First American Financial Reports Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year of 2017

First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF), a leading global provider of title insurance, settlement services and risk solutions for real estate transactions, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2017.

Download the complete press release as a PDF

Current Quarter Highlights

• Total revenue of $1.5 billion, down 2 percent compared with last year
  • Closed title orders down 19 percent, driven by a 41 percent decline in refinance orders
  • Average revenue per order up 23 percent, driven by the shift in the mix to higher-premium purchase and commercial transactions
• Title Insurance and Services segment pretax margin of 12.2 percent
• Commercial revenues of $196.2 million, up 6 percent compared with last year
• Specialty Insurance segment pretax margin of 9.2 percent
• Property and casualty loss rate of 108.1 percent impacted by California wildfires
• Debt-to-capital ratio of 17.4 percent as of Dec. 31, 2017
• Net tax benefit of $114.1 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, related to tax reform

Full Year 2017 Highlights

• Total revenue of $5.8 billion, up 4 percent compared with last year
• Title Insurance and Services segment pretax margin of 12.1 percent
• Closed acquisitions totaling $91 million
• Completed termination of pension plan, resulting in annualized savings of $22 million
• Raised common stock dividend 12 percent to an annual rate of $1.52 per share
• Cash flow from operations of $632.1 million, up 29 percent from last year
• Return on equity of 13.0 percent

Selected Financial Information

($ in millions, except per share data)

		Three Months Ended								Full Year Ended
		December 31,								December 31,
		2017				2016				2017				2016
Total revenue		$	1,481.3			$	1,504.3			$	5,772.4			$	5,575.8
Income before taxes			159.3			81.5					445.3			477.6
Net income		$	221.1			$	81.0			$	423.0			$	343.0
Net income per diluted share			1.96			0.73					3.76			3.09

 

Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $1.5 billion, a decline of 2 percent relative to the fourth quarter of 2016. Net income in the current quarter was $221.1 million, or $1.96 per diluted share, compared with net income of $81.0 million, or 73 cents per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2016.

This quarter's effective tax rate of negative 38.5 percent includes a net benefit of $114.1 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, primarily due to the re-measurement of net deferred tax liabilities as a result of recent tax reform legislation.

Total revenue for the full year of 2017 was $5.8 billion, an increase of 4 percent relative to the prior year. Net income was $423.0 million, or $3.76 per diluted share, compared with net income of $343.0 million, or $3.09 per diluted share, in 2016.

"The company had strong results in 2017, achieving earnings per share of $3.76 and a return on equity of 13 percent," said Dennis J. Gilmore, chief executive officer at First American Financial Corporation. "Total revenue grew 4 percent, primarily driven by strength in our purchase and commercial businesses, which offset the sharp drop in refinance transactions. We continued to manage the company at a high level of efficiency, enabling us to deliver a pretax margin of 12.1 percent in our title segment.

"In 2018, we will maintain our efforts to develop innovative solutions for our customers and acquire companies that strengthen our core business. In addition, we believe the company will continue to benefit from the ongoing improvement in housing and the general economy. We will remain focused on operating efficiently and strategically deploying our capital in ways that create shareholder value."

Title Insurance and Services

($ in millions, except average revenue per order)

		Three Months Ended
		December 31,
		2017				2016
Total revenues		$	1,356.0			$	1,384.0
Income before taxes		$	165.6			$	150.1
Pretax margin			12.2	%			10.8	%
Direct open orders			231,500				265,800
Direct closed orders			204,200				252,700
U.S. Commercial
Total revenues		$	196.2			$	185.5
Open orders			30,300				30,000
Closed orders			20,600				21,100
Average revenue per order		$	9,500			$	8,800

 

Total revenues for the Title Insurance and Services segment during the fourth quarter were $1.4 billion, down 2 percent compared with the same quarter of 2016. Direct premiums and escrow fees were down 1 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2016, driven by a 19 percent decline in the number of direct title orders closed that was largely offset by a 23 percent increase in the average revenue per direct title order. The growth in the average revenue per direct title order to $2,411 was primarily attributable to the shift in the order mix to higher-premium residential purchase and commercial transactions. Agent premiums, which are recorded on approximately a one-quarter lag relative to direct premiums, were down 5 percent in the current quarter as compared with last year.

Information and other revenues were $187.5 million this quarter, down 1 percent compared with the same quarter of last year. Higher revenues from recent acquisitions were offset by lower revenues from the company’s centralized lender business, largely due to the decline in refinance activity.

Investment income was $38.3 million in the fourth quarter, up $8.9 million, or 30 percent, primarily due to the increase in short-term interest rates that drove higher interest income in the company’s investment portfolio and cash balances. Net realized investment losses totaled $2.7 million in the current quarter, compared with losses of $0.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Personnel costs were $414.2 million in the fourth quarter, a decrease of $9.8 million, or 2 percent, compared with the same quarter of 2016. This decline was primarily driven by lower temporary labor, overtime and incentive compensation expenses, partially offset by personnel costs associated with recent acquisitions.

Other operating expenses were $208.6 million in the fourth quarter, up $3.3 million, or 2 percent, compared with the fourth quarter of 2016. The increase was due to an $8.5 million write off of uncollectible balances this quarter, partially offset by lower production-related costs as a result of the decline in order volume.

The provision for policy losses and other claims was $45.3 million in the fourth quarter, or 4.0 percent of title premiums and escrow fees, compared with a 5.5 percent loss provision rate in the fourth quarter of 2016. The current quarter rate reflects an ultimate loss rate of 4.0 percent for the current policy year and no change in the loss reserve estimates for prior policy years.

Depreciation and amortization expense was $30.1 million in the fourth quarter, an increase of $3.5 million, or 13 percent, compared with the same period last year. The increase was primarily attributable to higher amortization expense associated with both internally developed and purchased software.

Pretax income for the Title Insurance and Services segment was $165.6 million in the fourth quarter, compared with $150.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Pretax margin was 12.2 percent in the current quarter, compared with 10.8 percent last year.

Specialty Insurance

($ in millions)

		Three Months Ended
		December 31,
		2017				2016
Total revenues		$	121.1			$	118.6
Income before taxes		$	11.1			$	21.3
Pretax margin			9.2	%			18.0	%

 

Total revenues for the Specialty Insurance segment were $121.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, an increase of 2 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2016. The results from the home warranty business benefited from both lower claim severity and frequency. The decline in severity was primarily driven by operational improvements in claims management processes. The company’s property and casualty business experienced high claim losses in the quarter due to two separate California wildfires, with losses exceeding our $5 million reinsurance retention limit for each event. As a result, the overall loss ratio for the segment increased to 63.5 percent this quarter, compared with 54.6 percent last year. The segment’s pretax margin in the current quarter was 9.2 percent, compared with 18.0 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.

Teleconference/Webcast

First American’s fourth-quarter and year-end 2017 results will be discussed in more detail on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, at 11 a.m. EST, via teleconference. The toll-free dial-in number is 877-407-8293. Callers from outside the United States may dial +1-201-689-8349.

The live audio webcast of the call will be available on First American’s website at www.firstam.com/investor. An audio replay of the conference call will be available through Feb. 22, 2018, by dialing 201-612-7415 and using the conference ID 13675613. An audio archive of the call will also be available on First American’s investor website.

About First American

First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF) is a leading provider of title insurance, settlement services and risk solutions for real estate transactions that traces its heritage back to 1889. First American also provides title plant management services; title and other real property records and images; valuation products and services; home warranty products; property and casualty insurance; and banking, trust and wealth management services. With total revenue of $5.8 billion in 2017, the company offers its products and services directly and through its agents throughout the United States and abroad. In 2016 and again in 2017, First American was named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list. More information about the company can be found at www.firstam.com.

Website Disclosure

First American posts information of interest to investors at www.firstam.com/investor. This includes opened and closed title insurance order counts for its U.S. direct title insurance operations, which are posted approximately 10 to 12 days after the end of each month.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release and the related management commentary contain, and responses to investor questions may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and may contain the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict,” “estimate,” “project,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” or other similar words and phrases or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “would,” or “could.” These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding future operations, performance, financial condition, prospects, plans and strategies. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that may prove to be incorrect. Risks and uncertainties exist that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the anticipated results to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation: interest rate fluctuations; changes in the performance of the real estate markets; volatility in the capital markets; unfavorable economic conditions; impairments in the company’s goodwill or other intangible assets; failures at financial institutions where the company deposits funds; changes in applicable laws and government regulations; heightened scrutiny by legislators and regulators of the company’s title insurance and services segment and certain other of the company’s businesses; use of social media by the company and other parties; regulation of title insurance rates; limitations on access to public records and other data; changes in relationships with large mortgage lenders and government-sponsored enterprises; changes in measures of the strength of the company’s title insurance underwriters, including ratings and statutory capital and surplus; losses in the company’s investment portfolio; material variance between actual and expected claims experience; defalcations, increased claims or other costs and expenses attributable to the company’s use of title agents; any inadequacy in the company’s risk management framework; systems damage, failures, interruptions and intrusions or unauthorized data disclosures; errors and fraud involving the transfer of funds; the company’s use of a global workforce; inability of the company’s subsidiaries to pay dividends or repay funds; inability to realize the benefits of, and challenges arising from, the company’s acquisition strategy; and other factors described in the company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release and related management commentary contain certain financial measures that are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), including personnel and other operating expense ratios, and success ratios. The company is presenting these non-GAAP financial measures because they provide the company’s management and investors with additional insight into the operational efficiency and performance of the company relative to earlier periods and relative to the company’s competitors. The company does not intend for these non-GAAP financial measures to be a substitute for any GAAP financial information. In this news release, these non-GAAP financial measures have been presented with, and reconciled to, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Investors should use these non-GAAP financial measures only in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measures.

First American Financial Corporation
Summary of Consolidated Financial Results and Selected Information
(in thousands, except per share amounts and title orders, unaudited)
		Three Months Ended								Year Ended
		December 31,								December 31,
		2017				2016				2017				2016
Total revenues		$	1,481,323			$	1,504,257			$	5,772,363			$	5,575,846
Income before income taxes		$	159,335			$	81,451			$	445,331			$	477,581
Income taxes			(61,378	)			490				23,468				134,105
Net income			220,713				80,961				421,863				343,476
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests			(414	)			(62	)			(1,186	)			483
Net income attributable to the Company		$	221,127			$	81,023			$	423,049			$	342,993
Net income per share attributable to stockholders:
Basic		$	1.98			$	0.73			$	3.79			$	3.10
Diluted		$	1.96			$	0.73			$	3.76			$	3.09
Cash dividends declared per share		$	0.38			$	0.34			$	1.44			$	1.20
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic			111,904				110,740				111,668				110,548
Diluted			112,846				111,464				112,435				111,156
Selected Title Insurance Segment Information
Title orders opened(1)			231,500				265,800				1,069,000				1,281,400
Title orders closed(1)			204,200				252,700				823,700				958,400
Paid title claims			51,262				51,149				200,350				210,241
(1) U.S. direct title insurance orders only.

 

First American Financial Corporation
Selected Balance Sheet Information
(in thousands, unaudited)
		December 31,				December 31,
		2017				2016
Cash and cash equivalents		$	1,387,226			$	1,006,138
Investments			5,378,303				5,140,699
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net			1,212,918				1,096,315
Total assets			9,573,222				8,831,777
Reserve for claim losses			1,028,933				1,025,863
Notes and contracts payable			732,810				736,693
Total stockholders’ equity		$	3,479,955			$	3,008,179

 

First American Financial Corporation
Segment Information
(in thousands, unaudited)
Three Months Ended						Title				Specialty				Corporate
December 31, 2017		Consolidated				Insurance				Insurance				(incl. Elims.)
Revenues
Direct premiums and escrow fees		$	642,661			$	530,126			$	112,535			$	—
Agent premiums			602,863				602,863				—				—
Information and other			190,035				187,469				2,832				(266	)
Net investment income			45,293				38,258				2,595				4,440
Net realized investment gains (losses)(1)			471				(2,679	)			3,150				—
			1,481,323				1,356,037				121,112				4,174
Expenses
Personnel costs			439,623				414,206				17,973				7,444
Premiums retained by agents			475,748				475,748				—				—
Other operating expenses			231,692				208,590				17,225				5,877
Provision for policy losses and other claims			116,715				45,285				71,430				—
Depreciation and amortization			31,761				30,068				1,655				38
Premium taxes			17,274				15,572				1,702				—
Interest			9,175				950				—				8,225
			1,321,988				1,190,419				109,985				21,584
Income (loss) before income taxes		$	159,335			$	165,618			$	11,127			$	(17,410	)
Three Months Ended						Title				Specialty				Corporate
December 31, 2016		Consolidated				Insurance				Insurance				(incl. Elims.)
Revenues
Direct premiums and escrow fees		$	640,424			$	533,347			$	107,077			$	—
Agent premiums			632,640				632,640				—				—
Information and other			197,415				188,938				8,483				(6	)
Net investment income			33,417				29,368				2,391				1,658
Net realized investment gains (losses)(1)			361				(287	)			648				—
			1,504,257				1,384,006				118,599				1,652
Expenses
Personnel costs			517,504				424,019				16,584				76,901
Premiums retained by agents			497,733				497,733				—				—
Other operating expenses			230,846				205,247				19,047				6,552
Provision for policy losses and other claims			122,128				63,667				58,461				—
Depreciation and amortization			28,142				26,560				1,485				97
Premium taxes			17,666				15,976				1,690				—
Interest			8,787				749				—				8,038
			1,422,806				1,233,951				97,267				91,588
Income (loss) before income taxes		$	81,451			$	150,055			$	21,332			$	(89,936	)
(1)  Includes impairment losses recorded in earnings, except for impairments on investments accounted for under the equity method, which are recorded in net investment income.

 

First American Financial Corporation
Segment Information
(in thousands, unaudited)
Year Ended						Title				Specialty				Corporate
December 31, 2017		Consolidated				Insurance				Insurance				(incl. Elims.)
Revenues
Direct premiums and escrow fees		$	2,461,854			$	2,022,384			$	439,470			$	—
Agent premiums			2,360,659				2,360,659				—				—
Information and other			776,214				766,018				11,259				(1,063	)
Net investment income			162,402				137,439				9,713				15,250
Net realized investment gains(1)			11,234				6,656				4,578				—
			5,772,363				5,293,156				465,020				14,187
Expenses
Personnel costs			1,898,551				1,636,483				71,604				190,464
Premiums retained by agents			1,863,356				1,863,356				—				—
Other operating expenses			880,874				788,020				67,813				25,041
Provision for policy losses and other claims			450,410				175,322				275,088				—
Depreciation and amortization			128,053				121,540				6,351				162
Premium taxes			69,801				62,545				7,256				—
Interest			35,987				3,526				—				32,461
			5,327,032				4,650,792				428,112				248,128
Income (loss) before income taxes		$	445,331			$	642,364			$	36,908			$	(233,941	)
Year Ended						Title				Specialty				Corporate
December 31, 2016		Consolidated				Insurance				Insurance				(incl. Elims.)
Revenues
Direct premiums and escrow fees		$	2,416,039			$	2,004,686			$	411,353			$	—
Agent premiums			2,286,630				2,286,630				—				—
Information and other			723,990				713,137				10,877				(24	)
Net investment income			126,134				110,757				9,476				5,901
Net realized investment gains(1)			23,053				18,915				4,138				—
			5,575,846				5,134,125				435,844				5,877
Expenses
Personnel costs			1,756,633				1,578,244				67,733				110,656
Premiums retained by agents			1,801,571				1,801,571				—				—
Other operating expenses			853,841				764,388				62,610				26,843
Provision for policy losses and other claims			488,601				235,661				252,940				—
Depreciation and amortization			99,047				93,069				5,593				385
Premium taxes			66,358				59,464				6,894				—
Interest			32,214				2,856				—				29,358
			5,098,265				4,535,253				395,770				167,242
Income (loss) before income taxes		$	477,581			$	598,872			$	40,074			$	(161,365	)
(1)  Includes impairment losses recorded in earnings, except for impairments on investments accounted for under the equity method, which are recorded in net investment income.

 

First American Financial Corporation
Expense and Success Ratio Reconciliation
Title Insurance and Services Segment
($ in thousands, unaudited)
		Three Months Ended								Year Ended
		December 31,								December 31,
		2017				2016				2017				2016
Total revenues		$	1,356,037			$	1,384,006			$	5,293,156			$	5,134,125
Less: Net realized investment (losses) gains			(2,679	)			(287	)			6,656				18,915
Net investment income			38,258				29,368				137,439				110,757
Premiums retained by agents			475,748				497,733				1,863,356				1,801,571
Net operating revenues		$	844,710			$	857,192			$	3,285,705			$	3,202,882
Personnel and other operating expenses		$	622,796			$	629,266			$	2,424,503			$	2,342,632
Ratio (% net operating revenues)			73.7	%			73.4	%			73.8	%			73.1	%
Ratio (% total revenues)			45.9	%			45.5	%			45.8	%			45.6	%
Change in net operating revenues		$	(12,482	)						$	82,823
Change in personnel and other operating expenses			(6,470	)							81,871
Success Ratio(1)			52	%							99	%
(1) Change in personnel and other operating expenses divided by change in net operating revenues.

 

First American Financial Corporation
Supplemental Direct Title Insurance Order Information (1)
(unaudited)
		Q417				Q317				Q217				Q117				Q416
Open Orders per Day
Purchase			1,686				2,156				2,313				1,977				1,623
Refinance			1,239				1,379				1,319				1,236				1,777
Refinance as % of residential orders			42	%			39	%			36	%			38	%			52	%
Commercial			489				495				506				507				484
Default and other			321				387				544				468				403
Total open orders per day			3,734				4,417				4,681				4,187				4,287
Closed Orders per Day
Purchase			1,550				1,724				1,718				1,298				1,504
Refinance			1,035				985				910				1,030				1,758
Refinance as % of residential orders			40	%			36	%			35	%			44	%			54	%
Commercial			333				309				324				310				340
Default and other			376				384				390				448				475
Total closed orders per day			3,294				3,402				3,342				3,085				4,076
Average Revenue per Order (ARPO)
Purchase		$	2,389			$	2,336			$	2,319			$	2,215			$	2,206
Refinance			962				928				907				912				899
Commercial			9,508				9,024				8,589				7,617				8,808
Default and other			203				230				201				238				199
Total ARPO		$	2,411			$	2,298			$	2,294			$	2,035			$	1,958
Business Days		62				63				64				62				62
(1)  U.S. operations only.
Totals may not add due to rounding.