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ProAssurance's (PRA) Q4 Earnings and Revenues Beat Estimates
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ProAssurance Corporation’s (PRA - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2019 operating loss per share of $1.27 was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.65. Meanwhile, the bottom line came in against the year-ago earnings per share of 18 cents. This downside is mainly due to lower gross premiums reported in the quarter under review.
Quarterly operating revenues rose 4.4% to $239 million from the prior-year period. The top line also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.8%.
Quarterly Operational Update
Gross premiums written decreased 5.1% year over year to $200.8 million due to soft contribution from the Specialty P&C Segment, Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment and Segregated Portfolio Cell Reinsurance.
Also, net premiums earned rose 6.1% year over year to $214 million on solid Specialty P&C segment contribution, which in turn, was driven by rate increases.
Net investment income decreased 4% year over year.
Total expenses rose 55.3% year over year to $338.6 million due to higher net losses and loss adjustment expenses, underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses.
ProAssurance Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Total revenues of $125 million improved 8.4% year over year.
Gross premiums written were $118.4 million, down 2.2% year over year due to decline in healthcare facilities premiums.
Total expenses of $242.3 million soared 101.5% year over year on account of high net losses and loss adjustment expenses, underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses.
Workers' Compensation Segment
Total revenues of $47.7 million declined 7.3% year over year.
Gross premiums written were $54.8 million in the quarter under review, down 15.6% year over year. This was due to renewal rate decreases and a decline in new business writings, all reflecting a very competitive workers’ compensation marketplace.
Total expenses of $42.3 million fell 5.7% year over year, mainly on the back of lower net losses and loss adjustment expenses.
Segregated Portfolio Cell Reinsurance Segment
Gross premiums of $16.6 million from this segment slid 1.5% year over year.
Lloyd's Syndicate Segment
Total revenues of $24.5 million improved 28.4% year over year.
Gross premiums written were $27.6 million, up 7.2% from the figure acquired in the comparable quarter last year. This upside can be attributed to volume expansion in renewal business and renewal pricing increases, new business written, etc.
Total expenses of $21.9 million decreased 22.8% year over year on the back of lower net losses and loss adjustment expenses, underwriting, policy acquisition and operating costs.
Corporate Segment
Total revenues of $30.3 million improved 236.3% year over year.
Operating expenses of $6.4 million flared up 89.4% from the year-ago level due to some one-time compensation-related costs and a hike in employee health plan expenses.
Interest expense of $3.8 million decreased 22% year over year.
Financial Position
As of Dec 31, 2019, ProAssurance’s total investments of $3.4 billion inched up 1.2% from the number registered at 2018 end.
At fourth-quarter end, the company’s total assets of $4.8 billion were up 4.5% from the level at 2018 end.
As of Dec 31, 2019, this insurer’s shareholder equity slipped 0.7% to $1.5 billion from the level on Dec 31, 2018.
Share Repurchase & Dividend Update
The company did not buy back any shares in 2019. As of Feb 14, 2020, it had approximately $110 million of shares available under its board-authorized stock repurchase program.
In December 2019, the company’s board members approved a regular dividend of 31 cents, paid out on Jan 14, 2020.
Full-Year Update
In 2019, the company reported total revenues of $999 million, up 12.8% year over year.
For the year ended Dec 31, 2019, the company incurred operating loss per share of 81 cents versus 2018’s earnings per share of $1.48.
The company’s consolidated combined ratio was 107.7%, expanding 620 bps year over year.
Among other players from the insurance industry, having reported fourth-quarter earnings so far, the bottom-line results of Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO - Free Report) and RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) beat estimates while that of Principal Financial (PFG - Free Report) matched the consensus mark.
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ProAssurance's (PRA) Q4 Earnings and Revenues Beat Estimates
ProAssurance Corporation’s (PRA - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2019 operating loss per share of $1.27 was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.65. Meanwhile, the bottom line came in against the year-ago earnings per share of 18 cents. This downside is mainly due to lower gross premiums reported in the quarter under review.
Quarterly operating revenues rose 4.4% to $239 million from the prior-year period. The top line also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.8%.
Quarterly Operational Update
Gross premiums written decreased 5.1% year over year to $200.8 million due to soft contribution from the Specialty P&C Segment, Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment and Segregated Portfolio Cell Reinsurance.
Also, net premiums earned rose 6.1% year over year to $214 million on solid Specialty P&C segment contribution, which in turn, was driven by rate increases.
Net investment income decreased 4% year over year.
Total expenses rose 55.3% year over year to $338.6 million due to higher net losses and loss adjustment expenses, underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses.
ProAssurance Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
ProAssurance Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | ProAssurance Corporation Quote
Quarterly Segment Results
Specialty P&C Segment
Total revenues of $125 million improved 8.4% year over year.
Gross premiums written were $118.4 million, down 2.2% year over year due to decline in healthcare facilities premiums.
Total expenses of $242.3 million soared 101.5% year over year on account of high net losses and loss adjustment expenses, underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses.
Workers' Compensation Segment
Total revenues of $47.7 million declined 7.3% year over year.
Gross premiums written were $54.8 million in the quarter under review, down 15.6% year over year. This was due to renewal rate decreases and a decline in new business writings, all reflecting a very competitive workers’ compensation marketplace.
Total expenses of $42.3 million fell 5.7% year over year, mainly on the back of lower net losses and loss adjustment expenses.
Segregated Portfolio Cell Reinsurance Segment
Gross premiums of $16.6 million from this segment slid 1.5% year over year.
Lloyd's Syndicate Segment
Total revenues of $24.5 million improved 28.4% year over year.
Gross premiums written were $27.6 million, up 7.2% from the figure acquired in the comparable quarter last year. This upside can be attributed to volume expansion in renewal business and renewal pricing increases, new business written, etc.
Total expenses of $21.9 million decreased 22.8% year over year on the back of lower net losses and loss adjustment expenses, underwriting, policy acquisition and operating costs.
Corporate Segment
Total revenues of $30.3 million improved 236.3% year over year.
Operating expenses of $6.4 million flared up 89.4% from the year-ago level due to some one-time compensation-related costs and a hike in employee health plan expenses.
Interest expense of $3.8 million decreased 22% year over year.
Financial Position
As of Dec 31, 2019, ProAssurance’s total investments of $3.4 billion inched up 1.2% from the number registered at 2018 end.
At fourth-quarter end, the company’s total assets of $4.8 billion were up 4.5% from the level at 2018 end.
As of Dec 31, 2019, this insurer’s shareholder equity slipped 0.7% to $1.5 billion from the level on Dec 31, 2018.
Share Repurchase & Dividend Update
The company did not buy back any shares in 2019. As of Feb 14, 2020, it had approximately $110 million of shares available under its board-authorized stock repurchase program.
In December 2019, the company’s board members approved a regular dividend of 31 cents, paid out on Jan 14, 2020.
Full-Year Update
In 2019, the company reported total revenues of $999 million, up 12.8% year over year.
For the year ended Dec 31, 2019, the company incurred operating loss per share of 81 cents versus 2018’s earnings per share of $1.48.
The company’s consolidated combined ratio was 107.7%, expanding 620 bps year over year.
Zacks Rank and Performance of Other Insurers
ProAssurance carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Among other players from the insurance industry, having reported fourth-quarter earnings so far, the bottom-line results of Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO - Free Report) and RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) beat estimates while that of Principal Financial (PFG - Free Report) matched the consensus mark.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Click here for the 6 trades >>