TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Homeowners Choice, Inc. (NYSE:HCI), a leading provider of homeowners' insurance, today announced financial results for the three and nine months ended Sept. 30, 2012.
Third Quarter 2012 - Financial Results
Income available to common stockholders in the third quarter of 2012 was $2.8 million or $0.27 diluted earnings per common share, compared with $1.9 million or $0.27 diluted earnings per common share in the third quarter of 2011.
Gross premiums earned in the third quarter of 2012 increased 67.3% to $53.1 million from $31.7 million in the same year-ago period. The increase was primarily due to policies acquired from HomeWise Insurance Company.
Net premiums earned (defined as gross premiums earned less premiums ceded to reinsurance companies) in the third quarter of 2012 increased 65% to $30.6 million from $18.5 million in the same period in 2011. Reinsurance costs in the third quarter of 2012 were 42.4% of the company's gross premiums earned, compared with 41.6% during the same period in 2011.
Losses and loss adjustment expenses during the third quarter of 2012 were $15.0 million compared with $10.4 million in the same year-ago period. Losses and loss adjustment expenses in the third quarter of 2012 included approximately $3.2 million related to claims from Tropical Storm Debby and Tropical Storm Isaac, which occurred in late June and August 2012, respectively.
Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses in the third quarter of 2012 were $6.6 million compared with $3.5 million in the comparable period in 2011. The increase was primarily due to commissions and premium taxes related to the increase in policy renewals in 2012. Other operating expenses, which include a variety of general and administrative costs, totaled $4.7 million in the third quarter of 2012 compared with $2.4 million in third quarter 2011.
Third Quarter 2012 - Financial Ratios
The company's loss ratio applicable to the third quarter of 2012 (defined as loss and loss adjustment expenses related to net premiums earned) was 49.1% compared with 56.3% in the third quarter of 2011.
The expense ratio applicable to the third quarter of 2012 (defined as policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses related to net premiums earned plus compensation, employee benefits and other operating expenses) was 37.1% compared with 32.3% in the same period in 2011.
Expressed as the total of all expenses related to net premiums earned, the 2012 combined loss and expense ratio to net premiums earned was 86.1% compared with 88.5% in the same period in 2011.
Nine Months Ended Sept. 30, 2012 - Financial Results
Income available to common stockholders for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2012 was $16.8 million or $1.79 diluted earnings per common share, compared with $4.6 million or $0.70 diluted earnings per common share for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2011.
Gross premiums earned for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2012 increased 72.2% to $161.6 million from $93.9 million in the same period in 2011.
Net premiums earned for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2012 increased 107.0% to $108.1 million from $52.2 million in the same period in 2011. Reinsurance costs for the nine months ended 2012 were 33.1% of the company's gross premiums earned, compared with 44.3% during the same period in 2011. The decrease was due to lower costs during the first five months of 2012 related to policies assumed from HomeWise, which were subject to minimal reinsurance premiums because they were acquired late in Florida's hurricane season.
Losses and loss adjustment expenses for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2012 and 2011 were $50.4 million and $31.4 million, respectively. The company's losses for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2012 included approximately $5.3 million related to claims from Tropical Storm Debby and Tropical Storm Isaac.
Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2012 were $19.7 million compared with $10.6 million for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2011. Other operating expenses totaled $13.4 million in the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2012 compared with $6.9 million in the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2011.
Nine Months Ended Sept. 30, 2012 - Financial Ratios
The company's loss ratio applicable to the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2012 was 46.6% compared with 60.0% in the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2011.
The expense ratio applicable to the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2012 was 30.6% compared with 33.5% in the same period in 2011.
Expressed as the total of all expenses related to net premiums earned, the 2012 combined loss and expense ratio to net premiums earned was 77.2% compared with 93.5% in the same period in 2011.
Management Commentary
"We are pleased to report strong quarterly and nine-month results despite the impact of tropical storms that occurred in June and August 2012," said Paresh Patel, Homeowners Choice chairman and chief executive officer. "We believe we have strong momentum to carry us forward into 2013 and we look forward to continuing profitable growth."
Conference Call
Homeowners Choice will hold a conference call later today (Nov. 6, 2012) to discuss these financial results. The company's chairman and chief executive officer Paresh Patel and chief financial officer Richard Allen will host the call starting at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A question and answer session will follow management's presentation.
The conference call will be broadcast live on the following website at http://www.ir-site.com/hcpci/events.asp and will be available for replay until Feb. 6, 2013.
Those who wish to participate on the conference call should contact Jay Madhu, Homeowners Choice vice president of investor relations, at 813-405-3660 or jmadhu@hcpci.com.
For those who wish to listen to the call via telephone, please dial the listen-only telephone number below at least 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time:
| Toll-Free Number: | 877-407-8992 |
| International Number: | 201-689-8033 |
Homeowners Choice, Inc. is a Florida-based insurance holding company headquartered in Tampa. Through its subsidiary corporations, Homeowners Choice provides property and casualty homeowners' insurance, condominium owners' insurance and tenants' insurance. The company's common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "HCI" and are included in the Russell 2000 Index. Its Series A, cumulative redeemable preferred shares trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker symbol "HCIIP." More information about Homeowners Choice is available at www.hcpci.com.
The Homeowners Choice, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6712
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan" and "project" and other similar words and expressions are intended to signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions but rather are subject to various risks and uncertainties. For example, there can be no assurance that the company will continue profitable growth. Some of these risks and uncertainties are identified in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should any risks or uncertainties develop into actual events, these developments could have material adverse effects on the company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Homeowners Choice, Inc. disclaims all obligations to update any forward-looking statements.
| HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||
| (Dollars in thousands, except share amounts) | ||
| September 30, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | |
| (Unaudited) | ||
| Assets | ||
| Fixed-maturity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $38,624 and $34,147) | $ 41,397 | 34,642 |
| Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value | 9,522 | 5,207 |
| Time deposits | 7,267 | 12,427 |
| Other investments | 15,696 | 6,483 |
| Total investments | 73,882 | 58,759 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 141,922 | 100,355 |
| Accrued interest and dividends receivable | 334 | 408 |
| Premiums receivable | 17,499 | 12,222 |
| Assumed reinsurance balances receivable | — | 1,687 |
| Prepaid reinsurance premiums | 21,781 | 14,169 |
| Deferred policy acquisition costs | 12,548 | 12,321 |
| Property and equipment, net | 10,840 | 10,499 |
| Goodwill | 161 | 161 |
| Income taxes receivable | 1,495 | — |
| Deferred income taxes | — | 2,368 |
| Other assets | 1,849 | 1,869 |
| Total assets | $ 282,311 | 214,818 |
| Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | ||
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 38,726 | 27,424 |
| Unearned premiums | 120,845 | 108,677 |
| Advance premiums | 6,702 | 2,132 |
| Assumed reinsurance balances payable | 1,329 | — |
| Accrued expenses | 5,053 | 3,478 |
| Deferred income taxes | 977 | — |
| Dividends payable | 98 | 218 |
| Income taxes payable | — | 4,956 |
| Other liabilities | 7,494 | 4,103 |
| Total liabilities | 181,224 | 150,988 |
| Stockholders' equity: | ||
| 7% Series A cumulative convertible preferred stock (liquidation preference $10.00 per share), no par value, 1,500,000 shares authorized, 331,525 and 1,247,700 shares issued and outstanding in 2012 and 2011, respectively | — | — |
| Preferred stock (no par value, 18,500,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding) | — | — |
| Common stock, (no par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, 9,601,019 and 6,202,485 shares issued and outstanding in 2012 and 2011, respectively) | — | — |
| Additional paid-in capital | 53,209 | 29,636 |
| Retained earnings | 46,045 | 33,986 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | 1,833 | 208 |
| Total stockholders' equity | 101,087 | 63,830 |
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ 282,311 | 214,818 |
| HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income | ||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||
| (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||
| September 30, | September 30, | |||
| 2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | |
| Revenue | ||||
| Gross premiums earned | $ 53,109 | 31,741 | $ 161,579 | 93,855 |
| Premiums ceded | (22,506) | (13,211) | (53,475) | (41,607) |
| Net premiums earned | 30,603 | 18,530 | 108,104 | 52,248 |
| Net investment income | 47 | 486 | 871 | 1,557 |
| Policy fee income | 624 | 424 | 2,167 | 1,278 |
| Realized investment (losses) gains | (4) | 123 | 26 | 416 |
| Gain on bargain purchase | — | — | 179 | 936 |
| Other | 211 | 150 | 641 | 808 |
| Total revenue | 31,481 | 19,713 | 111,988 | 57,243 |
| Expenses | ||||
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 15,017 | 10,431 | 50,382 | 31,357 |
| Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses | 6,611 | 3,529 | 19,690 | 10,572 |
| Other operating expenses | 4,728 | 2,447 | 13,401 | 6,932 |
| Total expenses | 26,356 | 16,407 | 83,473 | 48,861 |
| Income before income taxes | 5,125 | 3,306 | 28,515 | 8,382 |
| Income taxes | 2,299 | 1,232 | 11,459 | 3,214 |
| Net income | $ 2,826 | 2,074 | $ 17,056 | 5,168 |
| Preferred stock dividends | (42) | (218) | (286) | (596) |
| Income available to common stockholders | $ 2,784 | 1,856 | $ 16,770 | 4,572 |
| Basic earnings per common share | $ 0.30 | 0.30 | $ 2.08 | 0.75 |
| Diluted earnings per common share | $ 0.27 | 0.27 | $ 1.79 | 0.70 |
| Dividends per common share | $ 0.20 | 0.10 | $ 0.55 | 0.30 |