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CI

CITIZENS, INC. (CIA)·Q4 2024 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q4 2024 showed mixed results: GAAP total revenues declined to $63.5M (-5% YoY) while adjusted revenues rose to $67.6M (+3% YoY); adjusted pre-tax income increased to $8.0M (+5% YoY), but GAAP pre-tax income fell to $3.7M due to investment losses tied to a BlackRock renewable fund write-down .
  • Net income and diluted EPS declined YoY to $3.6M and $0.07, respectively (vs. $10.7M and $0.21 in Q4 2023), reflecting higher benefits/expenses and lower investment-related gains .
  • Commercial momentum remained strong: insurance issued rose 10% YoY to $262.6M, first-year premiums grew 84% YoY, and the agent network expanded materially; operating cash flow improved to $10.8M in the quarter, with no debt and $29.3M cash at year-end .
  • Management expects continued sales growth driving revenue and profit growth in FY 2025 and stronger growth in FY 2026; no numeric guidance ranges were provided. Street consensus data via S&P Global was not available at the time of writing, limiting beat/miss analysis .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • First-year life and A&H premiums increased 84% YoY in Q4, the ninth consecutive quarter of growth, driven by new domestic products and expanded distribution; CEO: “our new products and the expansion of our distribution channels led to the issuance of the highest amount of insurance ever in a year of over $1.1 billion” .
  • Insurance issued reached $262.6M (+10% YoY), and total direct insurance in force hit a record >$5.2B, underscoring durable growth and scale .
  • Operating cash flow strengthened to $10.8M in Q4 (vs. $6.6M YoY) and the balance sheet ended with $29.3M cash and no debt, supporting capital flexibility .

What Went Wrong

  • GAAP total revenues fell YoY due to lower renewal premiums ($40.7M vs. $41.6M) and net investment losses (incl. $3.3M unrealized loss from BlackRock Global Renewable Power Fund III), pressuring GAAP profitability .
  • Total benefits and expenses increased to $59.8M (+$1.7M YoY), driven by higher reserves tied to growth, actuarial remeasurement loss, and increased death claims, compressing GAAP pre-tax income to $3.7M (vs. $8.8M YoY) .
  • Net income and EPS declined materially YoY (to $3.6M and $0.07, respectively) as investment-related gains reversed and claims dynamics weighed on results; segment Home Service pre-tax income fell to $0.5M (vs. $1.5M YoY) .

Financial Results

Consolidated results (quarterly comparison)

MetricQ2 2024Q3 2024Q4 2024
Total revenues ($USD Millions)$62.084 $61.731 $63.474
Adjusted revenues ($USD Millions)N/AN/A$67.637
Insurance premiums ($USD Millions)$42.559 $42.897 $49.199
Net investment income ($USD Millions)$17.540 $17.377 $17.308
Investment gains (losses), net ($USD Millions)$(0.253) $0.827 $(4.163)
Total benefits & expenses ($USD Millions)$58.782 $58.694 $59.758
Income before federal income tax ($USD Millions)$3.302 $3.037 $3.716
Adjusted income before federal income tax ($USD Millions)$7.131 $2.213 $8.009
Net income ($USD Millions)$3.959 $2.790 $3.621
Diluted EPS ($USD)$0.08 $0.05 $0.07
Operating cash flow ($USD Millions)$4.6 $9.7 $10.8

Q4 year-over-year comparison

MetricQ4 2023Q4 2024
Total revenues ($USD Millions)$66.849 $63.474
Adjusted revenues ($USD Millions)$65.612 $67.637
Insurance premiums ($USD Millions)$47.038 $49.199
Net investment income ($USD Millions)$17.567 $17.308
Investment gains (losses), net ($USD Millions)$1.237 $(4.163)
Total benefits & expenses ($USD Millions)$58.075 $59.758
Income before federal income tax ($USD Millions)$8.774 $3.716
Adjusted income before federal income tax ($USD Millions)$7.590 $8.009
Net income ($USD Millions)$10.741 $3.621
Diluted EPS ($USD)$0.21 $0.07

Segment breakdown (Q4 2024 vs Q4 2023)

SegmentMetricQ4 2023Q4 2024
Life InsuranceInsurance premiums ($USD Thousands)$36,017 $38,522
Life InsuranceNet investment income ($USD Thousands)$13,882 $13,590
Life InsuranceInv. gains (losses), net ($USD Thousands)$424 $(3,928)
Life InsuranceTotal revenues ($USD Thousands)$51,309 $49,313
Life InsuranceClaims & surrenders ($USD Thousands)$29,602 $36,404
Life InsuranceTotal benefits & expenses ($USD Thousands)$43,083 $44,055
Life InsurancePre-tax income ($USD Thousands)$8,226 $5,258
Home ServiceInsurance premiums ($USD Thousands)$11,021 $10,677
Home ServiceNet investment income ($USD Thousands)$3,453 $3,544
Home ServiceInv. gains (losses), net ($USD Thousands)$805 $(245)
Home ServiceTotal revenues ($USD Thousands)$15,295 $13,977
Home ServiceClaims & surrenders ($USD Thousands)$5,593 $5,557
Home ServiceTotal benefits & expenses ($USD Thousands)$13,796 $13,451
Home ServicePre-tax income ($USD Thousands)$1,499 $526

KPIs

KPIQ2 2024Q3 2024Q4 2024
Insurance issued ($USD Millions)$295.2 (+86% YoY) $307.6 (+75% YoY) $262.6 (+10% YoY)
Direct renewal premiums ($USD Millions)Flat YoY (detail not provided) $36.0 $40.7
First-year life & A&H premiums YoY growth+85% +70% +84%
Avg pre-tax investment yield (%)4.6% 4.6% 4.56%
Operating cash flow ($USD Millions)$4.6 $9.7 $10.8
Cash & equivalents ($USD Millions)$26.3 $32.4 $29.3
DebtNone None None
Total direct insurance in force ($USD Thousands)>$5,100,000 $5,189,523 $5,227,506

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Sales/Revenue trajectoryFY 2025None disclosedExpect continued sales growth leading to revenue and profit growth New directional positive
Sales/Revenue trajectoryFY 2026None disclosedExpect stronger growth vs FY 2025 New directional positive

Note: No explicit numeric ranges (revenue, margins, OpEx/tax) were provided in Q4 materials .

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

No Q4 2024 earnings call transcript was found in filings or our document catalog. Company communications referenced an upcoming investor conference (Mar 27, 2025) rather than an earnings call .

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q2 & Q3)Current Period (Q4)Trend
First-year premium growth+85% in Q2; +70% in Q3; 7th and 8th consecutive quarters of YoY growth +84% YoY, 9th consecutive quarter Improving and sustained
Insurance issued momentumRecord $295.2M in Q2; record $307.6M in Q3 $262.6M (+10% YoY) Elevated vs PY; down vs Q3 peak
U.S. licensing expansionLicensed in 41 states (Q2); 42 (Q3) 43 states + DC Expanding footprint
Agent network growth+45% since YE23 by Q2; +86% by Q3 Record agents; up 72% YoY Strong but normalized vs Q3
Renewal premiumsFlat in Q2; declined to $36.0M in Q3 $40.7M vs $41.6M PY; residual surrenders/matured endowments weigh Stabilizing yet slightly lower YoY
Investment yieldsAvg pre-tax yield ~4.6% Q2/Q3 4.56% (flat YoY) Stable
Investment-related gains/lossesSmall loss in Q2; gain in Q3 Loss ($4.2M), incl. ~$3.3M BlackRock GRP III unrealized loss Adverse in Q4
Actuarial/claimsHigher matured endowments and legal accrual in Q2; higher reserves/remeasurement/death claims in Q3 Higher reserves, remeasurement loss, and death claims persisted Continued headwinds

Management Commentary

  • CEO Jon Stenberg: “Our new products and the expansion of our distribution channels led to the issuance of the highest amount of insurance ever in a year of over $1.1 billion…We are now licensed in 43 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.” .
  • CEO Jon Stenberg: “We remain fully committed to persistent and profitable growth and capital management, as evidenced by our positive net cash from operations annually since 2004.” .
  • Outlook: “We expect continued sales growth leading to revenue and profit growth in the full year 2025 and stronger growth in full year 2026.” .

Q&A Highlights

No Q4 2024 earnings call transcript or Q&A session was available in our filings corpus; management referenced participation in the Emerging Growth Virtual Conference on March 27, 2025 (webcast archived) .

Estimates Context

  • Wall Street consensus (S&P Global) for CIA Q4 2024 EPS and revenue was unavailable via our tool at the time of writing, so beat/miss analysis versus consensus could not be performed. Default source for consensus would be S&P Global; however, data access was not available during this session.

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Adjusted profitability improved YoY despite GAAP pressure, as core revenue drivers (first-year premiums) remain strong; investment-related volatility and higher claims/reserve costs explain the GAAP miss in Q4 .
  • Commercial growth thesis intact: insurance issued and agent expansion position renewal premium growth in 2025–2026; watch for renewal conversion and surrender trends to validate the flywheel .
  • Balance sheet/cash generation supportive: positive operating cash flow, no debt, and cash of $29.3M reduce funding risk and allow reinvestment in product/distribution .
  • Near-term trading implications: sentiment may hinge on non-GAAP vs GAAP narrative—highlighting adjusted pre-tax improvement and sales momentum could be key; monitor any updates on the BlackRock fund mark and claims dynamics .
  • Medium-term thesis: expanding U.S. licensing, product innovation, and international niche leadership underpin multi-year growth; execution on scaling renewals and managing actuarial assumptions/reserves will determine margin trajectory .
  • Watch items: renewal premium stabilization, mortality experience, actuarial remeasurement impacts, and investment marks; each can swing quarterly GAAP results despite steady operating indicators .
  • Guidance cadence: directional-only (no numeric ranges). Look for FY25 updates, potential reinstatement of formal guidance, and any capital deployment disclosures as catalysts .