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Maiden Holdings (MHLD) Q1 Earnings Miss, Revenues Grow Y/Y

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Maiden Holdings, Ltd. (MHLD - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2017 earnings per share of 26 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 38 cents. Earnings declined 30% year over year.
 

 

Though revenues improved, escalating expenses limited the top-line growth.

Behind the Headlines

Gross premiums written increased 6.9% year over year to $923.4 million on higher premiums written in Diversified Reinsurance and AmTrust Reinsurance segment.

Net investment income grew nearly 16.1% to $42.2 million.

Total revenue of $756.7 million climbed 15% year over year on higher net premiums earned and net investment income.

Total expense escalated 17.3% year over year to $720 million as net loss and loss adjustment expenses, commission and other acquisition costs, and general & administrative expenses increased in the quarter.

Maiden Holdings’ underwriting income of $1.3 million plummeted 92% year over year. Combined ratio deteriorated 200 basis points (bps) year over year to 100.9%.   

Maiden Holdings, Ltd. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

 

Maiden Holdings, Ltd. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Maiden Holdings, Ltd. Quote

Segment Result

Diversified Reinsurance: Net premiums earned increased 17.2% to $201.8 million.

Underwriting income of $0.3 million compared favorably with a loss of $5.1 million incurred in the year-ago quarter. Combined ratio improved 300 bps to 99.9%.

AmTrust Reinsurance: Net premiums earned increased 14.4% to $507.6 million.

Underwriting income was $1.1 million compared with $20.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Combined ratio deteriorated 450 bps year over year to 99.8%.

Other: Underwriting loss of $0.3 million was narrower than a loss of $2.8 million in the year-ago quarter.

Financial Update

Maiden Holdings exited the quarter with total investment of $4.732 billion as against $4.737 billion at year-end 2016. Cash and cash equivalents as of Mar 31, 2017 were $193.2 million, about $43.7 million higher than the 2016-end level.

The company’s senior notes totaled $351.5 million compared with $351.4 million at year-end 2016.

Shareholders’ equity of $1.4 billion at the end of the quarter was up 0.7% from the 2016-end level.

As of Mar 31, 2017, diluted book value per share was $12.19, up 0.6% from the 2016-end level.

Operating return on equity was 8.7% in the quarter as against 11.9% in the year-ago quarter.

Zacks Rank

Maiden Holdings presently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Performance of Other P&C Insurers

Among the other players that have reported first-quarter earnings so far, Chubb Limited (CB - Free Report) beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate but RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) and The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) missed expectations.

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