Donegal Group Inc. Announces Second Quarter and First Half 2026 Results

MARIETTA, Pa., July 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Donegal Group Inc. (NASDAQ: DGICA) and (NASDAQ: DGICB) today reported its financial results for the second quarter and first half of 2026.

Significant Items for Second Quarter of 2026 (all comparisons to second quarter of 2025):

• Net premiums earned decreased 4.0% to $222.6 million

• Combined ratio of 95.6%, compared to 97.7%

• Net income of $22.3 million, or 60 cents per diluted Class A share, compared to $16.9 million, or 46 cents per diluted Class A share

• Net investment gains (after tax) of $2.6 million, or 7 cents per diluted Class A share, compared to $1.2 million, or 3 cents per diluted Class A share, are included in net income

• Annualized return on average equity of 13.6%, compared to 11.3%

• Book value per share of $17.98 at June 30, 2026, compared to $16.62 at June 30, 2025

Financial Summary

1The "Definitions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section of this release defines and reconciles data that we prepare on an accounting basis other than U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP").

Management Commentary

Kevin G. Burke, President and Chief Executive Officer of Donegal Group Inc., stated, "Our net premiums earned for the second quarter of 2026 reflected a continuation of challenging trends and market conditions we experienced last quarter. Against that backdrop, we are pleased to report solid quarterly results that provided further growth in our book value to $17.98 per share at June 30, 2026, compared to $17.54 at the end of the first quarter of 2026.

"Net premiums written1 for our commercial lines business segment grew by 0.8% compared to the prior-year quarter, resulting primarily from improved new business production that was mostly offset by lower renewal premium increases and retention levels. As expected, we experienced a continuing decline in our personal lines net premiums written that we expect will gradually taper over the course of 2026 as actions we have taken to slow and eventually reverse the decline take effect. We remain committed to maintaining underwriting and pricing discipline as we pursue new, high-quality accounts and seek to retain existing accounts at adequate pricing levels.

"On the whole, our underwriting results for the second quarter of 2026 were solid, which we primarily attribute to favorable core loss ratios in both our commercial and personal lines segments, lower-than-average weather-related losses and favorable prior-year reserve development, offset partially by a moderate increase in large fire losses. Solid underwriting performance and enhanced investment income allowed us to continue growing our book value in the second quarter.

"While we face a softening phase of the insurance cycle, we have established a strong foundation over the past several years, and we continue to believe that the effective ongoing execution of our strategies will enhance stockholder value over time. For example, we are beginning to realize benefits from our ongoing emphasis on enhanced engagement with our independent agents as a means of attracting profitable growth opportunities."

Insurance Operations

Donegal Group Inc. is an insurance holding company whose insurance subsidiaries and affiliates offer property and casualty lines of insurance in three Mid-Atlantic states (Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania), five Southern states (Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia), eight Midwestern states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin) and five Southwestern states (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Utah). Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and the insurance subsidiaries of Donegal Group Inc. conduct business together as the Donegal Insurance Group.

Net Premiums Written

The 3.2% decrease in net premiums written for the second quarter of 2026 compared to the second quarter of 2025, as shown in the table above, represents the net combination of a 0.8% increase in commercial lines net premiums written and a 9.7% decrease in personal lines net premiums written. The $7.4 million decrease in net premiums written for the second quarter of 2026 compared to the second quarter of 2025 included:

• Commercial Lines: $1.2 million increase that we attribute primarily to new business writings, offset partially by a lower level of renewal premium increases and retention.

• Personal Lines: $8.6 million decrease that we attribute primarily to modestly higher attrition, offset partially by more modest renewal premium rate increases and incremental growth in new business writings.

Underwriting Performance

We evaluate the performance of our commercial lines and personal lines segments primarily based upon the underwriting results of our insurance subsidiaries as determined under statutory accounting practices. The following table presents comparative details with respect to the GAAP and statutory combined ratios1 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025:

Loss Ratio

For the second quarter of 2026, the loss ratio decreased to 59.5%, compared to 65.1% for the second quarter of 2025. For the commercial lines segment, the core loss ratio, which excludes weather-related losses, large fire losses and net development of reserves for losses incurred in prior accident years, of 54.0% for the second quarter of 2026 remained relatively consistent with 54.5% for the second quarter of 2025. For the personal lines segment, the core loss ratio of 45.8% for the second quarter of 2026 increased modestly from 43.3% for the second quarter of 2025.

Weather-related losses were $11.9 million, or 5.3 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the second quarter of 2026, compared to $25.8 million, or 11.1 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the second quarter of 2025. Weather-related loss activity for the second quarter of 2026 was much lower than our previous five-year average of $20.3 million, or 9.4 percentage points of the loss ratio, for second-quarter weather-related losses.

Large fire losses, which we define as individual fire losses in excess of $50,000, for the second quarter of 2026 were $15.0 million, or 6.7 percentage points of the loss ratio. That amount was higher than the large fire losses of $12.1 million, or 5.2 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the second quarter of 2025. We experienced an increase in commercial property fire losses that was partially offset by a decrease in homeowners fire losses compared to the prior-year quarter.

Net favorable development of reserves for losses incurred in prior accident years reduced the loss ratio by 3.5 percentage points for the second quarter of 2026 compared to 1.3 percentage points for the second quarter of 2025. Our insurance subsidiaries experienced favorable development primarily in the personal automobile, workers' compensation, commercial automobile and homeowners lines of business.

Expense Ratio

The expense ratio was 35.8% for the second quarter of 2026, compared to 32.2% for the second quarter of 2025. The increase in the expense ratio primarily reflected the impacts of higher underwriting-based incentive costs for agents and employees as well as higher technology-related expenses and a lower base of net premiums earned compared to the prior-year quarter.

Investment Operations

Our investment strategy is to generate an appropriate amount of after-tax income on its invested assets while minimizing credit risk through investment in high-quality securities. As a result, we had invested 95.0% of our consolidated investment portfolio in diversified, highly rated and marketable fixed-maturity securities at June 30, 2026.

Net investment income of $14.5 million for the second quarter of 2026 increased 15.6% compared to $12.5 million for the second quarter of 2025. The increase in net investment income primarily reflected an increase in average investment yield and higher average invested assets relative to the prior-year second quarter.

Net investment gains of $3.3 million for the second quarter of 2026 were primarily related to unrealized gains in the fair value of equity securities held at June 30, 2026, offset partially by net realized investment losses on the sale of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities. Net investment gains of $1.5 million for the second quarter of 2025 were primarily related to unrealized gains in the fair value of equity securities held at June 30, 2025, offset partially by net realized investment losses on the sale of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities.

Our book value per share was $17.98 at June 30, 2026, compared to $17.33 at December 31, 2025, with the increase related to net income, offset partially by cash dividends declared as well as $3.3 million of after-tax unrealized losses within our available-for-sale fixed-maturity portfolio during 2026 that decreased our book value by $0.09 per share.

Definitions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We prepare our consolidated financial statements on the basis of GAAP. Our insurance subsidiaries also prepare financial statements based on statutory accounting principles state insurance regulators prescribe or permit ("SAP"). In addition to using GAAP-based performance measurements, we also utilize certain non-GAAP financial measures that we believe provide value in managing our business and for comparison to the financial results of our peers. These non-GAAP measures are net premiums written, operating income or loss and statutory combined ratio.

Net premiums written and operating income or loss are non-GAAP financial measures investors in insurance companies commonly use. We define net premiums written as the amount of full-term premiums our insurance subsidiaries record for policies effective within a given period less premiums our insurance subsidiaries cede to reinsurers. We define operating income or loss as net income or loss excluding after-tax net investment gains or losses, after-tax restructuring charges and other significant non-recurring items. Because our calculation of operating income or loss may differ from similar measures other companies use, investors should exercise caution when comparing our measure of operating income or loss to the measure of other companies.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net premiums earned to net premiums written for the periods indicated:

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to operating income for the periods indicated:

The statutory combined ratio is a non-GAAP standard measurement of underwriting profitability that is based upon amounts determined under SAP. The statutory combined ratio is the sum of:

• the statutory loss ratio, which is the ratio of calendar-year incurred losses and loss expenses, excluding anticipated salvage and subrogation recoveries, to premiums earned;

• the statutory expense ratio, which is the ratio of expenses incurred for net commissions, premium taxes and underwriting expenses to premiums written; and

• the statutory dividend ratio, which is the ratio of dividends to holders of workers' compensation policies to premiums earned.

The statutory combined ratio does not reflect investment income, federal income taxes or other non-operating income or expense. A statutory combined ratio of less than 100% generally indicates underwriting profitability.

Dividend Information

On July 16, 2026, we declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.1925 per share for our Class A common stock and $0.175 per share for our Class B common stock, which are payable on August 14, 2026 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on July 31, 2026.

Pre-Recorded Webcast

At approximately 8:30 am ET on Thursday, July 30, 2026, we will make available in the Investors section of our website a pre-recorded audio webcast featuring management commentary on our quarterly results and general business updates. You may listen to the pre-recorded webcast by accessing the link on our website at http://investors.donegalgroup.com. A supplemental investor presentation is also available via our website.

About the Company

Donegal Group Inc. is an insurance holding company whose insurance subsidiaries and affiliates offer property and casualty lines of insurance in certain Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, Southern and Southwestern states. Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and the insurance subsidiaries of Donegal Group Inc. conduct business together as the Donegal Insurance Group. The Donegal Insurance Group has an A.M. Best rating of A (Excellent).

The Class A common stock and Class B common stock of Donegal Group Inc. trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols DGICA and DGICB, respectively. We are focused on several primary strategies, including achieving sustained excellent financial performance, advancing our operational and digital capabilities, capitalizing on opportunities to grow profitably and providing superior experiences to our agents, policyholders and employees.

Safe Harbor

We base all statements contained in this release that are not historic facts on our current expectations. Such statements are forward-looking in nature (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) and necessarily involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements we make may be identified by our use of words such as "will," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "estimate" and similar expressions. Our actual results could vary materially from our forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause our actual results to vary materially from the forward-looking statements we have previously made include, but are not limited to, adverse litigation and other industry trends that could increase our loss costs (including distracted driving, higher rates of litigation, higher judicial awards and escalating medical, automobile and property repair costs, including due to tariffs), adverse and catastrophic weather events and other natural disasters (including from changing climate conditions), man-made disasters (such as terrorism), our ability to maintain profitable operations (including our ability to underwrite risks effectively and charge adequate premium rates), the adequacy of the loss and loss expense reserves of our insurance subsidiaries, the successful operation (including cost, security and availability) of the information technology systems our insurance subsidiaries utilize, the successful development and deployment of new technologies (including artificial intelligence, data modernization and cloud migration) to allow our insurance subsidiaries to compete effectively, the loss or significant restriction of the use of specific rating attributes, analytical models or technologies our insurance subsidiaries use in their pricing and underwriting, increases in assessments pursuant to guaranty fund laws, business and economic conditions in the areas in which we and our insurance subsidiaries operate (including from pandemics), interest rates and other factors impacting the investment portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries, competition from various insurance and other financial businesses (including changes in consumer preferences for insurance distribution channels), the availability and cost of reinsurance, legal and judicial developments, changes in regulatory requirements, our ability to attract and retain independent insurance agents (and their ability to maintain adequate levels of premium volume and quality), changes in our A.M. Best rating and the other risks that we describe from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We disclaim any obligation to update such statements or to announce publicly the results of any revisions that we may make to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Investor Relations Contacts

Jeremy Hellman, Vice President, The Equity Group Inc.
Phone: (212) 836-9626
E-mail: jhellman@theequitygroup.com

Jeffrey D. Miller, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (717) 426-1931
E-mail: investors@donegalgroup.com

Financial Supplement