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Dec 31, 2020

Selective Insurance Q4 2020 Earnings Report

Reported net income of $2.10 per diluted common share and non-GAAP operating income of $1.84 per diluted common share.

Key Takeaways

Selective Insurance Group reported excellent financial results for Q4 2020, including an 18.0% non-GAAP operating ROE and an 88.1% combined ratio. Strong commercial lines NPW growth of 10% was driven by renewal pure price increases, solid retention, and new business growth.

Net premiums written growth of 8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.

GAAP combined ratio of 88.1%.

Annualized return on common equity of 20.6% and non-GAAP operating ROE of 18.0%.

After-tax net investment income of $55 million, up 18% compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.

Total Revenue
$682M
Previous year: $628M
+8.5%
EPS
$1.84
Previous year: $1.37
+34.3%
Total Combined Ratio
88.1%
Previous year: 91.8%
-4.0%
Commercial Lines Combined
86.8%
Previous year: 90%
-3.6%
Personal Lines Combined
93.6%
Previous year: 98.5%
-5.0%
Gross Profit
$798M
Previous year: $729M
+9.5%
Cash and Equivalents
$9.69B
Previous year: $8.8B
+10.1%
Free Cash Flow
$169M
Previous year: $155M
+9.2%
Total Assets
$9.69B
Previous year: $8.8B
+10.1%

Selective Insurance

Selective Insurance

Selective Insurance Revenue by Segment

Forward Guidance

For 2021, Selective Insurance Group expects a GAAP combined ratio, excluding catastrophe losses, of 91.0% and after-tax net investment income of $182.0 million.

Positive Outlook

  • A GAAP combined ratio, excluding catastrophe losses, of 91.0%.
  • Our combined ratio estimate assumes no prior-year casualty reserve development.
  • Catastrophe losses of 4.0 points on the combined ratio.
  • After-tax net investment income of $182.0 million that includes $16.0 million in after-tax net investment income from our alternative investments.
  • An overall effective tax rate of approximately 20.5%, which includes an effective tax rate of 19.0% for net investment income and 21.0% for all other items.

Challenges Ahead

  • Governmental directives to contain or delay the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted ordinary business commerce and impacted financial markets.
  • Difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy.
  • Deterioration in the public debt and equity markets and private investment marketplace that could lead to investment losses and interest rate fluctuations.
  • Ratings downgrades on individual securities we own could affect investment values and, therefore, statutory surplus.
  • The adequacy of our loss reserves and loss expense reserves.

Revenue & Expenses

Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income