Q1 2022 Employers Holdings Inc Earnings Call

April 28, 2022

Good day, Thank you for standing by and welcome to today's Q1, 2022 employers Holdings, Inc earnings Conference call.

At this time all participants are in a listen only mode.

After the speaker's presentation, there will be a question and answer session to ask a question. During this session you will need to press star one on your telephone keypad.

If you require any further assistance. Please press star zero please be advised.

I started this call is being recorded.

I would now like to hand, the conference over to your speaker today, Ms. Lori Brown General counsel the floor is yours.

Thank you Alex good morning, and welcome everyone to the first quarter 2022 earnings call for employers.

Today's call is being recorded and webcast from the Investor section of our website, where a replay will be available following the call for.

Presenting today on the call will be cast Antonello, our chief Executive Officer, and Mike Paquette, Our Chief Financial Officer statements made during this conference call that are not based on historical facts are considered forward looking statements. These statements are made in reliance on the safe Harbor provision of the private Securities litigation.

<unk> and reform Act of 1095.

Although we believe the expectations expressed in our forward looking statements are reasonable risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to be materially different from our expectations, including the risks set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

All remarks made during the call are current only at the time of the call and will not be updated to reflect subsequent developments.

The company also uses its website as a means of disclosing material nonpublic information and for complying with disclosure obligations under SEC regulation FD such disclosures will be included in the investors section of the company's website accordingly investors should monitor that portion of the Companys web.

Site. In addition to following the Companys press releases SEC filings public conference calls and webcast.

In our earnings press release, and in our remarks or responses to questions. We may use non-GAAP financial metrics reconciliations of these non-GAAP .

Metrics to our GAAP results are included in our financial supplement as an attachment to our earnings press release, our investor presentation and any other materials available in the investors section on our website now I will turn the call over to Kathy.

Thank you Laurie and thanks to everyone for joining us today.

On today's call, Mike and I will outline our financial results for the first quarter of 2022 and discuss our observations of the current workers' compensation market.

We are executing well on our business plan, which calls for us to remain laser focused on capitalizing on the recent labor market improvement.

While continuing to maintain underwriting discipline and actively manage our expenses.

Our gross premiums written during the first quarter were up 16% versus those of a year ago.

Within our employer segment the strong rebound primarily resulted from solid new business writings, especially within alternative distribution channels and was further impacted by an increase in audit audit premium recognition.

We can also attribute growth to series strong new business writings, one of the key drivers of our growth was our appetite expansion into new markets within our targeted low hazard groups, including landscaping residential janitorial and several artisan contracting classes.

We ended the quarter with yet another record number of policies in force the significant growth in policy count positions us well for premium growth as wages rise and employment levels improve.

The leverage associated with these dual forces is expected to further increase our top line.

We recorded our current accident year loss and LAE ratio on voluntary business at 64% largely consistent with the 63, 5% we recorded throughout 2021.

Our first quarter limited review of our prior accident year loss reserves was consistent with our expectations. So we did not adjust our reserves we plan to evaluate our prior year loss reserves in more detail at mid year, when we perform our semiannual full reserve study.

Our underwriting and general and administrative expenses of $39 million were consistent with those of the fourth quarter and were down 16% year over year. You may recall that we stated a year ago that our first quarter 2021 expense ratio it would be the high watermark in that firmly remains the case.

While we are committed to diligently managing our expenses, we continue to make investments in technology to deliver a seamless customer experience to our agents and policyholders.

With that Mike will now provide a further discussion of our financial results and then I'll return to provide my closing remarks, Mike.

Thank you Kathy.

Gross premiums written were $172 million in.

An increase of 16% the increase was primarily due to higher new business writings and further increases in final audit premiums.

Net premiums earned were $150 million, an increase of 12%.

Our losses and loss adjustment expenses were $94 million versus $70 million a year ago. The increase was primarily due to higher earned premium and because we did not adjust our prior year loss reserves this period.

During the first quarter of 2021, we recognized $14 million of net favorable prior year loss Reserve development.

Commission expenses were $21 million versus $17 million a year ago.

The increase was due to higher earned premium a higher concentration of partnership an alliance business, which is subject to a higher commission rate.

And an increase in commission rates on new business writings, as well as a reversal of commissions relating to Noncompliant and uncollectible premium recorded in the first quarter of 2021.

Underwriting and general administrative expenses were $39 million versus $47 million a year ago. The decrease resulted primarily from continued targeted expense savings and employee reductions and departures that occurred in 2021.

From a reporting segment perspective employers had breakeven underwriting results this quarter versus underwriting income of $8 million a year ago, and its resulting combined ratios were 100% at 94% respectively.

Our <unk> segment had an underwriting loss of $3 million for the quarter down from an underwriting loss of $4 million a year ago. We remained very enthusiastic about <unk> premium writings, which have consistently increased over the past several months.

Turning to investments our net investment income was $19 million for the quarter versus $18 million a year ago. The.

The increase was primarily due to higher bond yields are.

Our average ending book yield was just over 3% at quarter end.

Our fixed maturities currently have a duration of three eight and an average credit quality of a plus and our equity securities and other investments represented 13% of the total investment portfolio.

Our net income this quarter was unfavorably impacted by $13 million of net after tax unrealized losses from our equity securities and other investments, which are reflected on our income statement and our stockholders equity and book value per share. This quarter were each unfavorably impacted by $88 million of after tax unrealized loss.

This from our fixed maturity securities, which are reflected on our balance sheet.

And finally during the quarter, we repurchased $6 $7 million of our common stock at an average price of $38 77 per share and our current share repurchase authority is $71 million.

And now I'll turn the call back to Kathy.

Thanks, Mike.

As previously mentioned, our <unk> operating segment, which offers digital workers compensation insurance solutions directly to consumers contributed nicely to our premium growth. This quarter <unk> recently announced collaborations with both Intuit in the California Restaurant Association are confirmation of the importance of giving small businesses.

An array of purchasing options. These types of strategic opportunities will support our future growth initiatives by attracting an untapped segment of our target market.

In regard to capital management yesterday, we declared a $1 per share special dividend. We also declared a regular dividend of 26 cents per share for the second quarter, which is an increase of 4% from the previous quarterly dividend and finally, we increased our existing share repurchase.

<unk> by $50 million each.

Each of these actions reflect our strong capital position and our confidence and the Companys future operations.

As a specialist in small business workers' compensation, we are well positioned to react to the favorable trends initiatives and opportunities that we're seeing and we remain highly confident in our continued success.

And with that operator, we will now take questions.

As a reminder to ask a question you will need to pass higher one on your telephone keypad.

Again that is star one on your telephone keypad to withdraw your question. Please press the pound gaea.

You have your first question coming from the line of Mark Hughes from Julien.

Your line is now open.

Yeah. Thanks, good morning.

Good morning, Mark.

Good morning could you talk about the growth outlook.

The increase in policy count that position.

Future growth.

Sort of curious so when we think about.

Expansion appetite how much more.

Momentum there is related to that.

<unk>.

Think about the competitive environment you've got.

Some tougher year over year growth comps coming up.

Yes.

Interested to get your top line thoughts.

Yes, so so our in force policy count as we mentioned grew nicely and it grew by more than 9% year over year or about 9700, countrywide and we really saw that growth.

Across most policy size bands and.

That has led to an increase in our new business average policy size.

Have a little more than 5%.

I can tell you the growth was spread across most states.

And the we saw the largest growth and.

Florida, California, Louisiana, New York.

We feel that as.

Uh huh.

The environment continues to improve.

We saw the headlines this morning unemployment is at a low and wages are increasing.

Our growth in force policy count will lead to favorable growth in our top line.

So we don't typically give guidance, but I can tell you that I am bullish about the growth this year.

Yeah.

When it comes to the combined ratio.

You just.

Just mentioned or Mike mentioned that you had 100 combined this quarter.

Should the combined ratio be for this business what is the targeted 100 adequate or or should it be running at a lower number.

And if so.

How do you get there.

Well I can tell you mark one of the areas that where we're focusing and this is where.

We're running down a lot of parallel paths, but one that I will speak to is our expense ratio, where we've continued to see improvement.

We have.

We have reduced our fixed expenses and we've increased our premium and thats been.

Effort that we've undertaken over the last year.

And so as.

As you saw in the announcement of our underwriting and general and administrative expenses decreased about 16% year over year.

So we'll just continue to be diligent in that area and identifying areas of expense savings. We do feel like we can get more economies of scale as our premium increases and that that expense ratio will continue to come down and that's where it's going to be important for us to drive the fee.

<unk> expense ratio improvement.

And that's where we're focusing our efforts for the remainder of the year and into next year. So that's one area, where we feel like we can.

We can improve our combined ratio.

Yes.

I'll maybe ask.

The.

Good question again.

Is there a target.

Target, where should the business be running.

Again, we don't we don't typically give guidance as to where we think we are headed we would like to see an improvement in the combined ratio.

On an accident year and calendar year basis.

It didn't take any reserve development this quarter. So that's impacting our calendar year combined ratio year to date, but we do feel like we will get further improvement in the accident year combined ratio as we as we can bring those expenses down.

So again.

It should be lower than 100, we will get it there and that's where our efforts are right now.

Thank you for that and then the.

Clarity any other partnership opportunities.

<unk>.

That youre working on or that.

That could emerge over time.

Yes, absolutely we are continuing to look for other partnership opportunities.

The two that we announced this quarter are very much in their infancy. So we're still working.

Working on those but I can tell you, yes that there are other opportunities that we're looking into and are hopeful that in future quarters, we can make more announcements like the ones. We did this quarter.

Thank you very much.

Sure.

Your next question is from Bob Farnam from Boenning and Scattergood.

Please go ahead.

Thanks, Good morning, just to continue with that questions Saturday.

I know, they're very immature, but I'm just trying to get an idea of the kind of the magnitude of the opportunity that you might be able to get from the relationships with the California Restaurant Association.

No.

And more of that.

Yes.

Yeah, Yeah. Thanks for the question Bob.

It's very very difficult to tell because there's some they're in their infancy a matter of weeks.

And.

But we are monitoring those on a daily basis, and we're hopeful that that it's these types of partnerships is are going to add some significant volumes to the top line, but we do not have an estimate that we can share with you at this point in time.

You already have a relationship I mean employers already has a relationship with the California Restaurant Association in EMEA can you give us an idea of how much volume comes from that partnership.

I do.

We can get back to you on that I do not have that number in front of me right now Bob though.

Okay Alright.

So the reserve review as it sounds.

Right, but it sounds like maybe taking a little different philosophy are you going to be dealing with the favorable ore.

Or adverse reserve development just reserve development in general.

Can you just maybe go through what.

What are the differences between the reserve studies mid year and year end.

Versus the first and third quarters.

Why you're more looking to do more in depth analysis the semi annually.

Sure so.

The timing of our analysis has not changed.

So recall that last quarter fourth quarter of 2021, we recognized 20 over 24 million of favorable development in that take down was was mostly attributable to accident years 2018 and prior.

And we did a full analysis at year end for the first and the third quarters.

Our actuaries complete an actual to expected analysis and they don't re select the development factors.

At the second and fourth quarter analysis, we do a full analysis and we select development factors.

So that was one of the reasons we did not.

Taken any action this quarter, but and felt comfortable waiting until we saw the full analysis at second quarter two.

For the potential to take anything.

We've always been very conservative and prudent in our reserve position.

I would tell you nothing has changed in regards to our philosophy.

It's just a timing.

Issue and we are.

Just going to wait until the second quarter until we have the full analysis.

Okay.

Just to paraphrase it sounds like the first and third quarter Youre actually we'll take a look at the reserves, but you don't actually change your ultimate estimates for the reserves that only happens in the second and fourth quarters. So that's why you didn't really change your ultimate so you're not really changing.

Our opinion on it in the first well we didn't change our development factors or any of the selections of the factors that go into it. So we just looked at what what what was the last quarters' development factors what should have emerged given those prior picks and then what is the actual that came through so it's a more simple.

Stick analysis, it's very it's typical and it's not a change in what we've done in the past.

We just decided not to response.

Okay.

And last question for me.

The $60 million FHA will be low.

What are you planning to use that for.

Yes, Mike do you want to take that so I'll take that Bob So as a member of the federal home loan bank, we have the ability to borrow.

We don't even have to put up any more collateral because we're already collateralized with the federal home loan bank and we can actually borrow at quite attractive short term rates. So given given the spike in certain asset classes.

We have invested.

Actually more than that in collateralized loan obligations.

And have used that that borrowing as kind of leverage to gain the spread so it's a bit of an anomaly in today's world.

It's our ability to borrow at low rates and because each are both variable rate instruments that arbitrage is pretty safe and should should be largely there for some time. We can also take the trade off tomorrow, if we didn't see the spread.

Recurring so we're really just taking advantage of the current interest rate arbitrage between those two measures.

Okay.

And what would be kind of increase in the authorization for share repurchases how much how much.

Holding company cash do you have at this point.

Well, we are we are flushed with cash at the parent company as a result of a distribution we were able to effect in the first quarter from one of our more heavily capitalized insurance companies. So today at the parent company.

We probably have less than $100 million available and that is why we took the action yesterday, along with the board to both increase the regular dividend increase the share repurchase authorization to the extent, we have attractive opportunities and have volume available there and thats why we affected the spur.

Dividends as well.

Great. Thanks, Thanks for the answers.

Again to ask a question. Please press star one on your telephone keypad.

Okay.

You don't have any questions on the phone line at this time that ends our question and answer session I will turn the call back over to Kathy Antonello for closing remarks.

Okay. Thank you Alex and thank you all for joining US. This morning, I look forward to our next discussion in July .

Yes.

That concludes today's conference call. Thank you all for participating you may now disconnect.

Okay.

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Good day, Thank you for standing by and welcome to today's Q1, 2022 employers Holdings, Inc. Earnings Conference calls.

At this time all participants are in a listen only mode. After the speaker's presentation. There will be a question and answer session to ask a question. During the session you will need to press star one on your telephone keypad if require any further assistance. Please press star zero, please be advised that.

Today's call is being recorded thank you Oh don't like to hand, the conference over to your speaker today, Ms. Lori Brown General counsel the floor is yours.

Thank you Alex good morning, and welcome everyone to the first quarter 2022 earnings call for employers.

Today's call is being recorded and webcast from the Investor section of our website, where a replay will be available following the call for.

Presenting today on the call will be Kathy Antonello, our Chief Executive Officer, and Mike Paquette, Our Chief Financial Officer statements made during this conference call, but are not based on historical facts are considered forward looking statements. These statements are made in reliance on the safe Harbor provision of the private Securities litigation.

<unk> and reform Act of 1995.

All remarks made during the call are current only at the time of the call and will not be updated to reflect subsequent developments.

The company also uses its website as a means of disclosing material nonpublic information and for complying with disclosure obligations under SEC's regulation FD such disclosures will be included in the investors section of the company's website accordingly investors should monitor that portion of the company's web.

Site. In addition to following the Companys press releases SEC filings public conference calls and webcast.

In our earnings press release, and in our remarks or responses to questions. We may use non-GAAP financial metrics reconciliations of these non-GAAP Matt.

Thank you Laurie and thanks to everyone for joining us today.

On today's call, Mike and I will outline our financial results for the first quarter of 2022 and discuss our observations of the current workers' compensation market.

We are executing well on our business plan, which calls for us to remain laser focused on capitalizing on the recent labor market improvement, while continuing to maintain underwriting discipline and actively manage our expenses.

Gross premiums written during the first quarter were up 16% versus those of a year ago within.

We ended the quarter with yet another record number of policies in force the significant growth in policy count positions us well for premium growth as wages rise unemployment levels improve.

The leverage associated with these dual forces is expected to further increase our top line.

We recorded our current accident year loss and LAE ratio on voluntary business at 64% largely consistent with the 63.5% we recorded throughout 2021.

Our underwriting and general and administrative expenses of $39 million were consistent with those of the fourth quarter and were down 16% year over year. You may recall that we stated a year ago that our first quarter 2021 expense ratio would be the high watermark in that firmly remains the case.

While we are committed to diligently managing our expenses, we continue to make investments in technology to deliver a seamless customer experience for our agents and policyholders.

With that Mike will now provide a further discussion of our financial results and then I'll return to provide my closing remarks, Mike.

Yeah.

Thank you Kathy.

Gross premiums written were $172 million in.

An increase of 16% the increase was primarily due to higher new business writings and further increases in final audit premiums.

Net premiums earned were $150 million, an increase of 12%.

During the first quarter of 2021, we recognized $14 million of net favorable prior year loss Reserve development.

Commission expenses were $21 million versus $17 million a year ago.

The increase was due to higher earned premium a higher concentration of partnership and alliance business, which is subject to a higher commission rate.

And an increase in commission rates on new business writings, as well as a reversal of commissions relating to Noncompliant and uncollectible premium recorded in the first quarter of 2021.

From a reporting segment perspective employers had breakeven underwriting results this quarter versus underwriting income of $8 million, a year ago, and its resulting combined ratios were 100% and 94% respectively.

Our surety segment had an underwriting loss of $3 million for the quarter down from an underwriting loss of $4 million a year ago. We remain very enthusiastic about <unk> premium writings, which have consistently increased over the past several months.

Turning to investments our net investment income was $19 million for the quarter versus $18 million a year ago. The.

The increase was primarily due to higher bond yields are.

Our average ending book yield was just over 3% at quarter end.

This from our fixed maturity securities, which are reflected on our balance sheet.

And finally during the quarter, we repurchased $6 $7 million of our common stock at an average price of $38 77 per share and our current share repurchase authority is $71 million.

And now I'll turn the call back to Kathy.

Thanks, Mike.

As previously mentioned, our Saturday operating segment, which offers digital workers compensation insurance solutions directly to consumers contributed nicely to our premium growth. This quarter <unk> recently announced collaborations with both Intuit in the California Restaurant Association are confirmation of the importance of giving small businesses.

An array of purchasing options. These types of strategic opportunities will support our future growth initiatives by attracting an untapped segment of our target market.

Authorization by $50 million each.

Each of these actions reflect our strong capital position and our confidence and the Companys future operations.

And with that operator, we will now take questions.

As a reminder to ask a question you will need to pass higher one on your telephone keypad.

Dan that is star one on your telephone keypad to withdraw your question. Please press the pound gaea.

You have your first question coming from the line of Mark Hughes from <unk>.

Your line is now open.

Yeah. Thanks, good morning.

Good morning, Mark.

Good morning could you talk about the growth outlook.

With the increase in policy count that positions you.

Future growth.

Sort of curious so when we think about.

Expansion appetite how much more.

Momentum there is related to that.

<unk>.

Think about the competitive environment you've got.

Some tougher year over year growth comps coming up.

<unk>.

Interested to get your topline.

Yes, so so our in force policy count as we mentioned grew nicely and it grew by more than 9% year over year or about 9700, countrywide and we really saw that growth.

Across most policy size bands and.

That has led to an increase in our new business average policy size.

Have a little more than 5%.

I can tell you the growth was spread across most states.

And we saw the largest growth and.

Florida, California, Louisiana, New York.

We feel that as.

The.

Environment continues to improve you probably saw the headlines. This morning unemployment is at a low.

Wages are increasing.

That our growth in force policy count will lead to favorable growth in our top line.

So we don't typically give guidance, but I can tell you that I am bullish about the growth this year.

Okay.

When it comes to the combined ratio.

<unk>.

As mentioned or Mike mentioned that you had 100 combined this quarter.

Should the combined ratio be.

What is the targeted 100 adequate or or should it be running at a lower number.

And if so.

How do you get there.

Well I can tell you mark one of the areas that where we're focusing and this is where we're running down a lot of parallel paths, but one that I will speak to is our expense ratio, where we've continued to see improvement.

We.

Have reduced our fixed expenses and we've increased our premium and thats been.

An effort that we've undertaken over the last year.

And so as.

As you saw in the announcement, our underwriting and general and administrative expenses decreased about 16% year over year.

Future expense ratio improvement.

And that's where we're focusing our efforts for the remainder of the year and into next year. So that's one area, where we feel like we can.

We can improve our combined ratio.

Yes.

I'll maybe ask.

The.

Good question again.

Is there a target.

Would that business be running.

Again, we don't we don't typically give guidance as to where we think we are headed we would like to see an improvement in the combined ratio.

On an accident year and calendar year basis didn't take any reserve development. This quarter. So that's impacting our calendar year combined ratio year to date, but we do feel like we will get further improvement in the accident year combined ratio as we as we can.

And bring those expenses down.

So again.

It should be lower than 100, we will get it there and that's where our efforts are right now.

Thank you for that and then the.

With clarity any other partnership opportunities.

That.

That youre working on or that.

That could emerge over time.

Yes, absolutely we are.

<unk> to look for other partnership opportunities.

The two that we announced this quarter are very much in their infancy. So we're still working working on those but I can tell you. Yes that there are other opportunities that we're looking into and are hopeful that in future quarters, we can make more announcements like the ones. We did this quarter.

Thank you very much.

Sure.

Your next question is from Bob Farnam from Boenning and Scattergood. Please go ahead.

Thanks, Good morning, just to continue with the questions.

Charity.

Nevada.

Yes, yes.

Yeah, Yeah. Thanks for the question Bob.

It's very very difficult to tell because there's some they're in their infancy a matter of weeks.

And.

You already have a relationship I mean employers already has a relationship with the California Restaurant Association EMEA can you give us an idea of how much volume comes from that partnership.

Yes.

No.

Can get back to you on that I do not have that number in front of me right now Bob though.

Okay Alright.

So the reserve review as it sounds.

Right, but it sounds like maybe taking a little different philosophy are you going to be dealing with the favorable ore.

Adverse reserve development just reserve development in general So is there can you just maybe go through what.

What are the differences between the reserve studies mid year and year end.

Versus the first and third quarters and kind of why you're more looking to do more in depth analysis the semi annually.

Sure so.

The timing of our analysis has not changed.

So recall that last quarter fourth quarter of 2021, we recognized 20 over 24 million of favorable development in that take down was was mostly attributable to accident years 2018 and prior.

And we did a full analysis at year end for the first and the third quarters.

Our actuaries complete an actual to expected analysis and they don't re select the development factors.

At the second and fourth quarter analysis, we do a full analysis and we Reselect development factors.

So that was one of the reasons we did not.

Taken any action this quarter, but and felt comfortable waiting until we saw the full analysis at second quarter two.

For the potential to take anything.

We've always been very conservative and prudent in our reserve position.

I would tell you nothing has changed in regards to our philosophy.

It's just a timing.

Issue and we are.

Just going to wait until the second quarter until we have the full analysis.

Okay.

Just to paraphrase it sounds like the first and third quarter Youre actions, we will take a look at the reserves, but you don't actually change your ultimate estimates for the reserves that only happens in the second and fourth quarters. So that's why you didn't really change your ultimate so you're not really changing.

<unk> analysis, it's very it's typical and it's not a change in what we've done in the past.

We just decided not to response.

Okay.

And last question for me.

The $60 million <unk> below.

What are you planning to use that for.

Yes, Mike you want to take that so I'll take that Bob So as a member of the federal home loan bank, we have the ability to borrow.

We have invested.

Actually more than that in collateralized loan obligations.

And have used that that borrowing as kind of leverage to gain the spread so it's a bit of an anomaly in today's world.

Recurring so we're really just taking advantage of the current interest rate arbitrage between those two measures.

Okay.

And what would be kind of increase in the authorization for share repurchases how much how much.

Holding company cash do you have at this point.

Well. We are we are we are flushed with cash at the parent company as a result of a distribution we were able to effect in the first quarter from one of our more heavily capitalized insurance companies. So today at the parent company.

Dividends as well.

Great. Thanks for the thanks for the answers.

Again to ask a question. Please press star one on your telephone keypad.

Okay.

You don't have any questions on the phone line at this time that ends our question and answer session I will turn the call back over to Kathy Antonella for closing remarks.

Okay. Thank you Alex and thank you all for joining US. This morning, I look forward to our next discussion in July .

Yes.

That concludes today's conference call. Thank you all for participating you may now disconnect.

Q1 2022 Employers Holdings Inc Earnings Call

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