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Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose on higher earnings: Net income was $49.7 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, against $42.1 million, or $1.01, a year earlier. Basic EPS was $1.12. Source
  • Operating income rose to $56.8 million: Operating income was $56.8 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, against $37.6 million, or $0.90, a year earlier. Operating income excludes net investment gains, amortization and other items. Source
  • Gross written premiums rose 9.9%: Gross written premiums were $667.7 million, up 9.9% on a pro forma basis from 2025. Managed premiums were $967.7 million, up 19.6%. Source
  • Loss ratio improved 1.3 points: The loss ratio was 61.1% for the first quarter, compared with 62.4% in the same 2025 period. Source
  • Apollo share issuance lifted equity: The equity increase was primarily from common stock issued for the Apollo acquisition. Shares outstanding rose to 44,543,065 from 40,511,222. Source
  • Fee-based earnings growth expected: Management called fee-generating premium growth an early indicator of fee-based earnings growth it expects over time. Source

“We are off to an excellent start to the year as we report our first quarter consolidated results for Skyward Specialty and Apollo under the Skyward Group brand.”

Skyward Group Chairman and CEO Andrew Robinson

What changed from last quarter

  • New: From the first quarter 2026, results are reported for the Skyward Specialty segment, the Apollo segment and a corporate unit. Source
  • New: Corporate expenses are now reported separately from segment expenses, and the prior-year period was recast to match. Source
  • New: Short-term investments are now shown apart from cash, and equities are included in alternative and strategic investments. The prior year was recast. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income rose on higher earnings: Net income was $49.7 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, against $42.1 million, or $1.01, a year earlier. Basic EPS was $1.12. Source
  • Operating income rose to $56.8 million: Operating income was $56.8 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, against $37.6 million, or $0.90, a year earlier. Operating income excludes net investment gains, amortization and other items. Source
  • Gross written premiums rose 9.9%: Gross written premiums were $667.7 million, up 9.9% on a pro forma basis from 2025. Managed premiums were $967.7 million, up 19.6%. Source
  • Underwriting income rose sharply: Underwriting income was $51.6 million, against $28.5 million a year earlier. The release defines it as pre-tax income excluding investment income, interest, amortization and other items. Source

Segments and regions

  • Skyward Specialty premiums rose 8.7%: Skyward Specialty gross written premiums rose 8.7%. The release names accident & health, credit & surety, global agriculture and specialty programs as the main drivers. Source
  • Apollo premiums rose 18.7%: Apollo gross written premiums rose 18.7% on a pro forma basis, mainly from syndicate 1969. Syndicate 1969 premiums were $65.0 million, up 21.6%. Source
  • Skyward Specialty loss ratio edged up: The Skyward Specialty loss and LAE ratio rose slightly on business mix. The Apollo segment's loss and LAE ratio was 52.8%. Source

“Our annualized operating return on equity of 20% reflects the strength and quality of our performance.”

Skyward Group Chairman and CEO Andrew Robinson

Products and customers

  • Energy Solutions premiums fell: Energy Solutions premiums fell 35.4%, while Global Agriculture rose 27.0%. The release gives no reason for the Energy Solutions decline. Source
  • Fee-generating premiums grew 48.8%: Premiums earning managing-agency fees reached $300.0 million, up 48.8%. Aligned syndicates rose 47.3% and partner syndicates rose 52.4%. Source
  • Apollo manages nine syndicates: Apollo manages nine syndicates. Three are capital-aligned, with Apollo retaining part of the underwriting risk, and the partner syndicates are managed for third parties without Apollo capital. Source

Costs, ratios and margins

  • Loss ratio improved 1.3 points: The loss ratio was 61.1% for the first quarter, compared with 62.4% in the same 2025 period. Source
  • Total expense ratio edged up: The expense ratio was 28.4%, against 28.1% a year earlier. Corporate expenses added 1.1 points to the total expense ratio. Source
  • Skyward Specialty expense ratio improved: The Skyward Specialty expense ratio improved 0.6 points, which management attributed to business mix shift and earnings leverage. Source

Investment income and gains

  • Investment income rose on Apollo: Net investment income rose on the Apollo portfolio, a higher yield and a larger asset base. Fixed income contributed most of the increase. Source
  • Investment gains were lower: Net investment gains were $3.2 million, against $6.8 million a year earlier. They combined unrealized and realized amounts. Source
  • Short-term investments increased: Short-term investments were $386.5 million at March 31, 2026, against $264.3 million at year-end. Total investments were $2.74 billion. Source

Capital, debt and shares

  • Stockholders' equity rose 21.3%: Stockholders' equity was $1,224.9 million, up from $1,009.6 million at December 31, 2025. Tangible stockholders' equity was $817.1 million. Source
  • Apollo share issuance lifted equity: The equity increase was primarily from common stock issued for the Apollo acquisition. Shares outstanding rose to 44,543,065 from 40,511,222. Source
  • Debt, goodwill and treasury stock rose: Notes payable were $466.4 million, against $100.4 million at year-end. Goodwill and intangible assets were $473.3 million, against $88.0 million. The company held 185,022 treasury shares at cost of $8.7 million. Source

Strategy and fee-based earnings

  • Fee-based earnings growth expected: Management called fee-generating premium growth an early indicator of fee-based earnings growth it expects over time. Source
  • Apollo earns fees from all syndicates: Apollo earns managing agency fees and performance-based income from all syndicates on its platform. Underwriting fee income was $10.1 million in the period. Source
  • Skyward Group named as holding brand: The release describes Skyward Group as the holding brand for its U.S. and U.K. businesses. The prior release had said U.S. and Lloyds businesses. Source
  • Diversification into lower-cycle lines: Management pointed to diversification in lines with lower exposure to P&C underwriting cycles as a feature of the portfolio. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Combined ratio Source89.5%
Ex-cat combined ratio Source87.7%
Net premiums written Source$432,883 thousand
Catastrophe losses Source1.8%
Investment income Source$27,055 thousand
Book value per share Source$27.50

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said the alternative and strategic investments portfolio continued to be affected by lower fair values of limited partnership investments. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management referred to its commitment to top-quartile performance across the market cycle. The release does not state progress against it. 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.