Primerica Reports Second Quarter 2020 Results

Primerica, Inc. (NYSE: PRI) today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2020. Total revenues of $525.8 million increased 4% compared to the second quarter of 2019. Net income of $101.5 million increased 4%, while earnings per diluted share of $2.51 increased 10% compared to the same quarter last year. ROE remained robust at 25.6%.

Compared to the second quarter of 2019, adjusted operating revenues of $521.8 million increased 4%, adjusted operating net income of $98.5 million increased 4% and diluted adjusted operating earnings per share of $2.44 increased 10%. ROAE increased to 25.6% during the quarter from 25.1% during the second quarter of 2019.

Second quarter results were positively impacted by strong public sentiment toward owning life insurance, which increased demand for new term life insurance policies and drove higher retention of existing policies. Term Life financial results were strong despite elevated COVID-19 claims. Investment and Savings Product (ISP) average client assets values recovered during the quarter, however market uncertainty negatively impacted ISP sales. The Company continued to invest in projects that enhance business opportunities such as digital technologies and the rollout of the mortgage distribution program. Savings from COVID-19 related business travel restrictions and event cancellations generally offset these costs with operating expenses remaining flat year-over-year. During the quarter, the Company repurchased $86.5 million of common stock and is on track to achieve its $250 million repurchase target for the year.

“Our second quarter performance reflects the complementary nature of our two product lines. Term Life sales grew, aided by clients’ increased priority on preserving the financial security of their families, as momentum slowed in ISP sales due to uncertainty in the markets,” said Glenn Williams, Chief Executive Officer. “Our sales force’s resilience and our ability to adapt to the challenges posed by the crisis positioned us well to quickly respond to clients’ needs.”

Second Quarter Distribution & Segment Results

Distribution Results

Q2 2020

Q2 2019

% Change

Life-Licensed Sales Force (1)

134,157

129,550

4

%

Recruits

133,123

86,173

54

%

New Life-Licensed Representatives

12,250

10,919

12

%

Life Insurance Policies Issued

94,044

78,664

20

%

Life Productivity (2)

0.24

0.20

*

ISP Product Sales ($ billions)

$

1.69

$

1.94

(13

)%

Average Client Asset Values ($ billions)

$

64.64

$

64.43

*

_____________

(1)

End of period

(2)

Life productivity equals policies issued divided by the average number of life insurance licensed representatives per month

*

Not calculated or less than 1%

Segment Results

Q2 2020

Q2 2019

% Change

($ in thousands)

Adjusted Operating Revenues:

Term Life Insurance

$

328,233

$

296,868

11

%

Investment and Savings Products

164,181

173,086

(5

)%

Corporate and Other Distributed Products (1)

29,400

31,434

(6

)%

Total adjusted operating revenues (1)

$

521,814

$

501,388

4

%

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) before

income taxes:

Term Life Insurance

$

94,904

$

83,997

13

%

Investment and Savings Products

46,860

47,343

(1

)%

Corporate and Other Distributed Products (1)

(11,703

)

(7,394

)

58

%

Total adjusted operating income before income taxes (1)

$

130,061

$

123,946

5

%

_____________

(1)

See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section and the Adjusted Operating Results reconciliation tables at the end of this release for additional information.

Life Insurance Licensed Sales Force

Recruiting and field training incentives introduced at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic were extended through the second quarter, which led to a total of 133,123 new recruits during the period. New life-licensed representatives increased 12% year-over-year to 12,250 and included a number of individuals with temporary licenses. These temporary licenses were concentrated in several states that started issuing such licenses in response to testing disruptions from COVID-19. At quarter end, a total of 3,400 representatives with temporary licenses were included in the size of the sales force. Many states have also extended licensing renewal dates due to COVID-19. There were about 4,400 of these extended licenses included in the 134,157 independent life-licensed representatives at quarter-end. The number of COVID-19 temporary licenses that become permanent and the number of extended licenses that renew will emerge over the next few quarters.

Term Life Insurance

Life insurance policies issued during the second quarter increased 20% year-over-year, reflecting the heightened awareness of the value of protection products that has emerged with the COVID-19 pandemic. The sales force quickly adapted to using virtual communication tools which, combined with our extensive point-of-sale technologies and existing products, allowed our life-licensed representatives to readily meet clients’ needs. Productivity for the quarter was 0.24 policies per life insurance licensed representative, up from 0.20 policies per life insurance licensed representative in the prior year’s second quarter.

Revenues of $328.2 million increased 11% compared to the second quarter of 2019 and pre-tax income of $94.9 million increased 13% year-over-year. Strong sales and persistency drove an 11% increase in adjusted direct premiums. Extremely favorable persistency during the quarter led to a decline in DAC amortization year-over-year, partially offset by higher benefit reserve increases. Benefits and claims also included approximately $10 million in COVID-19 related claims in the quarter.

Investment and Savings Products

Market volatility and economic uncertainty impacted clients’ willingness to make investment decisions during the quarter. As we expected, total product sales declined 13% year-over-year to $1.7 billion, while net client inflows were a robust $613 million, twice the level recorded in the prior year period due to a significant reduction in client redemptions. Average client asset values at $64.6 billion were flat year-over-year and down 3% compared to the first quarter of 2020. Markets recovered as the quarter progressed and quarter-ending client asset values were $68.2 billion, up 4% year-over-year.

Revenues of $164.2 million during the quarter declined 5% compared to the same quarter in 2019 and pre-tax income of $46.9 million decreased 1%. Sales-based revenues declined 12% in line with the decrease in revenue-generating product sales and asset-based revenues declined 1% due to average client asset values remaining flat year-over-year. Sales and asset-based commission expenses declined in correlation with associated revenues. Canadian segregated fund DAC amortization was favorable $2 million during the quarter due to market recoveries, which effectively reversed the accelerated amortization recognized in the first quarter of 2020.

Net Investment Income

Consolidated net investment income during the quarter decreased approximately $2.2 million versus the prior year period due to lower investment yields, partially offset by an increase in the size of the invested asset portfolio. On a segment basis, net investment income allocated to the Term Life segment continues to increase as the block of business grows, which reduces net investment income recognized in the Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment. The invested asset portfolio had a fair market value of $2.4 billion at the end of the second quarter, reflecting a net unrealized gain of $120 million.

Taxes

The second quarter effective income tax rate was 24.3% versus 23.5% in the prior year period, in part due to a lower tax benefit being recognized on vested equity awards.

Capital

During the second quarter, the Company repurchased 848,450 shares of common stock for $86.5 million, bringing the total through June 30 to $176.6 million. The Company expects to repurchase $250 million of its common stock during 2020. The Board of Directors has approved a dividend of $0.40 per share, payable on September 14, 2020, to stockholders of record on August 21, 2020.

Primerica has a strong balance sheet and continues to be well-capitalized to meet future needs. Primerica Life Insurance Company’s statutory risk-based capital (RBC) ratio was estimated to be about 400% and holding company liquidity was $256 million as of June 30, 2020. The RBC ratio declined during the quarter due to the growth in the business and higher commissions and acquisition expenses related to that growth.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Company presents certain non-GAAP financial measures. Specifically, the Company presents adjusted direct premiums, other ceded premiums, adjusted operating revenues, adjusted operating income before income taxes, adjusted net operating income, adjusted stockholders’ equity and diluted adjusted operating earnings per share. Adjusted direct premiums and other ceded premiums are net of amounts ceded under coinsurance transactions that were executed concurrent with our initial public offering (the “IPO coinsurance transactions”) for all periods presented. We exclude amounts ceded under the IPO coinsurance transactions in measuring adjusted direct premiums and other ceded premiums to present meaningful comparisons of the actual premiums economically maintained by the Company. Amounts ceded under the IPO coinsurance transactions will continue to decline over time as policies terminate within this block of business. Adjusted operating revenues, adjusted operating income before income taxes, adjusted net operating income and diluted adjusted operating earnings per share exclude the impact of realized investment gains (losses) and fair value mark-to-market (“MTM”) investment adjustments, including credit impairments, for all periods presented. We exclude realized investment gains (losses), including credit impairments, and MTM investment adjustments in measuring these non-GAAP financial measures to eliminate period-over-period fluctuations that may obscure comparisons of operating results due to items such as the timing of recognizing gains (losses) and market pricing variations prior to an invested asset’s maturity or sale that are not directly associated with the Company’s insurance operations. Adjusted stockholders’ equity excludes the impact of net unrealized investment gains (losses) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for all periods presented. We exclude unrealized investment gains (losses) in measuring adjusted stockholders’ equity as unrealized gains (losses) from the Company’s available-for-sale securities are largely caused by market movements in interest rates and credit spreads that do not necessarily correlate with the cash flows we will ultimately realize when an available-for-sale security matures or is sold.

Our definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the definitions of similar measures used by other companies. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions and in evaluating the Company’s performance. Furthermore, management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures may provide users with additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results of prior periods as they are expected to be reflective of the core ongoing business. These measures have limitations, and investors should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company’s results as reported under GAAP. Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures are attached to this release.

Earnings Webcast Information

Primerica will hold a webcast on Thursday, August 6, 2020 at 10:00 am EST, to discuss the quarter’s results. To access the webcast, go to http://investors.primerica.com at least 15 minutes prior to the event to register, download and install any necessary software. A replay of the call will be available for approximately 30 days on Primerica’s website, http://investors.primerica.com. This release and a detailed financial supplement will be posted on Primerica’s website.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information contained in this press release, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contain known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from anticipated or projected results. Those risks and uncertainties include, among others, major public health pandemics, epidemics or outbreaks, specifically the novel COVID-19 pandemic; our failure to continue to attract and license new recruits, retain sales representatives or license or maintain the licensing of sales representatives; new laws or regulations that could apply to our distribution model, which could require us to modify our distribution structure; changes to the independent contractor status of sales representatives; our or sales representatives’ violation of or non-compliance with laws and regulations; any failure to protect the confidentiality of client information; differences between our actual experience and our expectations regarding mortality or persistency as reflected in the pricing for our insurance policies; the occurrence of a catastrophic event; changes in federal, state and provincial legislation or regulation that affects our insurance, investment product, and mortgage businesses; our failure to meet regulatory capital ratios or other minimum capital and surplus requirements; a downgrade or potential downgrade in our insurance subsidiaries’ financial strength ratings or our senior debt ratings; inadequate or unaffordable reinsurance or the failure of our reinsurers to perform their obligations; the failure of our investment products to remain competitive with other investment options or the change to investment and savings products offered by key providers in a way that is not beneficial to our business or a significant change in the competitive environment in which we operate; fluctuations in the performance of client assets under management; litigation and regulatory investigations and actions concerning us or sales representatives; heightened standards of conduct or more stringent licensing requirements for sales representatives; inadequate policies and procedures regarding suitability review of client transactions; the failure of, or legal challenges to, the support tools we provide to the sales force; the failure of our information technology systems, breach of our information security, failure of our business continuity plan or the loss of the Internet; the effects of credit deterioration and interest rate fluctuations on our invested asset portfolio; incorrectly valuing our investments; changes in accounting standards may impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations; economic down cycles that impact our business, financial condition and results of operations; the inability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions; our inability to generate and maintain a sufficient amount of working capital; our non-compliance with the covenants of our senior unsecured debt; the loss of key personnel or sales force leaders; and fluctuations in the market price of our common stock or Canadian currency exchange rates. These and other risks and uncertainties affecting us are more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available in the "Investor Relations" section of our website at http://investors.primerica.com. Primerica assumes no duty to update its forward-looking statements as of any future date.

About Primerica, Inc.

Primerica, Inc., headquartered in Duluth, GA, is a leading provider of financial services to middle-income households in North America. Independent licensed representatives educate Primerica clients about how to better prepare for a more secure financial future by assessing their needs and providing appropriate solutions through term life insurance, which we underwrite, and mutual funds, annuities and other financial products, which we distribute primarily on behalf of third parties. We insured over 5 million lives and had approximately 2.5 million client investment accounts at December 31, 2019. Primerica, through its insurance company subsidiaries, was the #2 issuer of Term Life insurance coverage in North America in 2019. Primerica stock is included in the S&P MidCap 400 and the Russell 1000 stock indices and is traded on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PRI”.

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

June 30, 2020

December 31, 2019

(In thousands)

Assets

Investments:

Fixed-maturity securities available-for-sale, at fair value

$

2,357,154

$

2,356,996

Fixed-maturity security held-to-maturity, at amortized cost

1,278,580

1,184,370

Equity securities, at fair value

33,689

40,684

Trading securities, at fair value

22,399

43,233

Policy loans

31,471

32,927

Total investments

3,723,293

3,658,210

Cash and cash equivalents

360,351

256,876

Accrued investment income

16,940

17,361

Reinsurance recoverables

4,217,129

4,169,823

Deferred policy acquisition costs, net

2,434,462

2,325,750

Agent balances, due premiums and other receivables

270,421

227,100

Intangible assets, net

45,275

45,275

Income taxes

69,408

70,492

Operating lease right-of-use assets

48,487

47,265

Other assets

401,129

384,634

Separate account assets

2,377,654

2,485,745

Total assets

$

13,964,549

$

13,688,531

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Liabilities:

Future policy benefits

$

6,567,169

$

6,446,569

Unearned and advance premiums

18,619

15,470

Policy claims and other benefits payable

412,446

339,954

Other policyholders' funds

424,018

388,663

Notes payable

374,226

374,037

Surplus note

1,277,970

1,183,728

Income taxes

265,369

209,221

Operating lease liabilities

54,680

53,487

Other liabilities

519,745

510,443

Payable under securities lending

29,973

28,723

Separate account liabilities

2,377,654

2,485,745

Total liabilities

12,321,869

12,036,040

Stockholders' equity:

Common stock

397

412

Paid-in capital

-

-

Retained earnings

1,569,689

1,593,281

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax

72,594

58,798

Total stockholders' equity

1,642,680

1,652,491

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

13,964,549

$

13,688,531

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)

Three months ended June 30,

2020

2019

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)

Revenues:

Direct premiums

$

717,088

$

687,262

Ceded premiums

(402,549

)

(400,588

)

Net premiums

314,539

286,674

Commissions and fees

171,788

178,468

Net investment income

22,710

24,868

Realized investment gains (losses)

1,742

1,067

Other, net

15,036

13,825

Total revenues

525,815

504,902

Benefits and expenses:

Benefits and claims

139,646

115,068

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

53,177

58,762

Sales commissions

85,492

90,099

Insurance expenses

43,753

44,570

Insurance commissions

6,333

5,829

Interest expense

7,200

7,201

Other operating expenses

56,152

55,913

Total benefits and expenses

391,753

377,442

Income before income taxes

134,062

127,460

Income taxes

32,552

30,014

Net income

$

101,510

$

97,446

Earnings per share:

Basic earnings per share

$

2.52

$

2.28

Diluted earnings per share

$

2.51

$

2.28

Weighted-average shares used in computing earnings per share:

Basic

40,132

42,483

Diluted

40,246

42,619

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Adjusted Operating Results Reconciliation

(Unaudited – in thousands, except per share amounts)

Three months ended June 30,

2020

2019

% Change

Total revenues

$

525,815

$

504,902

4

%

Less: Realized investment gains

1,742

1,067

Less: 10% deposit asset MTM included in NII

2,259

2,447

Adjusted operating revenues

$

521,814

$

501,388

4

%

Income before income taxes

$

134,062

$

127,460

5

%

Less: Realized investment gains

1,742

1,067

Less: 10% deposit asset MTM included in NII

2,259

2,447

Adjusted operating income before income taxes

$

130,061

$

123,946

5

%

Net income

$

101,510

$

97,446

4

%

Less: Realized investment gains

1,742

1,067

Less: 10% deposit asset MTM included in NII

2,259

2,447

Less: Tax impact of preceding items

(972

)

(828

)

Adjusted net operating income

$

98,481

$

94,760

4

%

Diluted earnings per share (1)

$

2.51

$

2.28

10

%

Less: Net after-tax impact of operating adjustments

0.07

0.07

Diluted adjusted operating earnings per share (1)

$

2.44

$

2.21

10

%

_____________

(1)

Percentage change in earnings per share is calculated prior to rounding per share amounts.

TERM LIFE INSURANCE SEGMENT

Adjusted Premiums Reconciliation

(Unaudited – in thousands)

Three months ended June 30,

2020

2019

% Change

Direct premiums

$

711,188

$

681,004

4

%

Less: Premiums ceded to IPO coinsurers

257,529

272,596

Adjusted direct premiums

$

453,659

$

408,408

11

%

Ceded premiums

$

(400,919

)

$

(398,927

)

Less: Premiums ceded to IPO coinsurers

(257,529

)

(272,596

)

Other ceded premiums

$

(143,390

)

$

(126,331

)

Net premiums

$

310,269

$

282,077

10

%

CORPORATE AND OTHER DISTRIBUTED PRODUCTS SEGMENT

Adjusted Operating Results Reconciliation

(Unaudited – in thousands)

Three months ended June 30,

2020

2019

% Change

Total revenues

$

33,401

$

34,948

(4

)%

Less: Realized investment gains

1,742

1,067

Less: 10% deposit asset MTM included in NII

2,259

2,447

Adjusted operating revenues

$

29,400

$

31,434

(6

)%

Loss before income taxes

$

(7,702

)

$

(3,880

)

99

%

Less: Realized investment gains

1,742

1,067

Less: 10% deposit asset MTM included in NII

2,259

2,447

Adjusted operating loss before income taxes

$

(11,703

)

$

(7,394

)

58

%

PRIMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Adjusted Stockholders' Equity Reconciliation

(Unaudited – in thousands)

June 30, 2020

December 31, 2019

% Change

Stockholders' equity

$

1,642,680

$

1,652,491

(1

)%

Less: Unrealized net investment gains (losses) recorded in stockholders' equity, net of income tax

93,726

64,563

Adjusted stockholders' equity

$

1,548,954

$

1,587,928

(2

)%

Contacts:

Investor Contact:
Nicole Russell
470-564-6663
Email: investorrelations@primerica.com

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