American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG) Q2 2015 Earnings Report, Transcript and Summary

Good day, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to American Financial Group 2015 Second Quarter Results Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Later, we will conduct a question-and-answer session and instructions will follow at that time. [Operator Instructions] And as a reminder, this conference is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Diane Weidner, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Thank you. Good morning and welcome to American Financial Group’s second quarter 2015 earnings results conference call. I’m joined this morning by Carl Lindner III and Craig Lindner, Co-CEOs of American Financial Group; and Jeff Consolino, AFG’s Chief Financial Officer. If you are viewing the webcast from our website, you can follow along with the slide presentation if you’d like. Certain statements made during this call are not historical facts and maybe considered forward-looking statements and are based on estimates, assumptions and projections, which management believes are reasonable, but by their nature subject to risks and uncertainties. The factors which could cause actual results and/or financial condition to differ materially from those suggested by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those discussed or identified from time-to-time in AFG’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. We do not promise to update such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in assumptions or other factors that could affect these statements. Core net operating earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure, which sets aside significant items that are generally not considered to be part of ongoing operations, such as net realized gains and losses, discontinued operations and certain non-recurring items. AFG believes this non-GAAP measure is a useful tool for analysts and investors in analyzing ongoing operating trends and will be discussed for various periods during this call. A reconciliation of net earnings attributable to shareholders to core net operating earnings is included in our earnings release. If you are reading a transcript of this call, please note that it may not be authorized or reviewed for accuracy, thus it may contain factual or transcription errors that could materially alter the intent or meaning of our statements. Now, I’m pleased to turn the call over to Carl Lindner III to discuss our results.

Good morning. We released our 2015 second quarter results yesterday afternoon and I am assuming that our participants have reviewed our earnings release and the investor supplement that’s posted on our website. Craig and I are pleased to report second quarter core net operating earnings per share of $1.28, a 20% increase from the comparable prior year period. These results reflect higher underwriting profit and higher net investment income in our Specialty Property and Casualty operations and higher core operating earnings in our Annuity and Run-off Long-Term Care and Life segments. These results also represent the highest second quarter core net operating earnings per share in AFG’s history. This is the fifth consecutive quarter that we’ve achieved net quarterly highs in AFG’s core earnings per share. This morning, AFG’s common stock traded in excess of $70 per share for the first time in the company’s history. With 15% growth in share price so far this year, AFG ranks near the top in year to date price performance of over 40 insurance companies covered by Dowling and Partners. Craig and I thank hard in our talented management team and employees for helping us to achieve these exceptional results. Annualized core operating return on equity was 10.9% for the 2015 second quarter compared to 9.6% for the second quarter of 2014. Net earnings per diluted share were $0.57 and include a $0.29 per share gain on the previously announced sale of Le Pavillon Hotel. During the quarter, we repurchased $47 million of AFG common shares at an average price per share of $63.91. We also increased AFG’s 2015 core operating earnings guidance to $5.25 to $5.55 per share, which is up from the range of $5.10 to $5.50 per share estimated previously. Craig and I will discuss our guidance for each segment of our business later in this call. Before we transition to a review of our operating results, I wanted to note that [Word Group] recently recognized AFG’s Specialty Property and Casualty insurance and annuity operations within its 2015 Word’s 50 Top Performers list based on superior performance over the past five years and Benchmark measures of safety and consistency. The Report ranked nearly 3000 property and casualty insurance companies and nearly 800 life and health insurance companies domiciled in the US. We’re pleased to be recognized in this manner for the ninth consecutive year. It’s certainly been an eventful quarter in the insurance industry overall, recent merger and acquisition activity has produced attractive valuations for quality specialty insurance businesses that really helped to showcase the value of AFG’s businesses, our organization structure and our unique culture. Now, let’s take a closer look at AFG’s results this quarter. Please turn to slides 4 and 5 of the webcast, which include an overview of results in our Specialty Property and Casualty operations. Beginning on slide 4, you’ll see that gross and net written premiums were up 2% and 3%, respectively in the 2015 second quarter compared to the same quarter a year earlier. Although the marketplace has become more competitive, we’re still finding opportunities to grow our Specialty Property and Casualty businesses. Underwriting profit was $51 million in the 2015 second quarter, compared to $29 million in the second quarter of 2014. Each of our Specialty Property and Casualty groups reported improved year over year underwriting results. The second quarter 2015 combined ratio of 94.9% improved by 2 points from the comparable prior year quarter and included 1.1 points of favorable prior year reserve development and 1 point in catastrophe losses. Nearly half of our Property and Casualty businesses reported pricing increases during the second quarter, resulting in an overall renewal rate increase of about 1%. It’s the 15th consecutive quarter that we’ve reported overall price strengthening. With that, I’d like to turn to slide 5 to review a few highlights from each of our Specialty Property and Casualty business groups. Although our property and transportation group reported a year over year improvement in underwriting results in the second quarter, we were disappointed with this group’s reported combined ratio of 104%. Improved underwriting results in our National Interstate subsidiary were partially offset by lower accident year profitability and adverse prior year reserve development. The adverse development during the quarter was primarily in our property and inland marine businesses as well as in a custom bond book of business within our ocean marine operations and in our other transportation businesses. Early indications are favorable with regard to our crop insurance book, despite reductions in corn and soybean yield estimates resulting from access moisture in the eastern corn belt, particularly in Indiana, Ohio and Missouri. While we expect some challenges there, conditions in the western corn belt are favorable. With changing perspectives on crop yields and speculation about potential reduced demand for commodity exports, there have been fluctuations in commodity pricing since the spring discovery period. Right now, corn pricing is down high single digits and soybeans are down low single digits from established spring discovery prices, which is just fine. While it’s too early to speculate about crop insurance results, our overall outlook remains positive. In Property and Transportation group, we continue to focus on adequate pricing. Overall renewal rates increased 5% on average for the quarter, with National Interstate achieving a 7% rate increase. With heightened focus on disciplined pricing and underwriting, gross and net written premiums for this group were up 2% and 3%, respectively, during the second quarter of 2015. I’m definitely pleased with the underwriting profitability of our Specialty Property and Casualty group as nearly all the businesses in this group achieved strong underwriting margins. I’m especially pleased with the profitability within our workers’ compensation in excess and surplus businesses, which helped offset underwriting losses in Mid-Continent’s general liability business and in our international operations. Gross and net written premiums for the second quarter of 2015 were both up slightly when compared to the second quarter of last year. About half of the businesses in this group reported growth during the quarter, particularly our excess and surplus businesses. This growth was partially offset by lower premiums in your general liability business, primarily the result of re-underwriting efforts within the Florida homebuilders market and the slowdown in the energy sector, as well as lower premiums in our international business where we are continuing to focus on improving underwriting profitability. Pricing in this group was down about 1% on average for the quarter, due primarily to lower renewal pricing in our workers’ compensation businesses, particularly in Florida. As mentioned before, use of predictive analytics has enabled us to more accurately price this business which has helped us to quote, find and retain a higher percent of business that’s producing targeted returns notwithstanding the lower pricing environment. If you exclude our workers’ comp businesses, pricing in the Specialty Casualty group was up about 1% on average for the quarter. Our Specialty Financial Group reported outstanding profitability this quarter. Every business in this group achieved excellent underwriting margins during the quarter, producing an overall calendar year combined ratio of 81%. Higher underwriting profits in our fidelity and crime, and surety and trade credit businesses were the drivers of the improved results. Higher premiums in our financial institutions business helped this group achieve a double-digit increase in net written premium during the quarter. Pricing in this whole group was flat for the quarter. So please turn to slide 6 for a summary view of our 2015 outlook for the Specialty Property and Casualty operations. Our overall premium guidance remains unchanged, with an expectation at growth in net written premiums will be in the range of 4% to 8%. Our combined ratio guidance is also unchanged and is expected to be between 92% and 94%. We now expect net written premiums in our Property and Transportation group to be down 1% to up 2%, which is a decrease from our original estimate of flat to up 4%. We’ve changed the guidance for the combined ratio for this group to 96% to 99%, up from the range of 94% to 98% estimated previously. Our premium guidance for the Specialty Casualty group remains unchanged with growth in net written premiums expected in the range of 8% to 12%. We did narrow our combined ratio guidance a bit to be in a range of 91% to 94% from 90% to 94% estimated previously. We now expect premiums in our Specialty Financial group to be 3% to 7% higher than the prior year, which is an increase from the growth of 1% to 5% estimated previously. The outlook for the combined ratio for this group has been changed to 81% to 84%, several points better than our original estimate of 86% to 90%, based on strong results through the first six months of the year. Additionally, we expect our Property and Casualty investment income to grow by 8%, an increase from the growth of 5% estimated previously. We continue to expect overall Property and Casualty renewal pricing to be flat to up 2%. Now, I’m going to turn the things – the discussion over to Craig to review the results in our Annuity segment and AFG’s investment performance.

Thank you, Carl. As you will see on slide 7, we are increasing our Annuity earnings guidance both before and after the impact of fair value accounting. The recent rise in interest rates provided an opportunity for us to extend the duration of our portfolio and become more fully invested. As a result, our portfolio yield at the end of the second quarter is nearly the same as it was at the end of last year, despite the relatively low interest rate environment and a run-off of older investments with higher yields. The combination of higher invested assets and higher yields is driving our increased earnings guidance and we now expect full-year 2015 core pre-tax Annuity operating earnings to be in the range of $300 million to $345 million, an increase from the range of $310 million to $340 million estimated previously. Similarly, we now expect full-year 2015 core pre-tax annuity operating earnings before the impact of fair value accounting to be in the range of $340 million to $350 million, an increase from the range of $330 million to $340 million estimated previously. You will also see on slide 7 that based upon our recent sales trends, we now expect the full year 2015 annuity premiums will be consistent with the $3.7 billion level of sales achieved in 2014. Significant changes in interest rates and/or the stock market from our expectations could lead to additional positive or negative impacts on the annuity segment’s results. Taking a look at results in the second quarter, you will see on slide 8 that core pre-tax annuity operating earnings were $88 million or 5% higher than the prior year period. Interest rates rose significantly resulting in large favorable impact on earnings. This favorable result was partially offset by the impact of a stock market decrease during the quarter. Conversely, in the second quarter of 2014, interest rates generally decreased versus AFG’s assumption that they would rise. This difference had a negative impact on AFG’s 2014 second quarter earnings. Variances from expectations of certain items such as projected interest rates, option costs and surrenders as well as changes in the stock market have an impact on accounting for fixed-indexed annuities. These accounting adjustments are recognized through AFG’s reported core earnings. As you will see on slide 9, AFG’s 2015 earnings continue to benefit from growth in annuity assets. Our quarterly average annuity investments and reserves grew approximately 12% year over year. The impact of this growth was offset by the run-off of higher yielding investments. However, an American Money Management’s outperformance helps to mitigate this impact. In addition, results in the second quarter of 2015 were negatively impacted by an adjustment to reserves for fixed-indexed annuities with guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits as well as higher general and administrative expenses. We do not anticipate recurrence of these two items going forward. The Annuity Segment reported statutory premiums of $899 million in the second quarter of 2015. While this amount was 5% lower than sales in the comparable prior year period, it represents an 11% increase in sales over the first quarter of 2015. Additional information about the components of spreads for AFG’s fixed-annuity operations can be found in the AFG’s quarterly investor supplement posted on our website. In April, we announced a definitive agreement to sell our Run-off Long-Term Care insurance business HC2 Holdings. Included in this sale are United Teacher Associates Insurance Company and Continental General Insurance Company, the legal entities that contain all of the AFG’s long-term care insurance business. This transaction will complete our exit from supplemental medical insurance lines of business. The buyer filed for regulatory approvals in early July. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2015, subject to customary conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals. Please turn to slide 10 for a few highlights regarding our $37 billion investment portfolio. During the quarter, we recognized a gain of $51 million before taxes and non-controlling interests on the sale of Le Pavillon Hotel. Real estate investments comprised about 2% of our overall portfolio. AFG has a history of buying underperforming or out-of-favor assets, developing and managing them and selling them when we believe the value has been maximized. AFG recorded second quarter 2015 net realized losses on securities of less than $1 million after tax and after deferred acquisition costs compared to net realized gains of $7 million in the comparable prior year period. As of June 30, 2015, unrealized gains on fixed maturities were $457 million after tax and after DAC and unrealized gains on equities were $130 million after tax. As you will see on slide 11, our portfolio continues to be high quality with 87% of our fixed maturity portfolio rated investment grade and 97% with an NAIC designation of 1 or 2, its highest two categories. We’ve provided additional detailed information of the various segments of our investment portfolio in the quarterly investor supplement on our website. I will now turn the discussion over to Jeff, who will wrap up our comments with an overview of our consolidated second quarter 2015 results and share a few comments about capital and liquidity.

Thank you, Craig. Slide 12 recaps AFG’s second quarter consolidated results by segment. Core net operating earnings per share in the quarter were $1.28, that’s up 20% from a year ago. The $1.28 is based on core net operating earnings in the quarter of $115 million, an increase of $16 million from the second quarter of 2014. You can see on page 4 of our quarterly investor supplement a more detailed view of the components of this change. Taking a look at the P&C segment core pre-tax operating earnings, the impact of three items produced a year over year impact of an improvement of $24 million. P&C underwriting profit increased by $21 million year over year. Additionally, P&C investment income rose by $7 million. This is a result of an increase in average P&C invested assets as American Money Management invested $1 billion in cash received in the Summit acquisition over the two quarters following the April 2014 closing. As well, there was an increase in the quarter compared to last year’s quarter in partnership income. Finally, P&C other expenses increased by $4 million as the minority interest recorded in this line rose with National Interstate’s return to profitability. As for the other components of the AFG’s core net operating earnings, Craig previously covered our annuity segment earnings, which were $4 million higher year over year, results in our Run-off Long-Term Care and Life segment improved by $6 million from the $2 million loss in the prior year. Interest expense of parent holding company increased $3 million due to our 6.25% hybrid debt offering in September 2014. Other expense was $1 million lower than the 2014 second quarter. Turning to slide 13, you will see a reconciliation of core net operating earnings to net earnings and diluted earnings per share. As indicated on slide 14, AFG’s adjusted book value per share was $49.63 at June 30, 2015. This was an increase of $1.08 per share during the second quarter. Tangible book value was $46.73 at June 30, 2015. Our excess capital stood at approximately $870 million at June 30, 2015 and included $215 million in parent company cash. The pending sale of our Run-off Long-Term Care insurance business is expected to generate approximately $110 million in excess capital. During the quarter, we returned $69 million to our shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Approximately 3.7 million shares remain under our repurchase authorization as of August 1, 2015. We plan to continue returning excess capital to our shareholders through the course of 2015. On slide 15, you can find a single page summary of our 2015 core earnings guidance, which has been increased in line with the increased annuity guidance outlined by Craig. As a reminder, AFG’s expected 2015 results exclude non-core items such as realized investment gains and losses, the loss in the disposition of the Run-off Long-Term Care insurance subsidiaries, and other significant items that may not be indicative of ongoing operations. Now, we will open the lines for any questions.

[Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from the line of Ryan Byrnes with Janney.

I had a question on the flat annuity sales for the year, the guidance. Does that include this $300 million federal home loan advance and maybe also just give some color on what that is as well?

The premium number did not include the federal home loan bank advance. There are times when we can take down federal home loan bank money at very attractive rates and buy high grade securities and generate pretty attractive rates of return and from time to time we take advantage of that opportunity.

And then just shifting gears over to the Specialty Financial segment, obviously growth there was some of the best we’ve seen there for quite some time. And just want to get a little better color on where that growth is coming from, I think you mentioned financial institution business, but just wanted to get a little more color there, if I could.

In the quarter, our [indiscernible] property business had a good growth quarter. One of our subsidiaries in the surety side had a decent quarter, a group called Specialty Equipment Services had some growth in the quarter. So we were pleased that, in that particular quarter that we were able to show some growth and increase our guidance for the year.

[Operator Instructions] Our next question comes from the line of Jay Cohen with Bank of America.

I was wondering if we could just turn to the Property and Transportation segment, you had mentioned some adverse development and I think it was property and inland marine, I’m wondering what is driving that.

In terms of the adverse development in our Property and Transportation sector, you’ll see in the supplement for that sub-group, it’s $6 million adverse in total. Carl’s comments indicated that the development was attributable to property and inland marine, custom bond book of business within ocean marine and then our other transportation businesses, i.e., not National Interstate. Starting with transportation, it was one specific case that had some development for our truck division. That was probably half of the $6 million. The custom bond book of business within ocean marine was a similar magnitude. And for property and inland marine, this is again one specific event reserve that we showed an increase during the quarter that came through the adverse development, because it was the prior year, those add up to more than the $6 million, but there are obviously some offsets to that elsewhere in this sub-segment.

So nothing systemic at all, really seemingly most of it is just smaller one-off issues?

They’re always offsetting in different directions. I would caution you not to read anything into one quarter. When you say nothing systemic, I’d say that in the truck segment that is indicative of severity which has been affecting the commercial auto sector more broadly for the last couple of years.

And then in the crop business, can you give us some sense of what kind of combined ratio that was booked at in the quarter or the first half?

We generally don’t recognize any profit for the current crop year until the second half of the year. So you ought to assume that crop is booked around 100% in Q1 and Q2.

[Operator Instructions] I’m not showing any further questions at this time. I would like to turn the call back to management. I do apologize. We have a follow-up question from the line of Jay Cohen with Bank of America.

I think there is no questions, I should throw another one in there. M&A is a top topic. So I guess what’s your view of, on the P&C side, what you’re seeing from an M&A standpoint, I know I probably asked this question all the time, but are you guys seeing more opportunities for M&A yourself to put money to work?

I think we see a steady stream of opportunities of both talent acquisition, start-ups, acquisitions, some that are private and some that are part of a process in that, I just think it’s – we see a steady stream of opportunities. Clearly, it seems like on the mega deal side, there is a lot more activity going on. So we think it’s great, we think it highlights the value of our specialty insurance franchise and we see our peer companies in the marketplace, we look forward to attracting some new investors who see value in our business.

[Operator Instructions] I’m not showing any further questions. I would like to turn the call back to management for closing remarks.

Thank you all for joining us this morning. And we look forward to talking to you again when we share next quarter’s results. This concludes our call for today.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for participating in today’s conference. This does conclude the program. You may all disconnect. Everyone, have a great day.