Universal Insurance Holdings Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results

• 2Q21 total revenue up 10.5% to $279.2 million
• 2Q21 direct premiums written up 17.0%
• 2Q21 diluted GAAP earnings per share (“EPS”) of $0.70, non-GAAP adjusted EPS¹ of $0.65
• 2Q21 combined ratio of 97.3%
• 2Q21 annualized return on average equity of 18.7%
• Florida primary average rate increase of 14.9% for UPCIC filed during 2Q21

 
¹ Excludes net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments as well as extraordinary reinstatement premiums and associated commissions (“non-GAAP adjusted EPS”). Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures are provided in the attached tables.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla., July 28, 2021 – Universal Insurance Holdings (NYSE: UVE) (the “Company”) reported 2021 second quarter diluted EPS of $0.70 on a GAAP basis and $0.65 on a non-GAAP¹ adjusted basis. Quarterly direct premiums written were up 17.0% from the year-ago quarter to $473.6 million, with an annualized return on average equity of 18.7%.

“We delivered solid second quarter results, highlighted by an 18.7% annualized return on average equity, despite continued social inflation within the state of Florida impacting loss costs,” said Stephen J. Donaghy, Chief Executive Officer. “We continue to address these trends, in part, with primary rate increase filings, which was a driver of our direct written premium growth during the quarter. We expect primary rate increases to be a tailwind over the medium to long term as they earn-in, but are relentlessly focused on performing through the near term pressure on carriers in the Florida property insurance marketplace, and lament about the unfortunate derivative consequence of price increases on consumers.”

Summary Financial Results

Total revenue grew double digits for the quarter driven primarily by rate increases from 2020 earning through the book as policies renew, an increase in policies-in-force when compared to the prior years quarter, and commissions earned on ceded premiums. Total revenue growth was partially offset by the impact of higher reinsurance costs when compared to 2020 and the investment portfolio’s performance. GAAP diluted EPS and non-GAAP adjusted EPS results for the quarter were driven primarily by an improvement in weather events when compared to the prior years quarter, and the benefit of a reduced share count, partially offset by the impact of loss cost trends on prior and current accident years. The Company produced an annualized return on average equity of 18.7%.

Underwriting

Direct premiums written were up 17.0% for the quarter, led by direct premium growth of 19.6% in Florida.

On the expense side, the combined ratio improved 2.2 points for the quarter. The improvement was driven primarily by decreased weather events, partially offset by prior year’s reserve development, current year strengthening and higher reinsurance costs impact on the ratio.

• The expense ratio decreased 1.0 point on a direct premiums earned basis due to continued focus on operating efficiencies, which was partially offset by the impact of increased reinsurance costs on the net ratio, resulting in a 60 basis point improvement in the net expense ratio for the quarter.
• The net loss and LAE ratio improved 1.6 points for the quarter. Quarterly drivers include:
• • A 7.5 point net improvement related to no weather events being above plan.

• • Adverse prior year’s reserve development of $7.7 million ($0.5 million in 2Q20) resulted in a 2.8 point net increase for the quarter. Net adverse development in the current quarter was driven primarily by continued adjusting and settlement of non-CAT claims on prior accident years.

• • Core losses of $159.5 million for the quarter ($133.9 million in 2Q20) resulted in a 90 basis point increase on a direct premium earned basis, driven by current year strengthening, which was further magnified by the impact of increased reinsurance costs on the net ratio, which led to a 3.1 point increase for the quarter on a net basis.

Services

Total services revenue increased 14.3% for the quarter. The increase was primarily driven by commission revenue earned on ceded premiums.

 Investments

Net investment income decreased 53.7% for the quarter. The decrease is largely attributable to significantly lower yields on the reinvested portfolio following the sale of a majority of securities in the portfolio that were in an unrealized gain position in the third and fourth quarters of 2020. 

Capital Deployment 

On July 19, 2021, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 16 cents per share of common stock, payable on August 9, 2021, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 2, 2021. 

Guidance 

The Company is maintaining its guidance for 2021 (assuming no further extraordinary weather events and no realized or unrealized gains in 2021):

• GAAP and Non-GAAP Adjusted EPS in a range of $2.75 – $3.00
• Annualized return on average equity in a range of 17.0% – 19.0%

 Conference Call and Webcast

• Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. ET
• U.S. Dial-in Number: (855) 752-6647
• International: (503) 343-6667
• Participant code: 5571912
• Listen to live webcast: UniversalInsuranceHoldings.com
• Replay of the call will be available on the UVE website and by phone at (855) 859-2056 or internationally at (404) 537-3406 using the participant code: 5571912 through August 13, 2021

 About Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.

Universal Insurance Holdings (UVE) is a holding company offering property and casualty insurance and value-added insurance services. We develop, market, and write insurance products for consumers predominantly in the personal residential homeowners lines of business and perform substantially all other insurance-related services for our primary insurance entities, including risk management, claims management and distribution. We sell insurance products through both our appointed independent agents and through our direct online distribution channels in the United States across 19 states (primarily Florida). Learn more at UniversalInsuranceHoldings.com.

 Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Performance Indicators

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including adjusted earnings per diluted share, which excludes the impact of the net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments as well as extraordinary reinstatement premiums and associated commissions. Extraordinary reinstatement premiums are not covered by reinstatement premium protection and attach just below the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”) reinsurance layer. Adjusted operating income excludes the impact of the net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments, as well as interest expense and extraordinary reinstatement premiums and associated commissions. A “non-GAAP financial measure” is generally defined as a numerical measure of a company’s historical or future performance that excludes or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments, so as to be different from the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). UVE management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the GAAP financial measures, provide information that is useful to investors in understanding period-over-period operating results separate and apart from items that may, or could, have a disproportionately positive or negative impact on results in any particular period. UVE management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures enhance the ability of investors to analyze UVE’s business trends and to understand UVE’s performance. UVE’s management utilizes these non-GAAP financial measures as guides in long-term planning. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information regarding our key performance indicators, please refer to the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Key Performance Indicators” in our forthcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

 Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “will,” “plan,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. Such statements may include commentary on plans, products and lines of business, marketing arrangements, reinsurance programs and other business developments and assumptions relating to the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, including those risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and supplemented in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Future results could differ materially from those described, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. For further information regarding risk factors that could affect the Company’s operations and future results, refer to the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

 Investor Relations Contact:

Rob Luther, 954-958-1200 ext. 6750
VP, Corporate Development, Strategy & IR
rluther@universalproperty.com

Media Relations Contact:

Andy Brimmer / Mahmoud Siddig, 212-355-4449
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher