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Greenlight Capital (GLRE) Incurs Wider-Than-Expected Q4 Loss

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Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd (GLRE - Free Report) incurred fourth-quarter 2017 loss of $1.02 per share, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 55 cents. Also, the bottom line compared unfavorably with $1.31 per share earned in the year-ago period.

Greenlight Reinsurance, Ltd. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

 

Reserve strengthening, investment loss and losses from the California wildfires weighed on fourth-quarter results.

Shares of the company lost about 6% in the last two trading sessions reflecting its underperformance.

Quarter in Detail

Operating revenues of $125 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 20.93%. Moreover, the top line declined 33.7% year over year.

Gross written premiums of $139 million decreased 6.6% year over year. Net earned premiums increased 3.3% year over year to $141.1 million.

Net investment loss was $16.2 million, comparing unfavorably with income of $52.9 million in the year-ago quarter.  

Underwriting loss of $19.7 million compared unfavorably with underwriting income of $1.4 million in the prior-year quarter, attributable to $4.7 million loss, net of reinstatement premiums, stemming from the California wildfires.

Full-Year Highlights

For 2017, Greenlight Capital reported loss per share of $1.21 versus income of $1.20 earned in 2016.

Revenues of $645.7 million improved 9.7% over 2016 owing to higher premiums earned.

Total expenses of $690.5 million increased 27.6% over 2016 on higher loss and loss adjustment expenses, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses.

Combined ratio of 108.6% deteriorated 500 basis points year over year.

Financial Update

Cash and cash equivalents were $1.5 billion as of Dec 31, 2017, improved from $1.2 billion as of Dec 31, 2016.

Total assets of $3.4 billion as of Dec 31, 2017 increased from $2.7 billion as of Dec 31, 2016.

Total liabilities of $2.5 billion deteriorated from $1.8 billion at 2016-end.

Shareholders’ equity at 2017-end totaled $831.3 million, lowered from $874.2 million as of Dec 31, 2016.

Adjusted book value per share was $22.22 as of Dec 31, 2017, declining 5% from $23.38 as of Dec 31, 2016.

Zacks Rank

Greenlight Capital carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

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

Performance of Other Insurers

Among other players from the insurance industry that have reported fourth-quarter earnings so far, the bottom line of The Progressive Corp. (PGR - Free Report) , The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV - Free Report) and RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.

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