MARIETTA, Pa., Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Donegal Group Inc. (NASDAQ: DGICA) and (NASDAQ: DGICB) today reported its financial results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2026.

Significant Items for third quarter of 2026 (all comparisons to third quarter of 2025):

• Net premiums earned decreased 3.0% to $222.9 million
• Combined ratio of 96.5%, compared to 95.9%
• Net income of $18.2 million, or 49 cents per diluted Class A share, compared to $20.1 million, or 55 cents per diluted Class A share
• Net income included after-tax net investment losses of $0.6 million, or 1 cent per diluted Class A share, compared to after-tax net investment gains of $1.0 million, or 3 cents per diluted Class A share
• Annualized return on average equity of 10.9%, compared to 13.0%
• Book value per share of $17.70 at September 30, 2026, compared to $17.14 at September 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”).

²Not meaningful.

Management Commentary

Kevin G. Burke, President and Chief Executive Officer of Donegal Group Inc., stated, “As expected, we continued to experience soft market conditions throughout our operating regions in the third quarter of 2026. Although those conditions continued to impede our ability to achieve our premium growth plan, we were able to deliver solid profitability, as demonstrated by earnings per diluted Class A share of $0.49 and an annualized return on equity of 10.9%.”

“Net premiums written¹ declined modestly for both commercial and personal lines. We primarily attribute the declines to higher-than-planned attrition that we believe resulted from our commitment to pricing discipline on policy renewals amid increased rate competition, offset partially by incrementally higher new business writings as we have selectively enhanced our competitive posture for desired accounts. Within our personal lines, our automobile new business growth benefited from the reintroduction of a 12-month policy term that customers selected for the vast majority of new automobile policies written during the quarter. The increase from six-month terms to 12-month terms effectively doubled the net premiums written related to those new policies.”

“Our underwriting results for the third quarter were generally favorable despite an increase in weather-related losses compared to the prior-year quarter and a handful of unusually severe workers’ compensation claims during the quarter. We were pleased with the relative consistency of our core loss ratio compared to the prior-year quarter.”

“As we close out 2026 and finalize our business plan for 2027, we continue to engage with our independent agency partners in developing and deploying specific action plans with a goal of achieving profitable premium growth, albeit at a modest pace in recognition of current market conditions. We remain confident in our team’s ability to successfully achieve our strategic objectives that we believe will enhance stockholder value over time.”

Insurance Operations

Donegal Group 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 conduct business together as the Donegal Insurance Group.

Net Premiums Written

The 4.5% decrease in net premiums written for the third quarter of 2026 compared to the third quarter of 2025, as shown in the table above, represents the net combination of a 3.7% decrease in commercial lines net premiums written and a 5.6% decrease in personal lines net premiums written. The $9.9 million decrease in net premiums written for the third quarter of 2026 compared to the third quarter of 2025 reflected competitive market conditions and included:

• Commercial Lines: $4.9 million decrease that we attribute primarily to modestly higher attrition and a lower level of renewal premium increases, offset partially by incremental growth in new business writings.
• Personal Lines: $5.0 million decrease that we attribute primarily to a lower level of renewal premium increases, offset partially by incremental growth in new business writings that included the impact of our insurance subsidiaries’ introduction during the third quarter of 2026 of a 12-month automobile policy term option for new business policies.

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 nine months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025:

Loss Ratio

For the third quarter of 2026, the loss ratio decreased slightly to 61.5%, compared to 62.1% for the third 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 57.2% for the third quarter of 2026 increased from 54.0% for the third quarter of 2025, due largely to higher workers’ compensation and casualty loss severity. For the personal lines segment, the core loss ratio of 42.2% for the third quarter of 2026 decreased from 46.6% for the third quarter of 2025, with the improvement primarily attributable to the homeowners line of business.

Weather-related losses were $19.1 million, or 8.6 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the third quarter of 2026, compared to $14.3 million, or 6.2 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the third quarter of 2025. Weather-related loss activity for the third quarter of 2026 was lower than our previous five-year average of $20.4 million, or 9.3 percentage points of the loss ratio, for third-quarter weather-related losses. Our insurance subsidiaries incurred $4.2 million in losses from a July severe convective storm in the third quarter of 2026.

Large fire losses, which we define as individual fire losses in excess of $50,000, for the third quarter of 2026 were $5.8 million, or 2.6 percentage points of the loss ratio. That amount compared to large fire losses of $10.0 million, or 4.4 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the third quarter of 2025. We experienced decreases in both commercial property and homeowners fire losses compared to the prior-year quarter.

Net favorable development of reserves for losses incurred in prior accident years of $3.5 million decreased the loss ratio for the third quarter of 2026 by 1.5 percentage points, compared to net unfavorable development of $1.0 million that increased the loss ratio for the third quarter of 2025 by 0.4 percentage points. For the third quarter of 2026, we attribute the net favorable development primarily to lower-than-expected emergence that our insurance subsidiaries experienced for the workers’ compensation and commercial automobile lines of business.

Expense Ratio

The expense ratio was 34.8% for the third quarter of 2026, compared to 33.5% for the third quarter of 2025. The increase in the expense ratio primarily reflected the impact of a lower base of net premiums earned compared to the prior-year quarter.

Investment Operations

Donegal Group’s 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% of our consolidated investment portfolio in diversified, highly rated and marketable fixed-maturity securities at September 30, 2026.

Net investment income of $14.7 million for the third quarter of 2026 increased 5.4% compared to $13.9 million for the third quarter of 2025. The increase in net investment income primarily reflected an increase in average investment yield relative to the prior-year third quarter.

Net investment losses of $0.7 million for the third quarter of 2026 were primarily related to net realized investment losses on the strategic sales of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities, offset partially by net unrealized gains in the fair value of equity securities held at September 30, 2026. Net investment gains of $1.3 million for the third quarter of 2025 were primarily related to net unrealized gains in the fair value of equity securities held at September 30, 2025, offset partially by net realized investment losses on the strategic sales of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities.

Our book value per share was $17.70 at September 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 $24.1 million of after-tax net unrealized losses within our available-for-sale fixed-maturity portfolio during 2026 that decreased our book value by $0.65 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 October 15, 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 November 16, 2026 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 2, 2026.

Pre-Recorded Webcast

At approximately 8:30 am ET on Thursday, October 29, 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