DeRidder, LA – AMERISAFE, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMSF), a specialty provider of workers’ compensation insurance focused on high-hazard industries, recently announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.
G. Janelle Frost, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Robust payroll audits coupled with growth in policy count led to top-line growth this quarter. We were able to maintain a strong operating ROAE of 13.2% and combined ratio of 90.6%, despite some infrequent items that impacted our expenses this quarter. Our underwriting expertise continues to drive AMERISAFE’s strong returns and balance sheet position.”
Insurance Results
Voluntary premiums on policies written in the third quarter were 1.1% higher than the third quarter of 2022, primarily due to policy count growth.
Payroll audits and related premium adjustments increased premiums written by $5.6 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared to an increase of $3.4 million in the third quarter of 2022.
Ceded premiums increased $1.6 million in the third quarter of 2023 as compared to the third quarter of 2022 as we purchased higher levels of reinsurance coverage at generally higher prices in 2023.
The loss ratio for the third quarter was 55.8%, fairly flat as compared to 55.6% in the third quarter of 2022. During the quarter, the Company experienced favorable net loss reserve development for prior accident years, which reduced loss and loss adjustment expenses by $10.2 million, primarily from accident years 2016 through 2021.
For the quarter ended September 30, 2023, the underwriting expense ratio was 33.6% compared to 28.9% in the same quarter in 2022 primarily due to a decrease of $1.6 million in profit sharing reinsurance commission, a $0.6 million increase in commission expense and $0.4 million increase in regulatory assessments and fees.
The effective tax rate for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, was 19.2% compared with 15.5% for 2022. The rate was higher than last year due to a decrease in the proportion of tax-exempt interest income relative to underwriting profit.
Investment Results
Net investment income for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, increased 16.1% to $8.1 million from $7.0 million in the third quarter of 2022, due to higher yields on cash and fixed-income securities.
Net realized gains on investments were $5.1 million in the third quarter, primarily due to a realized gain on an equity security.
Net unrealized losses on equity securities were $7.3 million in the third quarter as a result of generally unfavorable equity market returns during the quarter.
As of September 30, 2023, the carrying value of AMERISAFE’s investment portfolio, including cash and cash equivalents, was $948.3 million.
Capital Management
In a seperate news release, the Company announced a special cash dividend of $3.50 per share, payable on December 15, 2023, to shareholders of record as of December 1, 2023.
During the third quarter of 2023, the Company paid a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.34 per share on September 22, 2023, which represented a 9.7% increase in the quarterly dividend compared with 2022. On October 24, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.34 per share, payable on December 15, 2023, to shareholders of record as of December 1, 2023.
Book value per share at September 30, 2023 was $17.51, an increase of 5.7% from $16.57 at December 31, 2022.
The complete results release is available here: AMERISAFE 2023 Third Quarter Results
Source: AMERISAFE