Employers (US:EIG)2026-02-20 17:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross premiums written decreased to $156.8 million from $176.3 million year-over-year, a decline of 11% primarily due to lower new business writings and lower final audit premiums [7] - Losses and LAE increased by 18.7% to $134.4 million compared to $113.2 million in the prior year, driven by an increase in the accident year 2025 selected loss and LAE ratio [7] - Net investment income rose by 17.6% to $31.4 million from $26.7 million in the previous year, attributed to private equity investment returns and a higher book yield on the fixed income portfolio [8] - Adjusted net income was $14.5 million for the quarter, down from $28.7 million last year [10] - Book value per share increased by 11% to $51.31 [6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The small commercial franchise maintained strong retention rates throughout 2025, indicating successful investments in automation and ease of use [4] - The company is experiencing lower new business writings and has exited certain classes of business, particularly in California [34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The California market is characterized as hardening, with rate increases being implemented, while the overall environment remains competitive across the country [20][22] - The average rate on renewal increased by over 5% for the entire book, with California driving much of this increase [22][23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is expanding its capabilities with a new excess workers' compensation product, leveraging core expertise to diversify its risk profile [5] - AI tools are being aggressively adopted to enhance product development and operational efficiency, with a focus on creating a sustainable competitive advantage [13][26] - The company aims to return capital to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, reflecting confidence in its financial position [6][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the frequency of cumulative trauma claims in California has flattened, although it remains elevated compared to historical levels [18] - The company expects reduced written premium in 2026 due to the hard market conditions, but is optimistic about maintaining profitability through disciplined underwriting and strategic actions [4][19] - Management expressed confidence in the company's financial strength and operational performance, with a focus on improving expense ratios through AI initiatives [12][25] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $215 million in shares and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share for Q1 2026 [6][12] - The investment rebalancing strategy aimed to reduce equity investments to target levels while increasing overall portfolio yield [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: Trajectory of CT claims - Management observed that the acceleration of CT claims frequency has slowed down, although it remains elevated compared to past levels [18] Question: Dynamics of the hardening market - The hardening market is primarily observed in California, with some competitors still taking market share, but the company is cautious about pricing margins [19][20] Question: Gross written premium in California - The decline in gross written premium is attributed to lower new business and non-renewals, particularly in California [34] Question: Scaling the new excess workers' comp product - The company plans to write its first business effective July 1 and will proceed cautiously to learn and adapt as it scales [35] Question: Performance expectations for the excess workers' comp product - Management anticipates a combined ratio in the mid-80s for the excess comp space, with a strong expense ratio due to AI-driven underwriting [44]