Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. Fourth Quarter and Year 2004 Earnings Results
FORT WORTH, Texas, March 30 -- Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. (AMEX:HAF.EC) today reported operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2004. Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2004 was $1.4 million as compared to a net loss of $0.4 million for the same period in 2003. Income before extraordinary gain for the year ended December 31, 2004 increased 785% to $5.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, as compared to Income before extraordinary gain of $0.7 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the same period in 2003.
Total net income for the year ended December 31, 2004 was $5.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, as compared to $8.7 million, or $0.46 per diluted share for the same period in 2003. Fiscal 2003 included an extraordinary gain of $8.1 million related to the acquisition of Phoenix Indemnity Insurance Company. Hallmark's weighted average shares outstanding also increased to 36.7 million diluted shares during fiscal 2004, compared to 18.8 million diluted shares during fiscal 2003, primarily as a result of a successful shareholder rights offering completed in the third quarter of fiscal 2003.
"With these fourth quarter results, we concluded the year with the highest operating earnings in the Company's history. The fourth quarter reflects solid financial results and is indicative of the quality of our core books of business. The Company's record 2004 operating earnings were driven by continued strength across both of our reporting segments," stated Mark E. Schwarz, Chief Executive Officer. "These results continue to reflect sustained favorable market conditions and ongoing initiatives directed at improving profitability through disciplined underwriting and policy pricing, improved agency relations and expense management. As we go forward, we intend to continue to focus on these initiatives, while selectively expanding the business in areas that offer the best opportunities to increase profitability," Mr. Schwarz continued.
"Our strong financial results in 2004 reflect improved underwriting performance in both of our business segments," stated Mark J. Morrison, Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer. "In our personal lines segment, the actions commenced in 2003 to restructure the existing book of business have resulted in significantly improved underwriting results and increased statutory surplus. The loss and loss adjustment expense ratio for this segment for the year ended December 31, 2004, was 59% compared to 72% for 2003, resulting in an increase in income before tax and extraordinary gain of more than 315% year over year. These results have allowed us to decrease our use of outside reinsurance and to leverage our increasing statutory surplus base, thus providing additional margin on business produced going forward. In the commercial segment, revenue for the year ended December 31, 2004, increased by more than 18% over 2003. This improvement is a result of increased premium production arising largely from premium rate increases on renewal business, increased commission rates because of improved underwriting performance on policies produced, and enhanced compensation provisions agreed to with our outside insurance carrier effective on July 1, 2004. Despite flattening rate increases in 2005, we anticipate that these favorable trends will continue at moderating levels," Mr. Morrison concluded.
Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. engages primarily in the sale of property and casualty insurance products. The Company's business involves marketing and underwriting of non-standard personal automobile insurance primarily in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, marketing commercial insurance primarily in Texas, New Mexico, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, third party claims administration, and other insurance related services. The Company is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and its common stock is listed on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol "HAF.EC".
HALLMARK FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except earnings per share) Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31 December 31 2004 2003 2004 2003 Gross premiums written $10,215 $6,934 $33,389 $43,338 Ceded premiums written (347) 165 (322) (6,769) Net premiums written 9,868 7,099 33,067 36,569 Change in net unearned premiums (1,095) 1,551 (622) 5,406 Net premiums earned 8,773 8,650 32,445 41,975 Investment income, net of expenses 392 376 1,386 1,198 Realized gain (loss) 30 225 (27) (88) Finance charges 539 608 2,183 3,544 Commission and fees 4,865 5,138 21,100 17,544 Processing and service fees 1,443 1,391 6,003 4,900 Other income 10 40 31 486 Total revenues 16,052 16,428 63,121 69,559 Losses and loss adjustment expenses 5,037 7,592 19,137 30,188 Other operating costs and expenses 8,944 9,662 35,290 37,386 Interest expense 3 37 64 1,271 Amortization of intangible asset 7 7 28 28 Total expenses 13,991 17,298 54,519 68,873 Income before income tax expense (benefit) and extraordinary gain 2,061 (870) 8,602 686 Income tax expense (benefit) 660 (473) 2,753 25 Income (loss) before extraordinary gain (loss) $1,401 $(397) $5,849 $661 Extraordinary gain (loss) --- (32) --- 8,084 Net income (loss) $1,401 $(429) $5,849 $8,745 Basic earnings per share: Income (loss) before extraordinary gain $0.04 $(0.01) $0.16 $0.03 Extraordinary gain --- --- --- 0.44 Net income (loss) $0.04 $(0.01) $0.16 $0.47 Diluted earnings per share: Income (loss) before extraordinary gain $0.04 $(0.01) $0.16 $0.03 Extraordinary gain --- --- --- 0.43 Net income (loss) $0.04 $(0.01) $0.16 $0.46