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Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BOW), a specialty lines insurance group focused on providing casualty, professional liability and healthcare liability insurance products, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025.(1)

Second Quarter 2025 Highlights

  • Gross written premiums increased 32.4% to $232.4 million.
  • Net income of $12.3 million, or $0.36 per diluted share.
  • Adjusted net income(2) of $12.8 million, or $0.37 per diluted share(2).
  • Return on equity of 12.4% and adjusted return on equity(2) of 12.8%.
  • Book value per share $12.44 and diluted book value per share of $12.04.

Bowhead Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Sills, commented, “We are thrilled with our second quarter 2025 results. Our strategic execution and underwriting discipline have led to a strong 32% year-over-year growth in premiums, with impressive double-digit expansion across all our craft underwriting divisions. More importantly, net income for the quarter soared by 123% compared to the same period last year. These achievements underscore our steadfast dedication to sustainable and profitable growth, demonstrating that Bowhead is a franchise built for enduring success and cross-cycle profitability, not just a hard market play.�

Underwriting Results

The 32.4% increase in gross written premiums to $232.4 million in the second quarter of 2025 was driven by our increasing renewal book and continued growth in our platform across all divisions:

  • Our Casualty division led the growth with a 31.9% increase to $150.7 million;
  • Professional Liability increased 23.3% to $54.8 million;
  • Healthcare Liability increased 39.0% to $23.5 million;
  • Baleen Specialty increased 23.2% from the previous quarter to $3.4 million.

Our loss ratio of 66.2% in the second quarter of 2025 increased 0.7 points compared to 65.5% in the second quarter of 2024, due to a 0.6 point increase in our current accident year and a 0.1 point increase in our prior accident year loss ratio.

The 0.6 point increase in our current accident year loss ratio was driven by changes in our portfolio mix. During the three months ended June 30, 2025, our Casualty division, which has comparatively higher current accident year industry loss ratios, comprised a larger proportion of our net earned premium compared to the prior period.

The 0.1 point increase in our prior accident year loss ratio was driven by expected loss ratios applied to audit premiums being fully earned in the quarter but associated with prior accident years. This development was not based on actual losses settling for more than reserved, and did not represent an increase in estimated reserves on unresolved claims.

Our expense ratio was 30.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2025, reflecting a decrease of 3.2 points compared to 33.8% for the same period in 2024. This decrease in our expense ratio was primarily driven by the 3.7 point decrease in our operating expenses ratio and a 0.4 point increase in other insurance-related income, which contributed to the lowering of our expense ratio. These improvements were partially offset by the 0.9 point increase in our net acquisition costs ratio.

The decrease in our operating expenses ratio was due to the continued scaling of our business, where net earned premiums grew at a higher rate than our expenses, as well as the prudent management of our expenses.

The increase in our net acquisition costs ratio was driven by the increase in earned broker commissions due to changes in our portfolio mix, and to a lesser extent, the reduction in earned ceding commissions from our ceded reinsurance treaties.

Investment Results

Net investment income increased 55.8% in the quarter to $13.7 million, driven by a higher balance of investments and higher yields on invested assets. Our investment portfolio had a had a book yield of 4.7% and a new money rate of 4.8% as of June 30, 2025.

The weighted average effective duration of our investment portfolio, which included cash equivalents, was 2.8 years and had an average rating of “AA� as of June 30, 2025.

__________________

(1)

Comparisons in this release are made to June 30, 2024 financial results unless otherwise noted.

(2)

Non-GAAP financial measure. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures� for a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures.

Summary of Operating Results

The following table summarizes the Company’s results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024:

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2025

2024

% Change

2025

2024

% Change

($ in thousands, except percentages and per share data)

Gross written premiums

$

232,361

$

175,539

32.4

%

$

407,209

$

313,971

29.7

%

Ceded written premiums

(83,508

)

(63,486

)

31.5

%

(141,587

)

(111,066

)

27.5

%

Net written premiums

$

148,853

$

112,053

32.8

%

$

265,622

$

202,905

30.9

%

Revenues

Net earned premiums

$

119,137

$

90,087

32.2

%

$

228,954

$

173,067

32.3

%

Net investment income

13,677

8,777

55.8

%

26,236

16,437

59.6

%

Net realized investment (losses) gains

(11

)

2

(650.0

)%

(15

)

2

NM

Other insurance-related income

460

32

1337.5

%

805

63

1177.8

%

Total revenues

133,263

98,898

34.7

%

255,980

189,569

35.0

%

Expenses

Net losses and loss adjustment expenses

78,900

59,018

33.7

%

152,327

113,338

34.4

%

Net acquisition costs

11,038

7,582

45.6

%

20,834

14,104

47.7

%

Operating expenses

25,849

22,855

13.1

%

49,785

43,377

14.8

%

Non-operating expenses

437

1,481

(70.5

)%

548

1,698

(67.8

)%

Warrant expense

783

332

135.8

%

1,558

332

369.3

%

Credit facility interest expenses and fees

261

224

16.5

%

508

224

126.8

%

Foreign exchange losses (gains)

79

(4

)

(2075.0

)%

33

30

10.0

%

Total expenses

117,347

91,488

28.3

%

225,593

173,103

30.3

%

Income before income taxes

15,916

7,410

114.8

%

30,387

16,466

84.5

%

Income tax expense

(3,574

)

(1,877

)

90.4

%

(6,620

)

(3,921

)

68.8

%

Net income

$

12,342

$

5,533

123.1

%

$

23,767

$

12,545

89.5

%

Key Operating and Financial Metrics:

Adjusted net income(1)

$

12,758

$

7,880

61.9

%

$

24,238

$

16,068

50.8

%

Loss ratio

66.2

%

65.5

%

66.5

%

65.5

%

Expense ratio

30.6

%

33.8

%

30.4

%

33.2

%

Combined ratio

96.8

%

99.3

%

96.9

%

98.7

%

Return on equity(2)

12.4

%

8.2

%

12.2

%

9.4

%

Adjusted return on equity(1)(2)

12.8

%

11.7

%

12.5

%

12.1

%

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.36

$

0.20

$

0.70

$

0.48

Diluted adjusted earnings per share(1)

$

0.37

$

0.28

$

0.72

$

0.62

__________________

NM - Percentage change is not meaningful.
(1)

Non-GAAP financial measure. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures� for a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures.

(2)

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, net income and adjusted net income are annualized to arrive at return on equity and adjusted return on equity.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

June 30, 2025

December 31, 2024

($ in thousands, except share data)

Assets

Investments

Fixed maturity securities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost of $1,113,787 and $894,145, respectively)

$

1,113,093

$

879,989

Short-term investments, at amortized cost, which approximates fair value

9,997

Total investments

1,113,093

889,986

Cash and cash equivalents

114,816

97,476

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

51,447

124,582

Accrued investment income

9,744

7,520

Premium balances receivable

88,849

63,672

Reinsurance recoverable, net

319,423

255,072

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

171,447

152,567

Deferred policy acquisition costs

32,178

27,625

Property and equipment, net

8,883

6,845

Income taxes receivable

1,877

586

Deferred tax assets, net

19,558

20,340

Other assets

10,836

7,971

Total assets

$

1,942,151

$

1,654,242

Liabilities

Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses

$

950,719

$

756,859

Unearned premiums

502,378

446,850

Reinsurance balances payable

62,613

51,856

Income taxes payable

137

1,571

Accrued expenses

10,481

18,010

Other liabilities

8,011

8,654

Total liabilities

1,534,339

1,283,800

Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)

Mezzanine equity

Performance stock units

607

265

Stockholders' equity

Common stock

328

327

($0.01 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized, 32,781,565 and 32,662,683 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively)

Additional paid-in capital

320,749

318,095

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(548

)

(11,154

)

Retained earnings

86,676

62,909

Total stockholders' equity

407,205

370,177

Total mezzanine equity and stockholders' equity

407,812

370,442

Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders' equity

$

1,942,151

$

1,654,242

Gross Written Premiums

The following tables present gross written premiums by underwriting division for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024:

Three Months Ended June 30,

2025

% of Total

2024

% of Total

$ Change

% Change

($ in thousands, except percentages)

Casualty

$

150,720

64.9

%

$

114,233

65.1

%

$

36,487

31.9

%

Professional Liability

54,752

23.5

%

44,397

25.3

%

10,355

23.3

%

Healthcare Liability

23,505

10.1

%

16,909

9.6

%

6,596

39.0

%

Baleen Specialty

3,384

1.5

%

%

3,384

NM

Gross written premiums

$

232,361

100.0

%

$

175,539

100.0

%

$

56,822

32.4

%

Six Months Ended June 30,

2025

% of Total

2024

% of Total

$ Change

% Change

($ in thousands, except percentages)

Casualty

$

273,034

67.1

%

$

205,730

65.5

%

$

67,304

32.7

%

Professional Liability

80,752

19.8

%

69,679

22.2

%

11,073

15.9

%

Healthcare Liability

47,293

11.6

%

38,562

12.3

%

8,731

22.6

%

Baleen Specialty

6,130

1.5

%

%

6,130

NM

Gross written premiums

$

407,209

100.0

%

$

313,971

100.0

%

$

93,238

29.7

%

Loss Ratio

The following tables summarize current and prior accident year loss ratios for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024:

Three Months Ended June 30,

2025

2024

Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

% of Net Earned Premiums

Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

% of Net Earned Premiums

($ in thousands, except percentages)

Current accident year

$

78,785

66.1

%

$

59,018

65.5

%

Prior accident year reserve development

115

0.1

%

%

Total

$

78,900

66.2

%

$

59,018

65.5

%

Six Months Ended June 30,

2025

2024

Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

% of Net Earned Premiums

Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

% of Net Earned Premiums

($ in thousands, except percentages)

Current accident year

$

151,768

66.3

%

$

113,338

65.5

%

Prior accident year reserve development

559

0.2

%

%

Total

$

152,327

66.5

%

$

113,338

65.5

%

Expense Ratio

The following tables summarize the components of our expense ratio for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024:

Three Months Ended June 30,

2025

2024

Expenses

% of Net Earned Premiums

Expenses

% of Net Earned Premiums

($ in thousands, except percentages)

Net acquisition costs

$

11,038

9.3

%

$

7,582

8.4

%

Operating expenses

25,849

21.7

%

22,855

25.4

%

Less: Other insurance related-income

(460

)

(0.4

)%

(32

)

%

Total

$

36,427

30.6

%

$

30,405

33.8

%

Six Months Ended June 30,

2025

2024

Expenses

% of Net Earned Premiums

Expenses

% of Net Earned Premiums

($ in thousands, except percentages)

Net acquisition costs

$

20,834

9.1

%

$

14,104

8.1

%

Operating expenses

49,785

21.7

%

43,377

25.1

%

Less: Other insurance-related income

(805

)

(0.4

)%

(63

)

%

Total

$

69,814

30.4

%

$

57,418

33.2

%

Net Investment Income

The following table summarizes the sources of net investment income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024:

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2025

2024

2025

2024

($ in thousands)

U.S. government and government agency

$

1,633

$

3,836

$

3,478

$

7,523

State and municipal

876

388

1,564

775

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

1,267

468

2,447

842

Residential mortgage-backed securities

3,129

1,920

5,668

2,164

Asset-backed securities

1,569

(33

)

3,052

1,040

Corporate

4,244

1,071

7,496

2,003

Short-term investments

86

103

214

215

Cash and cash equivalents

1,154

1,204

2,859

2,219

Gross investment income

13,958

8,957

26,778

16,781

Investment expenses

(281

)

(180

)

(542

)

(344

)

Net investment income

$

13,677

$

8,777

$

26,236

$

16,437

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This earnings release contains certain financial measures that are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP�). We use these non-GAAP financial measures when planning, monitoring and evaluating our performance. Management believes that each of the non-GAAP financial measures described below provides useful insight into our underlying business performance.

  • Adjusted net income is defined as net income excluding the impact of net realized investment (losses) gains, non-operating expenses, foreign exchange losses (gains), and certain strategic initiatives. Adjusted net income excludes the impact of certain items that may not be indicative of underlying business trends, operating results, or future outlook, net of tax impact. We calculate the tax impact only on adjustments that would be included in calculating our income tax expense using the estimated tax rate at which we received a deduction for these adjustments.
  • Adjusted return on equity is defined as adjusted net income as a percentage of average beginning and ending mezzanine equity and stockholders� equity.
  • Diluted adjusted earnings per share is defined as adjusted net income divided by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period, reflecting the dilution that may occur if equity based awards are converted into common stock equivalents as calculated using the treasury stock method.

You should not rely on these non-GAAP financial measures as a substitute for any U.S. GAAP financial measure. While we believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating our business, this information should be considered supplemental in nature and not as a replacement for or superior to the comparable U.S. GAAP measures. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate such measures differently, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures.

Adjusted net income

Adjusted net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 reconciles to net income as follows:

Three Months Ended June 30,

2025

2024

Before income taxes

After income taxes

Before income taxes

After income taxes

($ in thousands)

Income as reported

$

15,916

$

12,342

$

7,410

$

5,533

Adjustments:

Net realized investment losses (gains)

11

11

(2

)

(2

)

Non-operating expenses

437

437

1,481

1,481

Foreign exchange losses (gains)

79

79

(4

)

(4

)

Strategic initiatives(1)

1,496

1,496

Tax impact

(111

)

(624

)

Adjusted net income

$

16,443

$

12,758

$

10,381

$

7,880

Six Months Ended June 30,

2025

2024

Before income taxes

After income taxes

Before income taxes

After income taxes

($ in thousands)

Income as reported

$

30,387

$

23,767

$

16,466

$

12,545

Adjustments:

Net realized investment losses (gains)

15

15

(2

)

(2

)

Non-operating expenses

548

548

1,698

1,698

Foreign exchange losses

33

33

30

30

Strategic initiatives(1)

2,733

2,733

Tax impact

(125

)

(936

)

Adjusted net income

$

30,983

$

24,238

$

20,925

$

16,068

_______________

(1)

Strategic initiatives for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 represents costs incurred to set up our Baleen Specialty division, which is recorded in operating expenses within the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. The costs incurred primarily represent expenses to implement the new platform and processes supporting the Baleen Specialty division. See “Business� Our Business�

Adjusted return on equity

Adjusted return on equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 reconciles to return on equity as follows:

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2025

2024

2025

2024

($ in thousands, except percentages)

Numerator: Adjusted net income(1)

$

51,031

$

31,519

$

48,477

$

32,135

Denominator: Average mezzanine equity and stockholders' equity

399,588

270,551

389,127

265,971

Adjusted return on equity

12.8

%

11.7

%

12.5

%

12.1

%

_______________

(1)

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, net income and adjusted net income are annualized to arrive at return on equity and adjusted return on equity.

Diluted adjusted earnings per share

Diluted adjusted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 reconciles to diluted earnings per share as follows:

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2025

2024

2025

2024

($ in thousands, except share and per share data)

Numerator: Adjusted net income

$

12,758

$

7,880

$

24,238

$

16,068

Denominator: Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

34,045,961

27,771,108

33,885,414

25,885,554

Diluted adjusted earnings per share

$

0.37

$

0.28

$

0.72

$

0.62

About Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc.

Bowhead Specialty is a growing specialty insurance business providing casualty, professional liability and healthcare liability insurance products. We were founded and are led by industry veteran Stephen Sills. The team is composed of highly experienced and respected industry veterans with decades of individual, successful underwriting and management experience. We focus on providing “craft� solutions in our specialty lines and classes of business that we believe require deep underwriting and claims expertise in order to produce attractive financial results.

We pride ourselves on the quality and experience of our people, who are committed to exceeding our partners� expectations through excellent service and expertise. Our collaborative culture spans all functions of our business and allows us to provide a consistent, positive experience for all of our partners.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its results on the same day, Tuesday, August 5, 2025, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Interested parties may access the conference call through a live webcast, which can be accessed by going to , or by visiting the Company’s Investor Relations website. A dial-in option for listen-only participants will be available after registering for the call. Please join the live webcast or dial in at least 10 minutes before the start of the call.

A replay of the event webcast will be available on the Company’s Investor Relations website for one year following the call.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "seeks," "future," "outlook," "prospects" "will," "would," "should," "could," "may," "can have" or similar words. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. These risks include those described in the Company’s filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise.

Investor Relations Contact:

Shirley Yap, Head of Investor Relations

[email protected]

Source: Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc.

BOWHEAD SPECIALTY HLDGS INC

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Insurance - Property & Casualty
Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance
United States
NEW YORK