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RLI Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results

July 21, 2021 4:10 PM

PEORIA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- RLI Corp. (NYSE: RLI) – RLI Corp. reported second quarter 2021 net earnings of $81.8 million ($1.79 per share), compared to $92.2 million ($2.04 per share) for the second quarter of 2020. Operating earnings(1) for the second quarter of 2021 were $49.9 million ($1.09 per share), compared to $34.8 million ($0.77 per share) for the same period in 2020.

Second Quarter

Year to Date

Earnings Per Diluted Share

2021

2020

2021

2020

Net earnings

$

1.79

$

2.04

$

3.39

$

0.68

Operating earnings (1)

$

1.09

$

0.77

$

1.96

$

1.43

(1) See discussion below: Non-GAAP and Performance Measures.

Highlights for the quarter included:

“We are pleased to report excellent second quarter financial results,” said RLI Corp. Chairman and CEO Jonathan E. Michael. “All three product segments contributed to our strong performance in the quarter. We achieved an 85 combined ratio and 25% growth in gross written premiums. Favorable market conditions and the continued economic recovery enabled our disciplined underwriters to find more niche opportunities that match our risk appetite. Our capital base continues to grow, supported by our insurance operations and investment returns, and book value per share has increased 11% year to date.”

“During the quarter, we also announced an increase in ordinary dividends for the 46th consecutive year. We are proud of this track record and I want to thank our talented associates for their hard work and continued dedication to our customers. We recently welcomed many of our team members back to our offices and appreciate their perseverance over the past 18 months.”

Underwriting Income

RLI achieved $36.6 million of underwriting income in the second quarter of 2021 on an 84.8 combined ratio, compared to $24.2 million on an 88.4 combined ratio in 2020.

Results for both years include net favorable development in prior years’ loss reserves, which totaled $27.5 million and $21.6 million for 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The following table highlights underwriting income and combined ratios by segment.

Underwriting Income(1)

Combined Ratio(1)

(in millions)

2021

2020

2021

2020

Casualty

$

26.4

$

9.7

Casualty

83.1

92.8

Property

8.9

6.2

Property

84.1

86.4

Surety

1.3

8.3

Surety

95.6

70.6

Total

$

36.6

$

24.2

Total

84.8

88.4

(1) See discussion below: Non-GAAP and Performance Measures.

Other Income

Net investment income for the quarter decreased 1.5% to $16.7 million, compared to the same period in 2020. The investment portfolio’s total return was 2.8% for the quarter and 3.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

RLI’s comprehensive earnings were $97.0 million for the quarter ($2.12 per share), compared to $145.7 million ($3.22 per share) for the same quarter in 2020. In addition to net earnings, comprehensive earnings (loss) included after-tax unrealized gains/(losses) from the fixed income portfolio.

Equity in earnings of Maui Jim, Inc., a producer of premium sunglasses, was $10.6 million for the quarter. Equity in earnings of Prime Holdings Insurance Services, Inc., a specialty insurance company, was $3.6 million. Comparatively, for the second quarter of 2020, equity in earnings of unconsolidated investees from Maui Jim and Prime was $2.6 million and $2.5 million, respectively.

Dividends Paid in the Second Quarter of 2021

On June 18, 2021, the company paid a regular quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, a $0.01 increase over the prior quarter. RLI’s cumulative dividends total nearly $500 million paid over the last five years.

Non-GAAP and Performance Measures

Management has included certain non-generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP) financial measures in presenting the company’s results. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures further explain the company’s results of operations and allow for a more complete understanding of the underlying trends in the company’s business. These measures should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). In addition, our definitions of these items may not be comparable to the definitions used by other companies.

Operating earnings and earnings per share (EPS) from operations consist of our GAAP net earnings adjusted by the net realized gains/(losses), net unrealized gains/(losses) on equity securities and taxes related thereto. Net earnings and net earnings per share are the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to operating earnings and EPS from operations. A reconciliation of the operating earnings and EPS from operations to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included in the 2021 financial highlights below.

Underwriting income or profit represents the pretax profitability of our insurance operations and is derived by subtracting loss and settlement expenses, policy acquisition costs and insurance operating expenses from net premium earned, which are all GAAP financial measures. The combined ratio, which is derived from components of underwriting income, is a performance measure commonly used by property and casualty insurance companies and is calculated as the sum of loss and settlement expenses, policy acquisition costs and insurance operating expenses, divided by net premiums earned, which are all GAAP measures.

Other News

At 10 a.m. central daylight time (CDT) tomorrow, July 22, 2021, RLI management will hold a conference call to discuss quarterly results with insurance industry analysts. Interested parties may listen to the discussion through the Internet at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/ged4yftt.

Except for historical information, this news release may include forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) including, without limitation, statements reflecting our current expectations about the future performance of our company or our business segments or about future market conditions. These statements are subject to certain risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. Various risk factors that could affect future results are listed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2020.

About RLI

RLI Corp. (NYSE: RLI) is a specialty insurer serving niche property, casualty and surety markets. The company provides deep underwriting expertise and superior service to commercial and personal lines customers nationwide. RLI’s products are offered through its insurance subsidiaries – RLI Insurance Company, Mt. Hawley Insurance Company and Contractors Bonding and Insurance Company. All of RLI’s insurance subsidiaries are rated A+ (Superior) by AM Best Company. RLI has paid and increased regular dividends for 46 consecutive years and delivered underwriting profits for 25 consecutive years. To learn more about RLI, visit www.rlicorp.com.

Supplemental disclosure regarding the earnings impact of specific items:

Reserve Development and Catastrophe Losses,

Net of Reinsurance

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

2021

2020

2021

2020

Favorable development in casualty prior years' reserves

$

29.2

$

21.1

$

57.5

$

27.5

Favorable development in property prior years' reserves

$

3.8

$

0.7

$

9.9

$

5.5

Favorable (unfavorable) development in surety prior years' reserves

$

(2.7

)

$

3.8

$

0.1

$

7.8

Net incurred losses related to:

2021 storms

$

(8.0

)

$

-

$

(24.0

)

$

-

2020 and prior events(4)

$

2.1

$

(11.5

)

$

2.1

$

(17.1

)

Operating Earnings Per Share

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020

Operating Earnings Per Share(1)

$

1.09

$

0.77

$

1.96

$

1.43

Specific items included in operating earnings per share:(2) (3)

Net favorable development in casualty prior years' reserves

$

0.46

$

0.32

$

0.88

$

0.44

Net favorable development in property prior years' reserves

$

0.05

$

-

$

0.13

$

0.05

Net favorable (unfavorable) development in surety prior years' reserves

$

(0.06

)

$

0.06

$

(0.02

)

$

0.12

Net incurred losses related to:

2021 storms

$

(0.12

)

$

-

$

(0.35

)

$

-

2020 and prior events(4)

$

0.03

$

(0.18

)

$

0.03

$

(0.26

)

(1) See discussion above: Non-GAAP and Performance Measures.
(2) Includes incentive and profit sharing-related impacts which affected policy acquisition, insurance operating and general corporate expenses.
(3) Reserve development reflects changes from previously estimated losses.
(4) Includes COVID-19 reserves established in 2020.

RLI CORP
2021 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

SUMMARIZED INCOME STATEMENT DATA:

2021

2020

% Change

2021

2020

% Change

Net premiums earned

$

241,000

$

208,734

15.5

%

$

469,595

$

424,316

10.7

%

Net investment income

16,661

16,917

(1.5

)

%

33,085

34,695

(4.6

)

%

Net realized gains (losses)

36,463

(2,109

)

NM

50,613

13,043

NM

Net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities

3,956

74,705

(94.7

)

%

32,118

(55,690

)

NM

Consolidated revenue

$

298,080

$

298,247

(0.1

)

%

$

585,411

$

416,364

40.6

%

Loss and settlement expenses

107,026

101,202

5.8

%

211,918

212,223

(0.1

)

%

Policy acquisition costs

77,235

69,463

11.2

%

152,225

142,404

6.9

%

Insurance operating expenses

20,148

13,906

44.9

%

38,944

28,287

37.7

%

Interest expense on debt

1,904

1,903

0.1

%

3,805

3,800

0.1

%

General corporate expenses

3,686

1,994

84.9

%

7,028

3,749

87.5

%

Total expenses

$

209,999

$

188,468

11.4

%

$

413,920

$

390,463

6.0

%

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investees

13,940

5,100

173.3

%

20,364

9,614

111.8

%

Earnings before income taxes

$

102,021

$

114,879

(11.2

)

%

$

191,855

$

35,515

NM

Income tax expense

20,206

22,713

(11.0

)

%

37,028

4,616

NM

Net earnings

$

81,815

$

92,166

(11.2

)

%

$

154,827

$

30,899

NM

Other comprehensive earnings (loss), net of tax

15,177

53,571

(71.7

)

%

(29,570

)

40,540

NM

Comprehensive earnings

$

96,992

$

145,737

(33.4

)

%

$

125,257

$

71,439

75.3

%

Operating earnings(1):

Net earnings

$

81,815

$

92,166

(11.2

)

%

$

154,827

$

30,899

NM

Less:

Realized (gains) losses

(36,463

)

2,109

NM

(50,613

)

(13,043

)

NM

Income tax on realized gains (losses)

7,656

(443

)

NM

10,628

2,739

NM

Unrealized (gains) losses on equity securities

(3,956

)

(74,705

)

(94.7

)

%

(32,118

)

55,690

NM

Income tax on unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities

831

15,688

(94.7

)

%

6,745

(11,695

)

NM

Operating earnings

$

49,883

$

34,815

43.3

%

$

89,469

$

64,590

38.5

%

Return on Equity:

Net earnings (trailing four quarters)

24.7

%

11.8

%

Comprehensive earnings (trailing four quarters)

23.5

%

17.0

%

Per Share Data:

Diluted:

Weighted average shares outstanding (in 000's)

45,715

45,274

45,703

45,311

Net earnings per share

$

1.79

$

2.04

(12.3

)

%

$

3.39

$

0.68

NM

Less:

Realized (gains) losses

(0.80

)

0.05

NM

(1.11

)

(0.29

)

NM

Income tax on realized gains (losses)

0.17

(0.01

)

NM

0.23

0.06

NM

Unrealized (gains) losses on equity securities

(0.09

)

(1.66

)

(94.6

)

%

(0.70

)

1.24

NM

Income tax on unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities

0.02

0.35

(94.3

)

%

0.15

(0.26

)

NM

EPS from operations(1)

$

1.09

$

0.77

41.6

%

$

1.96

$

1.43

37.1

%

Comprehensive earnings per share

$

2.12

$

3.22

(34.2

)

%

$

2.74

$

1.58

73.4

%

Cash dividends per share - ordinary

$

0.25

$

0.24

4.2

%

$

0.49

$

0.47

4.3

%

Net Cash Flow provided by Operations

$

104,222

$

89,540

16.4

%

$

164,509

$

83,773

96.4

%

(1) See discussion above: Non-GAAP and Performance Measures.

NM = Not Meaningful

RLI CORP
2021 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

June 30,

December 31,

2021

2020

% Change

SUMMARIZED BALANCE SHEET DATA:

Fixed income, at fair value

$

2,319,244

$

2,196,626

5.6

%

(amortized cost - $2,219,502 at 6/30/21)

(amortized cost - $2,061,467 at 12/31/20)

Equity securities, at fair value

566,870

524,006

8.2

%

(cost - $308,374 at 6/30/21)

(cost - $293,190 at 12/31/20)

Other invested assets

52,849

54,232

(2.6

)

%

Cash and cash equivalents

95,457

62,217

53.4

%

Total investments and cash

$

3,034,420

$

2,837,081

7.0

%

Premiums and reinsurance balances receivable

177,237

174,628

1.5

%

Ceded unearned premiums

120,116

113,488

5.8

%

Reinsurance balances recoverable on unpaid losses

545,085

443,729

22.8

%

Deferred policy acquisition costs

99,898

88,425

13.0

%

Property and equipment

50,925

51,406

(0.9

)

%

Investment in unconsolidated investees

148,561

128,382

15.7

%

Goodwill and intangibles

53,582

53,719

(0.3

)

%

Other assets

50,806

47,627

6.7

%

Total assets

$

4,280,630

$

3,938,485

8.7

%

Unpaid losses and settlement expenses

$

1,917,609

$

1,750,049

9.6

%

Unearned premiums

640,895

586,386

9.3

%

Reinsurance balances payable

34,946

42,265

(17.3

)

%

Funds held

89,474

81,747

9.5

%

Income taxes - deferred

82,110

80,235

2.3

%

Bonds payable, long-term debt

149,582

149,489

0.1

%

Accrued expenses

60,849

75,925

(19.9

)

%

Other liabilities

63,362

36,411

74.0

%

Total liabilities

$

3,038,827

$

2,802,507

8.4

%

Shareholders' equity

1,241,803

1,135,978

9.3

%

Total liabilities & shareholders' equity

$

4,280,630

$

3,938,485

8.7

%

OTHER DATA:

Common shares outstanding (in 000's)

45,223

45,143

Book value per share

$

27.46

$

25.16

9.1

%

Closing stock price per share

$

104.59

$

104.15

0.4

%

Statutory surplus

$

1,227,879

$

1,121,592

9.5

%

RLI CORP
2021 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
UNDERWRITING SEGMENT DATA
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended June 30,

GAAP

GAAP

GAAP

GAAP

Casualty

Ratios

Property

Ratios

Surety

Ratios

Total

Ratios

2021

Gross premiums written

$

236,329

$

91,911

$

30,744

$

358,984

Net premiums written

183,436

69,943

29,107

282,486

Net premiums earned

156,195

55,865

28,940

241,000

Net loss & settlement expenses

74,421

47.6

%

24,311

43.5

%

8,294

28.7

%

107,026

44.4

%

Net operating expenses

55,336

35.5

%

22,675

40.6

%

19,372

66.9

%

97,383

40.4

%

Underwriting income(1)

$

26,438

83.1

%

$

8,879

84.1

%

$

1,274

95.6

%

$

36,591

84.8

%

2020

Gross premiums written

$

190,047

$

69,286

$

27,820

$

287,153

Net premiums written

152,114

51,563

26,413

230,090

Net premiums earned

135,215

45,387

28,132

208,734

Net loss & settlement expenses

77,651

57.4

%

21,550

47.5

%

2,001

7.1

%

101,202

48.5

%

Net operating expenses

47,831

35.4

%

17,670

38.9

%

17,868

63.5

%

83,369

39.9

%

Underwriting income(1)

$

9,733

92.8

%

$

6,167

86.4

%

$

8,263

70.6

%

$

24,163

88.4

%

Six Months Ended June 30,

GAAP

GAAP

GAAP

GAAP

Casualty

Ratios

Property

Ratios

Surety

Ratios

Total

Ratios

2021

Gross premiums written

$

425,225

$

166,448

$

62,206

$

653,879

Net premiums written

332,327

125,929

59,219

517,475

Net premiums earned

304,965

107,507

57,123

469,595

Net loss & settlement expenses

144,668

47.4

%

55,948

52.0

%

11,302

19.8

%

211,918

45.1

%

Net operating expenses

108,992

35.8

%

43,685

40.7

%

38,492

67.4

%

191,169

40.7

%

Underwriting income(1)

$

51,305

83.2

%

$

7,874

92.7

%

$

7,329

87.2

%

$

66,508

85.8

%

2020

Gross premiums written

$

349,283

$

126,007

$

57,695

$

532,985

Net premiums written

279,291

92,990

54,912

427,193

Net premiums earned

278,635

89,735

55,946

424,316

Net loss & settlement expenses

171,916

61.7

%

37,521

41.8

%

2,786

5.0

%

212,223

50.0

%

Net operating expenses

98,309

35.3

%

36,139

40.3

%

36,243

64.8

%

170,691

40.2

%

Underwriting income(1)

$

8,410

97.0

%

$

16,075

82.1

%

$

16,917

69.8

%

$

41,402

90.2

%

(1) See discussion above: Non-GAAP and Performance Measures.

Category: Earnings Release

Aaron Diefenthaler

Vice President, Chief Investment Officer & Treasurer

309-693-5846

[email protected]

Source: RLI Corp.

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