United Fire Group, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2015 Results

Consolidated Financial Results - Highlights:

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Aug. 4, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Fire Group, Inc. (the "Company") UFCS today reported consolidated operating income⁽¹⁾ of $0.57 per diluted share for the three-month period ended June 30, 2015 (the "second quarter"), compared to consolidated operating income of $0.35 per diluted share for the same period in 2014. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2015 ("year-to-date"), consolidated operating income was $1.50, compared to consolidated operating income of $0.82 per diluted share for the same period in 2014.

The Company reported consolidated net income, including net realized investment gains and losses, of $15.0 million ($0.59 per diluted share) for the second quarter, compared to consolidated net income of $10.7 million ($0.42 per diluted share) for the same period in 2014. Year-to-date, consolidated net income, including net realized investment gains and losses was $38.7 million ($1.54 per diluted share), compared to $24.0 million ($0.94 per diluted share) for the same period in 2014.

"I'm pleased to report that we remain on track to meet our 2020 Vision objectives," stated Randy A. Ramlo, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our book of business continues to perform as expected." For the quarter, consolidated net premiums earned increased 13.6 percent due to both prior rate increases in our commercial lines of business and new business, and our total revenues increased 10.0 percent. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2015, consolidated net premiums earned increased 12.0 percent and total revenues increased 8.5 percent. We continue to believe that 2015 will be a milestone year as the Company continues to be on pace to achieve the $1 billion revenue threshold."

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(1) Operating income (loss) is a commonly used non-GAAP financial measure of net income (loss) excluding realized investment gains and losses and related federal income taxes. Because our calculation may differ from similar measures used by other companies, investors should be careful when comparing our measure of operating income to that of other companies. Management evaluates this measure and ratios derived from this measure because we believe it better represents the normal, ongoing performance of our business. See Supplemental Tables - Financial Highlights for a reconciliation of operating income to net income. 
(2) Per share amounts are after tax. 
(3) Return on equity is calculated by dividing annualized net income by average year-to-date equity.

"Our return on equity improved by 3.4 percentage points compared to June 30, 2014," continued Ramlo. "We diligently strive for an ROE that is on par with our top performing peers."

"Second quarter 2015 was a continuation of solid results recognized in the last couple of quarters," stated Ramlo, "which is an indication to us that the strategies implemented to execute our 2020 Vision are proving successful. We continue to experience improvement in both our underlying underwriting performance and our expense ratio."

The Company recognized consolidated net realized investment gains of $0.8 million during the second quarter, compared to consolidated net realized investment gains of $2.7 million for the same period in 2014.

Consolidated net investment income was $25.8 million for the second quarter, a decrease of 6.6 percent, as compared to net investment income of $27.6 million for the same period in 2014. Year-to-date, consolidated net investment income was $50.2 million, compared to net investment income of $54.4 million for the same period in 2014. The decreases are due to the decline in the reinvestment interest rates from the continued low interest rate environment as well as a lower invested asset base due to decreases in annuity holdings.

Consolidated net unrealized investment gains, net of tax, totaled $132.7 million as of June 30, 2015, a decrease of $16.9 million or 11.3 percent from December 31, 2014. The decrease in net unrealized investment gains resulted from interest rate increases at June 30, 2015.

Total consolidated assets as of June 30, 2015 were $3.9 billion, which included $3.1 billion of invested assets. The Company's book value per share was $33.21, which is an increase of $0.54 per share or 1.7 percent from December 31, 2014 and is primarily attributed to net income of $38.7 million offset by a decrease in net unrealized investment gains of $16.9 million, net of tax, during the first six months of 2015, and shareholder dividends of $10.5 million.

The annualized return on equity was 9.4 percent as of June 30, 2015. 

P&C Segment

Net income for the property and casualty insurance segment, including net realized investment gains and losses, totaled $13.3 million ($0.52 per diluted share) for the second quarter, compared to net income of $9.5 million ($0.37 per diluted share) in the same period in 2014. Year-to-date, net income for the property and casualty insurance segment, including realized investment gains and losses, totaled $36.4 million ($1.45 per diluted share), compared to net income of $21.4 million ($0.83 per diluted share) in the same period of 2014.

Net premiums earned increased 11.4 percent to $209.3 million in the second quarter, compared to $187.8 million in the same period of 2014. Year-to-date, net premiums earned increased 11.5 percent to $409.4 million, compared to $367.3 million in the same period of 2014.

"Modest rate increases still obtainable; still exceed loss cost trends."

"Commercial lines renewal pricing increased during the quarter with average percentage increases in the low-single digits on most small and mid-market accounts," stated Ramlo, "but larger accounts have become more competitive."

"The loss ratio on our workers' compensation line of business continues to improve and has benefited from past rate increases and the elimination of poor performing accounts," continued Ramlo. "We have also reduced our percentage of high hazard classes of business, making for less severe losses."

"Personal auto lines renewal pricing increases during the quarter remained at low-single digits," stated Ramlo, "while homeowners pricing experienced average percentage increases in the mid-single digits, especially in areas affected by large convective storms. Competitive market conditions persisted on new business during the quarter."

"Premiums written from new business remained strong," stated Ramlo. "Our success ratio on quoted accounts was down due to increased competition and our willingness to walk away from business inappropriately priced."

"Catastrophes during second quarter were within expectations."

Catastrophe losses totaled $20.2 million ($0.52 per share after tax) for the second quarter, compared to $20.6 million ($0.53 per share after tax) for the same period in 2014. Year-to-date, catastrophe losses totaled $20.4 million ($0.53 per share after tax), compared to $23.9 million ($0.61 per share) for the same period in 2014.

"Catastrophe losses for the second quarter were consistent with our expectations," stated Ramlo. "Catastrophe losses added 9.6 percentage points to the combined ratio and impacted earnings by $0.52 per diluted share. Year-to-date catastrophe losses added 5.0 percentage points to the combined ratio and impacted earnings by $0.53 per share."

"Our expectations for catastrophe losses in any given year is six percentage points of the combined ratio," continued Ramlo. "As a reminder, second and third quarters are more storm- and catastrophe-laden in geographic areas where we conduct much of our business due to spring and summer convective storms and hurricanes."

The property and casualty insurance segment experienced $6.7 million of favorable development in our net reserves for prior accident years during the second quarter, compared to $11.3 million of favorable reserve development in the same period in 2014. Year-to-date, favorable development in our net reserves for prior accident years was $23.4 million, compared to $25.8 million in the same period in 2014. Development amounts can vary significantly from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year depending on a number of factors, including the number of claims settled and the settlement terms. At June 30, 2015, our total reserves are within our actuarial estimates.

The GAAP combined ratio improved by 4.0 percentage points to 97.7 percent for the second quarter, compared to 101.7 percent for the same period of 2014. We attribute this improvement to a lack of catastrophe losses, more adequate pricing of our products, which has improved our underlying underwriting performance, and improvement in our expense ratio.

Expense Levels

The expense ratio for the second quarter was 29.3 percentage points, compared to 29.6 percentage points for the second quarter of 2014.

"As expected, our expense ratio is beginning to improve as we finalize costs associated with our integration of the Mercer Group of companies and other investments in core development and technology," stated Ramlo. "Implementation of our new claims system is now substantially complete. We experienced improvement in the profitability in certain lines of business which led to an increase in the amount of underwriting expenses eligible for deferral in our deferred acquisition costs, and some duplicate costs associated with merger transition have been eliminated. Though we believe our 2015 expense ratio will continue to be higher than our objectives due to increased pension and postretirement benefit costs, the expense ratio should continue to see improvement in 2015."

Life Segment

Net income for the life insurance segment totaled $1.7 million ($0.07 per share) for the second quarter, compared to $1.1 million ($0.05 per share) for the second quarter of 2014. Year-to-date, net income for the life insurance segment totaled $2.3 million ($0.09 per share) compared to $2.7 million ($0.11 per share). The increase in net income for the quarter is primarily due to an increase in net premiums earned from sales of single premium whole life policies and a decline in the amount of expense associated with the payment of interest to policyholders on annuity accounts. 

Net premiums earned increased 42.6 percent to $20.0 million for the second quarter, compared to $14.0 million for the second quarter of 2014. Year-to-date, net premiums earned increased to $33.0 million, compared to $27.8 million for the same period in 2014. The increase was primarily due to an increase in sales of single premium whole life policies.

Net investment income decreased 13.3 percent to $13.7 million for the second quarter, compared to $15.8 million for the second quarter of 2014. Year-to-date, net investment income decreased 13.0 percent to $27.3 million, compared to $31.4 million for the same period in 2014. The decrease is due to a continuation of the low interest rate environment and a lower asset base due to declining annuity deposits.

Losses and loss settlement expenses increased $0.1 million for the second quarter, compared to the same period in 2014, due to corresponding increases in death benefits paid. Fluctuations in the timing of death benefits occur from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year.

The increase in liability for future policy benefits deteriorated during second quarter and the six-month period ended June 30, 2015, by $4.0 million and $3.8 million, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2014 due to an increase in the number of single premium whole life policies issued.

Deferred annuity deposits decreased 68.1 percent and 49.5 percent, respectively, for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, due to gradual lowering of the credited rate offered on our deferred annuity products during the low interest rate environment. 

Net cash outflow related to our annuity business was $44.2 million for the second quarter compared to a net cash outflow of $15.7 million in the same period in 2014. We attribute this to the interest rate activity previously described.

Capital Management

During the second quarter, we declared and paid a $0.22 per share cash dividend to shareholders of record on June 2, 2015. We have paid a quarterly dividend every quarter since March 1968.

Under our share repurchase program, we may purchase the Company's common stock from time to time on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. The amount and timing of any purchases will be at management's discretion and will depend upon a number of factors, including the share price, general economic and market conditions, and corporate and regulatory requirements. We are authorized by the Board of Directors to purchase an additional 1,558,577 shares of common stock under our share repurchase program, which expires in August 2016. During the second quarter, 12,068 shares were repurchased under the program at a total cost of $0.4 million and an average share price of $29.84. Year-to-date, we have purchased 49,705 shares of our common stock for $1.4 million, at an average cost of $29.04 per share.

Earnings Call Access Information

An earnings call will be held at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time on August 4, 2015 to allow securities analysts, shareholders and other interested parties the opportunity to hear management discuss the Company's 2015 second quarter results and its expectations for 2015.

Teleconference: Dial-in information for the call is toll-free 1-888-317-6016 (international dial-in is 1-412-317-6016). The event will be archived and available for digital replay through August 18, 2015. The replay access information is toll-free 1-877-344-7529; conference ID no. 10069165.

Webcast: An audio webcast of the teleconference can be accessed at the Company's investor relations page at http://ir.unitedfiregroup.com/events.cfm. The archived audio webcast will be available until August 18, 2015.

Transcript: A transcript of the teleconference will be available on the Company's website soon after the completion of the teleconference.

About United Fire Group, Inc.

Founded in 1946 as United Fire & Casualty Company, United Fire Group, Inc., through its insurance company subsidiaries, is engaged in the business of writing property and casualty insurance and life insurance and selling annuities.

Through our subsidiaries, we are licensed as a property and casualty insurer in 43 states, plus the District of Columbia, and we are represented by approximately 1,200 independent agencies. The United Fire pooled group is rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company.

Our subsidiary, United Life Insurance Company, is licensed in 37 states, represented by approximately 1,100 independent life agencies and rated "A-" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company.

For more information about United Fire Group, Inc. visit www.unitedfiregroup.com.

Disclosure of Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements about our operations, anticipated performance and other similar matters. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expected and/or projected. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our company, the industry in which we operate, and beliefs and assumptions made by management. Words such as "expect(s)," "anticipate(s)," "intends(s)," "plan(s)," "believe(s)" "continue(s)," "seek(s)," "estimate(s)," "goal(s)," "remain on track," "optimistic," "target(s)," "forecast(s)," "project(s)," "predict(s)," "should," "could," "may," "will continue," "might," "hope," "can" and other words and terms of similar meaning or expression in connection with a discussion of future operations, financial performance or financial condition, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward-looking statements. Information concerning factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements is contained in Part I, Item IA "Risk Factors" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 2, 2015. The risks identified in our Form 10-K are representative of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from what is expressed in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release or as of the date they are made. Except as required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Supplemental Tables