Kinsale Capital Group Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

Author's Avatar
4 days ago

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (NYSE: KNSL) reported net income of $89.2 million, $3.83 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2025 compared to $98.9 million, $4.24 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2024. Net income included after-tax catastrophe losses of $17.8 million in the first quarter of 2025 and $0.5 million in the first quarter of 2024. Net operating earnings(1) were $86.4 million, $3.71 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2025 compared to $81.6 million, $3.50 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2024.

Highlights for the quarter included:

  • Diluted earnings per share decreased by 9.7% to $3.83 compared to the first quarter of 2024
  • Diluted operating earnings(1) per share increased by 6.0% to $3.71 compared to the first quarter of 2024
  • Gross written premiums increased by 7.9% to $484.3 million compared to the first quarter of 2024
  • Net investment income increased by 33.1% to $43.8 million compared to the first quarter of 2024
  • Underwriting income(2) was $67.5 million in the first quarter of 2025, resulting in a combined ratio(5) of 82.1%
  • Annualized operating return on equity(7) was 22.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2025

“Our business continues to produce exceptional profitability through the market cycle. We remain confident in our ability to deliver sustainable long-term value for stockholders as we execute our strategy of disciplined underwriting and technology-enabled expense management,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Michael P. Kehoe.

Results of Operations

Underwriting Results

Gross written premiums were $484.3 million for the first quarter of 2025 compared to $448.6 million for the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 7.9%. Gross written premiums in the Commercial Property Division, the Company's largest division, decreased 18.4% relative to the prior year period due to rate declines and an increasingly competitive environment including from standard carriers. Excluding the Commercial Property Division, gross written premiums grew 16.7%.

Underwriting income(2) was $67.5 million, resulting in a combined ratio(5) of 82.1% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $65.1 million and a combined ratio(5) of 79.5% for the same period last year. The increase in underwriting income(2) was largely due to continued growth in the business offset in part by higher catastrophe losses incurred. Loss(3) and expense(4) ratios were 62.1% and 20.0%, respectively, for the first quarter of 2025 compared to 58.8% and 20.7% for the first quarter of 2024. Results for the first quarter of 2025 and 2024 included net favorable development of loss reserves from prior accident years of $14.6 million, or 3.9 points, and $8.4 million, or 2.7 points, respectively. The loss ratio for the first quarter of 2025 included 6.0 points of net catastrophe losses, primarily related to the Palisades Fire. The loss ratio for the first quarter of 2024 included 0.2 points of net catastrophe losses.

Summary of Operating Results

The Company’s operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 are summarized as follows:

Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024

($ in thousands)

Gross written premiums

$

484,275

$

448,644

Ceded written premiums

(102,570

)

(97,590

)

Net written premiums

$

381,705

$

351,054

Net earned premiums

$

365,790

$

309,518

Fee income

9,559

8,092

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

232,976

186,786

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses

74,912

65,753

Underwriting income(2)

$

67,461

$

65,071

Loss ratio(3)

62.1

%

58.8

%

Expense ratio(4)

20.0

%

20.7

%

Combined ratio(5)

82.1

%

79.5

%

Annualized return on equity(6)

23.3

%

35.1

%

Annualized operating return on equity(7)

22.5

%

28.9

%

(1) Net operating earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure. See discussion of "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

(2) Underwriting income is a non-GAAP financial measure. See discussion of "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

(3) Loss ratio, expressed as a percentage, is the ratio of losses and loss adjustment expenses to the sum of net earned premiums and fee income.

(4) Expense ratio, expressed as a percentage, is the ratio of underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses to the sum of net earned premiums and fee income.

(5) The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and expense ratio as presented. Calculations of each component may not add due to rounding.

(6) Annualized return on equity is net income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders’ equity during the period.

(7) Annualized operating return on equity is net operating earnings expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders’ equity during the period.

The following tables summarize losses incurred for the current accident year and the development of prior accident years for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024:

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2025

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2024

Losses and Loss
Adjustment Expenses

% of Sum of Earned
Premiums and Fee Income

Losses and Loss
Adjustment Expenses

% of Sum of Earned
Premiums and Fee Income

Loss ratio:

($ in thousands)

Current accident year

$

225,047

60.0

%

$

194,654

61.3

%

Current accident year - catastrophe losses

22,578

6.0

%

578

0.2

%

Effect of prior accident year development

(14,649

)

(3.9

)%

(8,446

)

(2.7

)%

Total

$

232,976

62.1

%

$

186,786

58.8

%

Investment Results

Net investment income was $43.8 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared to $32.9 million in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 33.1%. This increase was driven by growth in the Company's investment portfolio generated largely from the investment of strong operating cash flows. Net operating cash flows were $229.8 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared to $210.4 million in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 9.2%. The Company’s investment portfolio had an annualized gross investment return(8) of 4.3% for both the first quarter of 2025 and 2024. Funds are generally invested conservatively in high quality securities with an average credit quality of "AA-" and the weighted average duration of the fixed-maturity investment portfolio, including cash equivalents, was 3.0 years at both March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024. Cash and invested assets totaled $4.3 billion at March 31, 2025 and $4.1 billion at December 31, 2024.

(8) Gross investment return is investment income from fixed-maturity and equity securities (and short-term investments, if any), before any deductions for fees and expenses, expressed as a percentage of average beginning and ending book values of those investments during the period.

Other

The effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 were 20.6% and 14.6%, respectively. In the first quarter of 2025 and 2024, the effective tax rates were lower than the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the tax benefits from stock-based compensation, including stock options exercised, and from tax-exempt investment income. The effective tax rate was higher for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 due primarily to a lower volume of stock option exercises.

Stockholders' equity was $1.6 billion at March 31, 2025 compared to $1.5 billion at December 31, 2024. Book value per share was $67.92 at March 31, 2025 compared to $63.75 at December 31, 2024. Annualized operating return on equity(7) was 22.5% for the first quarter of 2025, a decrease from 28.9% for the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was due primarily to higher average stockholders' equity and higher net catastrophe losses primarily related to the Palisades Fire. Average stockholders' equity increased as a result of profitable growth and an increase in the fair value of our fixed-income portfolio.

Share Repurchases

During the first quarter of 2025, the Company repurchased 23,348 shares of its common stock in the open market at an average price of $428.28 per share for a total cost of $10.0 million.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Net Operating Earnings

Net operating earnings is defined as net income excluding the effects of the change in the fair value of equity securities, after taxes, net realized investment gains and losses, after taxes, and change in allowance for credit losses on investments, after taxes. Management believes the exclusion of these items provides a useful comparison of the Company's underlying business performance from period to period. Net operating earnings and percentages or calculations using net operating earnings (e.g., diluted operating earnings per share and annualized operating return on equity) are non-GAAP financial measures. Net operating earnings should not be viewed as a substitute for net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, and other companies may define net operating earnings differently.

For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, net income and diluted earnings per share reconcile to net operating earnings and diluted operating earnings per share as follows:

Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024

($ in thousands, except per share data)

Net operating earnings:

Net income

$

89,227

$

98,941

Adjustments:

Change in the fair value of equity securities, before taxes

(3,038

)

(18,053

)

Income tax expense (1)

638

3,791

Change in fair value of equity securities, after taxes

(2,400

)

(14,262

)

Net realized investment gains, before taxes

(537

)

(3,866

)

Income tax expense (1)

113

812

Net realized investment gains, after taxes

(424

)

(3,054

)

Change in allowance for credit losses on investments, before taxes

20

(10

)

Income tax (benefit) expense (1)

(4

)

2

Change in allowance for credit losses on investments, after taxes

16

(8

)

Net operating earnings

$

86,419

$

81,617

Diluted operating earnings per share:

Diluted earnings per share

$

3.83

$

4.24

Change in the fair value of equity securities, after taxes, per share

(0.10

)

(0.61

)

Net realized investment gains, after taxes, per share

(0.02

)

(0.13

)

Diluted operating earnings per share(2)

$

3.71

$

3.50

Operating return on equity:

Average equity(3)

$

1,533,268

$

1,128,901

Annualized return on equity(4)

23.3

%

35.1

%

Annualized operating return on equity(5)

22.5

%

28.9

%

(1) Income taxes on adjustments to reconcile net income to net operating earnings use a 21% effective tax rate.

(2) Diluted operating earnings per share may not add due to rounding.

(3) Average equity is computed by adding the total stockholders' equity as of the date indicated to the prior quarter-end or year-end total, as applicable, and dividing by two.

(4) Annualized return on equity is net income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders' equity during the period.

(5) Annualized operating return on equity is net operating earnings expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders' equity during the period.

Underwriting Income

Underwriting income is defined as net income excluding net investment income, the change in the fair value of equity securities, net realized investment gains and losses, change in allowance for credit losses on investments, interest expense, other expenses, other income and income tax expense. The Company uses underwriting income as an internal performance measure in the management of its operations because the Company believes it gives management and users of the Company's financial information useful insight into the Company's results of operations and underlying business performance. Underwriting income should not be viewed as a substitute for net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, and other companies may define underwriting income differently.

For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, net income reconciles to underwriting income as follows:

Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024

(in thousands)

Net income

$

89,227

$

98,941

Income tax expense

23,084

16,926

Income before income taxes

112,311

115,867

Net investment income

(43,819

)

(32,933

)

Change in the fair value of equity securities

(3,038

)

(18,053

)

Net realized investment gains

(537

)

(3,866

)

Change in allowance for credit losses on investments

20

(10

)

Interest expense

2,538

2,422

Other expenses (6)

660

1,963

Other income

(674

)

(319

)

Underwriting income

$

67,461

$

65,071

(6) Other expenses includes primarily corporate expenses not allocated to the Company's insurance operations.

Conference Call

Kinsale Capital Group will hold a conference call to discuss this press release on Friday, April 25, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). Members of the public may access the conference call by dialing (800) 715-9871, conference ID# 6520221, or via the Internet by going to www.kinsalecapitalgroup.com and clicking on the "Investor Relations" link. A replay of the call will be available on the website until the close of business on May 23, 2025.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, such forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "believes," "seeks," "outlook," "future," "will," "would," "should," "could," "may," "can have," "prospects" or similar words. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Although it is not possible to identify all of these risks and factors, they include, among others, the following: inadequate loss reserves to cover the Company's actual losses; inherent uncertainty of models resulting in actual losses that are materially different than the Company's estimates; adverse economic factors; a decline in the Company's financial strength rating; loss of one or more key executives; loss of a group of brokers that generate significant portions of the Company's business; failure of any of the loss limitations or exclusions the Company employs, or change in other claims or coverage issues; adverse performance of the Company's investment portfolio; adverse market conditions that affect its excess and surplus lines insurance operations; and other risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.

About Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. is a specialty insurance group headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, focusing on the excess and surplus lines market.

KINSALE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024

Revenues

(in thousands, except per share data)

Gross written premiums

$

484,275

$

448,644

Ceded written premiums

(102,570

)

(97,590

)

Net written premiums

381,705

351,054

Change in unearned premiums

(15,915

)

(41,536

)

Net earned premiums

365,790

309,518

Fee income

9,559

8,092

Net investment income

43,819

32,933

Change in the fair value of equity securities

3,038

18,053

Net realized investment gains

537

3,866

Change in allowance for credit losses on investments

(20

)

10

Other income

674

319

Total revenues

423,397

372,791

Expenses

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

232,976

186,786

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses

74,912

65,753

Interest expense

2,538

2,422

Other expenses

660

1,963

Total expenses

311,086

256,924

Income before income taxes

112,311

115,867

Total income tax expense

23,084

16,926

Net income

89,227

98,941

Other comprehensive income (loss)

Change in net unrealized losses on available-for-sale investments, net of taxes

26,382

(9,940

)

Total comprehensive income

$

115,609

$

89,001

Earnings per share:

Basic

$

3.85

$

4.28

Diluted

$

3.83

$

4.24

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

Basic

23,170

23,108

Diluted

23,313

23,335

KINSALE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

March 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

Assets

(in thousands)

Investments:

Fixed-maturity securities at fair value

$

3,716,253

$

3,537,563

Equity securities at fair value

433,077

398,359

Real estate investments, net

15,045

15,045

Short-term investments

38,816

3,714

Total investments

4,203,191

3,954,681

Cash and cash equivalents

142,026

113,213

Investment income due and accrued

27,146

27,366

Premiums receivable, net

148,565

140,027

Reinsurance recoverables, net

374,115

337,891

Ceded unearned premiums

54,073

52,736

Deferred policy acquisition costs, net of ceding commissions

112,313

109,263

Intangible assets

3,538

3,538

Deferred income tax asset, net

50,313

60,215

Other assets

99,719

87,774

Total assets

$

5,214,999

$

4,886,704

Liabilities & Stockholders' Equity

Liabilities:

Reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses

$

2,470,643

$

2,285,668

Unearned premiums

845,701

828,449

Payable to reinsurers

44,766

43,959

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

22,962

55,159

Debt

184,191

184,122

Other liabilities

63,761

5,786

Total liabilities

3,632,024

3,403,143

Stockholders' equity

1,582,975

1,483,561

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

5,214,999

$

4,886,704

CT?id=bwnews&sty=20250424651931r1&sid=txguf&distro=ftp

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250424651931/en/