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HCI Group, Inc. (HCI)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • HCI delivered a strong Q1 2025: revenue of $216.43M, diluted EPS of $5.35, pre-tax income of $100.3M; EPS and revenue were both ahead of S&P Global consensus, with EPS beating by ~$0.80 and revenue by ~$1.54M, aided by a sharp drop in the gross loss ratio to 19.7% . Consensus EPS was $4.56* and revenue $214.89M* (S&P Global).
  • Management announced plans to pursue a tax-free spin-off of Exzeo by year-end, positioning the technology platform to grow with third-party carriers; Exzeo posted $52M revenue and $24M pretax (stand-alone view) in Q1, reinforcing spin viability .
  • Sequentially vs Q4 2024, revenue rose meaningfully (to $216.43M from $161.88M) and diluted EPS rebounded from $0.23 to $5.35 as catastrophe losses abated; YOY EPS rose from $3.81 and gross loss ratio improved from 31.1% to 19.7% on lower claims and litigation frequency .
  • Balance sheet strengthening is a focus: management expects by end of Q2 2025 shareholder equity near ~$0.75B, BVPS near ~$60, and debt-to-cap well below 10%, aided by full conversion of the 4.75% converts in June (reducing debt by ~ $172M) .
  • Near-term catalysts: Exzeo spin-off path and clarity, continued low loss ratios, and stable reinsurance placement (management characterized June 1 renewals as “boring,” with ample capacity) .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well
    • Material underwriting improvement: gross loss ratio fell to 19.7% (vs. 31.1% YOY), driving a net combined ratio of ~56%; management attributes improvement to legislative reforms, favorable weather, and post-hurricane lull in claims .
    • EPS and revenue beats vs consensus: $5.35 diluted EPS vs $4.56* and $216.43M revenue vs $214.89M*, with sequential rebound from Q4 cat-impacted results .
    • Strategic unlock: Board pursuing a tax-free Exzeo spin-off by year-end; Exzeo delivered $52M revenue and $24M pretax in Q1 (stand-alone), evidencing profitability and scalability with third parties .
  • What Went Wrong
    • Reinsurance cost pressure: premiums ceded rose to $99.64M (vs. $68.11M YOY) as policy count and total insured value (TIV) increased; growth drove higher reinsurance spend .
    • Expense growth with scale: policy acquisition/underwriting expenses up to $27.29M (from $22.14M YOY) and G&A personnel to $20.48M (from $16.27M), reflecting higher bonuses, stock comp, and benefits .
    • Competitive intensity in commercial-residential (condo) noted; management emphasized pricing discipline and cautioned written premium comparisons can be distorted by Citizens assumption timing .

Financial Results

Sequential and estimate comparison (oldest → newest)

MetricQ3 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
Total Revenue ($USD Millions)$175.32 $161.88 $216.43
Diluted EPS ($)$0.52 $0.23 $5.35
Consensus EPS (S&P Global)*4.56*
Revenue Consensus (S&P Global, $M)*214.89*
Net Premiums Earned ($M)$155.82 $146.35 $200.75
Premiums Ceded ($M)$109.69 $151.15 $99.64
Pre-Tax Income ($M)$14.08 $5.89 $100.34
Net Income After NCI ($M)$5.68 $2.58 $69.68
Gross Loss Ratio (%)39.8% 37.2% 19.7%

Year-over-year (Q1 2025 vs Q1 2024)

MetricQ1 2024Q1 2025
Total Revenue ($USD Millions)$206.61 $216.43
Diluted EPS ($)$3.81 $5.35
Net Premiums Earned ($M)$188.54 $200.75
Premiums Ceded ($M)$68.11 $99.64
Losses & LAE ($M)$79.92 $59.29
Gross Loss Ratio (%)31.1% 19.7%

Insurance operations – Gross Premiums Earned and mix

Metric ($USD Millions)Q1 2024Q1 2025
Homeowners Choice$149.27 $156.49
TypTap Insurance Company$103.75 $124.45
Condo Owners Reciprocal Exchange (CORE)$3.63 $15.33
Tailrow Reciprocal Exchange$4.12
Total Gross Premiums Earned$256.64 $300.38
Gross Loss Ratio (%)31.1% 19.7%

Key Performance Indicators

KPIQ3 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
Book Value per Share (end of period)$43.45 $42.10 $48.55
Net Combined Ration/an/a~56%
Shares Outstanding (end of period)10,479,076 10,767,184 10,765,336
Exzeo (stand-alone view): Revenue / Pretaxn/an/a$52M / $24M

Notes: Consensus values marked with an asterisk (*) are from S&P Global.

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Dividend per shareOngoing$0.40 quarterly $0.40 quarterly (declared Apr 24, 2025; paid Jun 20) Maintained
Exzeo separation2025NoneBoard pursuing tax-free spin-off to HCI holders by year-end, subject to conditions New
4.75% Convertible NotesQ2 2025OutstandingExpect full conversion in June; reduces debt by ~ $172M; settling in shares Action/De-lever
Balance sheet trajectoryEnd Q2 2025NoneEquity near ~$0.75B, BVPS near ~$60, debt-to-cap well below 10% New
Reinsurance renewal (June 1)2025None“Plenty of capacity,” normal/balanced negotiations; “boring year” characterization Stable
Pricing/rates (Florida homeowners)2025“Keep rates flat for foreseeable future” (Q4) No imminent rate changes; filings will be mechanical; potential minor adjustments Maintained tone

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q3 2024, Q4 2024)Current Period (Q1 2025)Trend
Exzeo strategy and separationTech platform highlighted; intent to make tech available beyond HCI (Q4) Board pursuing tax-free spin; Exzeo stand-alone profitability ($52M rev, $24M pretax) Acceleration toward separation
Underwriting/loss ratioQ3 loss ratio 39.8% with cat impacts ; Q4 cat impacts from Milton; loss ratio 37.2% Gross loss ratio 19.7%; combined ratio ~56%; normalized combined ~70% (weather-normalized) Significant improvement
Reinsurance marketNoted higher ceded premiums with growth June 1 outlook stable with ample capacity; “boring” year Stable/benign
Rates/pricingPlan to keep rates flat (Q4) No imminent rate changes; filings may yield minor adjustments Flat to slight adjustments
Citizens policy assumptionsGrowth driver in Q3/Q4 Continued benefit; Tailrow launched, assumed ~14k policies Continued growth lever
Balance sheet de-leveragingEnd-2024 LT debt $185M Convert to reduce debt by ~$172M; equity/BVPS targets for Q2 De-levering, equity build

Management Commentary

  • “HCI continues to demonstrate its ability to grow top line revenue while enhancing bottom line profitability... we improved the net combined ratio to 56%... pretax income just over $100 million and earnings of $5.35 per share.” – COO Karin Coleman .
  • “The gross loss ratio this quarter was less than 20%... claim frequency... down more than 40% from the first quarter of last year... Even if we normalize... adjusted combined ratio is still around 70%.” – CFO Mark Harmsworth .
  • “Exzeo is... a technology company focused on... reduce both their loss ratio and expense ratio... manages approximately $1.2 billion in premiums on its platform.” – Exzeo President Kevin Mitchell .
  • “We believe a spin-off of Exzeo into a separate public company is the best path forward... targeted for completion by the end of this year.” – CEO Paresh Patel .

Q&A Highlights

  • Exzeo market opportunity and spin rationale: Exzeo sees a “massive opportunity” beyond HCI; spin removes conflicts when selling to competing carriers; variable, per-policy transaction model facilitates scalability .
  • Loss ratio normalization: CFO suggested normalized loss ratio 24–25% (vs. <20% reported) implying ~70% combined ratio excluding temporary benefits and weather lulls .
  • Reinsurance: Management characterized June 1 renewals as routine with ample capacity; negotiations primarily around capacity, price, terms .
  • Rates: No imminent rate changes; filings reflect data through end-2024; any adjustments would be minor and mechanical .
  • Condo/commercial residential: More competitive landscape; HCI maintaining pricing discipline; caution on interpreting written premium due to assumption accounting .
  • Reserves: No favorable or adverse prior-period development; net reserves up slightly as usual .

Estimates Context

  • Q1 2025 actuals vs S&P Global consensus: EPS $5.35 vs $4.56* (beat by ~$0.80); revenue $216.43M vs $214.89M* (beat by ~$1.54M). EPS had 4 estimates; revenue had 4 estimates*.

    Values marked with an asterisk (*) are retrieved from S&P Global.
  • Sequentially, Q2 2025 also exceeded consensus on both revenue and EPS (actual EPS $5.18 vs $4.50*; revenue $221.92M vs $218.98M*), reinforcing estimate revision momentum into mid-2025*.
    Values marked with an asterisk (*) are retrieved from S&P Global.
  • Implications: Models likely need to reflect lower normalized loss ratio and a structurally lower combined ratio trajectory (management’s ~70% normalized benchmark), while acknowledging reinsurance and expense growth with scale .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Underwriting profitability inflecting: loss ratio down to 19.7% and combined ~56% in Q1; even normalized, management sees ~70% combined ratio, supporting above-consensus EPS power .
  • Exzeo spin-off could unlock value: stand-alone profitability ($52M rev, $24M pretax in Q1) plus removal of channel conflict may expand TAM and enhance valuation transparency .
  • Balance sheet de-risking: Convert settlement in shares expected to reduce debt by ~$172M; management targets ~sub-10% debt-to-cap and ~ $60 BVPS by end Q2 2025 .
  • Growth remains policy-led: Citizens depopulation and Tailrow’s launch are sustaining top-line growth, though reinsurance and acquisition costs scale with it .
  • Reinsurance backdrop supportive: ample capacity and “boring” mid-year placement reduce tail risk vs. recent cycles .
  • Watch condo/commercial competition and expense trend: maintaining pricing discipline and monitoring G&A growth (bonuses, stock comp, benefits) will be key to sustaining margin gains .
  • Near-term catalysts: clearer spin timeline/milestones (Form 10, IRS tax-free ruling), June 1 reinsurance outcome, and delivery on Q2 equity/BVPS/debt targets .

Footnote: Values marked with an asterisk (*) are retrieved from S&P Global.