v3.26.1
Investments
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Investments.  
Investments

5.  Investments

The gross unrealized gains and losses on investments in fixed maturity securities, including redeemable preferred stocks that have characteristics of fixed maturities, short-term investments, equity securities, including interests in mutual funds, and other invested assets were as follows for the periods indicated.

As of June 30, 2026

  ​ ​ ​

Cost or

  ​ ​ ​

Allowance for

  ​ ​ ​

Gross Unrealized

  ​ ​ ​

Estimated

Amortized

Expected Credit

Fair

Cost

Losses

Gains

Losses (3)

Value

U.S. Treasury securities

$

4,209

$

$

4

$

(46)

$

4,167

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

 

38,814

 

 

287

 

(1,820)

 

37,281

Residential mortgage-backed securities (1)

 

372,628

 

 

2,641

 

(17,622)

 

357,647

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

157,196

 

 

255

 

(7,072)

 

150,379

Other asset-backed securities

 

190,732

 

 

315

 

(1,318)

 

189,729

Corporate and other securities

 

601,789

 

(355)

 

2,822

 

(14,865)

 

589,391

Subtotal, fixed maturity securities 

 

1,365,368

 

(355)

 

6,324

 

(42,743)

 

1,328,594

Equity securities (2)

 

189,372

 

 

25,530

 

(12,946)

 

201,956

Other invested assets (4)

 

154,036

 

 

 

 

154,036

Totals

$

1,708,776

$

(355)

$

31,854

$

(55,689)

$

1,684,586

As of December 31, 2025

  ​ ​ ​

Cost or

  ​ ​ ​

Allowance for

  ​ ​ ​

Gross Unrealized

  ​ ​ ​

Estimated

Amortized

Expected Credit

Fair

Cost

Losses

Gains

Losses (3)

Value

U.S. Treasury securities

$

4,211

$

$

22

$

(28)

$

4,205

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

 

38,837

 

 

532

 

(1,651)

 

37,718

Residential mortgage-backed securities (1)

 

376,354

 

 

5,075

 

(15,382)

 

366,047

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

162,755

 

 

702

 

(6,439)

 

157,018

Other asset-backed securities

 

170,332

 

 

373

 

(1,196)

 

169,509

Corporate and other securities

 

584,746

 

 

7,431

 

(11,126)

 

581,051

Subtotal, fixed maturity securities 

 

1,337,235

 

 

14,135

 

(35,822)

 

1,315,548

Equity securities (2)

 

201,591

 

 

27,327

 

(7,965)

 

220,953

Other invested assets (4)

 

151,020

 

 

 

 

151,020

Totals

$

1,689,846

$

$

41,462

$

(43,787)

$

1,687,521

(1)Residential mortgage-backed securities consists primarily of obligations of U.S. Government agencies including collateralized mortgage obligations issued, guaranteed and/or insured by the following issuers: Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB).
(2)Equity securities include common stock, preferred stock, mutual funds and interests in mutual funds held to fund the Company’s executive deferred compensation plan.
(3)The Company’s investment portfolio includes 833 and 700 securities in an unrealized loss position at June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.
(4)Other invested assets are generally accounted for under the equity method which approximated fair value.

The amortized cost and the estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities, by maturity, are shown below for the period indicated. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

As of June 30, 2026

  ​ ​ ​

Amortized

  ​ ​ ​

Estimated

Cost

Fair Value

Due in one year or less

$

5,694

$

5,671

Due after one year through five years

 

340,433

 

332,248

Due after five years through ten years

 

278,972

 

273,275

Due after ten years through twenty years

 

18,882

 

18,795

Due after twenty years

 

831

 

850

Asset-backed securities

 

720,556

 

697,755

Totals

$

1,365,368

$

1,328,594

The gross realized gains and losses on sales of investments were as follows for the periods indicated.

Three Months Ended June 30, 

  ​ ​ ​

Six Months Ended June 30, 

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

 

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

Gross realized gains

Fixed maturity securities

$

194

$

127

$

1,570

$

313

Equity securities

 

3,707

 

3,426

 

13,590

 

8,271

Gross realized losses

Fixed maturity securities

 

(669)

 

(147)

 

(1,361)

 

(271)

Equity securities

 

(1,814)

 

(1,275)

 

(5,750)

 

(1,919)

Net realized gains on investments

$

1,418

$

2,131

$

8,049

$

6,394

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into transactions involving various types of financial instruments, including investments in fixed maturities and equity securities. Investment transactions have credit exposure to the extent that a counter party may default on an obligation to the Company. Credit risk is a consequence of carrying, trading and investing in securities. To manage credit risk, the Company focuses on higher quality fixed income securities, reviews the credit strength of all companies in which it invests, limits its exposure in any one investment and monitors the portfolio quality, taking into account credit ratings assigned by recognized statistical rating organizations.

The following tables as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 present the gross unrealized losses included in the Company’s investment portfolio and the fair value of those securities aggregated by investment category. The tables also present the length of time that they have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

As of June 30, 2026

Less than 12 Months

12 Months or More

Total

  ​ ​ ​

Estimated

  ​ ​ ​

Unrealized

  ​ ​ ​

Estimated

  ​ ​ ​

Unrealized

  ​ ​ ​

Estimated

  ​ ​ ​

Unrealized

Fair Value

Losses

Fair Value

Losses

Fair Value

Losses

U.S. Treasury securities

$

2,078

$

31

$

1,487

$

15

$

3,565

$

46

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

 

10,146

 

104

 

10,603

 

1,716

 

20,749

 

1,820

Residential mortgage-backed securities

 

66,891

 

769

 

140,933

 

16,853

 

207,824

 

17,622

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

29,577

 

467

 

94,468

 

6,605

 

124,045

 

7,072

Other asset-backed securities

 

89,238

296

6,350

1,022

95,588

1,318

Corporate and other securities

 

272,833

 

3,708

 

145,466

 

11,157

 

418,299

 

14,865

Subtotal, fixed maturity securities

 

470,763

 

5,375

 

399,307

 

37,368

 

870,070

 

42,743

Equity securities

 

74,420

 

11,250

 

4,790

 

1,696

 

79,210

 

12,946

Total temporarily impaired securities

$

545,183

$

16,625

$

404,097

$

39,064

$

949,280

$

55,689

As of December 31, 2025

Less than 12 Months

12 Months or More

Total

  ​ ​ ​

Estimated

  ​ ​ ​

Unrealized

  ​ ​ ​

Estimated

  ​ ​ ​

Unrealized

  ​ ​ ​

Estimated

  ​ ​ ​

Unrealized

Fair Value

Losses

Fair Value

Losses

Fair Value

Losses

U.S. Treasury securities

$

$

$

1,474

$

28

$

1,474

$

28

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

 

1,199

 

6

 

10,684

 

1,645

 

11,883

 

1,651

Residential mortgage-backed securities

 

26,318

 

153

 

156,857

 

15,229

 

183,175

 

15,382

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

15,491

 

108

 

103,960

 

6,331

 

119,451

 

6,439

Other asset-backed securities

 

95,322

146

10,113

1,050

 

105,435

 

1,196

Corporate and other securities

 

91,652

 

464

 

176,063

 

10,662

 

267,715

 

11,126

Subtotal, fixed maturity securities

 

229,982

 

877

 

459,151

 

34,945

 

689,133

 

35,822

Equity securities

 

68,924

 

5,162

 

7,967

 

2,803

 

76,891

 

7,965

Total temporarily impaired securities

$

298,906

$

6,039

$

467,118

$

37,748

$

766,024

$

43,787

Impairments

For fixed maturities that the Company does not intend to sell or for which it is more likely than not that the Company would not be required to sell before an anticipated recovery in value, the Company separates the expected credit loss component of the impairment from the amount related to all other factors. The expected credit loss component is recognized as an allowance for expected credit losses. The allowance is adjusted for any additional credit losses and subsequent recoveries, which are booked in income as either credit loss expense or credit loss benefit, respectively. Upon recognizing a credit loss, the cost basis is not adjusted. The impairment related to all other factors (non-credit factors) is reported in other comprehensive income.

For fixed maturities where the Company records a credit loss, a determination is made as to the cause of the impairment and whether the Company expects a recovery in the value. For fixed maturities where the Company expects a recovery in value, the constant effective yield method is utilized, and the investment is amortized to par.

For fixed maturity investments the Company intends to sell or for which it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell before an anticipated recovery in value, the full amount of the impairment is included in credit loss expense. The new cost basis of the investment is the previous amortized cost basis less the impairment recognized in credit loss expense. The new cost basis is not adjusted for any subsequent recoveries in fair value.

The Company uses a systematic methodology to evaluate declines in fair values below cost or amortized cost of our investments. Some of the factors considered in assessing impairment of fixed maturities due to credit losses include the extent to which the fair value is less than amortized cost, the financial condition of and the near and long-term prospects of the issuer, whether the debtor is current on its contractually obligated interest and principal payments, changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, the historical volatility of the fair value of the security and whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the investment prior to an anticipated recovery in value.

As of June 30, 2026, the Company concluded that $355 of unrealized losses were due to credit factors and were recorded as an allowance for expected credit losses expense. As of December 31, 2025, the Company concluded that none of the unrealized losses in the fixed maturity portfolio were attributable to credit factors; therefore, no allowance for credit losses was recorded. The Company concluded that outside of the securities that were recognized as credit impaired, the unrealized losses recorded on the fixed maturity portfolio at June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 resulted from fluctuations in market interest rates and other temporary market conditions as opposed to fundamental changes in the credit quality of the issuers of such securities. Based upon the analysis performed, the Company’s decision to hold these securities, the Company’s current level of liquidity and our history of positive operating cash flows, management believes it is more likely than not that it will not be required to sell any of its securities before the anticipated recovery in the fair value to its amortized cost basis.

The following table represents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the allowance for expected credit losses on fixed maturities classified as available for sale.  

Three Months Ended June 30, 

Six Months Ended June 30, 

2026

2025

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

Beginning of period

$

348

$

1,519

$

$

1,198

Credit losses on securities with no previously recorded credit losses

348

303

Net increases (decreases) in allowance on previously impaired securities

 

7

66

 

7

 

84

Reduction due to sales

 

(132)

(132)

Writeoffs charged against allowance

 

 

 

Recoveries of amounts previously written off

 

 

 

Ending balance of period

$

355

$

1,453

$

355

$

1,453

The Company holds no subprime mortgage debt securities. All of the Company’s holdings in mortgage-backed securities are either U.S. Government or Agency guaranteed or are rated investment grade by nationally recognized rating agencies.

Net Investment Income

The components of net investment income were as follows:

Three Months Ended June 30, 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

Interest on fixed maturity securities

$

14,972

$

14,752

$

29,180

$

27,285

Dividends on equity securities

 

2,333

 

1,415

 

4,980

 

2,944

Equity in earnings of other invested assets

 

279

 

384

 

1,502

 

1,761

Interest on other assets

 

55

 

80

 

110

 

160

Total investment income 

 

17,639

 

16,631

 

35,772

 

32,150

Investment expenses

 

1,080

 

907

 

2,175

 

1,852

Net investment income 

$

16,559

$

15,724

$

33,597

$

30,298

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure, provides a revised definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands financial statement disclosure requirements for fair value information. Under ASC 820, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants (an exit price). ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between inputs based on market data from independent sources (“observable inputs”) and a reporting entity’s internal assumptions based upon the best information available when external market data is limited or unavailable (“unobservable inputs”). The fair value hierarchy in ASC 820 prioritizes fair value measurements into three levels based on the nature of the inputs as follows:

Level 1 — Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;

Level 2 — Valuations based on observable inputs that do not meet the criteria for Level 1, including quoted prices in inactive markets and quoted prices in active markets for similar, but not identical instruments; and

Level 3 — Valuations based on unobservable inputs.

Fair values for the Company’s fixed maturity securities are based on prices provided by its custodian bank and its investment managers. Both the Company’s custodian bank and investment managers use a variety of independent, nationally recognized pricing services to determine market valuations. If the pricing service cannot provide fair value determinations, the Company obtains non-binding price quotes from broker-dealers. A minimum of two quoted prices is obtained for the majority of the Company’s available-for-sale fixed maturity securities in its investment portfolio. The Company uses a third-party pricing service as its primary provider of quoted prices from third-party pricing services and broker-dealers. To provide reasonable assurance of the validity of each price or quote, a secondary third-party pricing service or broker-dealer quote is obtained from the Company’s custodian or investment managers. An examination of the pricing data is then performed for each security. If the variance between the primary and secondary price quotes for a security is within an accepted tolerance level, the quoted price obtained from the Company’s primary source is used for the security. If the variance between the primary and secondary price quotes exceeds an accepted tolerance level, the

Company obtains a quote from an alternative source, if possible, and documents and resolves any differences between the pricing sources. In addition, the Company may request that its investment managers and its traders provide input as to which vendor is providing prices that its traders believe are reflective of fair value for the security. Following this process, the Company may decide to value the security in its financial statements using the secondary or alternative source if it believes that pricing is more reflective of the security’s value than the primary pricing provided by its custodian bank. The Company analyzes market valuations received to verify reasonableness, to understand the key assumptions used and their sources, and to determine an appropriate ASC 820 fair value hierarchy level based upon trading activity and the observability of market inputs. Based on this evaluation and investment class analysis, each price is classified into Level 1, 2 or 3.

Fair values of instruments are based on (i) quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1), (ii) quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets (Level 2) or (iii) valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable in the marketplace (Level 3).

The Company’s Level 1 securities consist of equity securities whose values are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. The Company’s Level 2 securities are comprised of available-for-sale fixed maturity securities whose fair value was determined using observable market inputs. The Company’s Level 3 security consists of an investment in the FHLB of Boston related to Safety Insurance Company’s membership stock, which is not redeemable in a short-term time frame. Fair values for securities for which quoted market prices were unavailable were estimated based upon reference to observable inputs such as benchmark interest rates, market comparables, and other relevant inputs. Investments valued using these inputs include U.S. Treasury securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions, corporate and other securities, commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities, and other asset-backed securities. Inputs into the fair value application that are utilized by asset class include but are not limited to:

Obligations of states and political subdivisions: overall credit quality, including assessments of market sectors and the level and variability of sources of payment such as general obligation, revenue or lease; credit support such as insurance, state or local economic and political base, prefunded and escrowed to maturity covenants.

Corporate and other securities: overall credit quality, the establishment of a risk adjusted credit spread over the applicable risk-free yield curve for discounted cash flow valuations; assessments of the level of industry economic sensitivity, company financial policies, indenture restrictive covenants, and/or security and collateral.

Residential mortgage-backed securities, U.S. agency pass-throughs, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), non U.S. agency CMOs:  estimates of prepayment speeds based upon historical prepayment rate trends, underlying collateral interest rates, original weighted average maturity, vintage year, borrower credit quality characteristics, interest rate and yield curve forecasts, U.S. government support programs, tax policies, and delinquency/default trends.

Commercial mortgage-backed securities: overall credit quality, including assessments of the level and variability of credit support and collateral type such as office, retail, or lodging, predictability of cash flows for the deal structure, prevailing economic market conditions.

Other asset-backed securities:  overall credit quality, estimates of prepayment speeds based upon historical trends and characteristics of underlying loans, including assessments of the level and variability of collateral, revenue generating agreements, area licenses agreements, product sourcing agreements and equipment and property leases.

FHLB of Boston: value is equal to the cost of the member stock purchased, which is expected to be the exit price.

In order to ensure the fair value determination is representative of an exit price, the Company’s procedures for validating quotes or prices obtained from third parties include, but are not limited to, obtaining a minimum of two price

quotes for each fixed maturity security if possible, as discussed above, the periodic testing of sales activity to determine if there are any significant differences between the market price used to value the security as of the balance sheet date and the sales price of the security for sales that occurred around the balance sheet date, and the periodic review of reports provided by its external investment manager regarding those securities with ratings changes and securities placed on its “Watch List.” In addition, valuation techniques utilized by pricing services and prices obtained from external sources are reviewed by the Company’s external investment manager, whose investment professionals are familiar with the securities being priced and the markets in which they trade, to ensure the fair value determination is representative of an exit price.

All unadjusted estimates of fair value for our fixed maturities priced by the pricing services as described above are included in the amounts disclosed in Level 2. With the exception of the FHLB of Boston security, which is categorized as a Level 3 security, the Company’s entire portfolio was priced based upon quoted market prices or other observable inputs as of June 30, 2026. There were no significant changes to the valuation process during the six months ended June 30, 2026. As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, no quotes or prices obtained were adjusted by management. All broker quotes obtained were non-binding.

At June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, investments in fixed maturities classified as available-for-sale had a fair value which equaled carrying value of $1,328,594 and $1,315,548, respectively. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents and investment income accrued approximated fair value.

The following tables summarize the Company’s total fair value measurements for investments for the periods indicated.

As of June 30, 2026

  ​ ​ ​

Total

  ​ ​ ​

Level 1 Inputs

  ​ ​ ​

Level 2 Inputs

  ​ ​ ​

Level 3 Inputs

U.S. Treasury securities

$

4,167

$

$

4,167

$

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

 

37,281

 

 

37,281

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

 

357,647

 

 

357,647

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

150,379

 

 

150,379

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

189,729

 

 

189,729

 

Corporate and other securities

 

589,391

 

 

589,391

 

Other invested assets

14,285

14,285

Equity securities

 

169,908

 

168,910

 

 

998

Total investment securities

$

1,512,787

$

168,910

$

1,342,879

$

998

As of December 31, 2025

  ​ ​ ​

Total

  ​ ​ ​

Level 1 Inputs

  ​ ​ ​

Level 2 Inputs

  ​ ​ ​

Level 3 Inputs

U.S. Treasury securities

$

4,205

$

$

4,205

$

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

 

37,718

 

 

37,718

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

 

366,047

 

 

366,047

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

157,018

 

 

157,018

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

169,509

 

 

169,509

 

Corporate and other securities

 

581,051

 

 

581,051

 

Other invested assets

14,209

14,209

Equity securities

 

188,954

 

188,022

 

 

932

Total investment securities

$

1,518,711

$

188,022

$

1,329,757

$

932

As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, there were approximately $32,048 and $31,999, respectively, in a real estate investment trust (“REIT”). The REIT is excluded from the fair value hierarchy because the fair value is recorded using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The net asset value per share of this REIT is derived from member ownership in the capital venture to which a proportionate share of independently appraised net assets is attributed. The fair value was determined using the trust’s net asset value obtained from its financial statements. The Company is required to submit a request 45 days before a quarter end to dispose of the security.

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025.

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s Level 3 fair value securities for the periods indicated.

Three Months Ended June 30, 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

Level 3

Level 3

 

Level 3

Level 3

Fair Value

Fair Value

 

Fair Value

Fair Value

Securities

Securities

 

Securities

Securities

Balance at beginning of period

$

932

$

884

$

932

$

2,120

Net gains and losses included in earnings

 

 

 

 

Net gains included in other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

Purchases

 

66

 

48

 

66

 

48

Sales

(1,236)

Transfers into Level 3

 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

$

998

$

932

$

998

$

932

Amount of total losses included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized losses related to assets still held at end of period

$

$

$

$

Transfers in and out of Level 3 are attributable to changes in the ability to observe significant inputs in determining fair value exit pricing. As noted in the table above, no transfers were made in or out of Level 3 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025. The Company held one Level 3 security at June 30, 2026 and 2025.

In April 2024, the Massachusetts Division of Insurance approved a restructuring of the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (“FAIR Plan”), pursuant to which, in a non-cash transaction, the Company liquidated its net asset position in the FAIR Plan and established an investment interest (“Investment in FAIR Plan Trust”). The Company’s Investment in FAIR Plan Trust is adjusted to its current fair value on a quarterly basis based on information from the FAIR Plan, with changes recognized through earnings. As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company’s Investment in FAIR Plan Trust of $14,285 and $14,209, respectively, was included in other invested assets. The Company recognized $53 and $76, respectively, of income in earnings from partnership investments from its Investment in FAIR Plan Trust during the three and six months ended June 30, 2026. The Company recognized $186 and $323, respectively, of income in earnings from partnership investments from its Investment in FAIR Plan Trust during the three and six months ended June 30, 2025.