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Shares of ProAssurance Corporation PRA have remained relatively stable, falling only 0.3% since the company reported first-quarter 2025 results on May 6. The weaker-than-expected quarterly results were due to lower premiums, especially in the Specialty P&C segment and the Segregated Portfolio Cell Reinsurance unit. However, rising investment income and a decline in expenses acted as a dampener.
ProAssurance reported a first-quarter 2025 adjusted operating income of 13 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 19 cents. However, the bottom line rose from 6 cents in the year-ago period.
Operating revenues fell 4.3% year over year to $269.8 million. The top line missed the consensus mark by 0.3%.
ProAssurance Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | ProAssurance Corporation Quote
Gross premiums written of $303.8 million declined 2.4% year over year. Net premiums earned decreased 3.2% year over year to $236.3 million due to ceased involvement in Syndicate 1729 and strategic actions like non-renewal of SPCs. The reported figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $244.2 million.
Net investment income was $37 million, which rose 9% year over year, aided by higher book yields on PRA’s investments. The metric beat the consensus mark of $36.9 million and our estimate of $36 million.
Total expenses of $278.4 million decreased 0.3% year over year but came higher than our estimate of $265.4 million. The year-over-year decrease resulted from a decline in net losses and loss adjustment expenses.
ProAssurance reported a net loss of $5.8 million for the first quarter of 2025 against the net income of $4.6 million in the prior-year period. The combined ratio of 115% deteriorated 400 basis points (bps) year over year. (Find the latest earnings estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.)
Specialty P&C Segment
Revenues from the segment declined 2.1% year over year to $187 million but came in higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $182.2 million and our estimate of $179.7 million. Net premiums earned of $183.3 million declined 3% year over year due to PRA’s decision to discontinue participation in Syndicate 1729. However, the metric outpaced the consensus mark of $182.3 million and our estimate of $178.7 million.
Total expenses dipped 1.7% year over year to $200.9 million. The unit reported a loss of $13.9 million, wider than the year-ago loss of $13.3 million. The combined ratio of 109% improved 10 bps year over year.
Workers' Compensation Insurance Segment
The segment’s revenues of $41.9 million rose 0.8% year over year and came higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $41.8 million and our estimate of $41.7 million. Net premiums earned increased 1% year over year to $41.5 million, which beat the consensus mark and our estimate of $41.3 million.
Total expenses declined 0.8% year over year to $45.8 million. The unit incurred a loss of $3.8 million, narrower than the prior-year quarter’s loss of $4.6 million. The combined ratio of 110.2% improved 210 bps year over year.
Segregated Portfolio Cell Reinsurance Segment
Gross premiums written amounted to $12.7 million, which declined 20% year over year and missed our estimate of $13.9 million. Net premiums earned declined 18.9% year over year to $11.5 million, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $12.2 million and our estimate of $12 million.
Underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses dropped 12.3% year over year to $4.1 million. The unit reported a quarterly profit of $182 million, which declined 65.7% year over year. The combined ratio improved to 101.8% from 104.3% in the prior-year quarter.
Corporate Segment
The segment’s net investment income rose 8.8% year over year to $36.1 million and also beat our estimate of $35.1 million. The metric gained on improved average book yields from PRA’s fixed maturity investments.
Operating expenses fell 0.6% year over year to $8.1 million. The unit’s profit of $18 million decreased 17.8% year over year. Interest expenses declined 8.8% year over year to $5.2 million.
ProAssurance exited the first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $43.5 million, which declined from $54.9 million as of Dec. 31, 2024. Total investments were $4.4 billion, which rose 0.5% from the figure at 2024-end.
Total assets of $5.5 billion decreased from the 2024-end level of $5.6 billion.
Debt-less unamortized debt issuance costs amounted to $423.7 million, which reflects a decrease from $424.9 million as of Dec. 31, 2024.
Total shareholders’ equity of $1.2 billion rose 2.6% from the level at 2024-end.
Net cash used in operating activities amounted to $11.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, which improved 0.3% from the prior-year quarter.
Book value per share was $24.05 as of March 31, 2025, up from $23.49 as of 2024-end. Adjusted operating return on equity was 2.2%, which improved from 1.1% a year ago.
ProAssurance did not repurchase any common shares in the first quarter of 2025. A leftover capacity of $55.9 million remained in place to be utilized for common share repurchases or retirement of outstanding debt as of March 31, 2025.
PRA currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Finance space are Root Inc. ROOT, EverQuote Inc. EVER and Heritage Insurance Holdings Inc. HRTG, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Root’s current-year earnings of $1.11 per share has witnessed one upward revision in the past week against none in the opposite direction. Root beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 208.9%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $1.4 billion, implying 17.3% year-over-year growth.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EverQuote’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.17 per share. EverQuote beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 122.6%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $640.3 million, suggesting 28% year-over-year growth.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Heritage Insurance’s current-year earnings of $3.25 per share has witnessed two upward revisions in the past week against no movement in the opposite direction. Heritage Insurance beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 363.2%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $854.9 million, calling for 4.6% year-over-year growth.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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