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RLI Misses Earnings and Surpasses Revenue Estimates in Q3

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RLI Corp.’s (RLI - Free Report) third-quarter 2018 operating earnings of 44 cents per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 14.5%. Nevertheless, the bottom line skyrocketed from earnings of 4 cents in the year-ago quarter.

RLI Corp. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

 

 

The company witnessed improved premiums across most of its product lines along with higher net investment income in the reported quarter. However, these were partially offset by losses from Hurricane Florence.

Operational Performance

Operating revenues for the reported quarter totaled $217.129 million, up 10.7% year over year. The upside can be attributed to higher net premiums earned as well as net investment income. Also, the top line outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.2%.

Gross premiums written increased 8.5% year over year to $239.1 million. The upside can be attributed to solid performance in the Casualty and Property segments.     

Total expenses declined 10.6% year over year to $197.9 million, primarily due to lower loss and settlement expenses.

Net investment income improved nearly 15% year over year to $16.3 million. Total return from the investment portfolio was 1.5%.

The company reported underwriting income of $7.8 million, against the year-ago quarter’s loss of $14.9 million. The improvement was driven by better results in the Property and Surety segments, partially offset by weak performance in the Casualty segment. Loss from Hurricane Florence lowered underwriting income by $6.4 million.

Combined ratio surged 1210 basis points year over year to 96.1%.

Financial Update

The company exited the third quarter with total investments and cash of $2.2 billion, up 4.2% from the tally as of 2017 end.

Book value was $19.60 per share as of Sep 30, 2018, up 5% from the tally as of Dec 31, 2017.

Long-term debt was $149.1 million, which inched up 0.1% from the figure at 2017-end.

Statutory surplus grew 13.2% to $978.9 million at Sep 30, 2018 from the tally as of Dec 31, 2017.

Net cash flow from operations declined 11.2% to $63.4 million in the quarter under review.

Dividend Payout

On Sep 20, 2018, the company paid out a cash dividend of 22 cents per share. In the past five years, the P&C insurer’s total cumulative dividends amounted more than $616 million.

Zacks Rank

RLI carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). 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 that have reported third-quarter earnings so far, the bottom line of The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) and MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG - Free Report) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF - Free Report) will report third-quarter 2018 earnings on Oct 25. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for is pegged at 78 cents per share, reflecting a year-over-year surge of 34.5%.

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