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Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

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 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.

Contacts

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