PTVCA - Protective Insurance Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results

CARMEL, Indiana, Feb. 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Protective Insurance Corporation (formerly Baldwin & Lyons, Inc.) (NASDAQ: PTVCA, PTVCB) today reported results for the fourth quarter and twelve months of 2018.  The Company produced a fourth quarter net loss of $24.6 million, or $1.65 per share, which compares to net income of $16.5 million, or $1.10 per share, for the prior year’s fourth quarter.  For the full year of 2018, net loss totaled $34.1 million, or $2.28 per share, which compares to net income of $18.3 million, or $1.21 per share, for the prior year period. 

• Gross premiums written increased 5.9% for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to the prior year and 15.4% during the full year of 2018 compared to the prior year.
• Net investment income increased 6.7% for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to the prior year and 21.8% during the full year of 2018 compared to the prior year.
• Combined ratio of 112.2% for the fourth quarter of 2018 and 108.6% for the full year of 2018.

Net premiums earned for the fourth quarter of 2018 increased 22.2% to $118.7 million compared to the prior year period.  For the full year of 2018, net premiums earned increased 31.9% to $432.9 million compared to the prior year period, which is a result of continued growth in the Company’s commercial automobile and workers’ compensation products, in both our retail and program distribution channels. 

Gross premiums written for the fourth quarter of 2018 increased 5.9% to $152.7 million compared to $144.2 million written during the prior year period.  As with net premiums earned, the increases were primarily driven by continued growth in the Company’s commercial automobile and workers’ compensation products in both our retail and program distribution channels.  Gross premiums written for the full year of 2018 increased 15.4% to $582.5 million compared to $504.7 million written during the 2017 period, reflecting growth impacts similar to those experienced during the fourth quarter. 

Underwriting operations produced a combined ratio of 112.2% during the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to a combined ratio of 99.3% for the prior year period.  For the full year of 2018, the combined ratio was 108.6%, which compares to a combined ratio of 108.4% for 2017.  The fourth quarter 2018 increase in the combined ratio reflects an increase in the current accident year loss ratio related to severe commercial automobile losses.  The elevated combined ratio for the full year 2018 reflects: (1) unfavorable prior accident year loss development of $16.8 million related to commercial automobile coverages, (2) ceding an additional $17.3 million in premium, related to variable premium adjustment provisions in our historical reinsurance treaties, and (3) an increase in current accident year loss estimates as noted above.  This reserve strengthening was the result of increased claim severity due to a more challenging litigation environment, as well as an increase in the time to settle claims.

Commercial auto products covered by our reinsurance treaties are subject to an aggregate stop-loss provision. Once this aggregate stop-loss level is reached, for every $100 of additional loss, the Company is responsible only for its $25 retention.  The following table illustrates the financial impact of a further 5% or 10% increase in ultimate losses for the five most recent reinsurance treaty years (2013-2017) covering these commercial auto products:

Net investment income for the fourth quarter of 2018 increased 6.7% to $6.0 million compared to $5.7 million in the prior year period.  The increase reflected an increase in average funds invested resulting from positive cash flow, as well as higher interest rates, which led to higher reinvestment yields for our short-duration fixed income portfolio.  Our fixed income investment portfolio continues to emphasize shorter-duration instruments. If there was a hypothetical increase in interest rates of 100 basis points, the price of our bonds at December 31, 2018 would be expected to fall by approximately 2.8%.  Credit quality remains high with a weighted average rating of AA-, including cash.  For the full year of 2018, net investment income increased 21.8% to $22.0 million, compared to $18.1 million in 2017, reflecting investment dynamics similar to those noted above.

Premium growth is continuing to have a favorable impact on our expense ratio, consistent with our stated strategy to leverage the Company’s fixed expense base to improve the expense ratio over time.  The 4.3% decline in the expense ratio during the full year of 2018 when compared to 2017 reflects this fixed expense leverage.  Favorable prior accident year loss development from our workers’ compensation products also positively impacted the expense ratio as a result of increased ceding commission income from prior year contingent reinsurance contracts, which reduces expenses.

Book value per share as of December 31, 2018 was $23.95, a decrease of $2.01 per share during the fourth quarter, after the payment of cash dividends to shareholders totaling $0.28 per share.  For the full year of 2018, book value per share decreased $3.88 after the payment of cash dividends to shareholders totaling $1.12 per share.

The Company's net income (loss), determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) includes items that may not be indicative of ongoing operations. The following table reconciles income (loss) before federal income taxes (benefits) to underwriting income (loss), a non-GAAP financial measure that is a useful tool for investors and analysts in analyzing ongoing operating trends.

Loss from core business operations, before federal income tax benefits, was $8.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to income from core business operations, before federal income taxes, of $6.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2017.  For the full year of 2018, loss from core business operations, before federal income tax benefits, totaled $15.0 million compared to a loss from core business operations, before federal income tax benefits, of $9.6 million during the 2017 period.

The Company’s management uses the term income (loss) from core business operations, a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as income before federal income taxes excluding pre-tax realized and unrealized investment gains and losses and impairments.  This financial measure is used to evaluate the Company’s performance because the recognition of investment gains and losses and impairments in any given period is largely discretionary as to timing and could distort the analysis of trends.

The combined ratios and the components, as presented herein, are commonly used in the property/casualty insurance industry and are applied to the Company’s GAAP underwriting results.

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company reallocated approximately $24 million of equity securities into short-duration treasuries.  This reallocation was consistent with investment activity during the first, second and third quarters and, for the full year of 2018, approximately $122 million of equity securities were reallocated to short-duration treasuries.  These equity sales further solidified the conservative nature of our high quality, short-duration investment portfolio; opportunistically utilized the new lower corporate tax rate of 21%, which was beneficial given the low tax basis of many of these equity positions; and were accretive to income, given the increase in yields at the shorter end of the yield curve.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standard

Accounting guidance for recognizing the mark-to-market change in our equity investments portfolio was revised in 2018 under FASB ASU 2016-01: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.  As a result of the Company adopting this accounting standard update, effective January 1, 2018, equity portfolio investments are measured at fair value (i.e. marked-to-market) and any changes in fair value are recognized in net income through the Income Statement.  Previously, the Company’s equity portfolio securities, excluding those held within limited partnerships, were classified as available-for-sale and changes in fair value were recorded in other comprehensive income on the Balance Sheet.

Upon adoption of this ASU, cumulative net unrealized gains on equity securities of $71.0 million, ($46.2 million, net of tax), were reclassified within the equity section of the Balance Sheet from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.  This adjustment had no overall impact on shareholders’ equity, however since these net unrealized gains are now included within retained earnings, they will not appear as realized gains on the Income Statement when sold.  During the fourth quarter of 2018, we sold $31.5 million in equity securities resulting in a gain on sale of $1.1 million and during the full year of 2018, we sold $149.2 million in equity securities resulting in a gain on sale of $51.9 million.  Since the majority of this gain was already included in retained earnings on the Balance Sheet, that portion already included in retained earnings was not recognized within realized gains on the Income Statement.

Conference Call Information:

Protective Insurance Corporation has scheduled its quarterly conference call for Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at 11:00 AM EST to discuss results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018.

To participate via teleconference, investors may dial 1-877-705-6003 (U.S./Canada) or 1-201-493-6725 (International or local) at least five minutes prior to the beginning of the call.  A replay of the call will be available through March 6, 2019 by calling 1-844-512-2921 or 1-412-317-6671 and referencing passcode 13686155.  Investors and interested parties may also listen to the call via a live webcast, accessible on the company’s web site via a link at the top of the main Investor Relations page.  To participate in the webcast, please register at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the call.  The webcast will be archived on this site until August 27, 2019. The webcast may be accessed directly at: http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=132660.

Also available on the investor relations section of our web site is an investor presentation providing additional information to be reviewed in conjunction with our earnings call.  We have also made available complete interim financial statements and copies of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-K but do not include all of the information and footnotes as disclosed in the Company’s annual audited financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair presentation have been included. 

Forward-looking statements in this report are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties.  Readers are encouraged to review the Company's annual report for its full statement regarding forward-looking information. 

Investor Contact:  William Vens
investors@protectiveinsurance.com
(317) 429-2554