Universal Insurance Holdings Reports Fourth Quarter 2020 Results

Universal Insurance Holdings (NYSE: UVE) (the “Company”) reported 2020 fourth quarter diluted EPS of $(0.57) on a GAAP basis and $(0.84) non-GAAP adjusted EPS1. Quarterly direct premiums written were up 21.9% from the year-ago quarter to $368.8 million.

“We ended the year with a record of $1.5 billion of premium now in force. Unfortunately, we also saw a record-setting frequency of weather events during the 2020 wind season, which impacted our fourth quarter and full year results,” said Stephen J. Donaghy, Chief Executive Officer. “In 2020 we continued our focus on underwriting, increasing our primary rates in Florida close to 20% for the full year, including 7% in the fourth quarter for reinsurance costs, as well as primary rate increases in some of our other states. We have continued to maintain a resilient balance sheet that has self-funded our risk bearing entities capital requirements, in addition to enhancing our reserves. We continue to be backed by our great reinsurance program and partners with close to 75% of our first event reinsurance capacity for June 1st, 2021 secured already. We continued our geographic expansion efforts in 2020, and implemented our catastrophe rapid response teams during the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated our use of digital technology for adjusting claims. We also continue to develop adaptive adjusting approaches to address claims loss cost trends. We look forward to 2021 as we continue to focus on resiliency and taking the necessary steps to provide reliability to consumers and reduce uncertainty for shareholders.”

Summary Financial Results

Total revenue grew double digits for both the quarter and the year, driven primarily by growth in net premiums earned (organic new business growth and primary rate increases), partially offset by increased reinsurance costs. Revenue growth was also attributable to realized gains on investments, and increases in service revenue, partially offset by decreases in net investment income. GAAP diluted EPS and non-GAAP adjusted EPS results for the quarter and the year benefited from the aforementioned items, but were impacted predominantly by weather events and related social dynamics and increased reinsurance costs.

Underwriting

Direct premiums written were up more than 20% for the quarter, led by the continued impact of rate increases in Florida and other states, as well as strong direct premium growth of 18.9% in Other States (non-Florida). For the year, direct premiums written were up double digits, led by rate increases and volume, with strong direct premium growth of 17.7% in Other States (non-Florida), and a slightly improved policy retention. In 2020 we implemented new guidelines on new business to address emerging loss trends that have since slowed the rate of growth in Florida.

On the expense side, the combined ratio decreased 18.9 points for the quarter, but increased 9.7 points for the year. The increases for the year were driven primarily by increased weather events in 2020, an increase in our core loss pick when compared to the full prior year, and the effect on the ratio from increased reinsurance costs. The increases were partially offset by lower prior year development, a benefit from our claims adjusting business, and an improvement in the expense ratio as set forth below.

• The expense ratio improved 2.3 points for the quarter driven by a 3.1 point improvement in the other operating expense ratio, partially offset by a 80 basis point increase in policy acquisition costs. For the year, the expense ratio improved 90 basis points driven by a 1.4 point improvement in other operating expenses, partially offset by a 50 basis point increase in policy acquisition costs. Increases in the policy acquisition cost ratio were primarily driven by the effect of reinsurance costs.
• The net loss and loss adjustment expense ratio increased 16.6 points for the quarter and 10.6 points for the year. Quarterly and full year drivers for 2020 include:
  • Core losses of $134.5 million or 55.6 points for the quarter and $538.5 million or 58.3 points for the year were primarily related to accruing incremental reserves as the industry continues to see increased severity in represented claims, which were offset by a benefit from our claims adjusting business. Reinsurance costs also drove increases in the core net loss ratio.
  • Weather events in excess of plan of $76.0 million or 31.4 points ($16.7 million in 4Q19) for the quarter were related to a number of weather events in the states where we do business. For the full year, weather events in excess of plan were $162.0 million or 17.6 points ($38.7 million in FY19), which includes one significant hurricane, Hurricane Sally, and a significant number of other smaller hurricanes and other PCS events.
  • Prior years’ reserve development of $23.4 million or 9.7 points for the quarter and $58.3 million or 6.3 points for the year were primarily related to the continued adjusting and settlement of Hurricane Irma and companion claims.

Services

Total services revenue increased 14.5% for the quarter and 17.6% for the full year. The increase was driven by commission revenue earned on ceded premiums and an increase in policy fees due to an increase in volume, partially offset by other revenue.

Investments

Net investment income decreased 62.7% for the quarter and 33.7% for the year, primarily due to lower yields on cash and fixed-income investments during 2020 when compared to 2019. Realized gains for the quarter and for the full year resulted primarily from taking advantage of increased market prices on our available-for-sale debt investment portfolio, and to a lesser extent aided by the sale of equity securities. Unrealized gains were driven by market fluctuations in equity securities resulting in a favorable outcome for the quarter and the full year.

Capital Deployment

During the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 193 thousand shares at an aggregate cost of $2.4 million. For the full year, the Company repurchased approximately 1.6 million shares at an aggregate cost of $28.9 million. The Company’s current share repurchase authorization program has $19.4 million remaining as of December 31, 2020 and runs through November 3, 2022.

Guidance

Universal initiated the following guidance for fiscal 2021:

• GAAP and Non-GAAP Adjusted EPS in a range of $2.75 - $3.00 (assuming no extraordinary weather events in 2021)
• Annualized return on average equity in a range of 17% - 19%

Conference Call and Webcast

• Friday, February 26, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. ET
• U.S. Dial-in Number: (855) 752-6647
• International: (503) 343-6667
• Participant code: 9074399
• 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: 9074399 through March 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

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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

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.

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