FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Universal Insurance Holdings (NYSE: UVE) (“Universal” or the “Company”) reported first quarter 2024 results.

“It was a strong quarter, including a 29.4% annualized adjusted return on common equity and 35.4% adjusted diluted EPS growth year-over-year,” said Stephen J. Donaghy, Chief Executive Officer. “Results were solid across the board, including profitable underwriting that was complemented by our non-underwriting operations, which is a testament to our differentiated business model. Direct premiums written growth accelerated sequentially, as policies-in-force are stabilizing following our previous underwriting initiatives.

“I’m pleased to announce the completion of our 2024-2025 reinsurance renewal for our insurance entities, as our program is now fully supported and secured. We've also secured additional multi-year coverage, taking us through the 2025-2026 hurricane season and have added new, financially strong reinsurers to our existing panel of long-term partners. This achievement reflects the diligence and planning of our reinsurance team throughout the year. Program cost and coverage were consistent with our expectations and we’ll provide specific details at the end of May, as we typically do.”

^*Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures are provided in the attached tables.

Quarterly Financial Results

Summary Financial Results

Net Income and Adjusted Net Income

Net income available to common stockholders was $33.7 million, up from $24.2 million in the prior year quarter, and adjusted net income available to common stockholders was $31.4 million, up from $24.0 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in adjusted net income available to common stockholders mostly stems from higher underwriting and net investment income, partly offset by lower commission revenue.

Revenues

Revenue was $368.0 million, up 16.3% from the prior year quarter and core revenue was $364.9 million, up 15.4% from the prior year quarter. The increase in core revenue primarily stems from higher net premiums earned and net investment income, partly offset by lower commission revenue.

Direct premiums written were $446.2 million, up 8.8% from the prior year quarter. The increase stems from 5.2% growth in Florida and 25.6% growth in other states. Overall growth mostly reflects higher rates, inflation adjustments and stabilizing policies in force.

Direct premiums earned were $482.1 million, up 5.9% from the prior year quarter. The increase stems from rate-driven direct premiums written growth over the past twelve months.

The ceded premium ratio was 30.7%, down from 38.0% in the prior year quarter. The decrease primarily reflects efficiencies associated with the 2023-2024 reinsurance program, including the benefits of multi-year reinsurance and the Reinsurance to Assist Policyholders (RAP) layer, partly offset by higher private market reinsurance pricing.

Net premiums earned were $334.0 million, up 18.4% from the prior year quarter. The increase is primarily attributable to higher direct premiums earned and a lower ceded premium ratio, as described above.

Net investment income was $13.5 million, up from $10.7 million in the prior year quarter. The increase primarily stems from higher fixed income reinvestment yields and higher yields on cash.

Commissions, policy fees and other revenue were $17.4 million, down 25.8% from the prior year quarter. The decrease primarily reflects commissions earned on Hurricane Ian related reinstatement premiums in the prior year quarter.

Margins

The operating income margin was 13.3%, up from an operating income margin of 10.9% in the prior year quarter. The adjusted operating income margin was 12.6%, up from an adjusted operating income margin of 10.8% in the prior year quarter. The higher adjusted operating income margin primarily reflects a lower net combined ratio and higher net investment income, partly offset by lower commission revenue.

The net loss ratio was 71.9%, down 1.2 points compared to the prior year quarter. The decrease primarily reflects higher net premiums earned associated with lower reinsurance costs in the current year quarter.

The net expense ratio was 23.6%, down 3.3 points from 26.9% in the prior year quarter. The reduction primarily reflects higher net premiums earned associated with lower reinsurance costs in the current year quarter and economies of scale.

The net combined ratio was 95.5%, down 4.5 points compared to the prior year quarter. The decrease reflects lower net loss and expense ratios, as described above.

Capital Deployment

During the first quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 208 thousand shares at an aggregate cost of $4.1 million. The Company’s current share repurchase authorization program has approximately $20.0 million remaining.

On April 10, 2024, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 16 cents per share of common stock, payable on May 17, 2024, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 10, 2024.

Conference Call and Webcast

• Friday, April 26, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. ET
• Investors and other interested parties may listen to the call by accessing the online, real-time webcast at or by registering in advance via teleconference at . Once registration is completed, participants will be provided with a dial-in number containing a personalized conference code to access the call. An online replay of the call will be available at soon after the investor call concludes.

About Universal

Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UVE) is a holding company providing 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 provide insurance products in the United States through both our appointed independent agents and our direct online distribution channels, primarily in Florida. Learn more at or get an insurance quote at .

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 core revenue, adjusted net income attributable to common stockholders and diluted adjusted earnings (loss) per common share, which exclude the impact of net realized gains (losses) on investments and net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments. Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income margin exclude the impact of net realized gains (losses) on investments and net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments and interest and amortization of debt issuance costs. Adjusted common stockholders’ equity and adjusted book value per share exclude accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI), net of taxes. Adjusted return on common equity excludes after-tax net realized gains (losses) on investments and net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments from the numerator and AOCI, net of taxes, and current period after-tax net realized gains (losses) on investments and net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments from the denominator. 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 are meaningful, as they allow investors to evaluate underlying revenue and profitability trends and enhance comparability across periods. When considered together with the GAAP financial measures, management believes these metrics 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 operational 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 March 31, 2024.

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 2023 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.

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