Conifer Q3 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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November 10, 2023

There are 6 speakers on the call.

Operator

Morning, and welcome to the Conifer Holdings Third Quarter 2023 Investor Call. All participants will be in listen only mode. After today's presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Please note this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Brian Rohney.

Operator

Please go ahead.

Speaker 1

Thank you, and good morning, everyone. Conifer issued its 2023 Q3 financial results after the close of market yesterday. You can find copies of the earnings release on the company's website, ir. Cnfrh.com. The slide presentation accompanying management's remarks this morning is available to view or download via webcast or from the Investor Relations section of Conifer's website.

Speaker 1

Before we get started, please note that except with regard to historical information, Statements made in this conference call may constitute forward looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements relating to trends, the company's operations and financial results and the business and the products of the company and its subsidiaries. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward looking statements due to various risks and uncertainties Underlying are forward looking statements as described from time to time in Conifer's filings with the SEC, including our latest Form 10 ks and subsequent reports. Conifer specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. In addition, a replay of this call will be provided through a link on the Investor Relations section of our website. During this call, we'll also discuss non GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G.

Speaker 1

Reconciliations of these non GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures are included when possible In our earnings release and our historical SEC filings, statutory accounting data is prepared in accordance with statutory accounting rules and is therefore not Reconciled to GAAP. We will conduct a Q and A session after management's prepared remarks this morning. With that, I'll turn the call over to Jim Peckoff, Executive Chairman and Co Chief Executive Officer. Jim?

Speaker 2

Thanks, Brian, and good morning, everyone. Also on the call with me today are Nick and Harold. Thank you for joining us today to discuss our Q3 financial results. Like the industry at large where personal lines has had a tough go, our quarter was mostly impacted by recent storm activity. After several years of systemic wind exposure reduction, for example, exiting Florida altogether or our hurricane risk is now almost negligible.

Speaker 2

Yet in the quarter, we were significantly impacted by wind in the form of convective storm. More specifically, our personal lines book of business was hit the hardest in Oklahoma. But before the storm activity in the period, we were generally pleased with the improving results. For example, Historically profitable core business, which continues to generate substantial top line growth in our emphasized key specialty verticals. We remain focused on executing in our historically profitable lines, which I believe speaks to the strength of our underwriting teams and their deep While the top line has been moving, we are also pleased to see the expense ratio coming into line with our ongoing expense management efforts.

Speaker 2

We posted a 34% expense ratio for the Q3. This continuous improvement demonstrates our persistent drive toward overall expense reduction. Before I hand the call over to Nick for more color on our underwriting results, I'd like to take a moment to note the transition that will take place at the end of this year where Nick will be taking over the role of CEO for Conifer. I'm proud to hand the reins over to Nick and I'm confident that the company is in good hands and on sound footing moving into a Nick?

Speaker 3

Thank you, Jim. I am genuinely excited to take on the role as well as the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for Conifer. As Jim noted, Conifer's long term prospects appear bright and improving in no small part due to the strategic direction and operational Commitment of continuously refining our overall business mix over the last several years. You've heard us talk about this before, but we're in an Even better positioned today than days gone by, and I'm pleased to see the collective team effort coming to ultimate fruition. Over the past Few years, our underwriting teams have been keenly concentrating on refining our business mix, narrowly focusing on those select specialty lines where we have a distinct competitive advantage and where we see logical growth and historical profitability.

Speaker 3

By focusing these key select verticals And maximizing the advantage of our team's underwriting experience, our efforts are optimized for lines of business where we have deep knowledge coupled with a proven track record. Gross written premiums for the Q3 were over $38,000,000 a 17% increase compared to the prior year period. This increase resulted from organic growth in our select operating verticals combined with ongoing rate increases. The primary driver for our Top line continues to be commercial lines business, which accounted for roughly 75% of total gross written premium in the period. In spite of planned premium reductions like in the State of Florida, our Commercial Lines production was still up 3% in the quarter to $28,000,000 Within Commercial Lines, our small business segment shows great potential for continued strong performance and comprised the majority of gross written premium for the quarter.

Speaker 3

Our Personal Lines business stands at just over 25% of total gross written premium for the Q3. Low value home and dwelling Insurance products are the main driver of the Personal Lines gross written premium, which in total was $10,000,000 for the 3rd quarter. While our business in Oklahoma has performed generally well over the last several years, it did severely impact our financials over the last couple of quarters, leading us to decide to non renew that book of business. In contrast, our low value dwelling book has continued to perform very well, including storms, posting a 53% loss ratio through 9 months this year. Before the impact of storm related losses, the personal lines accident year combined ratio was 91% for the 3rd Quarter of 2023 90% for the 1st 9 months of the year.

Speaker 3

Overall, when looking at our combined ratio before the impact of storm losses, The company's accident year combined ratio was 95% for the Q3. This highlights the fundamental strength of our book and demonstrates our commitment to attentive pricing practices and responsible claims management. As the effect of this quarter's storm related losses clears a way to reveal the strong foundation below, we The financial results to reflect improved combined ratios going forward. By devoting our efforts to the best performing lines of business, especially in our key select verticals, The company will continue to drive toward long term profitability. With that, I'll turn the call over to Harold to discuss the financials.

Speaker 4

Thank you, Nick. I'll provide a quick recap of the financial results, and I encourage investors to review our filings and presentation on the company's website for greater detail. As noted, gross written premiums increased 17% to just under $39,000,000 in the 3rd quarter. For the quarter, our overall combined ratio was 121%, due in large part to the elevated storm activity Nick and Jim noted in their remarks. Before the impact of the additional loss emergence from the 2nd quarter storm activity, Conifer's accident year combined ratio was 95% in the 3rd quarter.

Speaker 4

The loss ratio was 87% for the Again largely resulting from the convective storms that impacted much of the industry. This quarter's expense ratio was 34%, down 600 basis points from the same period last year and beating our target expense ratio of 35%. Despite lower net earned premiums, we continue to see the expense ratio improve as a result of our ongoing expense reduction efforts. Net investment income was $1,500,000 during the quarter, up 69% from 180 from $860,000 in the prior year period. For the 1st 9 months of 2023, net investment income was up 113% over last year to $4,100,000 Our investments remain conservatively managed With the vast majority of our investable assets in fixed income securities with an average credit quality of AA plus An average duration of 2.8 years and a growing tax equivalent yield of 2.9%.

Speaker 4

Also, we have a sizable portion of our investable assets in T Bills and Adjustable Floaters. Largely as a result of the $2,500,000 in storm losses in the 3rd quarter, the company reported a net loss of $2,700,000 or $0.22 per share compared to a net loss of $1,500,000 or $0.14 per share in the prior year period. Moving to the balance sheet, total assets were $293,000,000 atquarterend with cash and total investments of 159,000,000 Our book value at quarter end was $0.96 per share. We have a $1.96 per share in net deferred tax assets that Due to a full valuation allowance were not reflected in book value. And with that, I'd like to turn it back over to Jim for closing remarks.

Speaker 2

Thanks, Harold and Nick. In closing, I want to emphasize that we as we move forward, I remain confident in Conifer's ability to deliver long term value to our shareholders. I look forward to helping Nick in his new role in any way I can. With that, I'd like to invite any questions. Operator?

Operator

Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session. At this time, we'll pause momentarily to assemble our roster. And our first question comes from Paul Newsome from Piper Sandler. Please go ahead.

Speaker 5

Good morning. Thanks for the call. Congratulations to Nick for the position. I I was hoping you could start with the transaction that you did with Core Specialty and how you think that will affect Results prospectively?

Speaker 2

Well, I'll start. We did the in order to Consolidate the writings a little bit and delever the company. We looked at what the Cost was of the business that we had and the acquisition cost of that business was high for us due to the front fee and it was our higher loss ratio business That we had left on the books. So with that being gone, it enhances the statutory Strength of the insurance companies, so we look to that transaction to put us in a position to write the other business More efficiently and with less acquisition costs. But that's my view of it.

Speaker 2

Nick?

Speaker 3

No, I agree. Primarily, it bolsters the surplus level. The book was growing pretty substantially. As Jim mentioned, the acquisition costs were the highest Throughout the company, and we thought that the limits profiles were also very high. So from a reinsurance perspective, it was also costly.

Speaker 3

And we thought it made the most sense to move away from that book for all of those factors.

Speaker 2

So

Speaker 5

It looks like it was roughly a third of your gross premiums. So I assume that that There's no replacement for that. So prospectively, we should basically assume your gross premiums are up by a third and Impact on earned revenue should be what earned in or is I think they bought the premium business. So The UPR. The UPR.

Speaker 5

So I would guess that next quarter you're basically looking for a third less revenues, Is that fairly right, roughly?

Speaker 3

Yes. In the near term, we will see a dip As a result of the transaction, obviously, we see growth in other areas, so that will offset the decline out of that book of business. So yes, in the near term, we will see A decline in the premiums.

Speaker 5

I would guess, but I don't know this is certain because it happened at the end of the quarter. There was a difference between what you reported from a gross premiums perspective and a net written It was fairly unusual. Is that the transaction happening that Affected that very low written net written premium number in the 3rd quarter?

Speaker 4

Yes, absolutely. This is Harold. It's When we ceded the unearned premium, that was about $30,000,000 of unearned premium. So that shows up as ceded written. Now that does not affect any net earned premium for the Q3, but does affect cededwritten and netwritten.

Operator

There are no more questions in the queue. This concludes our question and answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Jim Petcoff for any closing remarks.

Speaker 2

Thank you, everyone. We appreciate your interest in the company and we look forward to seeing you in the future. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us. Thank

Operator

The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.

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Key Takeaways

  • Gross written premiums rose 17% year-over-year to $38.9 million in Q3, driven by organic growth in key specialty verticals, ongoing rate increases, and strong commercial lines (75% of GWP).
  • The combined ratio was 121% for the quarter due to convective storm losses, but the accident year combined ratio excluding storm impact was 95%, underscoring the underlying strength of the underwriting portfolio.
  • The expense ratio improved to 34% (down 600 basis points year-over-year), beating the 35% target and reflecting effective expense-management initiatives.
  • The company reported a $2.7 million net loss ($0.22 per share) in Q3, largely from $2.5 million in storm losses, while net investment income climbed 69% to $1.5 million on a conservatively managed AA+ fixed-income portfolio.
  • A leadership transition will see Nick assume the CEO role by year-end, supported by a strategic divestiture of a higher-cost business to bolster surplus, lower acquisition costs, and optimize reinsurance efficiency.
AI Generated. May Contain Errors.
Earnings Conference Call
Conifer Q3 2023
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