Image source: The Motley Fool.
Mercury General Corp (MCY 2.18%)
Q2Â 2019 Earnings Call
Jul 29, 2019, 1:00 p.m. ET
Contents:
- Prepared Remarks
- Questions and Answers
- Call Participants
Prepared Remarks:
Operator
Good day, my name is Ian and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Mercury General's Second Quarter Conference Call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speakers' remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] This conference call may contain comment and forward-looking statements based on current plans, expectations, event and financial and industry trends, which may affect Mercury General's future operating results and financial position. Such statements invoke risks and uncertainties which cannot be predicted or quantified, and which may cause future activities and results of operations to differ materially from those discussed here today.
I would now like to turn the call over to Mr. Gabriel Tirador. Sir, please go ahead.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Thank you very much. I would like to welcome everyone to Mercury's Second Quarter Conference Call. I'm Gab Tirador, President and CEO. In the room with me is Mr. George Joseph, Chairman; Ted Stalick, Senior Vice President and CFO, and Chris Graves, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer.
Before we take questions, we will make a few comments regarding the quarter. Our second quarter operating earnings were $0.74 per share compared to $0.88 per share in the second quarter of 2018. That deterioration in operating earnings was primarily due to an increase in the combined ratio. The combined ratio was 98.3% in the second quarter of 2019 compared to 96.9% in the second quarter of 2018. The combined ratio in the quarter was negatively impacted by $9 million of unfavorable reserve development, $9 million of catastrophe losses primarily from Midwestern storms and a $3.4 million increase in accrued expenses as a result of an adverse appeals court ruling related to a California Department of Insurance and Non-compliance matter. The $9 million of unfavorable reserve development in the quarter was primarily due to an increase in our loss adjustment expense estimates for defense and cost containment expenses in our Auto California lines of business and also includes $3 million of unfavorable reserve development from prior year's catastrophe losses. Excluding the impact of unfavorable prior year reserve development, catastrophe losses, seeded reinstatement premiums earned and increased accrued expenses related to the adverse appeals court ruling. The adjusted combined ratio was 95.5% in the second quarter of 2019, compared to 93.6% in the second quarter of 2018.
For states outside of California, the combined ratio deteriorated, which contributed to the increase in a company wide combined ratio for the quarter. For all lines of business outside of California, we posted a combined ratio of approximately 108% in the second quarter of 2019, compared to 92% in the second quarter of 2018. Earned premium for both periods was approximately $130 million for states outside of California. Our homeowners combined ratio was 102% in the second quarter of 2019, compared to 95.3% in the second quarter of 2018, and contributed to the company wide deterioration in the combined ratio.
The California homeowners combined ratio was negatively impacted by an increase in loss estimates related to the significant California rainstorms that occurred during the first quarter of 2019. Our year to date accident year combined ratio for California personal auto is approximately 95%. For California personal auto, we recorded a low single digit reduction in frequency trends and a mid single digit increase in the severity trend. In California, a 6.9% personal auto rate increase in California Automobile Insurance Company was implemented in March 2019, and a 6.9% personal auto rate increase for Mercury Insurance Company was implemented in May of 2019.
Collectively, these represent two-thirds of company wide direct premiums earned. Approximately 32% of the California Automobile Insurance Company rate increase was earned during the quarter, and only 10% of the Mercury Insurance Company rate increase was earned during the quarter. In addition, a 6.9% rate increase in our California homeowners line was approved by the California Department of Insurance with an implementation date of August 2019.
We also recently filed for another 6.9% rate increase in our California homeowners line of business. The California homeowners premiums represent about 12% of direct companywide premiums earned. The expense ratio was 24.4% in the second quarter, compared to 24.3% in the second quarter of 2018. The slightly higher expense ratio was primarily due to the $3.4 million increase in accrued expense related to the adverse appeals court ruling, partially offset by a decrease in acquisition costs, primarily from lower average commissions and cost efficiency savings.
Premiums written grew 6.6% in the quarter, primarily due to higher average premiums per policy and an increase in homeowners policies written. We recently completed our catastrophe reinsurance treaty renewal effective July 1, 2019. The total reinsurance limit purchased increased from $205 million in the prior period to $589 million for the July 2019 through June 2020 period. Our retention increased from $10 million to $40 million. Total annual premiums on a new reinsurance program are approximately $38 million. For the prior reinsurance treaty, total premiums were $40 million, including $18 million of reinstatement premiums. More details of the catastrophe reinsurance treaty renewal will be included in our second quarter 10-Q filing.
With that brief background, we will now take questions.
Questions and Answers:
Operator
[Operator Instructions] Our first question is from line of Greg Peters from Raymond James. Greg?
Greg Peters -- Raymond James -- Analyts
Hi. Good morning.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Good morning.
Greg Peters -- Raymond James -- Analyts
I had a couple of questions for you. First, around the reserve development. I was going through my record of your results over the last 20 years, and it seems like if we narrow it down to last 10 years. You've had unfavorable development in eight years of the last 10 years. And with all the rate increases and all the changes, that sort of stands out because most companies tend to report favorable development.
So can you give us some perspective of -- obviously, you talked about severity issues, but can you give us some perspective of how that might change in the future?
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Well, I think, we've said before that we feel, especially in the bodily injury line, that there has been a changing environment and how that might change in the future is -- we're being more conservative with respect to selecting more recent factors as opposed to averaging factors for a longer period of time. So that should help with any adverse reserve development going forward.
I will say that for California PPA, the loss reserve development this quarter was pretty much non-existent. It was really on the defense and cost containment line or expenses, where we're seeing increased litigation and we decided to increase our reserves for defending bodily injury claims.
Theodore Robert Stalick -- Chief Financial Officer
You know, one -- this is Ted. One of the biggest issues we've had in the past has been with the California bodily injury coverages as far as the development goes. And I'll just say for the first half of this year, our actual versus expected incurred loss development has essentially been in line. So it's developed pretty much how we expected it to when we set reserves at year end.
And I know, it's just two quarters. But this is something that we haven't experienced last couple of years, where the actual has been higher than the expected. And so it does give us some indication that the increasing loss development factors that we've seen over the years have now sort of stable, become more stable. And we're going to see better stability in those reserves.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Having said all that, Greg, we're obviously not happy with the reserve development that we've had eight years out of 10 years -- out of the last 10 years. But the rationale is what we just gave you.
Greg Peters -- Raymond James -- Analyts
I certainly appreciate that things around litigation are moving target. And so I just was -- it just stands out as unique because most of your peers tend -- have a tendency to go through shorter periods of adverse development and then they find neutrality or favorable development. But hey, in the -- in your opening comments, you called out the $9 million of what you called out. Pardon me. You called out the unfavorable reserve development. And what I was trying to understand is did that include the piece that you mentioned for catastrophe losses from prior years?
Theodore Robert Stalick -- Chief Financial Officer
Yeah. So the $9 million had -- within it had $3 million from catastrophe losses from prior years, which was primarily from the Woolsey fire, the partial losses has developed more than we expected. The one thing I'll point out is -- is the Woolsey event, the losses were -- we had exhausted our reinsurance limit within that layer. And so, any development on the Woolsey was not covered with this additional $3 million. We're now into the next layer. And if there is any future development on prior year cats, those will be fully covered by reinsurance.
Greg Peters -- Raymond James -- Analyts
Thank you for that -- the clarification. Can I pivot for another line of questioning around your -- the disclosure around your new catastrophe, your property cat -- cap program, and I think in your comments -- on your -- your limit, your total limit is up, what, substantially like twice as much as what you purchased before. So I'm just curious what -- obviously, your experience last year colored your perspective there. But that -- this was all going to come at a cost, too. And then the quarterly retention is moving from $10 million to $40 million. So you've -- if we were to replay the quarterly results last year, how many quarters would we hit that $40 million retention?
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
If we were to replay...
Theodore Robert Stalick -- Chief Financial Officer
The camp fire obviously was well in excess of 100 million, so that would have hit that and the Woolsey fire is in the low 40s. So a piece of that would have hit it. The car fire was about $20 million.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Yeah. Greg, we just felt that the pricing for the $10 million to $40 million was just too high.
Greg Peters -- Raymond James -- Analyts
Right.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
And we just -- it just -- it did not make economic sense from our standpoint to purchase that layer.
Greg Peters -- Raymond James -- Analyts
It -- it. I totally understand what you're saying. And -- so it seems like going forward, the exposure on a net basis to cat losses will go up. And if I'm to read through your comments, the cost of the reinsurance, the new program relative to last year is only up modestly? Or is it -- is your perspective on cost?
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Well, it's up modestly, if you consider the reinstatement on premiums. But the reality is that the cost, the rate increase, there was sizable rate increases in each layer. Pretty sizable rate increases in each layers. But when you compare what we actually ended up paying, last treaty period, it was -- is about $40 million. And I think the new treaty is about $38 million.
Theodore Robert Stalick -- Chief Financial Officer
And that $40 million from last year includes $18 million of reinstated limits.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Right. Right.
Greg Peters -- Raymond James -- Analyts
That the $18 million of what?
Theodore Robert Stalick -- Chief Financial Officer
Reinstated limits.
Greg Peters -- Raymond James -- Analyts
Yeah.
Theodore Robert Stalick -- Chief Financial Officer
So without that, it's $38 million compared to $22 million.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
That's hard to analyze though, because the retention change, and we are -- obviously brought a lot more limit on the higher end.
Greg Peters -- Raymond James -- Analyts
Right. And you mentioned in your comments that you'll have more detail around this in your 10-Q.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Yes.
Greg Peters -- Raymond James -- Analyts
So you'll be able to pull out the costs, etc, that will be easy for us to identify?
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Well the total cost will be in there.
Theodore Robert Stalick -- Chief Financial Officer
Yes. I think the more details are going to be around how the layers work and exclusions within those layers.
Greg Peters -- Raymond James -- Analyts
Okay. Well, I don't want to hog up your conference call time, but it would be great to have a follow on conversation offline on this topic.
Theodore Robert Stalick -- Chief Financial Officer
Sure.
Greg Peters -- Raymond James -- Analyts
Just to make sure I have everything set up right. Can -- the last line of questions I realize there is other analysts that probably want to ask questions. So it seems like the California business is doing well, but the non-California business is not. Is there anything -- is your perspective changing on business outside of California now. Or do you still have a same strategy going forward?
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
We have the same strategy going forward outside of California, the current year to date results have been disappointing. In the quarter, we had quite a few large losses in the quarter that contributed to the results. We had increased severity. We had some Midwestern storms. On an accident year basis through June of this year, the 2018 accident years running 97 [Phonetic]. But the '19 is running, like at 102.5 [Phonetic]. So a lot of that is being driven right now by Florida and Georgia. We're continuing to analyze what's going on there from a severity standpoint. We also have some changes that we're going to be implementing in Florida and Georgia. I think, Florida in September and in November for Georgia that from a segmentation standpoint, that we think will help both on the gross side and also on the profitability side. But last year, we had a really good year outside of California. I think, we -- for PPA. I think, we recorded a calendar year combined in the 93% -- 94% [Phonetic] range if I'm not -- if my recollection is right in an accident year.
As I mentioned, for '18 is about 97%. So we have some work to do though outside of California and especially in some of these states to improve the results.
Greg Peters -- Raymond James -- Analyts
Great. Thank you for your answers.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Sure.
Operator
And our next question is from the line of Christopher Campbell from KBW. Christopher?
Christopher Campbell -- KBW -- Analyst
Yes. Good morning, Gentlemen.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Hey Chris.
Theodore Robert Stalick -- Chief Financial Officer
Hey Chris.
Christopher Campbell -- KBW -- Analyst
Hey, first question is on the core loss ratios. It sounds like that you were having some issues in like Florida and Georgia and some of the other states. But if you are looking at the core loss ratio, that was up 200 bps year-over-year. So I mean, how much of that -- was any of that like one time event? Or is that more attritional? Should we think about that? How should we think about modeling that going forward?
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Well, I mean, I think, from my perspective, at least for PPA outside of California, like I mentioned earlier, we think we're running at about 102 right now, we have some changes. And there's a lot of volatility outside of California. Sometimes from quarter-to-quarter. I will say that. I think in California PPA, we think we're running at about a 95% on a year to date basis. We have a lot of the 6.9% [Phonetic] that we haven't earned. Most of that has not been earned. We see frequency going down a couple of points and severity going up mid single digit. So there should be some margin expansion in our California PPA line going forward. Absent any kind of reserve development. So that's how I would view it.
Theodore Robert Stalick -- Chief Financial Officer
Yeah, I would say the -- the one time. So the -- Gabe mentioned there's $3.5 million expense charge that it was the result of this Appellate Courts rulings. So that -- that's clearly not going to happen every quarter. And then the homeowners, California homeowners was elevated in the first quarter. If -- in California, we had a significant amount of stormy weather and there was about $4 million of additional reserves from the first quarter that we put up in the second quarter. Just related to that that kind of stormy weather event.
So that's now pretty much -- doesn't pretty much closed out, so you could probably figure there's a little bit there too.
Christopher Campbell -- KBW -- Analyst
Okay. Got it. That was very helpful. And then, just looking at California lines, so I think you also gave -- you had said on the script low-single digit -- low single digit increases in frequency and then mid-single digit increases in severity. Is that right? The cat on your model.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Yes. Reduction in frequency -- reduction. I think you said increase -- reduction...
Christopher Campbell -- KBW -- Analyst
Okay. Got it.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Yeah. Yeah. And mid-single digit increase in severity, yeah.
Christopher Campbell -- KBW -- Analyst
Okay. Perfect. So all in, so should we be thinking like low-to-mid single digit loss cost inflation in that line?
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
That's what we're thinking.
Christopher Campbell -- KBW -- Analyst
Okay. And then you have the 6.9%. Basically, you said only 10% of that earned in, in the second quarter. So we have like 90% of that to come.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Yes. For Mercury Insurance Company, which is our biggest sub and then Cal Auto had about 32% of it earned.
Christopher Campbell -- KBW -- Analyst
Okay. Got it. And then are you guys planning on taking any more auto increases in California, or you guys think you're done for the time being?
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
I think, we're done for the time being.
Christopher Campbell -- KBW -- Analyst
But you are taking another 6.9%. You just filed for another 6.9% in California homeowners, correct?
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Yes. Yes. And the 6.9% goes into effect in August and we filed for another 6.9% in California homeowners. Yes.
Christopher Campbell -- KBW -- Analyst
Okay, great. And then just pivoting to net investment income, so any -- pre-tax net investment income growth was a little bit weaker than I expected. So it's like -- only got like 70 bps versus kind of that mid-to-high single digit premium we've seen over the last year. So I guess, just why was the growth so soft this quarter? And then how should we think about projecting the net investment income going forward, especially as rates are starting to come down?
Christopher Graves -- Chief Investment Officer
Yes. Hey, Chris. It's Chris Graves. Well, you know, I thought the growth was actually pretty good, especially year-over-year. But we've seen the last year, we had -- we positioned ourselves to be much more sensitive actually the prior year as well. Pretty much more sensitive to the rising low interest rates from the Fed. And that really boost investment income. And of course, that's come to an end. The curve has flattened on us, inverted in parts leaving us with very few real interesting fixed income opportunities. So in light of the structure of the yield curve broadening our duration, quite a lot. I think, there's considerable more risk out on the yield curve. So going forward, it's going to be a tough environment. And I think, it's going to last well through the rest of this year and a good part of 2020 as well. So I don't know if we've -- I mean, look the Company is growing, the underlying growth is good. I'm seeing growth in the investment portfolio that's going to continue to push investment income higher if everything else stays the same. But it's hard for me to tell you exactly where we're headed now.
Christopher Campbell -- KBW -- Analyst
Okay. Got it. That's very helpful. Thanks, Chris. And then maybe one for Ted, operating tax rate was a little bit lower than we'd expect it. Any color on anything special that was happening? And what -- how should we think about modeling this going forward?
Theodore Robert Stalick -- Chief Financial Officer
Well, I think it was lower because underwriting income was lower than you modeled, and so underwriting income is taxed at roughly 21%, investment income is taxed at roughly 10% or 11%. And so when the -- when the mix of those changes, it changes the overall effective tax rate.
Christopher Campbell -- KBW -- Analyst
Okay. Got it, well thanks for all the answers. Best of luck for the second half of '19.
Theodore Robert Stalick -- Chief Financial Officer
Thanks, Chris.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Thank you, Chris.
Operator
[Operator Instructions]. Our next question is from line of Jay Cohen from Bank of America. Jay?
Jay Cohen -- Bank of America -- Analyst
Yeah, just a couple of questions. During the call, you had suggested a more conservative loss pick. I think it was for auto BI. Is that something you've already put in place or something you have to contemplate going forward. Or maybe I misheard it.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
No. What I was referring to is when we select linked ratio factors, generally, we would select maybe an average of, going back four quarters, eight quarters as an example. But we're waiting more -- the more recent linked ratio factors, which produces a higher amount. So that's what I was referring to, Jay.
Jay Cohen -- Bank of America -- Analyst
So I guess looking forward over the next four quarters, that by itself, all else being equal puts a little bit of upward pressure on the loss ratio.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Well, I am not -- I don't -- I mean, we've already done that. So I'm not sure, why would it put upward -- unless it's worse than we've picked.
Jay Cohen -- Bank of America -- Analyst
Well I guess because you've had some of this adverse development. That's why, I thought. But I guess it came from other areas. So it's not such a big factor. And I guess, the other question with the price increases, how are you finding the reaction in the market? It feels as if you're being a bit more aggressive than others in raising price. And is there some competitive blowback because of these increases?
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Yes, I would say that our new business applications are down quite a bit actually. In California for the quarter, they were down about 20%. But what's happening to is quoting volume is down quite a bit. Our quote volume is down about 16% year-over-year for the quarter.
So as a result, our new business is down as a result of both the 6.9% increase that we took and the quoting volume. Now, if you take away the quoting volume, our forecast was pretty much in line, a little bit better than in line with respect to what our -- what we thought the new business and our retention would end up at. But the quote volume has really had an impact.
Jay Cohen -- Bank of America -- Analyst
Got it. Makes sense. Thanks, Gabe.
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Sure. Thanks, Jay.
Operator
And at this time, I'm showing that we have no further questions on the line. I'd like to turn the call back to the presenters for any closing remarks.
Gabriel T -- Chief Executive Officer
I'd like to thank you all for joining us this quarter and we look forward to speaking with all of you next quarter. Thank you very much.
Operator
[Operator Closing Remarks]
Duration: 26 minutes
Call participants:
Gabriel Tirador -- President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Theodore Robert Stalick -- Chief Financial Officer
Christopher Graves -- Chief Investment Officer
Gabriel T -- Chief Executive Officer
Greg Peters -- Raymond James -- Analyts
Christopher Campbell -- KBW -- Analyst
Jay Cohen -- Bank of America -- Analyst
