Intact Financial Corporation reports Q4-2023 results

TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2024 /CNW/ – (TSX: IFC)
(in Canadian dollars except as otherwise noted)

Highlights

Net operating income per share1 up 45% to $4.22, driven by strong underwriting, investment and distribution results
Undiscounted combined ratio1 was solid at 90.1% (85.0% discounted), reflecting strong underlying performance across all geographies and our exit from the UK personal lines market, tempered by catastrophe losses in the UK&I
Operating DPW1,2 increased 4%, with organic growth of 8%, led by double-digit growth in personal lines
BVPS1 up 6% from Q3-2023, driven by strong EPS of $2.78 (with a 48% increase year-over-year) and favourable capital markets
Adjusted ROE1 of 11.7% (and ROE1 of 8.8%) after absorbing elevated catastrophe losses and UK personal lines exit costs. Operating ROE1 increased to a solid 14.2% from 12.2% in Q3-2023.
Quarterly dividend increased by $0.11 to $1.21 per common share, representing a 10-year compound annual growth rate of 10%

Charles Brindamour, Chief Executive Officer, said:
” The past year has been challenging for society, particularly in the face of numerous natural disasters. Through it all, our people worked relentlessly to ensure customers get back on track quickly. Despite shouldering elevated catastrophe losses as a result, the business demonstrated tremendous resilience. We achieved mid-teens operating ROE and maintained a strong balance sheet with $2.7 billion of total capital margin. As we look ahead to 2024, we are well positioned for outperformance, given strong top line momentum, continued underwriting discipline, and a refocused UK&I segment. We are pleased to increase dividends to common shareholders for the nineteenth consecutive year.”

12-Month Industry Outlook

Over the next twelve months, we expect hard insurance market conditions to continue in most lines of business, driven by inflation and catastrophe losses.
In Canada, both personal property and auto premiums are expected to grow by high single-digits.
In commercial and specialty lines across all geographies, we expect hard market conditions to continue in most lines of business, with high single-digit premium growth on average.

Q4-2023 Consolidated Performance

Overall operating DPW increased 4%, with organic growth of 8% (excluding exits and acquisitions), led by strong momentum in Canada personal lines and continued rate actions across all geographies.
Overall combined ratio of 90.1% (undiscounted) improved by 3.1 points compared to last year, with strong underlying performance across all regions and reflecting our exit from the UK personal lines market.
Operating net investment income of $376 million for the quarter increased 35% year-over-year, benefiting from higher book yields and the increased turnover of our portfolio over the last 12 months.
Distribution income increased by 16% to $109 million, mainly driven by BrokerLink’s recent acquisitions paired with solid organic growth.

Lines of Business5

P&C Canada

Personal auto premium growth accelerated to 12%, reflecting the benefit of our rate actions in hard market conditions and continued momentum in unit growth. The combined ratio of 95.2% for the quarter reflected a 2-point improvement in our current year loss ratio from higher earned rates, tempered by lower favourable prior-year development. Our performance on a full-year basis was 94.7%, in line with expectations. We continue to expect a seasonally adjusted sub-95 combined ratio over the next 12 months.
Personal property premiums grew by 8%, driven by rate increases in hard market conditions and unit growth momentum. The combined ratio was very strong at 75.8% for the quarter, reflecting continued underwriting discipline and mild weather. The combined ratio for the year was 100.7%, mainly on account of 11 points of catastrophe losses in excess of expectations. With pricing, risk selection, product, claims and supply chain actions already underway, we remain well-positioned to deliver sub-95 performance, even with severe weather.
Commercial lines premiums grew by 4%, as continued rate discipline was partially offset by targeted actions to optimize the portfolio and increased competition for large accounts within specialty lines. The combined ratios were strong at 84.4% for the quarter and 89.3% for the year, primarily reflecting robust underlying performance, which largely offset elevated catastrophe losses during the year. We remain well positioned to continue delivering a low-90s or better combined ratio as a result of our profitability actions.

P&C UK&I

Excluding the impact of the UK Personal Lines exit, operating DPW growth in constant currency was 26%, bolstered by the recent acquisition of Direct Line Insurance Group plc’s brokered Commercial Lines operations in the UK. Factoring out this transaction and the end of a large commercial motor contract, organic growth was 6% for the quarter, mainly due to rate actions in supportive market conditions.
The combined ratio of 104.6% for the quarter reflected 11 points of catastrophe losses in excess of expectations. Adjusted for the impact of Personal Lines results in the first three quarters, as well as higher-than-expected catastrophe losses, the full-year combined ratio was also in the low 90s. We expect to run the Commercial Lines-focused continuing business at a combined ratio of approximately 92% in 2024, and see this improving to roughly 90% in the subsequent 12 to 24 months.

P&C U.S.

Commercial lines premiums grew 9% on a constant currency basis, with hard market conditions in most of our lines of business. The combined ratio was strong at 86.4% for the quarter and at 88.7% for the year, driven by growth in profitable business lines and continued underwriting discipline. We are well positioned to maintain a low 90s or better combined ratio going forward.

Net Operating Income, EPS and ROE

Net operating income attributable to common shareholders of $752 million was 48% higher than in Q4-2022, driven by topline growth, solid underwriting performance, as well as strong investment and distribution results.
Earnings per share of $2.78 was up 48%, driven by higher operating income and market-related gains, offsetting increased costs related to the strategic exit from the UK personal lines market. These included underwriting losses of $138 million, of which $65 million was driven by Storms Babet and Ciaran in the UK&I segment.
Operating ROE was solid at 14.2% for the 12 months to December 31, 2023, reflecting strong operating performance across the business, tempered by a 3-point impact from catastrophe losses in excess of expectations over the year. Adjusted ROE and ROE also remained healthy at 11.7% and 8.8% respectively, after absorbing higher exited lines and restructuring costs as a result of the exit from the UK personal lines market.

Balance Sheet

The Company ended the quarter in a strong financial position, with a total capital margin of $2.7 billion and solid regulatory capital ratios in all jurisdictions.
The adjusted debt-to-total capital ratio of 22.4% was relatively stable compared to last quarter, as the growth in capital from strong earnings was tempered by financing issued for our strategic initiatives. The adjusted debt-to-total capital ratio is expected to return to our long-term target of 20% by the end of 2024.
IFC’s book value per share (BVPS) of $81.71 at December 31, 2023 was 6% higher than in Q3-2023, driven by strong operating results and favourable capital markets. BVPS was in line with Q4-2022 as strong earnings fully offset the impact of the UK pension buy-in transaction, which closed in Q1-2023.

M&A Update

On December 7, 2023, we announced the sale of our UK direct Personal Lines (Home and Pet) operations to Admiral Group plc, as well as the exit of Home and Pet partner and broker contracts in the UK. The company’s exit from the UK Personal Lines market accelerates the path to sustainable outperformance for the continuing UK&I business.
The acquisition of Direct Line Insurance Group plc’s brokered Commercial Lines operations in the UK closed on October 26, 2023. Substantially all of the future economics of the business were transferred to RSA effective October 1, 2023.

Common Share Dividend

The Board of Directors approved the quarterly dividend of $1.21 per share on the Company’s outstanding common shares. The common share dividends are payable on March 29, 2024, to shareholders of record on March 15, 2024. This represents a $0.11 increase and marks the 19th consecutive annual increase in our common share dividend since our IPO in 2004.

Preferred Share Dividends

The Board of Directors also approved a quarterly dividend of 30.25625 cents per share on the Company’s Class A Series 1 preferred shares, 21.60625 cents per share on the Class A Series 3 preferred shares, 32.50 cents per share on the Class A Series 5 preferred shares, 33.125 cents per share on the Class A Series 6 preferred shares, 37.575 cents per share on the Class A Series 7 preferred shares, 33.75 cents per share on the Class A Series 9 preferred shares, and 32.8125 cents per share on the Class A Series 11 preferred shares. The dividends are payable as of March 31, 2024, to shareholders of record on March 15, 2024.

Normal Course Issuer Bid 

As at December 31, 2023, the Company had repurchased and cancelled 2,000 common shares under its normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”) program. The Board has authorized, subject to TSX approval, the renewal of the NCIB to purchase for cancellation up to 3% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common shares commencing February 17, 2024. 

Analysts’ Estimates

The average estimate of earnings per share and net operating income per share for the quarter among the analysts who follow the Company was $2.79 and $3.38, respectively.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) and Consolidated Financial Statements
This Press Release, which was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on the Audit Committee’s recommendation, should be read in conjunction with the Q4-2023 MD&A, as well as the Q4-2023 Consolidated financial statements, which are available on the Company’s website at www.intactfc.com and later today on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

For the definitions of measures and other insurance-related terms used in this Press Release, please refer to the MD&A and to the glossary available in the “Investors” section of the Company’s website at www.intactfc.com.

Conference Call Details
Intact Financial Corporation will host a conference call to review its earnings results tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. ET. To listen to the call via live audio webcast and to view the Company’s Consolidated financial statements, MD&A, presentation slides, Supplementary financial information and other information not included in this press release, visit the Company’s website at www.intactfc.com and link to “Investors”. The conference call is also available by dialing 416-764-8659 or 1-888-664-6392 (toll-free in North America). Please call 10 minutes before the start of the call. A replay of the call will be available on February 14, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET until midnight on February 21, 2024. To listen to the replay, call 416-764-8677 or 1-888-390-0541 (toll-free in North America), entry code 042559. A transcript of the call will also be made available on Intact Financial Corporation’s website.

About Intact Financial Corporation
Intact Financial Corporation (TSX:IFC) is the largest provider of property and casualty (P&C) insurance in Canada, a leading provider of global specialty insurance, and, with RSA, a leader in the U.K. and Ireland. Our business has grown organically and through acquisitions to over $22 billion of total annual premiums.

In Canada, Intact distributes insurance under the Intact Insurance brand through a wide network of brokers, including its wholly owned subsidiary BrokerLink, and directly to consumers through belairdirect. Intact also provides affinity insurance solutions through our affinity groups, travel insurance, as well as exclusive and tailored offerings through Intact Prestige.

In the U.S., Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions provides a range of specialty insurance products and services through independent agencies, regional and national brokers, and wholesalers and managing general agencies.

In the U.K., Ireland, and Europe, Intact provides personal, commercial and specialty insurance solutions through the RSA brands.

Non-GAAP and other financial measures
Non-GAAP financial measures and Non-GAAP ratios (which are calculated using Non-GAAP financial measures) do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS (or GAAP) and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies in our industry. Non-GAAP and other financial measures are used by management and financial analysts to assess our performance. Further, they provide users with an enhanced understanding of our financial results and related trends, and increase transparency and clarity into the core results of the business.

Non-GAAP financial measures and Non-GAAP ratios used in this Press Release and the Company’s financial reports include measures related to our consolidated performance, our underwriting performance and our financial strength.

For more information about these supplementary financial measures, Non-GAAP financial measures, and Non-GAAP ratios, including definitions and explanations of how these measures provide useful information, refer to Section 31 – Non-GAAP and other financial measures in the
Q4-2023 MD&A dated February 13, 2024, which is available on our website at www.intactfc.com and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

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