Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Fixed income:
Available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost - $1,776,465 in 2018 and $1,646,411 in 2017)	$ 1,760,515	$ 1,672,239
Equity securities, at fair value (cost - $220,373 in 2018 and $182,002 in 2017)	340,483	400,492
Short-term investments, at cost which approximates fair value	11,550	9,980
Other invested assets	51,542	33,808
Cash	30,140	24,271
Total investments and cash	2,194,230	2,140,790
Accrued investment income	14,033	15,166
Premiums and reinsurance balances receivable, net of allowances for uncollectible amounts of $16,967 in 2018 and $16,935 in 2017	152,576	134,351
Ceded unearned premium	71,174	57,928
Reinsurance balances recoverable on unpaid losses and settlement expenses, net of allowances for uncollectible amounts of $9,793 in 2018 and $10,014 in 2017	364,999	301,991
Deferred policy acquisition costs	84,934	77,716
Property and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation of $54,275 in 2018 and $47,676 in 2017	54,692	55,849
Investment in unconsolidated investees	94,967	90,067
Goodwill and intangibles	54,534	59,302
Other assets	18,926	14,084
TOTAL ASSETS	3,105,065	2,947,244
Liabilities:
Unpaid losses and settlement expenses	1,461,348	1,271,503
Unearned premiums	496,505	451,449
Reinsurance balances payable	22,591	21,624
Funds held	72,309	74,560
Income taxes - deferred	24,238	53,768
Bonds payable, long-term debt	149,115	148,928
Accrued expenses	45,124	52,848
Other liabilities	26,993	18,966
TOTAL LIABILITIES	2,298,223	2,093,646
Shareholders' Equity
Common stock ($0.01 par value in 2018 and $1.00 par value in 2017, authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued 67,434,257 shares in 2018 and 67,078,569 shares in 2017, and outstanding 44,504,043 shares in 2018 and 44,148,355 shares in 2017)	674	67,079
Paid-in capital	305,660	233,077
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings	(14,572)	157,919
Retained earnings	908,079	788,522
Deferred compensation	8,354	8,640
Less: Treasury shares at cost (22,930,214 shares in 2018 and 2017)	(401,353)	(401,639)
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	806,842	853,598
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$ 3,105,065	$ 2,947,244