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

Universal Insurance Holdings (NYSE: UVE) (“Universal” or the “Company”) reported fourth quarter and full year 2024 results.

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

“In 2024, we experienced three hurricanes, including Debbie, Helene and Milton, and we’re working hard, as we always do, to help our customers restore their lives,” said Stephen J. Donaghy, Chief Executive Officer. “We continue to see progress relative to claims trends in our Florida book and recently filed a modest rate decrease in the state that’s directly correlated with the legislative changes made in December 2022. We’re already well underway negotiating and placing our 2025 reinsurance program with 92% of our first event catastrophe tower already placed as we stand here today, along with significant additional multi-year capacity secured for the 2026 hurricane season.”

Summary Financial Results

Net Income and Adjusted Net Income

Net income available to common stockholders was $6.0 million, down from net income of $20.0 million in the prior year quarter, and adjusted net income available to common stockholders was $7.2 million, down from adjusted net income of $12.6 million in the prior year quarter. The decrease in adjusted net income mostly stems from lower underwriting income, partly offset by higher net investment income and commission revenue.

Revenues

Revenue was $384.8 million, up 2.5% from the prior year quarter and core revenue was $386.4 million, up 5.7% from the prior year quarter. The increase in core revenue primarily stems from higher net premiums earned, net investment income and commission revenue.

Direct premiums written were $470.9 million, up 8.8% from the prior year quarter. The increase stems from 0.8% growth in Florida and 38.4% growth in other states. Overall growth mostly reflects higher policies in force, higher rates and inflation adjustments.

Direct premiums earned were $519.3 million, up 7.7% from the prior year quarter. The increase stems from direct premiums written growth over the past twelve months.

The ceded premium ratio was 32.9%, up from 30.4%, in the prior year quarter. The increase primarily reflects replacement of the Reinsurance to Assist Policyholders (RAP) layer, which was provided by the state of Florida, with private market coverage.

Net premiums earned were $348.4 million, up 3.9% from the prior year quarter. The increase is primarily attributable to higher direct premiums earned, partly offset by a higher ceded premium ratio, as described above.

Net investment income was $15.6 million, up from $13.7 million in the prior year quarter. The increase primarily stems higher fixed income reinvestment yields and higher invested assets.

Commissions, policy fees and other revenue were $22.5 million, up 35.6% from the prior year quarter. The increase primarily reflects replacement of the RAP layer with private market coverage and replacement of the catastrophe bond with traditional reinsurance coverage in the 2024-2025 program.

Margins

The operating income margin was 2.3%, down from an operating income margin of 7.3% in the prior year quarter. The adjusted operating income margin was 2.7%, down from an adjusted operating income margin of 4.9% in the prior year quarter. The lower adjusted operating income margin primarily reflects a higher net combined ratio, partly offset by higher net investment income and commission revenue.

The net loss ratio was 82.3%, up 0.4 points compared to the prior year quarter. The increase primarily reflects higher weather losses, primarily from Hurricane Milton, partly offset by more favorable prior year reserve development.

The net expense ratio was 25.6%, up 3.8 points from 21.8% in the prior year quarter. The increase was primarily driven by higher policy acquisition costs associated with growth outside Florida and higher other operating costs.

The net combined ratio was 107.9%, up 4.2 points compared to the prior year quarter. The increase reflects higher net loss ratio and expense ratios, as described above.

Capital Deployment

During the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 370 thousand shares at an aggregate cost of $7.7 million. The Company’s current share repurchase authorization program has $2.6 million remaining.

On February 6, 2025, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 16 cents per share of common stock, payable March 14, 2025 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 7, 2025.

Conference Call and Webcast

• Wednesday, February 26, 2025 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 shortly 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 available 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 (loss) and adjusted operating income (loss) 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 (loss) (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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 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 2024 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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