TROY, Mich., May 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Conifer Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNFR) ("Conifer" or the "Company") today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.
First Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights (compared to the prior year period)
- Combined ratio was 96.7%, an improvement of 2.8 percentage points from Q1 2023
- Expense ratio improved 2.6 percentage points to 34.7%
- Net investment income increased 18.7% over the prior year period to $1.6 million
- Net income allocable to common shareholders of $74,000, or $0.01 per share, based on 12.2 million weighted average shares outstanding
Management Comments
Nick Petcoff, CEO of Conifer, commented, "We are pleased to see the early signs of progress resulting from our strategic shift away from a risk-bearing carrier revenue model, toward wholesale agency, production-based revenue. Results to date have been encouraging, and we are proud to report a profitable first quarter for Conifer."
Strategic Shift to Non-Risk Bearing Revenue
As previously announced, Conifer made the strategic decision to shift its revenue model to focus on a wholesale agency, production-based approach beginning in 2024. Progress to date has been steady, and the Company's return to profitability in the first quarter of 2024 underscores the effectiveness of this strategic initiative.
Based on initial indications, Conifer ultimately plans to redirect all commercial gross written premium through its wholly owned managing general agency ("MGA"), Conifer Insurance Services ("CIS"). Accordingly, the Company anticipates that substantially all commercial lines business will be directly written by third-party insurers with A.M. Best ratings of A- or better by the end of the second quarter of 2024.
Conifer made considerable progress during the first quarter of 2024 in directing premium to capacity providers for coverage across multiple lines of business. Furthermore, the Company has ramped up transfer of cannabis premium to capacity providers and expects to ultimately shift all premium for this line of business to its capacity partners as well. The Company anticipates that this and other capacity initiatives will lead to substantially increased premiums placed for its agency segment and generate greater commission revenue over time.
The Company does plan to continue retaining and underwriting low-value homeowners business in Texas and the Midwest. As detailed in the Personal Lines results overview below, premium for the first quarter of 2024 increased 59.6% from the prior year period. Moreover, this line of business has demonstrated strong performance, leading to a combined ratio of 83.0% for the quarter.
2024 First Quarter Financial Results Overview
| At and for the Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | % Change | ||||||||
| (dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | ||||||||||
| Gross written premiums | $ | 24,313 | $ | 36,214 | -32.9 | % | ||||
| Net written premiums | 15,391 | 18,342 | -16.1 | % | ||||||
| Net earned premiums | 16,887 | 21,952 | -23.1 | % | ||||||
| Net investment income | 1,552 | 1,307 | 18.7 | % | ||||||
| Change in fair value of equity investments | 43 | 694 | -93.8 | % | ||||||
| Net income (loss) allocable to common shareholders | 74 | 1,001 | ** | |||||||
| Earnings (loss) per common share, basic and diluted | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.08 | ||||||
| Adjusted operating income (loss)* | 188 | 307 | ** | |||||||
| Adjusted operating income (loss) per share, diluted* | $ | 0.02 | $ | 0.03 | ** | |||||
| Book value per common share outstanding | $ | 0.21 | $ | 1.82 | ||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 12,222,881 | 12,215,849 | ||||||||
| Underwriting ratios: | ||||||||||
| Loss ratio (1) | 62.0 | % | 62.2 | % | ||||||
| Expense ratio (2) | 34.7 | % | 37.3 | % | ||||||
| Combined ratio (3) | 96.7 | % | 99.5 | % | ||||||
| * The "Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures" section of this release defines and reconciles data that are not based on generally accepted accounting principles. | ||||||||||
| ** Percentage is not meaningful | ||||||||||
| (1) The loss ratio is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of net losses and loss adjustment expenses to net earned premiums and other income from underwriting operations. | ||||||||||
| (2) The expense ratio is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses to net earned premiums and other income from underwriting operations. | ||||||||||
| (3) The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio. A combined ratio under 100% indicates an underwriting profit. A combined ratio over 100% indicates an underwriting loss. | ||||||||||
2024 First Quarter Gross Written Premium
Gross written premiums decreased 32.9% in the first quarter of 2024 to $24.3 million, compared to
$36.2 million in the prior year period. This decrease reflects the Company's planned decision to reduce premium leverage on our operating subsidiaries and focus on non-risk bearing revenue.
Commercial Lines Financial and Operational Review
| Commercial Lines Financial Review | ||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | % Change | ||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Gross written premiums | $ | 12,762 | $ | 28,975 | -56.0 | % | ||||
| Net written premiums | 8,287 | 12,241 | -32.3 | % | ||||||
| Net earned premiums | 8,797 | 17,123 | -48.6 | % | ||||||
| Underwriting ratios: | ||||||||||
| Loss ratio | 76.5 | % | 61.4 | % | ||||||
| Expense ratio | 32.7 | % | 36.2 | % | ||||||
| Combined ratio | 109.2 | % | 97.6 | % | ||||||
| Contribution to combined ratio from net | ||||||||||
| (favorable) adverse prior year development | 0.5 | % | -4.8 | % | ||||||
| Accident year combined ratio (1) | 108.7 | % | 102.4 | % | ||||||
| (1) The accident year combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio, less changes in net ultimate loss estimates from prior accident year loss reserves. The accident year combined ratio provides management with an assessment of the specific policy year's profitability and assists management in their evaluation of product pricing levels and quality of business written. | ||||||||||
The Company's commercial lines of business represented 52.5% of total gross written premium in the first quarter of 2024. As noted above, premium decreased considerably year over year as Conifer executed its planned shift over to its commission-based revenue model with our managing general agency, CIS. For example, as part of the planned reduction in premiums written, substantially all of the Security Guard program is now no longer being written on Conifer paper.
Personal Lines Financial and Operational Review
| Personal Lines Financial Review | ||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | % Change | ||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Gross written premiums | $ | 11,551 | $ | 7,239 | 59.6 | % | ||||
| Net written premiums | 7,104 | 6,101 | 16.4 | % | ||||||
| Net earned premiums | 8,090 | 4,829 | 67.5 | % | ||||||
| Underwriting ratios: | ||||||||||
| Loss ratio | 46.2 | % | 65.3 | % | ||||||
| Expense ratio | 36.8 | % | 40.8 | % | ||||||
| Combined ratio | 83.0 | % | 106.1 | % | ||||||
| Contribution to combined ratio from net | ||||||||||
| (favorable) adverse prior year development | -6.3 | % | -8.1 | % | ||||||
| Accident year combined ratio | 89.3 | % | 114.2 | % | ||||||
Personal lines, representing 47.5% of total gross written premium for the quarter, consists primarily of low-value dwelling homeowner's insurance in Texas and the Midwest.
Personal lines gross written premium increased 59.6% from the prior year period to $11.6 million for the first quarter of 2024, led by growth in the Company's low-value dwelling line of business in Texas.
Conifer was pleased to report strong performance in the premium it chose to retain: Personal Lines business posted a combined ratio of 83.0% for the first quarter of 2024. This represents an improvement of more than 23 percentage points compared to the prior year period.
Combined Ratio Analysis
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| Underwriting ratios: | |||||
| Loss ratio | 62.0 | % | 62.2 | % | |
| Expense ratio | 34.7 | % | 37.3 | % | |
| Combined ratio | 96.7 | % | 99.5 | % | |
| Contribution to combined ratio from net (favorable) | |||||
| adverse prior year development | -2.7 | % | -5.6 | % | |
| Accident year combined ratio | 99.4 | % | 105.1 | % | |
Combined Ratio:
The Company's combined ratio was 96.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, an improvement of 2.8 percentage points compared to the prior year period. This strong performance serves as a testament to the effectiveness of the company's risk mitigation strategies and its commitment to sustained profitability.
Loss Ratio:
The Company's losses and loss adjustment expenses were $10.5 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, down from $13.7 million in the prior year period. This resulted in a loss ratio of
62.0% for the first quarter of 2024, down slightly from the same period in 2023.
Expense Ratio:
The expense ratio demonstrated continued improvement in the first quarter, reflecting the Company's sustained emphasis on expense management: the expense ratio for the first quarter of
2024 was 34.7%, down from 37.3% in the prior year period and below the Company's near-term target of 35%.
Net Investment Income
Net investment income was $1.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to
$1.3 million in the prior year period.
Change in Fair Value of Equity Securities
During the quarter, the Company reported a small gain from the change in fair value of equity investments of $43,000, compared to a $694,000 gain in the prior year period.
Net Income (Loss) allocable to common shareholders
The Company reported net income allocable to common shareholders of $74,000, or $0.01 per share, for the first quarter of 2024.
Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)
Adjusted operating income was $188,000, or $0.02 per share, for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. See Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures.
Earnings Conference Call with Accompanying Slide Presentation
The Company will hold a conference call/webcast on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.
Investors, analysts, employees and the general public are invited to listen to the conference call via:
| Webcast: | On the Event Calendar at IR.CNFRH.com |
| Conference Call: | 844-868-8843 (domestic) or 412-317-6589 (international) |
The webcast will be archived on the Conifer Holdings website and available for replay for at least one year.
About Conifer Holdings
Conifer Holdings, Inc. is a Michigan-based property and casualty holding company. Through its subsidiaries, Conifer offers specialty insurance coverage for both commercial and personal lines, marketing through independent agents in all 50 states. The Company is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol CNFR. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.ir.cnfrh.com.
Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures
Conifer prepares its public financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Statutory data is prepared in accordance with statutory accounting rules as defined by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, and therefore is not reconciled to GAAP data.
We believe that investors' understanding of Conifer's performance is enhanced by our disclosure of adjusted operating income. Our method for calculating this measure may differ from that used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. We define adjusted operating income (loss), a non-GAAP measure, as net income (loss) excluding: 1) net realized investment gains and losses, 2) change in fair value of equity securities and 3) Other gains (losses). We use adjusted operating income as an internal performance measure in the management of our operations because we believe it gives our management and other users of our financial information useful insight into our results of operations and our underlying business performance.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events or our future financial or operating performance, and include Conifer's expectations regarding premiums, earnings, its capital position, expansion, and growth strategies. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on current information. The forward-looking statements are qualified by important factors, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including those described in our form 10-K ("Item 1A Risk Factors") filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024 and subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the SEC. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this report speaks only as of the date hereof or as of the date specified herein. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable laws or regulations.
Reconciliations of adjusted operating income (loss) and adjusted operating income (loss) per share:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| (dollar in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | |||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 231 | $ | 1,001 | |
| Less: | |||||
| Change in fair value of equity securities | 43 | 694 | |||
| Impact of income tax expense (benefit) from adjustments * | - | - | |||
| Adjusted operating income (loss) | $ | 188 | $ | 307 | |
| Weighted average common shares, diluted | 12,222,881 | 12,215,849 | |||
| Diluted income (loss) per common share: | |||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 0.02 | $ | 0.08 | |
| Less: | |||||
| Change in fair value of equity securities, net of tax | - | 0.05 | |||
| Impact of income tax expense (benefit) from adjustments * | - | - | |||
| Adjusted operating income (loss), per share | $ | 0.02 | $ | 0.03 | |
* The Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets as of March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023, respectively. As a result, there were no taxable impacts to adjusted operating income from the adjustments to net income (loss) in the table above after taking into account the use of NOLs and the change in the valuation allowance.
| Conifer Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries | |||||||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | |||||||
| March 31, | December 31, | ||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| Assets | (Unaudited) | ||||||
| Investment securities: | |||||||
| Debt securities, at fair value (amortized cost of $134,219 and | $ | 120,534 | $ | 122,113 | |||
| $135,370, respectively) | |||||||
| Equity securities, at fair value (cost of $2,374 and $2,385, respectively) | 2,387 | 2,354 | |||||
| Short-term investments, at fair value | 23,724 | 20,838 | |||||
| Total investments | 146,645 | 145,305 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 17,316 | 11,125 | |||||
| Premiums and agents' balances receivable, net | 24,056 | 29,369 | |||||
| Receivable from Affiliate | 1,155 | 1,047 | |||||
| Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses | 73,807 | 70,807 | |||||
| Reinsurance recoverables on paid losses | 5,075 | 12,619 | |||||
| Prepaid reinsurance premiums | 20,486 | 28,908 | |||||
| Deferred policy acquisition costs | 5,663 | 6,285 | |||||
| Other assets | 6,875 | 6,339 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 301,078 | $ | 311,804 | |||
| Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | |||||||
| Liabilities: | |||||||
| Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses | $ | 175,826 | $ | 174,612 | |||
| Unearned premiums | 55,231 | 65,150 | |||||
| Reinsurance premiums payable | 2,399 | 246 | |||||
| Debt | 24,946 | 25,061 | |||||
| Funds held under reinsurance agreements | 24,211 | 24,550 | |||||
| Premiums payable to other insureds | 8,840 | 13,986 | |||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 7,066 | 5,310 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 298,519 | 308,915 | |||||
| Commitments and contingencies | - | - | |||||
| Shareholders' equity: | |||||||
| Preferred stock, no par value (10,000,000 shares authorized; 1,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | |||||
| issued and outstanding, respectively) | |||||||
| Common stock, no par value (100,000,000 shares authorized; 12,222,881 | |||||||
| issued and outstanding, respectively) | 98,132 | 98,100 | |||||
| Accumulated deficit | (86,609 | ) | (86,683 | ) | |||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | (14,964 | ) | (14,528 | ) | |||
| Total shareholders' equity | 2,559 | 2,889 | |||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 301,078 | $ | 311,804 | |||
| Conifer Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries | |||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) | |||||||
| (dollars in thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||
| Three Months Ended | |||||||
| March 31 | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| Revenue and Other Income | |||||||
| Premiums | |||||||
| Gross earned premiums | $ | 34,232 | $ | 34,294 | |||
| Ceded earned premiums | (17,345 | ) | (12,342 | ) | |||
| Net earned premiums | 16,887 | 21,952 | |||||
| Net investment income | 1,552 | 1,307 | |||||
| Change in fair value of equity securities | 43 | 694 | |||||
| Agency commission income | 4,336 | 430 | |||||
| Other income | 260 | 196 | |||||
| Total revenue and other income | 23,078 | 24,579 | |||||
| Expenses | |||||||
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses, net | 10,520 | 13,713 | |||||
| Policy acquisition costs | 7,013 | 4,721 | |||||
| Operating expenses | 4,495 | 4,279 | |||||
| Interest expense | 877 | 686 | |||||
| Total expenses | 22,905 | 23,399 | |||||
| Income (loss) before equity earnings in Affiliate and income taxes | 173 | 1,180 | |||||
| Equity earnings in Affiliate, net of tax | 58 | (179 | ) | ||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | - | - | |||||
| Net income (loss) | 231 | 1,001 | |||||
| Preferred stock dividends | 157 | - | |||||
| Net income (loss) allocable to common shareholders | 74 | 1,001 | |||||
| Earnings (loss) per common share, | |||||||
| basic and diluted | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.08 | |||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding, | |||||||
| basic and diluted | 12,222,881 | 12,215,849 | |||||
For Further Information:
Jessica Gulis, 248.559.0840
ir@cnfrh.com
