NYSE$MCY
Mercury General Corporation · Q1 2024 earnings
Q1 2024 earnings · · Investor relations
Briefing
Mercury General reported a profitable first quarter with a significant increase in net income and operating income compared to the previous year. The company benefited from increased net premiums earned and net investment income, while managing catastrophe losses and improving its combined ratio.
Mercury General Corporation reported a strong first quarter with a net income of $73.46 million, a significant turnaround from the $45.29 million loss in the same period last year. Operating income also improved substantially to $43.29 million from a loss of $84.00 million. The combined ratio improved to 100.9% from 115.8% year-over-year, driven by higher net premiums earned and lower catastrophe losses.
- Net income was $73.46 million, a significant improvement from the $45.29 million loss in Q1 2023.
- Operating income increased to $43.29 million, compared to a loss of $84.00 million in the prior year.
- The combined ratio improved to 100.9%, driven by higher net premiums earned and lower catastrophe losses.
- Rate increases approved in California for both private passenger automobile and homeowners insurance lines are expected to positively impact future results.
Headline financials
Revenue & EPS history
Mercury General · Revenue · Quarterly
$1.27B
Revenue by segment
Mercury General · $1.16B total across 3 segments · Q3 2023
- Net premiums earned$1.09B+9.4%94.4%
- Net investment income$61M+57.7%5.3%
- Other$3.92M+30.7%0.3%
Forward guidance
Mercury General is implementing rate and non-rate actions to improve underwriting results. Rate increases approved by the California Department of Insurance are expected to positively impact future results.
Tailwinds
- Rate increases of 22.5% and 3.8% on the private passenger automobile line of insurance business for Mercury Insurance Company (MIC) and California Automobile Insurance Company (CAIC), respectively, were approved and became effective in February 2024.
- A 6.99% rate increase on the California homeowners line of insurance business was approved in March 2024 and is expected to become effective in May 2024.
- Higher net investment income due to higher average yield combined with higher average invested assets and cash.
- The company is focused on improving underwriting results through rate and non-rate actions.
- Favorable development of approximately $6 million on prior accident years’ loss and loss adjustment expense reserves.
Headwinds
- Rate increases take time to earn in.
- The majority of 2024 catastrophe losses resulted from winter storms and rainstorms in California and convective storms in Texas and Oklahoma.
- Unfavorable development on prior years’ catastrophe losses partially offset favorable development on loss adjustment expenses.
- The presence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing and marketing efforts.
- General economic conditions, including inflation and market risks associated with the company’s investment portfolio, could impact future performance.
Historical earnings impact
How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.
Avg. return before/after earnings
Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q1 2024
-0.1%
Avg return
Earnings day
+1.6%
Avg return
5 days after
+2.0%
Avg return
30 days after
46%
31 / 68 earnings
Positive
+23.8%
Q3 2023
Best reaction
-14.2%
Q2 2022
Worst reaction
| Quarter | Report date | Reaction (Day 0) | +5 days | +30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | -2.1% | +1.3% | +4.0% | |
| Q4 2025 | -9.2% | -12.9% | -9.7% | |
| Q3 2025 | +2.1% | +7.8% | +12.8% | |
| Q1 2025 | -4.0% | +2.6% | +11.0% | |
| Q4 2024 | +9.3% | +9.4% | +14.3% | |
| Q3 2024 | +5.9% | -3.3% | +16.2% | |
| Q2 2024 | +2.3% | +0.9% | +13.1% | |
| Q1 2024 | +2.2% | +3.0% | +5.4% | |
| Q4 2023 | +6.2% | +25.6% | +17.6% | |
| Q3 2023 | +23.8% | +20.1% | +22.8% | |
| Q2 2023 | -5.3% | -5.1% | -11.1% | |
| Q1 2023 | -3.7% | -2.8% | -2.3% | |
| Q4 2022 | -6.2% | -0.4% | -14.7% | |
| Q3 2022 | +14.0% | +26.8% | +24.0% | |
| Q2 2022 | -14.2% | -21.2% | -21.3% | |
| Q1 2022 | +3.4% | +1.3% | -3.8% | |
| Q4 2021 | +1.9% | +4.9% | +0.9% | |
| Q3 2021 | +2.0% | +0.1% | -6.3% | |
| Q2 2021 | -3.1% | -1.8% | -3.9% | |
| Q1 2021 | +3.8% | +4.8% | -2.3% | |
| Q4 2020 | +1.6% | +2.8% | +9.6% | |
| Q3 2020 | -0.3% | +1.2% | +9.5% | |
| Q2 2020 | +0.0% | +6.2% | +6.3% | |
| Q1 2020 | -6.4% | -9.7% | +7.2% | |
| Q4 2019 | +5.6% | +5.8% | -20.3% | |
| Q3 2019 | -10.3% | -8.9% | -7.3% | |
| Q2 2019 | -7.8% | -9.6% | -15.6% | |
| Q1 2019 | +1.3% | +6.0% | +7.3% | |
| Q4 2018 | -4.7% | +0.7% | -5.7% | |
| Q3 2018 | +20.9% | +18.6% | +9.1% | |
| Q2 2018 | +13.6% | +15.4% | +19.9% | |
| Q1 2018 | -8.3% | -8.3% | -2.4% | |
| Q4 2017 | -13.0% | -12.0% | -5.3% | |
| Q3 2017 | -0.1% | -1.0% | -2.4% | |
| Q2 2017 | +5.7% | +6.1% | +1.8% | |
| Q1 2017 | -7.0% | -7.9% | -8.9% | |
| Q4 2016 | -6.3% | -9.3% | -6.4% | |
| Q3 2016 | +11.2% | +8.7% | +15.8% | |
| Q2 2016 | -3.9% | -4.9% | -1.9% | |
| Q1 2016 | -1.0% | — | — | |
| Q4 2015 | +7.5% | — | — | |
| Q3 2015 | -3.5% | — | — | |
| Q2 2015 | -0.9% | — | — | |
| Q1 2015 | -3.5% | — | — | |
| Q4 2014 | -11.8% | — | — | |
| Q3 2014 | +3.9% | — | — | |
| Q2 2014 | +4.4% | — | — | |
| Q1 2014 | +0.8% | — | — | |
| Q4 2013 | -5.2% | — | — | |
| Q3 2013 | -4.6% | — | — | |
| Q2 2013 | -3.2% | — | — | |
| Q1 2013 | +7.7% | — | — | |
| Q4 2012 | -6.4% | — | — | |
| Q3 2012 | +1.3% | — | — | |
| Q2 2012 | -11.3% | — | — | |
| Q1 2012 | +0.0% | — | — | |
| Q4 2011 | -1.2% | — | — | |
| Q3 2011 | +4.2% | — | — | |
| Q2 2011 | -2.8% | — | — | |
| Q1 2010 | -1.4% | — | — | |
| Q1 2011 | +1.0% | — | — | |
| Q4 2008 | -0.1% | — | — | |
| Q4 2010 | -0.1% | — | — | |
| Q3 2010 | +0.1% | — | — | |
| Q3 2009 | +0.1% | — | — | |
| Q2 2009 | -0.4% | — | — | |
| Q2 2010 | -0.4% | — | — | |
| Q4 2009 | -0.4% | — | — |
Discussion
Share your read of this quarter. Sign-in carries your eToro identity.
Join the conversation
Sign in with eToro to post your read of this quarter and vote on others'.
Sign in with eToro