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8-K - FORM 8-K - UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.d109521d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

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Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. Reports Record Fourth Quarter and

Full-Year 2015 Financial Results

Achieved Highest Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Net Income and EPS in Company History

Fort Lauderdale, FL, February 24, 2016 – Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UVE) today reported record fourth quarter net income in 2015 of $29.2 million, an increase of 39.0%, or $8.2 million, over the same period in 2014. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $0.82 for the fourth quarter of 2015, an increase of 39.0%, or $0.23 per share, over the same quarter in 2014. This compares to net income of $21.0 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, for the same period in 2014.

For the full year 2015, the Company reported record net income of $106.5 million, an increase of $33.5 million, or 45.9% compared to net income of $73.0 million for 2014. For earnings per share on a diluted basis, the Company reported $2.97 per share in 2015, as compared to $2.08 per share for 2014.

“I am very pleased with our outstanding fourth quarter results, concluding a year in which we delivered the highest earned premiums, total revenues, net income and diluted EPS in Company history,” said Sean P. Downes, Universal’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our track record of delivering consistent, organically generated growth is a testament to the strength of our strategy and business model. We continued to maintain focus on writing high quality, rate-adequate business, investing in our vertically integrated business model, improving our claims handling and customer service and building strong relationships with our independent agency force. We also continued to gain traction throughout 2015 on our geographic expansion efforts, concluding the year with a presence in 16 states. As a result of our efforts, our total insured value in states outside of Florida reached 16% as of the end of 2015, and policy count outside of Florida increased by 49%.

“Our record performance reflects the diligence and hard work of our employees and independent agents who form the cornerstone of our continued success. Looking ahead, we are better positioned now than at any other time in our history from an operational and financial standpoint, and we will continue to leverage our financial strength to return capital to our shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. As we enter 2016, our entire team is aligned on our goal of driving profitable growth and increasing shareholder value.”

Fourth-Quarter 2015 & Recent Highlights

 

    Net earned premiums grew by $55.2 million, or 57.8%, to $150.6 million.

 

    Total revenues increased by $57.6 million, or 55.1%, to $162.1 million.

 

    Net income increased by $8.2 million, or 39.0%, to $29.2 million.

 

    Diluted EPS grew by $0.23, or 39.0%, to $0.82 per share.

 

    Paid dividends of $0.27 per share.

 

    Received Certificate of Authority from New Hampshire.

 

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Fourth-Quarter 2015 Results

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2015 of $29.2 million reflects an improvement across multiple measures including an increase in direct premiums written, net premiums written, net earned premiums, net investment income, realized gains, commissions, policy fees, and income before taxes. The increase in net earned premiums reflects both growth in policies in force and lower reinsurance costs, including the elimination of quota share reinsurance effective June 2015.

Stockholders’ equity reached an all-time high of $293.1 million as of December 31, 2015 compared to $218.9 million pro-forma stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2014.

Full-Year 2015 Results

For the full year of 2015, the Company’s net income increased by $33.5 million or 45.9%, compared to 2014. Earned premiums, total revenues, net income and diluted EPS were higher than any other year in the Company’s history.

Diluted earnings per share for the full year of 2015 was $2.97, an increase of $0.89, or 42.8%, compared to 2014.

Share Repurchases

On November 18, 2015, the Company announced the completion of a $10 million share repurchase program with 363,100 shares repurchased at an average cost of $27.58 per share on the open market pursuant to the Board authorized share repurchase program announced on September 2, 2015.

On November 19, 2015, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized an additional share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to $10 million of its outstanding shares of common stock through December 31, 2016. The Company has repurchased 185,000 shares of its common stock at an average cost of $19.24 per share, with $6.4 million remaining to be deployed.

Cash Dividends

On November 5, 2015, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.27 per share of common stock which was paid on December 10, 2015 to shareholders of record on December 1, 2015. The $0.27 per share dividend includes the expected $0.12 per share fourth quarter dividend, in line with the dividends for the first three quarters of 2015, and an additional special dividend of $0.15 per share.

 

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On January 14, 2016, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had declared an increased cash dividend of $0.14 per share of common stock up $0.02 from the $0.12 per share paid the past four quarters. Payment will be made on March 2, 2016 to shareholders of record on February 18, 2016. The Company also announced that it expects to declare and pay a proposed regular quarterly dividend during fiscal year 2016 of $0.14 per share of the Company’s common stock.

Financial Results Presentation

The Company will make available an audio recording of a presentation discussing its fourth quarter 2015 financial results at approximately 5:00 pm Eastern on February 24, 2016. The presentation will be pre-recorded, and there will be no opportunity for live questions. The audio recording of this presentation will be available at www.universalinsuranceholdings.com until March 24, 2016.

About Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.

Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc., with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a vertically integrated insurance holding company performing all aspects of insurance underwriting, distribution and claims. Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company (UPCIC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, is one of the leading writers of homeowners insurance in Florida and is now fully licensed and has commenced its operations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Hawaii, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Delaware, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Minnesota. American Platinum Property and Casualty Insurance Company, also a wholly-owned subsidiary, currently writes homeowners multi-peril insurance on Florida homes valued in excess of $1 million, which are limits and coverages currently not targeted through its affiliate UPCIC. For additional information on the Company, please visit our investor relations website at www.universalinsuranceholdings.com.

Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors

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,” 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. Future results could differ materially from those described, and the Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements. 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 Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

 

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UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

ASSETS    December 31,
2015
    December 31,
2014
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 197,014      $ 115,397   

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

     2,635        2,635   

Fixed maturities, at fair value

     416,083        353,949   

Equity securities, at fair value

     42,214        19,642   

Short-term investments, at fair value

     25,021        49,990   

Investment real estate, net

     6,117          

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

     114,673        190,505   

Reinsurance recoverable

     22,853        55,187   

Reinsurance receivable, net

     353        7,468   

Premiums receivable, net

     50,980        50,987   

Other receivables

     4,626        2,763   

Property and equipment, net

     27,065        17,254   

Deferred policy acquisition costs, net

     60,019        25,660   

Income taxes recoverable

     5,420        5,675   

Deferred income tax asset, net

     13,912        11,850   

Other assets

     4,563        2,812   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 993,548      $ 911,774   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES, CONTINGENTLY REDEEMABLE

COMMON STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

LIABILITIES:

    

Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses

   $ 98,840      $ 134,353   

Unearned premiums

     442,366        395,748   

Advance premium

     24,813        17,919   

Accounts payable

     378        4,121   

Book overdraft

            5,924   

Reinsurance payable, net

     73,585        66,066   

Income taxes payable

            1,799   

Other liabilities and accrued expenses

     36,424        36,318   

Long-term debt

     24,050        30,610   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     700,456        692,858   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Contingently redeemable common stock

            19,000   

Issued shares – 0 and 1,000

    

Outstanding shares – 0 and 1,000

    

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

    

Cumulative convertible preferred stock, $.01 par value

              

Authorized shares – 1,000

    

Issued shares – 10 and 12

    

Outstanding shares – 10 and 12

    

Minimum liquidation preference – $9.99 and $8.49 per share

    

Common stock, $.01 par value

     455        448   

Authorized shares – 55,000

    

Issued shares – 45,525 and 43,769

    

Outstanding shares – 35,110 and 34,102

    

Treasury shares, at cost – 10,415 and 9,667

     (80,802     (62,153

Additional paid-in capital

     70,789        40,987   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes

     (4,006     (1,835

Retained earnings

     306,656        222,469   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     293,092        199,916   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities, contingently redeemable common stock and stockholders’ equity

   $ 993,548      $ 911,774   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2015     2014  

PREMIUMS EARNED AND OTHER REVENUES

    

Direct premiums written

   $ 199,261      $ 182,216   

Ceded premiums written

     (71,381     (98,106
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums written

     127,880        84,110   

Change in net unearned premium

     22,718        11,310   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Premiums earned, net

     150,598        95,420   

Net investment income (expense)

     1,779        801   

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

     768        274   

Commission revenue

     4,113        3,323   

Policy fees

     3,436        3,155   

Other revenue

     1,406        1,509   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total premiums earned and other revenues

     162,100        104,482   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES

    

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

     60,591        34,590   

General and administrative expenses

     53,629        32,966   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

     114,220        67,556   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     47,880        36,926   

Income tax expense

     18,728        15,954   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCOME

   $ 29,152      $ 20,972   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.84      $ 0.63   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding—Basic

     34,567        33,457   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fully diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.82      $ 0.59   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding—Diluted

     35,747        35,271   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash dividend declared per common share

   $ 0.27      $ 0.25   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2015     2014  

PREMIUMS EARNED AND OTHER REVENUES

    

Direct premiums written

   $ 883,409      $ 789,577   

Ceded premiums written

     (256,961     (399,730
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums written

     626,448        389,847   

Change in net unearned premium

     (122,449     (62,970
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Premiums earned, net

     503,999        326,877   

Net investment income (expense)

     5,155        2,375   

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

     1,060        5,627   

Commission revenue

     14,870        14,205   

Policy fees

     15,440        13,982   

Other revenue

     6,020        6,210   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total premiums earned and other revenues

     546,544        369,276   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES

    

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

     187,739        123,275   

General and administrative expenses

     183,782        118,397   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

     371,521        241,672   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     175,023        127,604   

Income tax expense

     68,539        54,616   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCOME

   $ 106,484      $ 72,988   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 3.06      $ 2.17   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding—Basic

     34,799        33,569   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fully diluted earnings per common share

   $ 2.97      $ 2.08   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding—Diluted

     35,884        35,150   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash dividend declared per common share

   $ 0.63      $ 0.55   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investor Contact:

Andy Brimmer / Mahmoud Siddig

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

212-355-4449

 

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