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Mar 31, 2021

Selective Insurance Q1 2021 Earnings Report

Selective Insurance reported excellent first-quarter financial results, including a strong non-GAAP operating ROE and an impressive combined ratio.

Key Takeaways

Selective Insurance Group reported excellent first-quarter results with a net income of $1.77 per diluted common share and a non-GAAP operating income of $1.70 per diluted common share. The company's performance was driven by disciplined and profitable growth, a strong non-GAAP operating ROE of 16.2%, and an impressive combined ratio of 89.3%. Commercial lines NPW increased 28% year-over-year, and each segment generated profitable results.

Net premiums written increased 23% compared to the first quarter of 2020.

GAAP combined ratio was 89.3%.

After-tax net investment income was $56 million, up 24% compared to the first quarter of 2020.

Book value per common share was $42.38.

Total Revenue
$798M
Previous year: $647M
+23.3%
EPS
$1.7
Previous year: $0.84
+102.4%
Total Combined Ratio
89.3%
Previous year: 96.7%
-7.7%
Commercial Lines Combined
88.2%
Previous year: 96.7%
-8.8%
Personal Lines Combined
89.6%
Previous year: 99.5%
-9.9%
Gross Profit
$775M
Previous year: $655M
+18.4%
Cash and Equivalents
$8.92M
Previous year: $8.98B
-99.9%
Free Cash Flow
$126M
Previous year: $30.9M
+306.8%
Total Assets
$9.85B
Previous year: $8.98B
+9.7%

Selective Insurance

Selective Insurance

Selective Insurance Revenue by Segment

Forward Guidance

Selective has revised its full-year guidance for 2021, including a GAAP combined ratio, excluding catastrophe losses, of 90%, catastrophe losses of 4.0 points on the combined ratio, after-tax net investment income of $195 million, an overall effective tax rate of approximately 20.5%, and weighted average shares of 60.5 million on a fully diluted basis.

Positive Outlook

  • GAAP combined ratio, excluding catastrophe losses, of 90% (prior guidance 91%) that assumes no additional prior-year casualty reserve development.
  • Catastrophe losses of 4.0 points on the combined ratio.
  • After-tax net investment income of $195 million (prior guidance $182 million) that includes $31 million (prior guidance of $16 million) in after-tax net investment income from our alternative investments.
  • An overall effective tax rate of approximately 20.5%, that includes an effective tax rate of 19.0% for net investment income and 21.0% for all other items.
  • Weighted average shares of 60.5 million on a fully diluted basis.

Revenue & Expenses

Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income