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ProAssurance (PRA) Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates, Drop Y/Y

ProAssurance Corporation’s PRA third-quarter 2019 operating earnings per share of 30 cents beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 12 cents by 150%, primarily driven by higher revenues. However, the bottom line declined 28.6% year over year.

The company’s quarterly operating revenues rose 5.7% to $242 million from the prior-year period on the back of premium growth. The top line also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.8%.

Quarterly Operational Update

Gross premiums written inched up 2.2% year over year to $265 million, riding on the company’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance segment, Segregated Portfolio Cell Reinsurance and Lloyd’s Syndicates segments.

Also, net premiums earned rose 4.7% year over year on solid segmental performances, especially Specialty P&C segment.

Net investment income increased 1.8% year over year.

Total expenses rose 6% year over year to $231 million due to higher net losses and loss adjustment expenses.

ProAssurance Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

ProAssurance Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
ProAssurance Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

ProAssurance Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | ProAssurance Corporation Quote

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Quarterly Segment Results

Specialty P&C Segment


Total revenues of $127 million improved 4% year over year.

Gross premiums written were $164.9 million, down 1.6% year over year due to decline in healthcare facilities premium and the pending renewal of a $3.6-million physician policy.

Total expenses of $137 million rose 8.7% year over year due to net loss and loss adjustment expenses.

Workers' Compensation Segment

Total revenues of $49.9 million rose 4.8% year over year.

Gross premiums written were $70.1 million in the quarter under review, up 6.6% year over year. This was on the back of new business additions and a hike in audit premium.

Total expenses of $47.2 million increased 2.6% year over year.

Segregated Portfolio Cell Reinsurance Segment

Gross premiums of $17.3 million were up 29% year over year owing to new business and 96% renewal retention rate.

Lloyd's Syndicate Segment

Total revenues of $22.5 million improved 12.1% year over year.

Gross premiums written were $30.4 million, up 15.3% from the figure acquired in the comparable quarter last year. This upside can be attributed to volume expansion on renewal business and renewal pricing increases, new business written, etc.

Total expenses of $21.3 million increased 15.4% year over year due to higher net losses and loss adjustment expenses and higher underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses.

Corporate Segment

Total revenues of $22.8 million deteriorated 41.7% year over year.

Operating expenses of $2.6 million declined 46.9% from the year-ago level on the back of some lower compensation-related expenses.

Interest expense of $4.2 million increased 17.3% year over year.

Financial Position

As of Sep 30, 2019, ProAssurance’s total investments of $3.4 billion were up 4.4% from the number registered at 2018 end.

At third-quarter end, the company’s total assets were $4.8 billion, up 4.9% from the level at 2018 end.

As of Sep 30, 2019, the insurer’s shareholder equity increased 4.3% to $1.5 billion from the tally on Dec 31, 2018.

Share Repurchase & Dividend Update

The company did not buy back any shares in the reported quarter. As of Oct 31, 2019, it had approximately $110 million of shares available under its board-authorized stock repurchase program.

In August 2019, the company’s board members approved a regular dividend of 31 cents, paid out in October.

Zacks Rank

ProAssurance carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

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

Performance of Other Insurers

Among other players from the insurance industry having reported third-quarter earnings so far, the bottom-line results of The Progressive Corporation PGR, MGIC Investment Corporation MTG and RLI Corp. RLI outpaced the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.   

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