EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press release

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Media Contact:   Investor Relations Contact:
Suzie Boland   Alison Ziegler
RFB Communications Group   Cameron Associates
813.259.0345   212.554.5469
sboland@rfbcommunications.com   alison@cameronassoc.com

Homeowners Choice Reports Second Quarter Earnings

 

 

Strong balance sheet: $112 million in investments and cash and cash equivalents with no debt

 

 

Book value of $7.48 per share increased 9.5 percent from second quarter 2009

Clearwater, Fla. — (Aug. 10, 2010) – Homeowners Choice, Inc. (NASDAQ:HCII), a Florida-based provider of homeowners’ insurance, today announced its results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

Net income for the second quarter of 2010 was $1.3 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, compared with net income of $3.0 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2009. Book value per share increased from $7.03 at Dec. 31, 2009 to $7.48 at June 30, 2010, an increase of 6.4 percent.

Gross premiums earned were $30.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 compared with $28.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. Net premiums earned (gross premiums earned reduced by premiums ceded to reinsurance companies that cover certain of the risks from hurricanes and other catastrophes) for the second quarter of 2010 decreased 20.2 percent to $15.6 million from $19.6 million in the prior year quarter.

Homeowners Choice also reported investment income of $569,000 for the second quarter compared with $361,000 in the prior year second quarter. In addition, the company recognized a gain on investments sold during the quarter ended June 30, 2010 of $505,000. The company had no investment sales during 2009.

Losses and loss adjustment expenses for the second quarter were $10.9 million compared with $12.6 million in the prior year quarter. Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses for the second quarter of 2010 were $2.7 million compared with $1.3 million during the second quarter of 2009. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, net income was $2.0 million, or $0.29 per diluted share compared with $9.3 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Net premiums earned for the first six months of 2010 decreased 22.1 percent to $31.9 million from $40.9 million in the prior year same period. Investment income for the six month period ended June 30, 2010 was $1.1 million compared with $0.7 million in the prior year same period. Losses and loss adjustment expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2010 were $20.7 million compared with $22.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009. Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 were $7.0 million and $2.2 million, respectively.


During the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, the company repurchased a total of 374,401 and 117,257 shares respectively of its common stock as part of the company’s repurchase plans. For the quarter ended June 30, 2010, the company’s weighted average diluted shares totaled 6.7 million, an 8.1 percent decrease from the 7.2 million weighted average shares reported for the quarter ended June 30, 2009.

“We are delighted to report continued profitability this quarter and a significant bottom-line improvement in comparison to the first quarter of 2010,” said Homeowners Choice Chief Executive Officer, F.X. McCahill. “We continue to expect profitability and bottom-line improvement in 2010 primarily as a result of an average rate increase of 14 percent, which began rolling through our book of business in April 2010.”

Conference Call

The company will host an earnings conference call Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010, at 4:30 p.m. E.D.T. to discuss its second quarter 2010 results. Interested parties are invited to listen to the call live over the Internet at http://www.ir-site.com/hcpci/events.asp. The call is also available by dialing (877) 407-9210 (toll-free). International participants should instead call (201) 689-8049. Participants should dial into the conference call approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. Replays of the webcast will be available until Nov. 10, 2010.

About Homeowners Choice, Inc.

Homeowners Choice, Inc. (www.hcpci.com) is a Florida-based insurance holding company headquartered in Clearwater. Through its subsidiary corporations, Homeowners Choice provides property and casualty homeowners’ insurance, condominium owners’ insurance and tenants’ insurance solely to Florida property owners. Founded in 2006, Homeowners Choice today serves approximately 63,000 policyholders throughout Florida representing approximately $127 million in annualized premiums. The company’s common shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker symbol HCII and are included in the Russell Microcap Index. Warrants trade on the same market under the ticker symbol HCIIW. More information about Homeowners Choice, Inc. is available at www.hcpci.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan” and “project” and other similar words and expressions are intended to signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions but rather are subject to various risks and uncertainties. For example, there can be no assurance that the company will obtain improved profitability or bottom-line improvement during 2010. Some of these risks and uncertainties are identified in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should any risks or uncertainties develop into actual events, these developments could have material adverse effects on the company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Homeowners Choice, Inc. disclaims all obligations to update any forward-looking statements.

—financial tables to follow—


HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

Revenue

        

Gross premiums earned

   $ 29,978      28,614      $ 60,322      58,950   

Premiums ceded

     (14,333   (8,999     (28,436   (18,005
                            

Net premiums earned

     15,645      19,615        31,886      40,945   

Net investment income

     569      361        1,100      719   

Realized investment gains

     505      —          505      —     

Other

     692      376        908      1,011   
                            

Total revenue

     17,411      20,352        34,399      42,675   
                            

Expenses

        

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

     10,863      12,605        20,676      22,627   

Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses

     2,668      1,320        6,960      2,240   

Other operating expenses

     1,886      1,515        3,583      2,759   
                            

Total expenses

     15,417      15,440        31,219      27,626   
                            

Income before income taxes

     1,994      4,912        3,180      15,049   

Income taxes

     712      1,907        1,200      5,760   
                            

Net income

   $ 1,282      3,005      $ 1,980      9,289   
                            

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.21      0.44      $ 0.32      1.35   
                            

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.19      0.42      $ 0.29      1.28   
                            

Dividends per share

   $ —        —        $ —        —     
                            


HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except share amounts)

 

     At June 30, 2010    At December 31, 2009  
     (Unaudited)       
Assets      

Investment in fixed maturity securities, held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $4,250)

   $ —      4,049   

Investment in fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $16,660 and $19,763)

     17,517    19,266   

Time deposits

     13,763    13,507   

Short-term investments

     4,078    11,521   
             

Total investments

     35,358    48,343   

Cash and cash equivalents

     76,300    43,453   

Accrued interest and dividends receivable

     166    176   

Premiums receivable

     10,029    4,899   

Assumed reinsurance balances receivable

     —      19,525   

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

     7,693    7,205   

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     9,954    10,496   

Property and equipment, net

     7,640    399   

Deferred income taxes

     2,052    2,438   

Other assets

     1,421    958   
             

Total assets

   $ 150,613    137,892   
             
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

     23,117    19,178   

Unearned premiums

     66,140    68,509   

Advance premiums

     6,661    713   

Assumed reinsurance balances payable

     658    —     

Accrued expenses

     6,309    3,742   

Income taxes payable

     624    167   

Other liabilities

     1,302    205   
             

Total liabilities

     104,811    92,514   
             

Stockholders’ equity:

     

Preferred stock (no par value 20,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding)

     —      —     

Common stock, (no par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, 6,122,234 and 6,456,635 shares issued and outstanding in 2010 and 2009)

     —      —     

Additional paid-in capital

     18,776    21,164   

Retained earnings

     26,500    24,520   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     526    (306
             

Total stockholders’ equity

     45,802    45,378   
             

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 150,613    137,892   
             

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