Verisk Reports Third-Quarter 2024 Financial Results

• Consolidated revenues were $725 million, up 7.0%, and up 6.8% on an organic constant currency (OCC) basis for the third quarter of 2024.
• Income from continuing operations was $220 million, up 17.4% for the third quarter of 2024. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was $401 million, up 9.4%, and up 7.2% on an OCC basis. 
• Diluted GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations (diluted EPS) were $1.54 for the third quarter of 2024, up 19.4%. Diluted adjusted earnings per share (diluted adjusted EPS), a non-GAAP measure, were $1.67, up 9.9%.
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $296 million, up 18.4% and free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, was $241 million, up 22.9% for the third quarter of 2024. 
• We paid a cash dividend of 39 cents per share on September 30, 2024, and repurchased $400 million of our common shares during the third quarter of 2024. Our Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of 39 cents per share payable December 31, 2024, an increase of 15% from 2023.

Lee Shavel, president and CEO, Verisk: "We are pleased with this quarter's strong financial results, which demonstrate the power of our subscription-based business model and the value we create for our clients. We continue to elevate and intensify our strategic dialogue with clients, generating new opportunities and stronger relationships. In the face of growing operating and technological challenges for the insurance industry, we are innovating and investing at scale to enhance its efficiency, effectiveness, and profitability."

Elizabeth Mann, CFO, Verisk: "Verisk delivered another strong quarter of top line growth, led by strength in our subscription businesses. OCC revenue grew 6.8%, driven by a sequential improvement in both underwriting and claims. Our focus on delivering on our margin commitments while balancing investment in our growth initiatives translated into strong margin expansion and adjusted EBITDA margins of 54.6% for the trailing twelve months. We also continued our commitment to return cash to shareholders through dividends and our share repurchase activity with the completion of our $400 million accelerated share repurchase in October 2024."

Summary of Results (GAAP and Non-GAAP) from Continuing Operations

(in millions, except per share amounts)

Note: Adjusted EBITDA, diluted adjusted EPS, and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures.

Consolidated and OCC revenues increased 7.0% and 6.8%, respectively, with solid growth contributions from both underwriting and claims within Insurance.

Revenues and Revenue Growth

(in millions)

Note: OCC revenue growth is a non-GAAP measure.

• Underwriting revenues increased 6.7% in the quarter and 6.5% on an OCC basis, primarily due to our forms, rules and loss cost services and extreme event solutions. Specialty business and life solutions also contributed to the growth.
• Claims revenues increased 7.9% in the quarter and 7.4% on an OCC basis, primarily due to growth in our anti-fraud solutions and property estimating solutions.

During third-quarter 2024, income from continuing operations was $220 million, an increase of 17.4%. The increase in income from continuing operations was primarily driven by strong revenue growth and cost discipline, a litigation reserve expense of $19.2 million in the prior year associated with our former Financial Services segment, and a lower effective tax rate.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 9.4%, and 7.2% on an OCC basis, primarily due to strong revenue growth and cost discipline.

Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

(in millions)

Note: Consolidated EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. Margin is calculated as a percentage of revenues. See "Non-GAAP Reconciliations" below for a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure. All OCC figures exclude results from the disposition of the Energy business.

Diluted EPS attributable to Verisk increased 19.4% to $1.54 for the third quarter of 2024. The increase in Diluted EPS was driven by strong operating performance, a litigation reserve expense of $19.2 million in the prior year and a lower effective tax rate. Diluted adjusted EPS increased 9.9% to $1.67 for the third quarter of 2024, reflecting revenue and profit growth, a lower effective tax rate, and a lower average share count due to our accelerated share repurchase program. 

Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow

Net cash provided by operating activities was $296.2 million for the third quarter of 2024, up 18.4%, and free cash flow was $240.7 million, up 22.9%. The increase in operating cash flow was due to an increase in operating profit.

Dividend

On September 30, 2024, we paid a cash dividend of 39 cents per share of common stock issued and outstanding to the holders of record as of September 15, 2024.

On October 23, 2024, our Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of 39 cents per share of common stock issued and outstanding. The dividend is payable on December 31, 2024, to holders of record as of December 13, 2024.

Share Repurchases

During the third quarter of 2024, we initiated a $400 million Accelerated Share Repurchase program, which was completed on October 25, 2024 and resulted in a repurchase of 1,515,616 shares at an average price of $263.92. As of September 30, 2024, we had $892 million remaining under our share repurchase authorization.

2024 Financial Guidance

The Company's financial outlook for 2024 remains unchanged and is as follows:

Our management team will host a live audio webcast to discuss the financial results and business highlights on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. EDT (5:30 a.m. PDT, 12:30 p.m. GMT). All interested parties are invited to listen to the live event via webcast on our investor website at http://investor.verisk.com. The discussion will also be available through dial-in number 888-660-6191 for U.S./Canada participants or 929-203-1913 for international participants.

A replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days on our investor website and through the conference call number 800-770-2030 for U.S./Canada participants or 647-362-9199 for international participants using Conference ID #4026897.

About Verisk

Verisk is a leading strategic data analytics and technology partner to the global insurance industry. It empowers clients to strengthen operating efficiency, improve underwriting and claims outcomes, combat fraud and make informed decisions about global risks, including climate change, extreme events, sustainability and political issues. Through advanced data analytics, software, scientific research and deep industry knowledge, Verisk helps build global resilience for individuals, communities and businesses. With teams across more than 20 countries, Verisk consistently earns certification by Great Place to Work and fosters an inclusive culture where all team members feel they belong.

Verisk is traded on the Nasdaq exchange and is a part of the S&P 500 Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index.

For more information, please visit www.verisk.com.

Contact:

Investor Relations

Stacey Brodbar

Head of Investor Relations

Verisk 

201-469-4327 

[email protected]

Media

Alberto Canal

Verisk Public Relations

201-469-2618

[email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, including those related to our financial guidance. These statements relate to future events or to future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. This includes, but is not limited to, our expectation and ability to pay a cash dividend on our common stock in the future, subject to the determination by our Board of Directors and based on an evaluation of our earnings, financial condition and requirements, business conditions, capital allocation determinations, and other factors, risks, and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may,” "could,” "expect,” "intend,” "plan,” "target,” "seek,” "anticipate,” "believe,” "estimate,” "predict,” "potential,” or "continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond our control and that could materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

Other factors that could materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements can be found in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, annual reports on Form 10-K, and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from what we projected. Any forward-looking statement in this release reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties, and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy, and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise except as required by law.

Notes Regarding the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We have provided certain non-GAAP financial information as supplemental information regarding our operating results. These measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, U.S. GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures reported by other companies. We believe that our presentation of non-GAAP measures provides useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, our management uses these measures for reviewing our financial results, for budgeting and planning purposes, and for evaluating the performance of senior management.

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA Expenses: EBITDA represents GAAP net income adjusted for (i) depreciation and amortization of fixed assets; (ii) amortization of intangible assets; (iii) interest expense, net; and (iv) provision for income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA represe