Insurance Agents Make Gains to Organic Growth in Q2: Reagan

Insurance agencies and brokerage firms reported that their organic growth rebounded to 4.6 percent in the second quarter of 2017, a reversal from the 3.9 percent reported in the first quarter, which was the weakest growth rate since 2011.

Kevin Stipe, president of Reagan Consulting, the merger-and-acquisition advisory firm that issued the report, Reagan Consulting’s Organic Growth and Profitability (OGP) Survey, said several factors have influenced the change. They include a stronger-than-expected U.S. economy, more favorable property/casualty pricing, and organic growth gains in both commercial and personal lines.

“Agency and brokerage firms have shown remarkable resiliency after a disappointing first quarter of 2017,” Stipe said.

Organic growth in commercial lines rose to 3.9 percent from 3.1 percent a year earlier, while in personal lines it rose to 2.3 percent from 1.7 percent — the fastest growth rate since 2013.

“What makes the personal lines result even more encouraging for agencies and brokerages is the fact that many observers suggest this business is vulnerable to technology-driven disruption and potential disintermediation,” Stipe said.

Profitability, defined as agent-broker earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), also reversed course, rising to 24.6 percent in the second quarter, up from 23.1 percent in the same quarter last year.

In previous quarters, EBITDA margins had receded and first-quarter 2017 was the lowest among Reagan Consulting’s surveyed brokers in five years. Reagan Consulting said EBITDA margins tend to hit their highest level in the first quarter, due to the reporting of contingent income, and decline over the course of the year.

Firms participating in the OGP survey are reporting greater confidence, forecasting 5 percent growth for the rest of the year.

M&A activity remains very strong, with historically high deal volume over the last two years. Still, Reagan noted that the 2016 Agency Universe Study by FutureOne, a collaboration between the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America and various insurers, found the number of agencies has actually increased during the last 10 years.

“Simply put, don’t count out agency and brokerage firms. They are showing great resilience and growth, and they continue to attract capital. The distribution channel has its challenges, but it’s as good a time to be in this business as it ever has been,” Stipe said.

Reagan Consulting’s survey uses submissions from more than 150 midsize and large agencies and brokerage firms.