Form: 8-K

Current report

November 4, 2025


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Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results

NEW YORK, New York. (BusinessWire) – 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 third quarter ended September 30, 2025.(1)

Third Quarter 2025 Highlights
Gross written premiums increased 17.5% to $231.5 million.
Net income of $15.2 million, or $0.45 per diluted share.
Adjusted net income(2) of $15.8 million, or $0.47 per diluted share(2).
Return on equity of 14.5% and adjusted return on equity(2) of 15.1%.
Book value per share $13.15 and diluted book value per share of $12.75.

Bowhead Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Sills, commented, “Bowhead delivered another excellent quarter highlighted by consistent strong top and bottom line growth. Gross written premiums in the third quarter grew 17.5% year-over-year and adjusted net income grew 25.5%. We achieved adjusted return on equity of 15.1% and diluted adjusted earnings per share of $0.47. These results are a testament to our disciplined approach to underwriting, the continued expansion of our “craft” and “flow” underwriting operations, and our commitment to operational excellence. Collectively, these results reinforce what I’ve said in the past: Bowhead is a franchise built for enduring success and cross-cycle profitability.”

Underwriting Results

The 17.5% increase in gross written premiums to $231.5 million in the third 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 20.4% increase to $144.7 million;
Professional Liability increased 1.7% to $45.7 million;
Healthcare Liability increased 11.1% to $34.8 million;
Baleen Specialty increased 83.4% from the previous quarter to $6.2 million.

Our loss ratio of 65.9% in the third quarter of 2025 increased 1.4 points compared to 64.5% in the third quarter of 2024.
The 0.3 point increase in our current accident year loss ratio was driven by changes in our portfolio mix. During the three months ended September 30, 2025, our Casualty division, which has comparatively higher current accident year industry loss ratios, comprised a larger proportion of our net earned premiums compared to the prior period.
The remaining 1.1 point increase in our prior accident year loss ratio was due to expected loss ratios applied to audit premiums fully earned in the quarter but associated with prior accident years. This increase 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 29.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, reflecting a decrease of 0.4 points compared to 29.9% for the same period in 2024. This decrease in our expense ratio was primarily driven by the 1.2 point decrease in our operating expenses ratio and a 0.3 point increase in other insurance-related income, which contributed to the lowering of our expense ratio. These improvements were partially offset by the 1.1 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 an increase in the ceding fee we pay to American Family and, to a lesser extent, earned broker commissions due to changes in our portfolio mix.





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Investment Results

Net investment income increased 30.9% in the quarter to $15.0 million, driven by a higher balance of investments and higher yields on invested assets. Our investment portfolio had a book yield of 4.8% and a new money rate of 4.6% as of September 30, 2025.

The weighted average effective duration of our investment portfolio, which included cash equivalents, was 2.9 years and had an average rating of “AA” as of September 30, 2025.

__________________
(1)Comparisons in this release are made to September 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.




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Summary of Operating Results

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

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
20252024% Change20252024% Change
($ in thousands, except percentages and per share data)
Gross written premiums$231,515$196,97617.5 %$638,724$510,94825.0 %
Ceded written premiums(82,492)(68,643)20.2 %(224,079)(179,710)24.7 %
Net written premiums $149,023$128,33316.1 %$414,645$331,23825.2 %
Revenues
  Net earned premiums
$128,407$105,18022.1 %$357,360$278,24728.4 %
Net investment income15,03811,49130.9 %41,27427,92847.8 %
Net realized investment losses(15)(18)(16.7)%(30)(16)87.5 %
Other insurance-related income
502108364.8 %1,307171664.3 %
Total revenues
143,932116,76123.3 %399,911306,33030.5 %
Expenses
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
84,60867,82424.7 %236,935181,16230.8 %
Net acquisition costs12,5129,16336.5 %33,34623,26743.3 %
Operating expenses25,83722,38615.4 %75,62365,76115.0 %
Non-operating expenses78348760.8 %1,3302,185(39.1)%
Warrant expense792792— %2,3501,125108.9 %
Credit facility interest expenses and fees2622524.0 %77047761.4 %
Foreign exchange losses3237(13.5)%6467(4.5)%
Total expenses
124,826100,94123.7 %350,418274,04427.9 %
Income before income taxes
19,10615,82020.8 %49,49332,28653.3 %
Income tax expense
(3,930)(3,728)5.4 %(10,550)(7,649)37.9 %
Net income
$15,176$12,09225.5 %$38,943$24,63758.1 %
Key Operating and Financial Metrics:
Adjusted net income(1)
$15,832$12,52026.5 %$40,068$28,58840.2 %
Loss ratio65.9 %64.5 %66.3 %65.1 %
Expense ratio29.5 %29.9 %30.1 %31.9 %
Combined ratio95.4 %94.4 %96.4 %97.0 %
Return on equity(2)
14.5 %13.7 %13.0 %11.8 %
Adjusted return on equity(1)(2)
15.1 %14.2 %13.3 %13.7 %
Diluted earnings per share$0.45$0.3625.0 %$1.15$0.8732.2 %
Diluted adjusted earnings per share(1)
$0.47$0.3823.7 %$1.19$1.0117.8 %
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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 the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, net income and adjusted net income are annualized to arrive at return on equity and adjusted return on equity.





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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

September 30,
2025
December 31, 2024
($ in thousands, except share data)
Assets
Investments
Fixed maturity securities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost of $1,143,594 and $894,145, respectively)
$1,149,598 $879,989 
Short-term investments, at amortized cost, which approximates fair value— 9,997 
Total investments
1,149,598 889,986 
Cash and cash equivalents197,855 97,476 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents52,921 124,582 
Accrued investment income8,893 7,520 
Premium balances receivable66,104 63,672 
Reinsurance recoverable, net360,877 255,072 
Prepaid reinsurance premiums184,560 152,567 
Deferred policy acquisition costs33,470 27,625 
Property and equipment, net9,683 6,845 
Income taxes receivable3,345 586 
Deferred tax assets, net19,093 20,340 
Other assets8,150 7,971 
Total assets
$2,094,549 $1,654,242 
Liabilities
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses$1,035,171 $756,859 
Unearned premiums536,108 446,850 
Reinsurance balances payable67,879 51,856 
Income taxes payable136 1,571 
Accrued expenses14,384 18,010 
Other liabilities9,834 8,654 
Total liabilities
1,663,512 1,283,800 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
Mezzanine equity
Performance stock units808 265 
Stockholders' equity
Common stock328 327 
($0.01 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized, 32,782,974 and 32,662,683 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively)
Additional paid-in capital323,306 318,095 
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)
4,743 (11,154)
Retained earnings101,852 62,909 
Total stockholders' equity430,229 370,177 
Total mezzanine equity and stockholders' equity431,037 370,442 
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders' equity
$2,094,549 $1,654,242 



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Gross Written Premiums

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

Three Months Ended September 30,
2025% of Total2024% of Total$ Change% Change
($ in thousands, except percentages)
Casualty$144,727 62.5 %$120,223 61.0 %$24,504 20.4 %
Professional Liability45,739 19.7 %44,962 22.9 %777 1.7 %
Healthcare Liability34,844 15.1 %31,358 15.9 %3,486 11.1 %
Baleen Specialty6,205 2.7 %433 0.2 %5,772 1333.0 %
Gross written premiums
$231,515 100.0 %$196,976 196976333100.0 %$34,539 17.5 %

Nine Months Ended September 30,
2025% of Total2024% of Total$ Change% Change
($ in thousands, except percentages)
Casualty$417,762 65.4 %$325,945 63.8 %$91,817 28.2 %
Professional Liability126,491 19.8 %114,641 22.4 %11,850 10.3 %
Healthcare Liability82,136 12.9 %69,920 13.7 %12,216 17.5 %
Baleen Specialty12,335 1.9 %442 0.1 %11,893 2690.7 %
Gross written premiums
$638,724 100.0 %$510,948 100.0 %$127,776 25.0 %

Loss Ratio

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

Three Months Ended September 30,
20252024
Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses% of Net Earned PremiumsNet Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses% of Net Earned Premiums
($ in thousands, except percentages)
Current accident year
$83,158 64.8 %$67,824 64.5 %
Prior accident year1,450 1.1 %— — %
Total
$84,608 65.9 %$67,824 64.5 %

Nine Months Ended September 30,
20252024
Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses% of Net Earned PremiumsNet Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses% of Net Earned Premiums
($ in thousands, except percentages)
Current accident year
$234,926 65.7 %$181,162 65.1 %
Prior accident year2,009 0.6 %— — %
Total
$236,935 66.3 %$181,162 65.1 %




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Expense Ratio

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

Three Months Ended September 30,
20252024
Expenses% of Net Earned PremiumsExpenses% of Net Earned Premiums
($ in thousands, except percentages)
Net acquisition costs
$12,512 9.8 %$9,163 8.7 %
Operating expenses
25,837 20.1 %22,386 21.3 %
Less: Other insurance related-income(502)(0.4)%(108)(0.1)%
Total$37,847 29.5 %$31,441 29.9 %

Nine Months Ended September 30,
20252024
Expenses% of Net Earned PremiumsExpenses% of Net Earned Premiums
($ in thousands, except percentages)
Net acquisition costs
$33,346 9.3 %$23,267 8.4 %
Operating expenses
75,623 21.2 %65,761 23.6 %
Less: Other insurance-related income(1,307)(0.4)%(171)(0.1)%
Total$107,662 30.1 %$88,857 31.9 %

Net Investment Income

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

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2025202420252024
($ in thousands)
U.S. government and government agency$1,562 $3,793 $5,040 $11,316 
State and municipal1,058 467 2,621 1,241 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities1,417 761 3,864 1,603 
Residential mortgage-backed securities3,489 1,955 9,157 4,118 
Asset-backed securities1,673 719 4,725 1,760 
Corporate4,716 1,611 12,212 3,614 
Short-term investments— 134 214 350 
Cash and cash equivalents1,421 2,273 4,280 4,493 
Gross investment income
15,336 11,713 42,113 28,495 
Investment expenses(298)(222)(839)(567)
Net investment income
$15,038 $11,491 $41,274 $27,928 




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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, non-operating expenses, foreign exchange losses, 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 nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 reconciles to net income as follows:

Three Months Ended September 30,
20252024
Before income taxesAfter income taxesBefore income taxesAfter income taxes
($ in thousands)
Income as reported$19,106 $15,176 $15,820 $12,092 
Adjustments:
Net realized investment losses15 15 18 18 
Non-operating expenses783 783 487 487 
Foreign exchange losses32 32 37 37 
Tax impact— (174)— (114)
Adjusted net income
$19,936 $15,832 $16,362 $12,520 




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Nine Months Ended September 30,
20252024
Before income taxesAfter income taxesBefore income taxesAfter income taxes
($ in thousands)
Income as reported$49,493 $38,943 $32,286 $24,637 
Adjustments:
Net realized investment losses30 30 16 16 
Non-operating expenses1,330 1,330 2,185 2,185 
Foreign exchange losses64 64 67 67 
Strategic initiatives(1)
— — 2,733 2,733 
Tax impact— (299)— (1,050)
Adjusted net income
$50,917 $40,068 $37,287 $28,588 
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(1)Strategic initiatives for the nine months ended September 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 nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 reconciles to return on equity as follows:

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2025202420252024
($ in thousands, except percentages)
Numerator: Adjusted net income(1)
$63,328$50,081$53,424$38,117
Denominator: Average mezzanine equity and stockholders' equity419,424352,368400,739278,451
Adjusted return on equity15.1 %14.2 %13.3 %13.7 %
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(1)For the three and nine months ended September 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 nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 reconciles to diluted earnings per share as follows:

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2025202420252024
($ in thousands, except share and per share data)
Numerator: Adjusted net income$15,832 $12,520 $40,068 $28,588 
Denominator: Diluted weighted average shares outstanding33,650,92333,263,95833,807,10528,352,420
Diluted adjusted earnings per share$0.47 $0.38 $1.19 $1.01 





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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, November 4, 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 https://bowhead-3q25-earnings-call.open-exchange.net/registration, 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
investorrelations@bowheadspecialty.com