Form: 8-K

Current report

August 5, 2025


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Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. Reports Second 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 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.






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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.

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(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.




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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
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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 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.





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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 



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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  175539000 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  %




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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 




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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) 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 




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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 
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(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  %
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(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 





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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, 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 https://bowhead-2q25-earnings-call.open-exchange.net/, 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