TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 1, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Homeowners Choice, Inc. (Nasdaq:HCII), a leading provider of homeowners' insurance, reported results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012.

Second Quarter 2012 - Financial Results

Income available to common stockholders in the second quarter of 2012 totaled $7.2 million or $0.74 diluted earnings per common share, an improvement from $1.9 million or $0.30 diluted earnings per common share in the second quarter of 2011.

Gross premiums earned in the second quarter of 2012 increased 72% to $53.8 million from $31.2 million in the same period in 2011. The increase was primarily due to policies acquired from HomeWise Insurance Company ("HomeWise") in November 2011.

Net premiums earned (defined as gross premiums earned less premiums ceded to reinsurance companies) in the second quarter of 2012 increased 113% to $36.3 million from $17.0 million in the same period in 2011. Reinsurance costs in the second quarter of 2012 were 33% of the company's gross premiums earned, compared with 45% during the same period in 2011. The decrease in 2012 is primarily due to lower costs during the first two months of the quarter related to policies assumed from HomeWise in November 2011, which were subject to minimal reinsurance premiums.

Net investment income in the second quarter of 2012 was $302,000 compared with $507,000 in the same period in 2011. Losses and loss adjustment expenses during the second quarter of 2012 were $16.2 million compared with $10.5 million in the same period in 2011. Losses and loss adjustment expenses in the second quarter of 2012 included approximately $2.0 million related to claims from Tropical Storm Debby, which occurred in late June 2012. Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses in the second quarter of 2012 were $5.9 million compared with $2.8 million in the comparable period in 2011. Other operating expenses, which include a variety of general and administrative costs, totaled $4.7 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared with $2.4 million in the second quarter of 2011.

Second Quarter 2012 - Financial Ratios

The company's loss ratio applicable to the second quarter of 2012 (defined as loss and loss adjustment expenses related to net premiums earned) was 44.7% compared with 61.7% in the second quarter of 2011. The year-over-year decrease in the loss ratio is attributable to the substantial increase in gross premiums earned in the second quarter of 2012. The expense ratio applicable to the second quarter of 2012 (defined as policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses related to net premiums earned plus compensation, employee benefits and other operating expenses) was 29.4% compared with 30.1% in the same period in 2011.

Expressed as a percentage of gross premiums, the combined loss and expense ratio to gross premiums earned was 49.9% in the second quarter of 2012 compared with 50.2% in the same period in 2011.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 - Financial Results

Income available to common stockholders for the six months ended June 30, 2012 totaled $14.0 million or $1.60 diluted earnings per common share, compared with $2.7 million or $0.43 diluted earnings per common share for the six months ended June 30, 2011.

Gross premiums earned for the six months ended June 30, 2012 increased 75% to $108.5 million from $62.1 million in the same period in 2011. Net premiums earned for the six months ended June 30, 2012 increased 127% to $76.6 million from $33.7 million in the same period in 2011. Reinsurance costs for the six months ended June 30, 2012 were 29% of the company's gross premiums earned, compared with 46% during the same period in 2011. The percentage decrease in 2012 is primarily due to lower costs during the first five months of 2012 related to policies assumed from HomeWise, which were subject to minimal reinsurance premiums.

Net investment income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was $824,000 and $1.1 million, respectively. Losses and loss adjustment expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 were $35.4 million and $20.9 million, respectively. Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2012 were $12.5 million compared with $7.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. Other operating expenses totaled $9.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared with $4.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 - Financial Ratios

The company's loss ratio applicable to the six months ended June 30, 2012 was 46.1% compared with 62.1% in the six months ended June 30, 2011. The expense ratio applicable to the six months ended June 30, 2012 was 20.128.4% compared with 18.634.2% in the same period in 2011. Expressed as a percentage of gross premiums, the combined loss and expense ratio to gross premiums earned was 52.7% compared with 52.3% in the same period in 2011.

Management Commentary

"Performance in the second quarter of 2012 went as planned and we remain focused on executing on our long-term goals," said Paresh Patel, Homeowners Choice chairman and chief executive officer.

Conference Call

Homeowners Choice will hold a conference call later today (Aug. 1, 2012) to discuss these financial results. The company's chairman and chief executive officer, Paresh Patel, and chief financial officer, Richard Allen, will host the call starting at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. A question and answer session will follow management's presentation.

The conference call will be broadcast live on the following website at http://www.ir-site.com/hcpci/events.asp and will be available for replay until Nov. 2, 2012.

Those who wish to participate on the conference call should contact Jay Madhu, Homeowners Choice vice president of investor relations, at 1-813-405-3660 or jmadhu@hcpci.com.

For those who wish to listen to the call via telephone, please dial the listen-only telephone number below at least 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time:

Toll-Free Number: 1-877-407-9210

International Number: 1-201-689-8049

About Homeowners Choice, Inc.

Homeowners Choice, Inc. is a Florida-based insurance holding company headquartered in Tampa. Through its subsidiary corporations, Homeowners Choice provides property and casualty homeowners' insurance, condominium owners' insurance and tenants' insurance. Founded in 2006, Homeowners Choice serves approximately 110,000 policyholders throughout Florida representing approximately $220 million in annualized premiums. The company's common shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol HCII and are included in the Russell 2000 Index. Its warrants trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker symbol HCIIW. Its Series A, cumulative redeemable preferred shares trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker symbol HCIIP. More information about Homeowners Choice, Inc. is available at www.hcpci.com.

The Homeowners Choice, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6712

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan" and "project" and other similar words and expressions are intended to signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions but rather are subject to various risks and uncertainties. For example, there can be no assurance the company will successfully execute on its long-term goals. Some of these risks and uncertainties are identified in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should any risks or uncertainties develop into actual events, these developments could have material adverse effects on the company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Homeowners Choice, Inc. disclaims all obligations to update any forward-looking statements.

HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except share amounts)
At June 30, 2012At December 31, 2011
(Unaudited)
Assets
Investments:
Fixed-maturity securities, available-for-sale, at
fair value (amortized cost $38,363 and $34,147) $ 40,141 $ 34,642
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value 8,669 5,207
Time deposits 7,184 12,427
Other investments 15,636 6,483
Total investments 71,630 58,759
Cash and cash equivalents 131,088 100,355
Accrued interest and dividends receivable 546 408
Premiums receivable 20,738 12,222
Assumed reinsurance balances receivable 1,687
Prepaid reinsurance premiums 26,484 14,169
Deferred policy acquisition costs 12,476 12,321
Property and equipment, net 10,586 10,499
Goodwill 161 161
Income taxes receivable 4,900
Deferred income taxes 2,368
Other assets 2,220 1,869
Total assets $ 280,829 $ 214,818
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Losses and loss adjustment expenses 37,313 27,424
Unearned premiums 120,429 108,677
Advance premiums 9,004 2,132
Assumed reinsurance balances payable 1,389
Accrued expenses 4,439 3,478
Deferred income taxes 1,877
Dividends payable 104 218
Income taxes payable 4,956
Other liabilities 8,273 4,103
Total liabilities 182,828 150,988
Stockholders' equity:
7% Series A cumulative convertible preferred stock (liquidation
preference $10.00 per share), no par value, 1,500,000 shares
authorized, 592,324 and 1,247,700 shares issued and
outstanding in 2012 and 2011, respectively
Preferred stock (no par value, 18,500,000 shares authorized,
no shares issued or outstanding)
Common stock, (no par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized,
9,205,097 and 6,202,485 shares issued and
outstanding in 2012 and 2011, respectively)
Additional paid-in capital 51,742 29,636
Retained earnings 45,179 33,986
Accumulated other comprehensive income 1,080 208
Total stockholders' equity 98,001 63,830
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 280,829 $ 214,818
HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
Three Months EndedSix Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2012201120122011
Revenue
Gross premiums earned $ 53,772 31,218 $ 108,470 62,114
Premiums ceded (17,497) (14,174) (31,826) (28,396)
Net premiums earned 36,275 17,044 76,644 33,718
Net investment income 302 507 824 1,071
Policy fee income 1,028 667 1,543 854
Realized investment gains 9 140 30 293
Gain on bargain purchase 179 936 179 936
Other 1,062 187 1,287 658
Total revenue 38,855 19,481 80,507 37,530
Expenses
Losses and loss adjustment expenses 16,197 10,523 35,365 20,926
Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses 5,915 2,780 12,500 7,043
Other operating expenses 4,734 2,357 9,252 4,484
Total expenses 26,846 15,660 57,117 32,453
Income before income taxes 12,009 3,821 23,390 5,077
Income taxes 4,747 1,520 9,160 1,983
Net income $ 7,262 2,301 $ 14,230 3,094
Preferred stock dividends (63) (361) (244) (378)
Income available to common stockholders $ 7,199 1,940 $ 13,986 2,716
Basic earnings per common share $ 0.85 $ 0.32 $ 1.89 $ 0.44
Diluted earnings per common share $ 0.74 $ 0.30 $ 1.60 $ 0.43
Dividends per common share $ 0.20 $ 0.10 $ 0.35 $ 0.20
CONTACT: Media Contact:
         Suzie Boland
         RFB Communications Group
         813.259.0345
         sboland@rfbcommunications.com
         
         Investor Relations Contact:
         Jay Madhu
         Homeowners Choice, Inc.
         813.405.3660
         jmadhu@hcpci.com