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Lemonade, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: letter to shareholders. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • In force premium grew 32%: In force premium reached $1.43 billion, up 32.4% from a year earlier; customers rose 23% to 3,308,666 and premium per customer rose to $433. Source
  • Revenue rose 79% on higher retention: Revenue reached $294.4 million, driven by gross earned premium growth and higher premium retention after lower quota share cession rates took effect in Q3 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed 54%: Adjusted EBITDA loss was $18.7 million, against $40.9 million a year earlier; management attributed the improvement to revenue growth and better underwriting, partly offset by higher growth spend. Source
  • LAE ratio fell to record 5%: The LAE ratio, excluding prior period development, declined to 5%, described as a record low, as IFP reached $1.43 billion. Source
  • Catastrophe recovery up to $40 million: The renewed reinsurance program provides up to $40 million recovery per event, subject to a $100 million aggregate limit, to reduce catastrophe-related losses and capital volatility. Source
  • First Adjusted EBITDA positive quarter expected: Management said it continues to expect its first Adjusted EBITDA positive quarter in Q4 2026. Source

“Our second quarter results were excellent, once again characterized by robust topline growth and healthy underwriting performance.”

Lemonade, Inc., letter to shareholders

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
In force premium (IFP) SourceQ3 2026$1,537-$1,540
In force premium (IFP) SourceFull year 2026$1,632-$1,639
Gross earned premium (GEP) SourceQ3 2026$356-$359
Gross earned premium (GEP) SourceFull year 2026$1,374-$1,378
Revenue SourceQ3 2026$323-$326
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$1,214-$1,220
Adjusted EBITDA loss SourceQ3 2026($23)-($20)
Adjusted EBITDA loss SourceFull year 2026($51)-($47)
Stock-based compensation expense SourceQ3 2026$24
Stock-based compensation expense SourceFull year 2026$95
Weighted average common shares SourceQ3 202677
Weighted average common shares SourceFull year 202678
Adjusted EBITDA SourceQ4 2026 (implied)approximately $8 million

What changed from last quarter

  • New: A new 12-month reinsurance program effective July 1 cuts the effective quota share cession rate from about 20% to about 18%. Source
  • New: The renewed reinsurance program adds protection against named storms, an exposure excluded under the prior structure. Source
  • New: The synthetic agents program is extended through a new financing agreement with Hannover Re, effective January 2027. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • In force premium grew 32%: In force premium reached $1.43 billion, up 32.4% from a year earlier; customers rose 23% to 3,308,666 and premium per customer rose to $433. Source
  • Revenue rose 79% on higher retention: Revenue reached $294.4 million, driven by gross earned premium growth and higher premium retention after lower quota share cession rates took effect in Q3 2025. Source
  • Gross profit reached a record: Gross profit rose 76% to $113.2 million; trailing twelve-month gross profit rose 98% to $404 million. Source
  • Net loss near prior-year level: Net loss was $43.4 million, or $0.56 per share, against $43.9 million, or $0.60 per share, in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed 54%: Adjusted EBITDA loss was $18.7 million, against $40.9 million a year earlier; management attributed the improvement to revenue growth and better underwriting, partly offset by higher growth spend. Source

Products and customers

  • Pet added the most IFP dollars: Pet IFP rose to $543 million from $350 million and Car to $239 million from $150 million; Pet had the largest dollar increase of the lines shown. Source
  • Homeowners IFP grew, premium per customer fell: Homeowners multi-peril IFP rose to $554 million from $523 million, while premium per customer for that line fell to $240 from $260 a year earlier. Source
  • Premium per customer rose 8%: Premium per customer was $433 at quarter end, up 8% from the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Annual dollar retention at 85%: Annual dollar retention was 85%, a one point increase on the second quarter of 2025 and flat on the first quarter of 2026. Source

“But the systems that drive our claims efficiency are the same systems that run our sales, service, and underwriting; claims handling is simply the one domain where regulators require everyone to publish the receipts.”

Lemonade, Inc., letter to shareholders

Claims costs and loss ratios

  • LAE ratio fell to record 5%: The LAE ratio, excluding prior period development, declined to 5%, described as a record low, as IFP reached $1.43 billion. Source
  • Gross loss ratio improved to 60%: The gross loss ratio was 60% in Q2 2026, against 67% a year earlier, and 58% excluding catastrophe losses. Source
  • AI and automation credited for claims gains: Management said the claims gains reflect AI and automation, including higher instant claim rates in Pet and Renters and expanded AI-assisted workflows. Source

Growth spend and operating expense

  • Growth spend reached $64.4 million: Growth spend in sales and marketing was $64.4 million in Q2 2026, up from $49.7 million a year earlier and $25.8 million in Q2 2024. Source
  • Growth spend held near 3x LTV/CAC: Management said growth spend increased while returns held at about 3x LTV/CAC, notwithstanding soft market dynamics in the broader insurance industry. Source
  • Operating expense rose 41%: Operating expense, excluding losses and loss adjustment expense, rose 41% to $182.2 million, mainly on higher growth spend. Source
  • Executive equity grants added expense: Operating expense included $6.5 million of stock-based compensation from multi-year equity grants made to the executive leadership team in Q1 2026. Source

“Some observers have noted that growth spend has recently grown faster than IFP, but actually this is an artifact of our intentional halving of growth spend in 2023”

Lemonade, Inc., letter to shareholders

Catastrophe protection and reinsurance

  • Catastrophe recovery up to $40 million: The renewed reinsurance program provides up to $40 million recovery per event, subject to a $100 million aggregate limit, to reduce catastrophe-related losses and capital volatility. Source
  • Reinsurance shifts toward targeted protection: Management said reinsurance is shifting from broad quota share, used mainly for capital efficiency, toward targeted protection, particularly for homeowners catastrophe volatility. Source
  • Hannover financing cost falls over 600 basis points: The Hannover Re financing carries a cost of capital of about 9.8%, a reduction of more than 600 basis points, which management said significantly reduces expected interest expense. Source

Cash, balance sheet and capital

  • Cash and investments near $1.2 billion: Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled about $1.2 billion at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Regulatory surplus requirement of $330 million: The insurance subsidiaries were required to hold about $330 million of regulatory surplus at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow $18.8 million: Adjusted free cash flow was $18.8 million in Q2 2026, against $25.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Financing borrowings rose to $206 million: Borrowings under the financing agreement were $206.4 million at June 30, 2026, up from $158.1 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Milestones and expected timing

  • First Adjusted EBITDA positive quarter expected: Management said it continues to expect its first Adjusted EBITDA positive quarter in Q4 2026. Source
  • IFP growth to outpace spend in 2027: Based on current plans, management expects IFP growth to outpace growth spend growth in 2027 and beyond, a key driver of operating leverage and profitability. Source
  • Spend and IFP growth rates converged: A chart shows the trailing twelve-month growth rates of growth spend and IFP converging in recent quarters. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Investor day in New York on November 17: Management said the investor day will give a comprehensive update on strategy, growth aspirations and AI capabilities. Source
  • Growth spend to rise sequentially in Q3: Management expects growth spend to rise sequentially in Q3, to increase investment behind Car and capitalize on Renters' seasonal strength. Source
  • Hannover synthetic agents financing from January 2027: The synthetic agents extension with Hannover Re takes effect in January 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net premiums written Source$298.1 million in Q2 2026, against $127.4 million in Q2 2025
Prior-year reserve development Source(7%) of gross loss ratio in Q2 2026 (PPD)
Catastrophe losses Source3% of gross loss ratio in Q2 2026 (CAT excluding PPD)
Investment income Source$9.7 million net investment income in Q2 2026

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited catastrophe volatility in homeowners as the exposure the reinsurance program now targets more directly. Source
  • Operational: Management described Car claims as inherently more complex than its other lines, in discussing the Car claims gains. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said it shared a belief last year that the LAE ratio could roughly halve alongside the next doubling of IFP, and that it is ahead of schedule. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it continues to expect positive Adjusted EBITDA in Q4 2026, its first such quarter. 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.