized gains on equity investments (11,801 ) 3,482 Net impairment losses on investments 220 - Income tax expense (benefit) on exclusions from net income 2,398   (457 ) Non-GAAP operating income $ 20,927   $ 10,844     Net income per diluted share $ 1.95 $ 0.60 Exclusions from net income: Net realized losses (gains) on investments 0.01 (0.09 ) Change in net unrealized gains on equity investments (0.77 ) 0.23 Net impairment losses on investments 0.01 - Income tax expense (benefit) on exclusions from net income 0.16   (0.03 ) Non-GAAP operating income per diluted share $ 1.36   $ 0.71        

Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and SubsidiariesAdditional Premium Information(Unaudited)(Dollars in thousands)

  Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 2018 Written Premiums Direct $ 203,387 $ 203,733 Assumed 8,245 7,948 Ceded   (21,694 )   (21,668 ) Net written premiums $ 189,938   $ 190,013     Earned Premiums Direct $ 207,308 $ 203,819 Assumed 9,315 8,887 Ceded   (22,132 )   (20,673 ) Net earned premiums $ 194,491   $ 192,033  

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190501005928/en/

Safety Insurance Group, Inc.Office of Investor Relations877-951-2522InvestorRelations@SafetyInsurance.com