United Fire Group, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2022 Results

Third Quarter Net Loss of $0.91 per Diluted Share and Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Loss of $0.47 per Diluted Share

In the third quarter of 2022, United Fire Group, Inc. reported:

• Net premiums earned decreased 0.3% compared to the third quarter of 2021
• Net premiums written ⁽¹⁾ increased 9.1% compared to the third quarter of 2021
• GAAP combined ratio of 111.7% driven by catastrophe loss ratio of 11.4% and unfavorable prior year reserve development of 5.9%. Expense ratio was 35.1%.
• Net investment income of $11.6 million increased 0.3% compared to the third quarter of 2021
• Year to date Return on Equity of (0.9)%
• Book value per common share of $27.82, down 20.6% compared to year-end 2021

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa , Nov. 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Fire Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: UFCS),

United Fire Group, Inc. (the "Company" or "UFG") (Nasdaq: UFCS) today reported financial results for the three-month period ended September 30, 2022 (the “third quarter of 2022”) with a consolidated net loss, including net investment losses and changes in the fair value of equity securities, of $23.0 million ($0.91 per diluted share) and consolidated adjusted operating loss of $0.47 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2022. The third quarter combined ratio of 111.7% was driven by catastrophe losses of 11.4% and unfavorable prior year reserve development of 5.9%. Hurricane Ian catastrophe loss represented 5.7% of the loss ratio. The unfavorable development in the third quarter of 2022 was primarily driven by other liability and commercial fire & allied lines of business offset by favorable development in commercial automobile and workers' compensation lines. In the third quarter of 2022, net premiums earned were effectively flat from the same period a year ago while net premiums written increased from the third quarter of 2021.

“I am honored to be here serving as the sixth leader in UFG’s 76-year history, and thankful for the support shown to me by my incredible UFG colleagues over the past several weeks,” said UFG President and CEO Kevin Leidwinger.

“The third quarter presented our industry with a number of challenges, including elevated catastrophe losses, rising inflation and declining asset values,” said Leidwinger. “Although these challenges negatively impacted our results in the third quarter, we remain confident in our path forward as we continue to execute on our strategic plan for superior financial performance.”

“Over the past two years, UFG has taken steps to improve profitability, diversify growth, enhance underwriting governance and reduce volatility. This is evident in the continued improvement in our net underlying loss ratio and increase in written premium compared to the same quarter last year. These corrective actions are largely concluded, and we’ve emerged well poised to grow our business responsibly and profitably. As we move forward, we will apply the same level of intensity to improving our expense ratio.”

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(1) Net premiums written is a non-GAAP financial measure of the amount charged for insurance policy contracts issued and recognized on an annualized basis at the effective date of the policy. Management believes net premiums written are a meaningful measure for evaluating insurance company sales performance. See Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliations to Comparable GAAP Measures for a reconciliation of net premiums written to net premiums earned.

Consolidated Financial Highlights:

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(1) Net underlying loss ratio is defined as the net loss ratio less impacts of catastrophes and reserve development.
(2) Underlying combined ratio is defined as the GAAP combined ratio less impacts of catastrophes and reserve development.
(3) Adjusted operating income (loss) is a non-GAAP financial measure of net income excluding net investment gains and losses, after applicable taxes. Management evaluates this measure and ratios derived from this measure and the Company provides this information to investors because we believe it better represents the normal, ongoing performance of our business. See Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliations to Comparable GAAP Measures for a reconciliation of adjusted operating income (loss) to net income.
(4) Return on equity is calculated by dividing annualized net income by average year-to-date stockholders' equity.

Total Property & Casualty Underwriting Results

Net premiums earned were down slightly while net premiums written increased 9.1% in the third quarter of 2022 reflecting growth in assumed reinsurance, other liability and surety, and slowing declines in other commercial lines. The overall average change in renewal premiums was 9.5%, with 3.8% from exposure changes and 5.7% from rate increases. Excluding the workers' compensation line of business, the overall average change in renewal premiums was 10.7%, with 4.0% from exposures changes and 6.7% from rate changes.

The combined ratio was 111.7% in the third quarter of 2022, up from 109.7% a year ago, with the increase driven by unfavorable prior year reserve development caused by inflationary pressures and other factors. On a year-to-date basis, reserve development has favorably impacted our combined ratio by 0.2% compared to a 3.6% benefit last year. Catastrophe loss ratio in the third quarter of 2022 of 11.4% includes 5.7 percentage points for Hurricane Ian and is 5.1 points below the same period last year. The underwriting expense ratio for the third quarter of 2022 was 35.1%, down from the same period last year by 1.2 points. On a year-to-date basis our expense ratio of 34.6% is 2.4 points higher than the same period last year primarily driven by the non-recurring benefit in 2021 resulting from the change in design of our employee post-retirement benefit plans.

Investment Results

Net investment income was $11.6 million for the third quarter of 2022. The slight increase in net investment income from the third quarter of 2021 was primarily due to higher yields in the fixed income portfolio offset by the change in the fair value of our investments in limited liability partnerships. The valuation of these investments varies from period to period due to the current equity market conditions, specifically related to financial institutions. Fixed income securities average yields have risen from both the third quarter of 2021 and on a year-to-date basis driven by higher interest rates.

(1) Fixed income securities yield excluding net unrealized investment gains/losses and expenses

Balance Sheet

Total consolidated assets as of September 30, 2022 were $2.8 billion, which included $1.8 billion of invested assets. The Company's book value per share was $27.82, a decrease of $7.23 per share, or 20.6 percent, from December 31, 2021. This decrease is primarily attributable to the $156.1 million decrease in the after-tax net unrealized value of our fixed maturity securities, shareholder dividends of $11.8 million and net losses of $5.1 million in the first nine months of 2022.

Capital Management

During the third quarter of 2022, the Company declared and paid a $0.16 per share cash dividend to shareholders of record as of September 2, 2022. We have paid a quarterly dividend every quarter since March 1968.

Earnings Call Access Information

An earnings call will be held at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on November 3, 2022 to allow securities analysts, shareholders and other interested parties the opportunity to hear management discuss the Company's third quarter of 2022 results.

Teleconference: Dial-in information for the call is toll-free 1-844-492-3723. The event will be archived and available for digital replay through November 10, 2022. The replay access information is toll-free 1-877-344-7529; conference ID no. 9309581.

Webcast: An audio webcast of the teleconference can be accessed at the Company's investor relations page at
http://ir.ufginsurance.com/event or https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=ReRsM4P6. The archived audio webcast will be available until November 10, 2022.

Transcript: A transcript of the teleconference will be available on the Company's website soon after the completion of the teleconference.

About UFG

Founded in 1946 as United Fire & Casualty Company, UFG, through its insurance company subsidiaries, is engaged in the business of writing property and casualty insurance.

Through our subsidiaries, we are licensed as a property and casualty insurer in 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, and we are represented by approximately 1,000 independent agencies. A.M. Best Company assigns a rating of "A" (Excellent) for members of the United Fire & Casualty Group.

For more information about UFG, visit www.ufginsurance.com or contact:

Investor Relations or IR@unitedfiregroup.com. 

Disclosure of Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements about our operations, anticipated performance and other similar matters. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expected and/or projected. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the Company, the industry in which we operate, and beliefs and assumptions made by management. Words such as "expect(s)," "anticipate(s)," "intend(s)," "plan(s)," "believe(s)," "continue(s)," "seek(s)," "estimate(s)," "goal(s)," "remain(s) optimistic," "target(s)," "forecast(s)," "project(s)," "predict(s)," "should," "could," "may," "will," "might," "hope," "can" and other words and terms of similar meaning or expression in connection with a discussion of future operations, financial performance or financial condition, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward-looking statements. Information concerning factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements is contained in Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 25, 2022. The risks identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other SEC filings are representative of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from what is expressed in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release or as of the date they are made. Except as required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. In addition, future dividend payments are within the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on numerous factors, including our financial condition, our capital requirements and other factors that our Board of Directors considers relevant.

Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliations to Comparable GAAP Measures

The Company prepares its public financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). Management also uses certain non-GAAP measures to evaluate its operations and profitability. As further explained below, management believes that disclosure of certain non-GAAP financial measures enhances investor understanding of our financial performance. Non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in this report include: adjusted operating income and net premiums written. The Company has provided the following definitions and reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures:

Adjusted operating income: Adjusted operating income is calculated by excluding net investment gains and losses, after applicable federal and state income taxes from net income (loss). Management believes adjusted operating income is a meaningful measure for evaluating insurance company performance and a useful supplement to GAAP information because it better represents the normal, ongoing performance of our business. Investors and equity analysts who invest and report on the insurance industry and the Company generally focus on this metric in their analyses.

Net premiums written: While not a substitute for any GAAP measure of performance, net premiums written is frequently used by industry analysts and other recognized reporting sources to facilitate comparisons of the performance of insurance companies. Net premiums written are the amount charged for insurance policy contracts issued and recognized on an annualized basis at the effective date of the policy. Management believes net premiums written are a meaningful measure for evaluating insurance company sales performance and geographical expansion efforts. Net premiums written for an insurance company consists of direct premiums written and premiums assumed, less premiums ceded. Net premiums earned is calculated on a pro rata basis over the terms of the respective policies. Unearned premium reserves are established for the portion of premiums written applicable to the unexpired term of insurance policy in force. The difference between net premiums earned and net premiums written is the change in unearned premiums and change in prepaid reinsurance premiums.

Supplemental Tables

NM = Not meaningful

(1) Commercial lines “Other liability” is business insurance covering bodily injury and property damage arising from general business operations, accidents on the insured’s premises and products manufactured or sold.
(2) Commercial lines “Fire and allied lines” includes fire, allied lines, commercial multiple peril and inland marine.
(3) Commercial lines "Surety” previously referred to as “Fidelity and surety”.
(4) Personal lines “Fire and allied lines” includes fire, allied lines, homeowners and inland marine.

NM = Not meaningful