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Date
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 10 a.m. ET
Call participants
- Chief Executive Officer — Kevin James Leidwinger
- Chief Financial Officer — Eric John Martin
- Executive Vice President, Underwriting — Julie Anne Stephenson
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Takeaways
- Net Written Premium -- Increased 12%, with a 9% rise excluding prior-year unique ceded premium adjustments.
- Core Commercial Net Written Premium -- Rose 11%, with small business, middle market, and construction segments all contributing to the growth.
- New Business Growth -- Expanded by 14% while average account size increased in less price-sensitive middle-market sectors.
- Commercial Rate Change -- Achieved a 4.3% rate increase, described as offering "attractive returns."
- Alternative Distribution Net Written Premium -- Gained 13%, aided by a successful January 1 treaty renewal and expanded Funds at Lloyd's capacity by $20 million for four new syndicates.
- Underlying Loss Ratio -- Registered at 57%, reflecting portfolio improvements.
- Catastrophe Loss Ratio -- Stood at 3.7%, 1.3 points below the prior year and below both five- and ten-year historical averages.
- Expense Ratio -- Marked at 34.9%, a three-point year-over-year improvement, with two points due to system implementation completion and one point from growth.
- Net Investment Income -- Increased 15% to $27 million, with fixed maturity income up 18% to $24.9 million; fixed maturity portfolio grew nearly $300 million over four quarters.
- Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) -- Reported at $1.15 GAAP and $1.16 non-GAAP adjusted operating EPS, both highest for a first quarter in seven years.
- Book Value Per Share -- Reached $37.06, while adjusted book value per share (excluding unrealized investment losses) grew $0.74 to $38.61.
- Unrealized Investment Losses -- Increased from $34 million at year-end 2025 to $53 million at quarter-end, reducing book value by $0.57 per share due to higher interest rates.
- Dividend -- Declared and paid a $0.20 per share cash dividend to shareholders of record as of February 24, 2026.
- Return on Equity -- Achieved approximately 13% for the quarter, described as "double-digit return on equity."
Summary
United Fire Group (UFCS +9.49%) reported record net written premium, improved profitability, and greater scale across its core commercial and alternative distribution platforms, as management highlighted growth tempered by continued underwriting discipline amid emerging price competition. Executive commentary directly referenced an expanding average account size in middle market segments, along with net investment income benefits from an enlarged and higher-yielding fixed maturity portfolio. Book value per share reflected unrealized investment losses tied to rising interest rates, while adjusted book value per share increased due to earnings strength and ongoing operational leverage.
- Julie Anne Stephenson said, "Growth continues to be fueled by our core commercial business, which includes small business, middle market, and construction."
- Management emphasized a continued focus on "Renewal defense for adequately priced and well-performing accounts" in the face of competition and moderating rates in the specialty E&S market.
- Eric John Martin noted, "Two points of that improvement were due to the completion of some costs from our policy administration system that we were."
- The company expanded its Funds at Lloyd's portfolio, citing the vehicle as holding "an A+ rating from AM Best" and offering "significant diversifying opportunities."
- Portfolio discipline was further underscored by the reported absence of prior-year reserve development impact and a loss ratio improvement moderated only by assumed reinsurance segment headwinds.
Industry glossary
- E&S (Excess and Surplus Lines): Insurance products for risks not eligible in standard admitted markets, often involving specialty or higher-risk exposures outside traditional underwriting criteria.
- Ceded Reinsurance Premium: The portion of insurance premium paid by a primary insurer to a reinsurer to transfer risk and reduce potential losses on underwritten policies.
- Funds at Lloyd's: Capital provided by participants to underwrite insurance business at Lloyd's of London, offering diversification for investors and access to global reinsurance portfolios.
- Combined Ratio: The sum of an insurance company's loss and expense ratios, expressing underwriting profitability as a percentage of premium earned—ratios below 100% indicate an underwriting profit.
Full Conference Call Transcript
Kevin James Leidwinger; executive vice president and chief operating officer, Julie Anne Stephenson; and executive vice president and chief financial officer, Eric John Martin. Before I turn the call over to Kevin, a couple of reminders. First, please note that our presentation today may include forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the company, the industry in which we operate, and beliefs and assumptions made by management. The company cautions investors that any forward-looking statement includes risks and uncertainties and is not a guarantee of future performance.
Any forward-looking statement made by us in this presentation is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, and the company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. The actual results may differ materially due to a variety of factors described in our press release and SEC filings, discussed specifically in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K. Also, please note that in our discussion today, we may use some non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations of these measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are also available in our press release and SEC filings.
At this time, I will turn the call over to Mr. Kevin James Leidwinger, CEO of United Fire Group, Inc.
Kevin James Leidwinger: Thank you, Tim. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today. United Fire Group, Inc. is off to a terrific start in 2026. We delivered another quarter of excellent results, reflecting our continued positive momentum from the transformative actions we have taken over the past few years to position the company for long-term success. In the first quarter, we achieved record net written premium, nearly a four-point improvement in the combined ratio, and a 15% increase in net investment income. These achievements contributed to a return on equity of approximately 13% and the highest first quarter earnings per share in seven years.
In addition to our strong financial performance, I am also very pleased with our focus on growing the business in a disciplined manner, particularly in the face of a changing market. The coordinated strategic actions we have taken to deepen underwriting and actuarial expertise, expand capabilities, strengthen distribution relationships, and invest in the organization's productivity are affording us access to a greater number of business opportunities than previously available to United Fire Group, Inc. This has allowed us to remain disciplined, highly selective underwriters focused on profitably growing our business as we more broadly serve our distribution partners.
As we continue to thoughtfully, responsibly, and profitably grow our business through expanded opportunity, I am confident the underwriting discipline we have instilled in the organization the past three years will serve us well in the evolving market. I will now hand the call over to Julie Anne Stephenson to discuss our underwriting results in more detail. Julie?
Julie Anne Stephenson: Thanks, Kevin. We are pleased with the continued positive momentum in the business, particularly in the face of competitive headwinds emerging in the marketplace. Net written premium increased 12% in the first quarter driven by disciplined growth as well as lower ceded reinsurance premium. Net written premium growth was 9% absent the impact of some unique ceded premium transactions outlined last year in our first quarter call. Growth continues to be fueled by our core commercial business, which includes small business, middle market, and construction. Core commercial grew net written premium 11% in the first quarter with all three business units contributing.
We have been able to leverage our deep distribution relationships and expanded capabilities to maintain a healthy but moderating retention, secure positive rate outcomes, and continue to grow new business by 14% while maintaining our unrelenting commitment to the underwriting rigor we have established over the last three years. Our expanded capabilities have contributed to growth by allowing us to attract more complex risks within the lower to mid range of the middle market spectrum. Our average account size is growing in a sector of the market that has so far experienced a more modest deceleration in pricing than national accounts, evidenced by our 4.3% rate achieved for the quarter. Current pricing continues to offer attractive returns.
Specialty E&S net written premium growth in the first quarter was largely impacted by ceded premium adjustments in 2025. While submission activity is strong, competition is intensifying in the E&S market. Double-digit rate increases achieved a year ago are now mid-single digits as capacity is prevalent from both new entrants and the return of some accounts to the admitted market. Renewal defense for adequately priced and well-performing accounts remains a priority. New business efforts are focused on moderate hazard opportunities in both property and casualty to balance the volatility of the portfolio over time. Surety premiums were stable compared to prior year as we remained staunchly focused on quality.
Given favorable growth momentum and strong submission activity, we continue to have high confidence in the underwriting discipline and growth prospects for this business. Alternative distribution, which provides United Fire Group, Inc. with profitable business through three primary channels—treaty, programs, and Funds at Lloyd's—net written premium increased 13% over prior year. We had a successful and disciplined January 1 standard treaty cycle. While pressure on market pricing has increased, we benefited from favorable premium development in existing relationships while selectively adding attractively priced accounts that offered opportunities beyond the lines feeling the brunt of the softening market.
We also expanded our Funds at Lloyd's portfolio with $20 million of additional stamp capacity supporting four new syndicates for 2026 that will provide additional premium throughout the year. The Lloyd's market enjoys an A+ rating from AM Best as a result of the improvement in operating returns. Rates are holding at recent highs, and this investment vehicle offers significant diversifying opportunities. With the breadth of distribution and product opportunities available to us, combined with our tightly managed exposure in this space, we believe our alternative distribution business will continue to afford the flexibility to prudently grow this highly curated portfolio through varying market cycles.
Moving to profitability, our loss ratio continues to reflect the quality of our improved portfolio with an underlying loss ratio of 57% in the first quarter. The Commercial Lines business continues to benefit from strong earned rate achievement and the benefits of our refined underwriting appetite and portfolio actions. The improvement in commercial results was offset by an increased loss ratio in the assumed reinsurance business driven by rate reductions more prevalent in this market. Despite this impact, our reinsurance business continues to meet our profit expectations. We have also incorporated some additional conservatism into our estimates, recognizing the uncertainty and the changing market dynamics, yielding a small increase in the underlying loss ratio over prior year.
Prior-year reserve development was neutral overall in the first quarter. Our actuarial review this quarter reflected an abbreviated analysis, and we made some modest offsetting adjustments across the portfolio. Of particular note, development in our liability portfolio was flat as our estimates began showing some stability for the quarter after continued emphasis to strengthen these reserves. The first quarter catastrophe loss ratio of 3.7% was 1.3 points below prior year. Our first quarter result was below historical five- and ten-year averages and reflects our ongoing actions to improve our catastrophe risk profile in recent years. I will now turn the call over to Eric to discuss the remainder of our financial results.
Eric John Martin: Thank you, Julie. Our high-quality fixed income portfolio continued to deliver a sustainable increase in net investment income, which grew 15% in the first quarter to $27 million. Fixed maturity income of $24.9 million increased 18% from prior year while maintaining duration and an average AA credit quality rating. Over the past four quarters, the size of our fixed maturity portfolio has grown by nearly $300 million as the virtuous cycle of improved underwriting profitability benefits all aspects of enterprise value creation. The elevated interest rate environment continues to provide opportunities to sustainably increase fixed maturity portfolio return as new money yields remained steady at approximately 5% and exceeded the overall portfolio average.
Outside of fixed income, our portfolio of approximately $100 million of limited partnership investments generated a return of $1.3 million in the quarter that, while positive, was lower than in recent quarters. Turning to the expense ratio, the first quarter result of 34.9% improved three points from prior year. While the prior-year expense ratio was elevated by costs associated with the final stages of development of a new policy administration system, the benefits of ongoing growth and disciplined management actions have contributed more than one point of improvement in the expense ratio over the past year. We expect our ongoing actions to result in a continued gradual reduction of the expense ratio over time.
First quarter net income was $1.15 per diluted share, with non-GAAP adjusted operating income of $1.16 per diluted share. This quarter's earnings improved book value per common share to $37.06. An increase in interest rates in the first quarter caused our unrealized loss position to increase from $34 million at year-end 2025 to $53 million at the end of the first quarter, negatively impacting book value per share by $0.57. Adjusted book value per share, which excludes the impact of unrealized investment losses, increased $0.74 to $38.61. From a capital management perspective, during the first quarter, we declared and paid a $0.20 per share cash dividend to shareholders of record as of February 24, 2026.
With United Fire Group, Inc. delivering double-digit return on equity and stock price trading near adjusted book value, we are attractively positioned to deliver compelling growth and shareholder value over time. This concludes our prepared remarks. I will now have the operator open the line for questions.
Operator: We will now open the call for questions. We will now begin the question and answer session. Our first question comes from Ken Bianchi from Piper Sandler. Please go ahead.
Analyst: Good morning. This is Ken on for Paul Newsome. Congrats on the quarter. You are starting to see solid growth and retention improvement in core commercial. Are you seeing any incremental competition in that business, and how are you balancing that growth versus margin discipline in that business?
Julie Anne Stephenson: Hi. This is Julie. I will answer that for you. This moderation in rates and increased competition is not unexpected for the quarter, but we still feel very good about our growth trajectory. The underlying discipline that we have worked so hard to put in place over the past few years, I think, has positioned us really well going into this market. We believe there are still ample opportunities with positive margin available to us in this market, and we are very confident about the quality of the portfolio.
Retention may fluctuate quarter to quarter as the market continues to soften, but we will continue to insist on adequate pricing account over account, and I think we are positioned very well to continue to grow.
Analyst: And then on the expense ratio improvement, you broke down a little bit how much of that is structural versus more of a one-time improvement. How should we think about run-rating those improvements from the new policy administration system on the expense ratio?
Eric John Martin: Good morning, Ken. This is Eric. Thanks for joining us. As we mentioned in our comments, when you look quarter over quarter, we are down about three points on the expense ratio. Two points of that improvement were due to the completion of some costs from our policy administration system that we were finishing up in the early stages of last year, and then we have got one point due to growth. So this quarter's number is a very clean number at 34.9; there is really nothing unusual in it. As we look forward here, we would continue to see improvement in the expense ratio.
With an assumption that we grow at 10%, we would expect it to come down around 60 or 70 basis points year over year looking into the future here.
Analyst: Awesome. That is all for me. Thanks.
Operator: Next question comes from Jason Weaver from JonesTrading. Please go ahead. Hi, Jason. Is your line on mute?
Analyst: Good morning. Thanks for taking my question. We are all back now. I know you touched on this before—just one for me—but looking at the deceleration trend in renewal rate increases, would you ascribe that to mix-related dynamics reflective of the elevated competition that you have been speaking about, or possibly an intentional effort to bump share gains here?
Julie Anne Stephenson: I think it is more based on competitive behavior. We are very pleased that the rates are still positive. It does vary significantly by line of business, and so we are trying to approach every single account and every single opportunity by finding the right rate for the exposures that we are underwriting. We feel very good about where we are positioned, and we will continue to navigate the competition in that way.
Analyst: All right. Thank you for that color. Congrats on the quarter, guys.
Operator: There are no more questions in the queue. This concludes our question and answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Kevin James Leidwinger for any closing remarks.
Kevin James Leidwinger: Well, thank you for joining us today. We are off to a great start in 2026. Our deepened underwriting expertise and expanded capabilities are affording us access to a greater number of business opportunities than previously available to United Fire Group, Inc. We are leaning into those opportunities as a disciplined, solution-oriented underwriting company focused on profitably growing our business as we more broadly serve our distribution partners. We remain confident in our ability to strategically execute our business plan while navigating the complexities of a changing market. Thanks again for joining us, and we look forward to talking with you next quarter.
Operator: The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.
