DONEGAL GROUP INC
For the period ended Mar 31, 2025. Filed May 6, 2025.
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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Mar 31, 2025 · Filed May 6, 2025
What changed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis?
Read the current filingPrevious report: 10-Q
Period ended 2024-09-30; filed 2024-11-06.
0001140361-24-045419
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsCurrent report: 10-Q
Period ended 2025-03-31; filed 2025-05-06.
0001140361-25-017502
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsThe baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.
Compared 70 previous paragraphs and 59 current paragraphs.
36 unchanged; 22 reworded; 0 added; 5 removed; 7 previous and 1 current paragraphs rearranged.
Tables are not compared: 9 previous and 10 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.
A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.
Removed paragraphs (5)
Previous report
Underwriting Expenses. The expense ratio for an insurance company is the ratio of policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses to premiums earned. The expense ratio of our insurance subsidiaries was 34.5% for the third quarter of 2024, compared to 34.1% for the third quarter of 2023. We attribute the modest increase to higher technology costs related to our ongoing systems modernization initiatives and an increase in underwriting-based incentive costs for the third quarter of 2024 compared to the prior-year quarter. These increases were offset partially by impacts of various expense reduction initiatives, including agency incentive program revisions, commission schedule adjustments, targeted staffing reductions, and deferred replacement of open employment positions, among others. We expect the impact from allocated costs from Donegal Mutual to our insurance subsidiaries related to the ongoing systems modernization project will peak at approximately 1.3 percentage points of the expense ratio for the full year of 2024 before beginning to subside gradually in subsequent years.
Previous report
Results of Operations - Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Previous report
Net Premiums Earned. Our insurance subsidiaries’ net premiums earned for the first nine months of 2024 were $700.0 million, an increase of $44.1 million, or 6.7%, compared to $655.9 million for the first nine months of 2023, primarily reflecting solid premium retention and renewal premium increases.
Previous report
Net Premiums Written. Our insurance subsidiaries’ net premiums written for the first nine months of 2024 were $730.8 million, an increase of $47.8 million, or 7.0%, from the $683.0 million of net premiums written for the first nine months of 2023. Commercial lines net premiums written increased $16.1 million, or 4.0%, for the first nine months of 2024 compared to the first nine months of 2023. Personal lines net premiums written increased $31.7 million, or 11.5%, for the first nine months of 2024 compared to the first nine months of 2023. We attribute the increase in commercial lines net premiums written primarily to new business writings, strong premium retention and a continuation of renewal premium increases in lines other than workers’ compensation, offset partially by planned attrition in states we exited or have targeted for profit improvement. We attribute the increase in personal lines net premiums written primarily to renewal premium increases and strong policy retention.
Reworded paragraphs (22)
Previous wording
We combine our financial statements with those of our insurance subsidiaries and present our financial statements on a consolidated basis in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).
Current wording
We combine our financial statements with those of our insurance subsidiaries and present them on a consolidated basis in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).
Previous wording
Our insurance subsidiaries make estimates and assumptions that can have a significant effect on amounts and disclosures we report in our financial statements. The most significant estimates relate to the liabilities of our insurance subsidiaries for property and casualty insurance losses and loss expenses. While we believe our estimates and the estimates of our insurance subsidiaries are appropriate, the ultimate amounts of these liabilities may differ from the estimates we provided. We regularly review our methods for making these estimates and we reflect any adjustment we consider necessary in our current consolidated results of operations.
Current wording
Our insurance subsidiaries make estimates and assumptions that can have a significant effect on amounts and disclosures we report in our financial statements. The most significant estimates relate to the reserves of our insurance subsidiaries for property and casualty insurance unpaid losses and loss expenses. While we believe our estimates and the estimates of our insurance subsidiaries are appropriate, the ultimate amounts may differ from the estimates we provided. We regularly review our methods for making these estimates and we reflect any adjustment we consider necessary in our results of operations for the period in which we make an adjustment.
Previous wording
Reserve estimates can change over time because of unexpected changes in assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ external environment and, to a lesser extent, assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ internal operations. For example, our insurance subsidiaries have experienced an increase in claims severity and a lengthening of the claim settlement periods on bodily injury claims during the past several years. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic and related government mandates and restrictions resulted in various changes from historical claims reporting and settlement trends during 2020 and resulted in significant increases in loss costs in subsequent years due to a number of factors, including supply chain disruption, higher used automobile values, lengthening of repair completion times, increases in the cost of replacement automobile parts and rising labor rates. These trend changes give rise to greater uncertainty as to the pattern of future loss settlements. Related uncertainties regarding future trends include social inflation, availability and cost of building materials, availability of skilled labor, the rate of plaintiff attorney involvement in claims and the cost of medical technologies and procedures. Assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ external environment include the absence of significant changes in tort law and the legal environment that increase liability exposure, consistency in judicial interpretations of insurance coverage and policy provisions and the rate of loss cost inflation. Internal assumptions include consistency in the recording of premium and loss statistics, consistency in the recording of claims, payment and case reserving methodology, accurate measurement of the impact of rate changes and changes in policy provisions, consistency in the quality and characteristics of business written within a given line of business and consistency in reinsurance coverage and collectability of reinsured losses, among other items. To the extent our insurance subsidiaries determine that underlying factors impacting their assumptions have changed, our insurance subsidiaries make adjustments in their reserves that they consider appropriate for such changes. Accordingly, our insurance subsidiaries’ ultimate liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses will likely differ from the amount recorded at September 30, 2024. At September 30, 2024, for every 1% change in our insurance subsidiaries’ loss and loss expense reserves, net of reinsurance recoverable, the effect on our pre-tax results of operations would be approximately $7.1 million.
Current wording
Reserve estimates can change over time because of unexpected changes in assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ external environment and, to a lesser extent, assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ internal operations. For example, our insurance subsidiaries have experienced an increase in claims severity and a lengthening of the claim settlement periods on bodily injury claims during the past several years. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic and related government mandates and restrictions resulted in various changes from historical claims reporting and settlement trends during 2020 and resulted in significant increases in loss costs in subsequent years due to a number of factors, including supply chain disruption, higher new and used automobile values, increases in the cost of replacement automobile parts and rising labor rates. These trend changes caused significant disruption to historical loss patterns and give rise to greater uncertainty as to the pattern of future loss settlements. Related uncertainties regarding future trends include social inflation, availability and cost of replacement automobile parts and building materials, availability and cost of skilled labor, the rate of specialized plaintiff attorney involvement in claims, plaintiff attorney utilization of litigation financing and the cost of medical technologies and procedures. While we did not see a material impact in the first quarter of 2025, we are monitoring the impact of tariffs and other inflationary factors, which may result in increases in loss costs in the future. Assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ external environment include the absence of significant changes in tort law and the legal environment that increase liability exposure, consistency in judicial interpretations of insurance coverage and policy provisions and the rate of loss cost inflation. Internal assumptions include consistency in the recording of premium and loss statistics, consistency in the recording of claims, payment and case reserving methodology, accurate measurement of the impact of rate changes and changes in policy provisions, consistency in the quality and characteristics of business written within a given line of business and consistency in reinsurance coverage and collectability of reinsured losses, among other items. To the extent our insurance subsidiaries determine that underlying factors impacting their assumptions have changed, our insurance subsidiaries make adjustments in their reserves that they consider appropriate for such changes. Accordingly, our insurance subsidiaries’ ultimate liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses will likely differ from the amount recorded at March 31, 2025. For every 1% change in our insurance subsidiaries’ loss and loss expense reserves, net of reinsurance recoverable, the effect on our pre-tax results of operations would be approximately $7.0 million.
Previous wording
Excluding the impact of severe weather events and the COVID-19 pandemic, our insurance subsidiaries have noted stable amounts in the number of claims incurred and the number of claims outstanding at period ends relative to their premium base in recent years across most of their lines of business. However, the amount of the average claim outstanding has increased gradually over the past several years due to various factors such as rising inflation and increased litigation trends. We have also experienced a general slowing of settlement rates in litigated claims and lengthening of repair completion times for property and automobile claims. Our insurance subsidiaries could have to make further adjustments to their estimates in the future. However, on the basis of our insurance subsidiaries’ internal procedures, which analyze, among other things, their prior assumptions, their experience with similar cases and historical trends such as reserving patterns, loss payments, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes, we believe that our insurance subsidiaries have made adequate provision for their liability for losses and loss expenses.
Current wording
Excluding the impact of severe weather events and the COVID-19 pandemic, our insurance subsidiaries have noted stable amounts in the number of claims incurred and the number of claims outstanding at period ends relative to their premium base in recent years across most of their lines of business. However, the amount of the average claim outstanding has increased gradually over the past several years due to various factors such as increased property and automobile repair and replacement costs, rising medical loss costs and increased litigation trends and lengthening of repair completion times for property and automobile claims. We have also experienced a general slowing of settlement rates in litigated claims and lengthening of repair completion times for property and automobile claims. Our insurance subsidiaries could have to make further adjustments to their estimates in the future. However, on the basis of our insurance subsidiaries’ internal procedures, which analyze, among other things, their prior assumptions, their experience with similar cases and historical trends such as reserving patterns, loss payments, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes, we believe that our insurance subsidiaries have made adequate provision for their liability for losses and loss expenses.
Previous wording
Atlantic States’ participation in the pool with Donegal Mutual exposes Atlantic States to adverse loss development on the business of Donegal Mutual that the pool includes. However, pooled business represents the predominant percentage of the net underwriting activity of both companies, and Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States share proportionately any adverse loss development relating to the pooled business. The business in the pool is homogeneous and each company has a pro-rata share of the entire pool. Since the predominant percentage of the business of Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual is pooled and the results shared by each company according to its participation level under the terms of the pooling agreement, the intent of the underwriting pool is to produce a more uniform and stable underwriting result from year to year for each company than either would experience individually and to spread the risk of loss between the companies.
Current wording
Atlantic States’ participation in the underwriting pool with Donegal Mutual exposes Atlantic States to adverse loss development on the business that Donegal Mutual contributes to the underwriting pool. However, pooled business represents the predominant percentage of the net underwriting activity of both companies, and Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States share proportionately any adverse risk development relating to the pooled business. The business in the underwriting pool is homogeneous and each company has a pro-rata share of the entire underwriting pool. Since the predominant percentage of the business of Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual is pooled and the results shared by each company according to its participation level under the terms of the pooling agreement, the intent of the underwriting pool is to produce a more uniform and stable underwriting result from year to year for each company than either would experience individually and to spread the risk of loss between the companies.
Previous wording
The following table provides a reconciliation of our net premiums earned to our net premiums written for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Current wording
The following table provides a reconciliation of our net premiums earned to our net premiums written for the three months ended March 31, 2025:
Previous wording
The following table presents comparative details with respect to our GAAP and statutory combined ratios for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Current wording
The following table presents comparative details with respect to our GAAP and statutory combined ratios for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024:
Previous wording
Net Premiums Earned. Our insurance subsidiaries’ net premiums earned for the third quarter of 2024 were $238.0 million, an increase of $13.6 million, or 6.0%, compared to $224.4 million for the third quarter of 2023, primarily reflecting solid premium retention and renewal premium increases.
Current wording
Net Premiums Earned. Our insurance subsidiaries’ net premiums earned for the first quarter of 2025 were $232.7 million, an increase of $5.0 million, or 2.2%, compared to $227.7 million for the first quarter of 2024, primarily reflecting solid premium retention and renewal premium increases.
Previous wording
Net Premiums Written. Our insurance subsidiaries’ net premiums written for the third quarter of 2024 were $232.2 million, an increase of $13.0 million, or 5.9%, from the $219.2 million of net premiums written for the third quarter of 2023. Commercial lines net premiums written increased $7.6 million, or 6.4%, for the third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023. Personal lines net premiums written increased $5.4 million, or 5.4%, for the third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023. We attribute the increase in commercial lines net premiums written primarily to new business writings, strong premium retention and a continuation of renewal premium increases in lines other than workers’ compensation, offset partially by planned attrition in states in which we are executing ongoing profit improvement initiatives as part of our state-specific strategies. We attribute the increase in personal lines net premiums written primarily to renewal premium increases and strong policy retention, offset partially by planned attrition due to non-renewal actions.
Current wording
Net Premiums Written. Our insurance subsidiaries’ net premiums written for the first quarter of 2025 were $247.1 million, a decrease of $4.4 million, or 1.7%, from the $251.4 million of net premiums written for the first quarter of 2024. Commercial lines net premiums written increased $5.1 million, or 3.3%, for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024. Personal lines net premiums written decreased $9.5 million, or 9.9%, for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024. We attribute the increase in commercial lines net premiums written primarily to solid retention and a continuation of renewal premium increases in lines other than workers’ compensation, offset partially by lower new business writings. We attribute the decrease in personal lines net premiums written primarily to planned attrition due to lower new business writings and non-renewal actions, offset partially by a continuation of renewal premium rate increases and solid retention.
Previous wording
Investment Income. Our net investment income was $10.8 million for the third quarter of 2024, an increase of $290,503, or 2.8%, compared to $10.5 million for the third quarter of 2023. We attribute the increase primarily to an increase in the average investment yield relative to the third quarter of 2023.
Current wording
Investment Income. Our net investment income was $12.0 million for the first quarter of 2025, an increase of $1.0 million, or 9.2%, compared to $11.0 million for the first quarter of 2024. We attribute the increase primarily to an increase in the average investment yield and higher average invested assets relative to the first quarter of 2024.
Previous wording
Net Investment Gains (Losses). Net investment gains for the third quarter of 2024 were $1.9 million, compared to net investment losses of $1.2 million for the third quarter of 2023. The net investment gains (losses) for the third quarter of 2024 and 2023 resulted primarily from the net change in unrealized gains and losses within our equity securities portfolio at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We did not recognize any impairment losses for individual securities in our investment portfolio during the third quarter of 2024 or 2023.
Current wording
Net Investment (Losses) Gains. Net investment losses for the first quarter of 2025 were $470,861, compared to net investment gains of $2.1 million for the first quarter of 2024. The net investment losses for the first quarter of 2025 resulted primarily from the net change in unrealized gains and losses within our equity securities portfolio at March 31, 2025. We did not recognize any impairment losses for individual securities in our investment portfolio during the first quarter of 2025 or 2024.
Previous wording
Losses and Loss Expenses. Our insurance subsidiaries’ loss ratio, which is the ratio of incurred losses and loss expenses to premiums earned, was 61.5% for the third quarter of 2024, a decrease from our insurance subsidiaries’ loss ratio of 69.8% for the third quarter of 2023. We attribute this decrease primarily to decreased core losses, offset partially by decreased favorable loss reserve development. The core loss ratio, which excludes weather-related losses, large fire losses and net favorable development of reserves for losses incurred in prior accident years, was 50.1% for the third quarter of 2024, compared to 56.7% for the third quarter of 2023. For the commercial lines segment, the core loss ratio of 48.5% for the third quarter of 2024 decreased from 53.7% for the third quarter of 2023. For the personal lines segment, the core loss ratio of 52.5% for the third quarter of 2024 decreased from 61.8% for the third quarter of 2023. Weather-related losses were $24.4 million, or 10.3 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $25.7 million, or 11.5 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the third quarter of 2023. The impact of weather-related loss activity to the loss ratio for the third quarter of 2024 was higher than our previous five-year average of 9.4 percentage points for third quarter weather-related losses. Large fire losses, which we define as individual fire losses in excess of $50,000, for the third quarter of 2024 were $8.8 million, or 3.7 percentage points of the loss ratio, compared to $11.0 million, or 4.9 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the third quarter of 2023. On a statutory basis, our insurance subsidiaries’ commercial lines loss ratio was 52.5% for the third quarter of 2024, compared to 60.9% for the third quarter of 2023, primarily due to a decrease in the commercial multi-peril loss ratio. The personal lines statutory loss ratio of our insurance subsidiaries decreased to 74.5% for the third quarter of 2024, compared to 86.8% for the third quarter of 2023. We attribute this decrease primarily to a decrease in the personal automobile and homeowners loss ratios. Our insurance subsidiaries experienced favorable loss reserve development for the third quarter of 2024 of $6.2 million that decreased the loss ratio by 2.6 percentage points, compared to favorable loss reserve development for the third quarter of 2023 of approximately $7.3 million that decreased the loss ratio by 3.3 percentage points. Our insurance subsidiaries experienced favorable development primarily in the commercial multi-peril and other commercial lines of business for the third quarter of 2024.
Current wording
Losses and Loss Expenses. Our insurance subsidiaries’ loss ratio, which is the ratio of incurred losses and loss expenses to premiums earned, was 56.7% for the first quarter of 2025, a decrease from our insurance subsidiaries’ loss ratio of 66.3% for the first quarter of 2024. We attribute this decrease primarily to decreased core losses and large fire losses, which we define as individual fire losses in excess of $50,000. The core loss ratio, which excludes weather-related losses, large fire losses and net favorable development of reserves for losses incurred in prior accident years, was 54.2% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 58.7% for the first quarter of 2024. For the commercial lines segment, the core loss ratio of 58.3% for the first quarter of 2025 decreased modestly from 59.0% for the first quarter of 2024. For the personal lines segment, the core loss ratio of 48.7% for the first quarter of 2025 decreased significantly from 58.1% for the first quarter of 2024, due largely to the favorable impact of ongoing premium rate increases on net premiums earned for that segment. Weather-related losses were $8.6 million, or 3.7 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $10.8 million, or 4.7 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the first quarter of 2024. The impact of weather-related loss activity to the loss ratio for the first quarter of 2025 was modestly lower than our previous five-year first-quarter average of 4.6 percentage points of the loss ratio. Large fire losses for the first quarter of 2025 were $7.7 million, or 3.3 percentage points of the loss ratio, compared to $15.0 million, or 6.6 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the first quarter of 2024. Our insurance subsidiaries’ commercial lines loss ratio was 59.7% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 65.4% for the first quarter of 2024, primarily due to decreases in commercial multi-peril and commercial automobile loss ratios, offset by an increase in the workers’ compensation loss ratio. The personal lines loss ratio of our insurance subsidiaries decreased to 52.5% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 67.6% for the first quarter of 2024. We attribute this decrease primarily to decreases in the homeowners and personal automobile loss ratios. Our insurance subsidiaries experienced favorable loss reserve development for the first quarter of 2025 of approximately $10.5 million that decreased the loss ratio by 4.5 percentage points, compared to $8.4 million that decreased the loss ratio for the first quarter of 2024 by 3.7 percentage points. Our insurance subsidiaries experienced favorable development primarily in the commercial automobile, commercial multi-peril and personal automobile lines of business, offset partially by modest unfavorable development in workers’ compensation for the first quarter of 2025.
Previous wording
Underwriting Expenses. The expense ratio for an insurance company is the ratio of policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses to premiums earned. The expense ratio of our insurance subsidiaries was 34.0% for the first nine months of 2024, compared to 34.9% for the first nine months of 2023. The decrease in the expense ratio primarily reflected impacts of expense reduction initiatives, including agency incentive program revisions, commission schedule adjustments, targeted staffing reductions, and deferred replacement of open employment positions, among others, offset partially by higher technology costs related to our ongoing systems modernization initiatives for the first nine months of 2024 compared to the first nine months of 2023. We expect the impact from allocated costs from Donegal Mutual to our insurance subsidiaries related to the ongoing systems modernization project will peak at approximately 1.3 percentage points of the expense ratio for the full year of 2024 before beginning to subside gradually in subsequent years.
Current wording
Underwriting Expenses. The expense ratio for an insurance company is the ratio of policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses to premiums earned. The expense ratio of our insurance subsidiaries was 34.6% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 35.7% for the first quarter of 2024. The decrease in the expense ratio primarily reflected the favorable impact of ongoing expense management initiatives, offset partially by higher underwriting-based incentive costs for agents and employees. The impact from costs that Donegal Mutual Insurance Company allocated to our insurance subsidiaries related to its ongoing systems modernization project peaked at approximately 1.3 percentage points of the full year 2024 expense ratio, and we expect that impact to subside gradually over the next several years. Allocated costs related to that project represented approximately 1.2 percentage points of the expense ratio for the first quarter of 2025, and we expect the full year 2025 expense ratio impact will be approximately 1.0 percentage point.
Previous wording
Combined Ratio. The combined ratio represents the sum of the loss ratio, the expense ratio and the dividend ratio, which is the ratio of policyholder dividends incurred to premiums earned. Our insurance subsidiaries’ combined ratios were 96.4% and 104.5% for the third quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively. We attribute the decrease in the combined ratio primarily to a decrease in the loss ratio for the third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023.
Current wording
Combined Ratio. The combined ratio represents the sum of the loss ratio, the expense ratio and the dividend ratio, which is the ratio of policyholder dividends incurred to premiums earned. Our insurance subsidiaries’ combined ratios were 91.6% and 102.4% for the first quarter of 2025 and 2024, respectively. We attribute the decrease in the combined ratio primarily to the decrease in the loss ratio for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024.
Previous wording
Income Tax Expense. We recorded income tax expense of $5.8 million for the first nine months of 2024, representing an effective tax rate of 17.8%. We recorded income tax expense of $1.1 million for the first nine months of 2023, representing an effective tax rate of 15.2%. The income tax expense for the first nine months of 2024 and 2023 represented estimates based on our projected annual taxable income and effective tax rates.
Current wording
Income Tax Expense. We recorded income tax expense of $6.0 million for the first quarter of 2025, representing an effective tax rate of 19.1%. We recorded income tax expense of $1.3 million for the first quarter of 2024, representing an effective tax rate of 17.8%. The income tax tax expense for the first quarter of 2025 and 2024 represented estimates based on our projected annual taxable income and effective tax rates.
Previous wording
Net Income and Net Income Per Share. Our net income for the first nine months of 2024 was $26.9 million, or $.81 per share of Class A common stock on a diluted basis and $.74 per share of Class B common stock, compared to $6.4 million, or $.20 per share of Class A common stock on a diluted basis and $.17 per share of Class B common stock, for the first nine months of 2023. We had 28.2 million and 27.6 million Class A shares outstanding at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We had 5.6 million Class B shares outstanding at the end of both periods.
Current wording
Net Income and Net Income Per Share. Our net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $25.2 million, or $.71 per share of Class A common stock on a diluted basis and $.65 per share of Class B common stock, compared to $6.0 million, or $.18 per share of Class A common stock on a diluted basis and $.16 per share of Class B common stock, for the first quarter of 2024. We had 30.4 million and 27.8 million Class A shares outstanding at March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. We had 5.6 million Class B shares outstanding at the end of both periods.
Previous wording
Liquidity is a measure of an entity’s ability to secure enough cash to meet its contractual obligations and operating needs as such obligations and needs arise. Our major sources of funds from operations are the net cash flows we generate from our insurance subsidiaries’ underwriting results, investment income and investment maturities.
Current wording
Liquidity is a measure of an entity’s ability to secure enough cash to meet its contractual obligations and operating needs as they arise. Our major sources of funds from operations are the net cash flows we generate from our insurance subsidiaries’ underwriting results, investment income and maturing investments.
Previous wording
Our operations have historically generated sufficient net positive cash flow to fund our commitments and add to our investment portfolio, thereby increasing future investment returns and enhancing our liquidity. The impact of the pooling agreement between Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States has historically been cash-flow positive because of the consistent underwriting profitability of the pool. Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States settle their respective obligations to each other under the pool monthly, thereby resulting in cash flows substantially similar to the cash flows that would result from each company writing the business directly. We have not experienced any unusual variations in the timing of claim payments associated with the loss reserves of our insurance subsidiaries. We maintain significant liquidity in our investment portfolio in the form of readily marketable fixed maturities, equity securities and short-term investments. We structure our fixed-maturity investment portfolio following a “laddering” approach, so that projected cash flows from investment income and principal maturities are evenly distributed from a timing perspective, thereby providing an additional measure of liquidity to meet our obligations should an unexpected variation occur in the future. Our operating activities provided net cash flows in the first nine months of 2024 and 2023 of $39.2 million and $26.0 million, respectively.
Current wording
We have historically generated sufficient net positive cash flow to fund our commitments and add to our investment portfolio, thereby increasing future investment returns. The pooling agreement with Donegal Mutual historically has been cash-flow positive because of the profitability of the underwriting pool. Because we settle the pool monthly, our cash flows are substantially similar to the cash flows that would result from the underwriting of direct business. We maintain a high degree of liquidity in our investment portfolio in the form of marketable fixed maturities, equity securities and short-term investments. We structure our fixed-maturity investment portfolio following a “laddering” approach, so that projected cash flows from investment income and principal maturities are evenly distributed from a timing perspective. This laddering approach provides an additional measure of liquidity to meet our obligations and the obligations of our insurance subsidiaries should an unexpected variation occur in the future. Net cash flows provided by operating activities in the first three months of 2025 and 2024 were $25.7 million and $4.8 million, respectively.
Previous wording
At September 30, 2024, we had no outstanding borrowings under our line of credit with M&T and had the ability to borrow up to $20.0 million at an interest rate equal to the then-current Term SOFR rate plus 2.11%. At September 30, 2024, Atlantic States had a $35.0 million outstanding advance with the FHLB of Pittsburgh that carries a fixed interest rate of 3.81%.
Current wording
At March 31, 2025, we had no outstanding borrowings under our line of credit with M&T and had the ability to borrow up to $20.0 million at interest rates equal to the then-current Term SOFR rate plus 2.11%. At March 31, 2025, Atlantic States had a $35.0 million outstanding advance with the FHLB of Pittsburgh that carries a fixed interest rate of 3.806% and is due in September 2026. We discuss in Note 7 – Borrowings our estimate of the timing of the amounts payable for the borrowings under our lines of credit based on their contractual maturities.
Previous wording
We estimate the timing of claim payments associated with the liabilities for losses and loss expenses of our insurance subsidiaries based on historical experience and expectations of future payment patterns. We show these liabilities net of reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses to reflect expected future cash flows related to such liabilities. Amounts Atlantic States assumes pursuant to the pooling agreement with Donegal Mutual represent a substantial portion of our insurance subsidiaries’ gross liabilities for losses and loss expenses, and amounts Atlantic States cedes pursuant to the pooling agreement represent a substantial portion of our insurance subsidiaries’ reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses. We include cash settlement of Atlantic States’ assumed liabilities from the pool in monthly settlements of pooled activity, as we net amounts ceded to and assumed from the pool. Although Donegal Mutual and we do not anticipate any changes in the pool participation levels in the foreseeable future, any such change would be prospective in nature and therefore would not impact the timing of expected payments by Atlantic States for its percentage share of pooled losses occurring in periods prior to the effective date of such change.
Current wording
We estimate the timing of claim payments associated with the liabilities for losses and loss expenses of our insurance subsidiaries based on historical experience and expectations of future payment patterns. Amounts Atlantic States assumes pursuant to the pooling agreement with Donegal Mutual represent a substantial portion of our insurance subsidiaries’ gross liabilities for losses and loss expenses, and amounts Atlantic States cedes pursuant to the pooling agreement represent a substantial portion of our insurance subsidiaries’ reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses. We include cash settlement of Atlantic States’ assumed liabilities from the pool in monthly settlements of pooled activity, as we net amounts ceded to and assumed from the pool. Although Donegal Mutual and we do not anticipate any changes in the pool participation levels in the foreseeable future, any such change would be prospective in nature and therefore would not impact the timing of expected payments by Atlantic States for its percentage share of pooled losses occurring in periods prior to the effective date of such change.
Previous wording
On July 18, 2013, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program pursuant to which we have the authority to purchase up to 500,000 shares of our Class A common stock at prices prevailing from time to time in the open market subject to the provisions of applicable rules of the SEC and in privately negotiated transactions. We did not purchase any shares of our Class A common stock under this program during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 or 2023. We have purchased a total of 57,658 shares of our Class A common stock under this program from its inception through September 30, 2024.
Current wording
On July 18, 2013, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program pursuant to which we have the authority to purchase up to 500,000 shares of our Class A common stock at prices prevailing from time to time in the open market subject to the provisions of the SEC Rule 10b-18 and in privately negotiated transactions. We did not purchase any shares of our Class A common stock under this program during the three months ended March 31, 2025 or 2024. We have purchased a total of 57,658 shares of our Class A common stock under this program from its inception through March 31, 2025.
Previous wording
On October 17, 2024, our board of directors declared quarterly cash dividends of $.1725 per share of our Class A common stock and $.155 per share of our Class B common stock, payable on November 15, 2024 to our stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 1, 2024. We are not subject to any restrictions on our payment of dividends to our stockholders, although there are state law restrictions on the payment of dividends by our insurance subsidiaries to us. Dividends from our insurance subsidiaries are our principal source of cash for payment of dividends to our stockholders. Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulations that restrict the payment of dividends from statutory surplus and may require prior approval of their domiciliary insurance regulatory authorities. Our insurance subsidiaries are also subject to risk based capital (“RBC”) requirements that limit their ability to pay dividends to us. Our insurance subsidiaries’ statutory capital and surplus at December 31, 2023 exceeded the amount of statutory capital and surplus necessary to satisfy regulatory requirements, including the RBC requirements, by a significant margin. Our insurance subsidiaries paid $10.0 million in dividends to us during the first nine months of 2024. Amounts remaining available for distribution to us as dividends from our insurance subsidiaries without prior approval of their domiciliary insurance regulatory authorities in 2024 are $22.4 million from Atlantic States and $7.2 million from MICO, or a total of approximately $29.6 million.
Current wording
On April 17, 2025, our board of directors declared quarterly cash dividends of $.1825 per share of our Class A common stock and $.165 per share of our Class B common stock, payable on May 15, 2025 to our stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 1, 2025. There are no regulatory restrictions on our payment of dividends to our stockholders, although there are restrictions under applicable state laws on the payment of dividends from our insurance subsidiaries to us, which is a significant source of cash for payment of stockholder dividends by us. Our insurance subsidiaries are required by law to maintain minimum surplus on a statutory basis and are subject to regulations under which their payment of dividends from statutory surplus is restricted and may require prior approval of their domiciliary insurance regulatory authorities. Our insurance subsidiaries are also subject to risk based capital (“RBC”) requirements. The amount of statutory capital and surplus necessary for our insurance subsidiaries to satisfy regulatory requirements, including the RBC requirements, was not significant in relation to our insurance subsidiaries’ statutory capital and surplus at December 31, 2024. Our insurance subsidiaries did not pay any dividends to us during the first three months of 2025. Amounts remaining available for distribution to us as dividends from our insurance subsidiaries without prior approval of their domiciliary insurance regulatory authorities in 2025 are $40.7 million from Atlantic States, $7.8 million from MICO and $4.7 million from Peninsula, or a total of approximately $53.3 million.
Rearranged current paragraphs (1)
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
The following table provides a reconciliation of our net premiums earned to our net premiums written for the three months ended March 31, 2024:
Rearranged previous paragraphs (7)
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
Income Tax Expense (Benefit). We recorded income tax expense of $3.7 million for the third quarter of 2024, representing an effective tax rate of 17.9%. We recorded an income tax benefit of $199,613 for the third quarter of 2023. The income tax expense (benefit) for the third quarter of 2024 and 2023 represented estimates based on our projected annual taxable income and effective tax rates.
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
Net Income (Loss) and Net Income (Loss) Per Share. Our net income for the third quarter of 2024 was $16.8 million, or $.51 per share of Class A common stock on a diluted basis and $.46 per share of Class B common stock, compared to a net loss of $805,301, or $.02 per share of Class A common stock and $.02 per share of Class B common stock, for the third quarter of 2023. We had 28.2 million and 27.6 million Class A shares outstanding at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We had 5.6 million Class B shares outstanding at the end of both periods.
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
Investment Income. Our net investment income was $32.9 million for the first nine months of 2024, an increase of $2.7 million, or 9.0%, compared to $30.1 million for the first nine months of 2023. We attribute the increase primarily to an increase in the average investment yield relative to the first nine months of 2023.
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
Net Investment Gains. Net investment gains for the first nine months of 2024 were $4.7 million, compared to $930,302 for the first nine months of 2023. The net investment gains for the first nine months of 2024 and 2023 resulted primarily from the net change in unrealized gains and losses within our equity securities portfolio at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We did not recognize any impairment losses for individual securities in our investment portfolio during the first nine months of 2024 or 2023.
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
Losses and Loss Expenses. Our insurance subsidiaries’ loss ratio, which is the ratio of incurred losses and loss expenses to premiums earned, was 66.1% for the first nine months of 2024, a decrease from our insurance subsidiaries’ loss ratio of 68.0% for the first nine months of 2023. We attribute this decrease primarily to lower core and weather-related losses. The core loss ratio, which excludes weather-related losses, large fire losses and net favorable development of reserves for losses incurred in prior accident years, was 54.5% for the first nine months of 2024, compared to 56.0% for the first nine months of 2023. For the commercial lines segment, the core loss ratio of 54.1% for the first nine months of 2024 decreased from 55.2% for the first nine months of 2023. For the personal lines segment, the core loss ratio of 55.2% for the first nine months of 2024 decreased from 57.3% for the first nine months of 2023. Weather-related losses were $60.0 million, or 8.6 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the first nine months of 2024, compared to $59.5 million, or 9.1 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the first nine months of 2023. The impact of weather-related loss activity to the loss ratio for the first nine months of 2024 was modestly higher than our previous five-year average of 7.6 percentage points for first nine months weather-related losses. Large fire losses, which we define as individual fire losses in excess of $50,000, for the first nine months of 2024 were $36.2 million, or 5.2 percentage points of the loss ratio, compared to $34.7 million, or 5.3 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the first nine months of 2023. On a statutory basis, our insurance subsidiaries’ commercial lines loss ratio was 63.0% for the first nine months of 2024, compared to 63.9% for the first nine months of 2023, primarily due to a decrease in the commercial multi-peril loss ratio. The personal lines statutory loss ratio of our insurance subsidiaries decreased to 71.5% for the first nine months of 2024, compared to 75.2% for the first nine months of 2023. We attribute this decrease primarily to a decrease in the personal automobile loss ratio. Our insurance subsidiaries experienced favorable loss reserve development for the first nine months of 2024 of approximately $15.4 million that decreased the loss ratio by 2.2 percentage points, compared to $15.8 million that decreased the loss ratio for the first nine months of 2023 by 2.4 percentage points. Our insurance subsidiaries experienced favorable development primarily in the commercial multi-peril, commercial automobile, personal automobile and other lines of business for the first nine months of 2024, offset partially by unfavorable development in the workers’ compensation line of business that we attribute to higher-than-expected severity for a relatively small number of previously reported claims.
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
Combined Ratio. The combined ratio represents the sum of the loss ratio, the expense ratio and the dividend ratio, which is the ratio of policyholder dividends incurred to premiums earned. Our insurance subsidiaries’ combined ratios were 100.6% and 103.5% for the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively. We attribute the decrease in the combined ratio primarily to a decrease in the loss and expense ratios for the first nine months of 2024 compared to the first nine months of 2023.
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
We discuss in Note 7 – Borrowings our estimate of the timing of the amounts payable for the borrowings under our lines of credit based on their contractual maturities.