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Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 August 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Premiums grew 28.2% in the quarter: Gross written premiums rose 28.2% to $297.9 million, attributed to the renewal book, new business and platform growth across all divisions. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS reported: Net income was $16.1 million, or $0.48 per diluted share. Diluted adjusted EPS was $0.48, against $0.37 a year earlier. Source
  • Combined ratio at 95.9%: Combined ratio was 95.9% for the quarter against 96.8% a year earlier. The six-month combined ratio was 95.6% against 96.9%. Source
  • Casualty drove most of growth: Casualty gross written premiums rose 32.5% to $199.8 million, 67.0% of the total for the quarter. Source
  • Loss ratio rose 1.1 points: Loss ratio was 67.3%, up 1.1 points from 66.2%, due to a higher current accident year loss ratio. Source
  • American Family to buy remaining shares: American Family agreed to buy the Bowhead shares it does not own at $34.00 cash each, for a total transaction value of about $1.2 billion. Source

“Bowhead once again delivered a strong quarter highlighted by consistent strong top and bottom line growth.”

Bowhead Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Sills

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Entered a definitive merger agreement under which American Family will acquire the Bowhead shares it does not own, at $34.00 per share in cash. Source
  • Ended: The quarterly results conference call, previously scheduled for August 4, 2026, was cancelled because of the transaction. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Premiums grew 28.2% in the quarter: Gross written premiums rose 28.2% to $297.9 million, attributed to the renewal book, new business and platform growth across all divisions. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS reported: Net income was $16.1 million, or $0.48 per diluted share. Diluted adjusted EPS was $0.48, against $0.37 a year earlier. Source
  • Combined ratio at 95.9%: Combined ratio was 95.9% for the quarter against 96.8% a year earlier. The six-month combined ratio was 95.6% against 96.9%. Source
  • Return on equity held at 13.8%: Return on equity and adjusted return on equity were both 13.8%, against 12.4% and 12.8% a year earlier. Source

Segments and divisions

  • Casualty drove most of growth: Casualty gross written premiums rose 32.5% to $199.8 million, 67.0% of the total for the quarter. Source
  • Healthcare Liability grew 23.9%: Healthcare Liability premiums increased 23.9% to $29.1 million, 9.8% of the total for the quarter. Source
  • Professional Liability nearly flat: Professional Liability premiums rose 0.6% to $55.1 million, 18.5% of the total, down from 23.5% a year earlier. Source
  • Baleen Specialty more than quadrupled: Baleen Specialty premiums increased 311.1% to $13.9 million, 4.7% of the total, from 1.5% a year earlier. Source

“Gross written premiums in the second quarter grew over 28% year-over-year, while adjusted net income grew over 26%, and diluted adjusted earnings per share grew just under 30%.”

Bowhead Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Sills

Products and underwriting models

  • Two underwriting models described: Craft covers large, complex, higher-severity risks. Digital covers smaller, simpler, scalable business, including Baleen Specialty and express. Source
  • Craft premiums rose 22%: Craft premiums rose 22.0% to $279.2 million, 93.7% of gross written premiums for the quarter. Source
  • Digital share rose to 6.3%: Digital premiums were $18.7 million, 6.3% of the total, up 436.5% from $3.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Express premiums reached $4.8 million: Express, the small-business offering within the digital model, wrote $4.8 million, up from $0.1 million a year earlier. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Loss ratio rose 1.1 points: Loss ratio was 67.3%, up 1.1 points from 66.2%, due to a higher current accident year loss ratio. Source
  • Lower ceded losses cited for loss ratio: Management attributed the higher current accident year loss ratio mainly to lower ceded loss activity under excess of loss treaties, and to a lesser extent to portfolio mix. Source
  • Expense ratio fell 2.0 points: Expense ratio was 28.6%, down 2.0 points. The operating expense ratio fell 3.4 points, which management linked to premium growth outpacing expenses. Source
  • Acquisition cost ratio rose 1.7 points: Net acquisition costs ratio rose 1.7 points, driven by higher earned broker commissions from portfolio mix and higher commission rates. Source
  • Ceding fee paid to American Family rose: Management cited a higher ceding fee paid to American Family and higher deferred employment-related underwriting costs within acquisition costs. Source
  • Interest expense rose to $3.3 million: Interest expense and financing fees were $3.3 million, up from $0.3 million a year earlier. The release does not give a reason. Source

“I believe this transaction delivers compelling value to our stockholders while bringing together two organizations that share a long history, aligned values, and a commitment to disciplined underwriting and long-term success”

Bowhead Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Sills

Investment income and portfolio

  • Investment income rose 37.6%: Net investment income was $18.8 million, up 37.6%, driven by a higher balance of investments. Source
  • Book yield and new money rate reported: Book yield was 4.7% and the new money rate was 4.9% as of June 30, 2026. Source
  • Duration 3.3 years, rated AA-: Weighted average effective duration was 3.3 years, including cash equivalents, with an average rating of AA-. Source

Balance sheet and per-share measures

  • Book value per share rose: Book value per share was $14.39 and diluted book value per share $14.12 at June 30, 2026, against $13.98 at March 31, 2026 in the prior release. Source
  • Shares outstanding increased: Shares issued and outstanding were 32,943,005 at June 30, 2026, up from 32,783,451 at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Net written premiums rose 21.6%: Net written premiums were $181.0 million, up 21.6% from a year earlier. Source
  • Ceded premiums rose 39.9%: Ceded written premiums rose 39.9% to $116.9 million for the quarter. Source

Merger with American Family

  • American Family to buy remaining shares: American Family agreed to buy the Bowhead shares it does not own at $34.00 cash each, for a total transaction value of about $1.2 billion. Source
  • Long relationship with American Family: Management described a long relationship with American Family, which it said supported the company since its founding. Source
  • Founder-led company: The company described itself as founded and led by industry veteran Stephen Sills. Source

Prior-year development and reserves

  • Prior-year losses were $0.2 million: Prior accident year losses were $153 thousand, or 0.1% of net earned premiums, against $115 thousand a year earlier. Source
  • Prior-year amounts not reserve increases: Management said the prior accident year amounts were not based on claims settling above reserves and did not add to reserves on open claims. Source
  • Loss reserves reported at June 30: Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses was $1,318,644 thousand at June 30, 2026, against $1,129,936 thousand at December 31, 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 August 2026

  • Sills expects to join American Family: Sills said he looks forward to joining American Family and continuing to lead the Bowhead franchise. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Combined ratio Source95.9%
Net premiums written Source$181,025 thousand
Prior-year reserve development Source$153 thousand (0.1% of net earned premiums)
Investment income Source$18.8 million
Book value per share Source$14.39

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management referred back to its earlier explanation of prior accident year loss development, which it said was driven by expected loss ratios on earned premium. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.