First American Financial Reports Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year of 2019

Reports Fourth Quarter Earnings on $1.97 per Share or $1.80 per Share Excluding Net Realized Investment Gains


February 13, 2020, Santa Ana, Calif.

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, 2019.

Download the complete press release as a PDF

Current Quarter Highlights

  • Total revenue of $1.7 billion, up 22 percent compared with last year
    • Closed title orders up 27 percent, driven by a 131 percent increase in refinance orders
    • Average revenue per order down 8 percent, driven by the shift to refinance transactions
  • Net realized gains of $23.8 million, primarily due to the change in the fair value of equity securities
  • Title Insurance and Services segment pretax margin of 17.8 percent
    • 16.8 percent excluding net realized investment gains
  • Commercial revenues of $238.9 million, up 3 percent compared with last year
  • Title Insurance and Services segment investment income of $69.8 million, up 1 percent vs. 2018
  • Specialty Insurance segment pretax margin of 16.7 percent
    • 14.7 percent excluding net realized investment gains
  • Debt-to-capital ratio of 18.5 percent

Full Year 2019 Highlights

  • Total revenue of $6.2 billion, up 8 percent compared with last year
  • Record Title Insurance and Services segment pretax margin of 16.1 percent
    • 15.2 percent excluding net realized investment gains
  • Record commercial revenues of $767.0 million, up 2 percent compared with last year
  • Title Insurance and Services segment investment income of $282.9 million, up 27 percent vs. 2018
  • Specialty Insurance segment pretax margin of 13.2 percent, highest since 2014
    • 11.3 percent excluding net realized investment gains
  • Cash flow from operations of $913.1 million, up 15 percent compared with last year
  • Return on equity of 17.3 percent
  • In January 2020, raised common stock dividend by 5 percent to an annual rate of $1.76 per share
  • Named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the fourth consecutive year

Docutech Acquisition

Today, the company announced the signing of an agreement to acquire Docutech, a leading provider of document, eClose and fulfillment technology for the mortgage industry. The acquisition advances First American's ability to provide lender customers with end-to-end digital mortgage and settlement services. Docutech's technology platform, which is fully integrated with leading third-party and proprietary loan origination systems and reaches more than 175 lenders, deepens the company's relationships with these industry players. The $350 million all-cash transaction is expected to close by the end of March and be accretive to earnings in 2020.

Selected Financial Information

($ in millions, except per share data)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Full Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Total revenue

 

$

1,728.7

 

 

$

1,417.1

 

 

$

6,202.1

 

 

$

5,747.8

 

Income before taxes

 

 

288.5

 

 

 

118.9

 

 

 

905.0

 

 

 

609.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

224.0

 

 

$

91.6

 

 

$

707.4

 

 

$

474.5

 

Net income per diluted share

 

 

1.97

 

 

0.81

 

 

 

6.22

 

 

 

4.19

 

 

Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $1.7 billion, an increase of 22 percent relative to the fourth quarter of 2018. Net income in the current quarter was $224.0 million, or $1.97 per diluted share, compared with net income of $91.6 million, or 81 cents per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2018. Net realized investment gains in the current quarter were $23.8 million, or 16 cents per diluted share, compared with net realized investment losses of $67.5 million, or 47 cents per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of last year. These net realized investment gains and losses were primarily due to the change in the fair value of equity securities.

Total revenue for the full year of 2019 was $6.2 billion, up 8 percent compared with the prior year. Net income was $707.4 million, or $6.22 per diluted share, compared with net income of $474.5 million, or $4.19 per diluted share, in 2018. Net realized investment gains in 2019 were $66.4 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, compared with net realized investment losses of $56.5 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, in 2018. These net realized investment gains and losses were primarily due to the change in the fair value of equity securities.

"Our strong fourth-quarter results closed out another year of record financial performance," said Dennis J. Gilmore, chief executive officer at First American Financial Corporation. "Favorable market conditions combined with our continued focus on operational efficiency enabled our title segment to deliver a record annual pretax margin of 16.1 percent. Our specialty insurance segment achieved a pretax margin of 13.2 percent, its highest since 2014.

"The acquisition of Docutech reflects our steadfast commitment to invest in and grow our core business. Moreover, it demonstrates our dedication to improving the home-buying experience for consumers and driving the digital transformation of the real estate settlement process. We're excited to soon welcome to First American the people of Docutech, a highly respected leader in the document technology solutions industry. Together, we will accelerate the evolution of real estate closings.

"Looking forward to 2020, we are optimistic about market conditions and expect to continue to deliver strong financial results. Given our continued confidence in the prospects for our business and our commitment to maximize long-term shareholder value, we raised the dividend by 5 percent in January."

Title Insurance and Services

($ in millions, except average revenue per order)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Total revenues

 

$

1,591.2

 

 

$

1,314.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before taxes

 

$

283.8

 

 

$

136.4

 

Pretax margin

 

 

17.8

%

 

 

10.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title open orders(1)

 

 

251,700

 

 

 

202,400

 

Title closed orders(1)

 

 

224,200

 

 

 

176,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Commercial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Total revenues

 

$

238.9

 

 

$

232.2

 

   Open orders

 

 

32,900

 

 

 

29,700

 

   Closed orders

 

 

20,900

 

 

 

20,800

 

   Average revenue per order

 

$

11,400

 

 

$

11,200

 

(1) U.S. direct title insurance orders only.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues for the Title Insurance and Services segment during the fourth quarter were $1.6 billion, up 21 percent compared with the same quarter of 2018. Direct premiums and escrow fees were up 17 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2018, driven by a 27 percent increase in the number of direct title orders closed that was partially offset by an 8 percent decline in the average revenue per direct title order closed. The average revenue per direct title order declined to $2,603 due to the shift in the order mix to lower-premium residential refinance transactions, despite higher average revenue per order for residential purchase, residential refinance and commercial transactions. Agent premiums, which are recorded on approximately a one-quarter lag relative to direct premiums, were up 15 percent in the current quarter as compared with last year.

Information and other revenues were $203.0 million this quarter, up 11 percent compared with the same quarter of last year. The increase was primarily due to growth in real estate transaction activity that led to higher demand for the company's title information products.

Investment income was $69.8 million in the fourth quarter, up $0.5 million, or 1 percent. Higher average balances, primarily due to strength in the tax-deferred property exchange and warehouse lending businesses, were largely offset by the impact of the decline in short-term interest rates on the company's investment portfolio and cash balances. Net realized investment gains totaled $20.6 million in the current quarter, compared with losses of $58.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Personnel costs were $450.2 million in the fourth quarter, an increase of $24.5 million, or 6 percent, compared with the same quarter of 2018. This increase was primarily driven by higher incentive compensation, overtime and temporary employee expense.

Other operating expenses were $224.0 million in the fourth quarter, up $24.8 million, or 12 percent, compared with the fourth quarter of 2018. The increase was due to higher production-related costs as a result of the increase in order volume, and higher software and professional services expense.

The provision for policy losses and other claims was $51.9 million in the fourth quarter, or 4.0 percent of title premiums and escrow fees, consistent with a 4.0 percent loss provision rate in the fourth quarter of 2018. 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 $29.6 million in the fourth quarter, a decline of $2.0 million, or 6 percent, compared with the same period last year. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower software license amortization.

Pretax income for the Title Insurance and Services segment was $283.8 million in the fourth quarter, compared with $136.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Pretax margin was 17.8 percent in the current quarter, compared with 10.4 percent last year. Excluding the impact of net realized investment gains and losses, the pretax margin was 16.8 percent this year, compared with 14.2 percent last year.

Specialty Insurance

($ in millions)

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Total revenues

 

$

131.6

 

 

$

111.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before taxes

 

$

22.0

 

 

$

0.8

 

Pretax margin

 

 

16.7

%

 

 

0.7

%

 

Total revenues for the Specialty Insurance segment were $131.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, an increase of 18 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2018. Excluding the impact of net realized investment gains and losses, total revenues this quarter were up 6 percent. Both the home warranty and property and casualty business lines grew revenues this quarter and benefited from lower claim losses, primarily due to reduced claim severity. The property and casualty business also experienced lower wildfire-related claim losses this year. As a result, the overall loss ratio for the segment declined significantly to 51.2 percent this quarter, compared with 61.9 percent in the prior year. The segment's pretax margin in the current quarter was 16.7 percent, compared with 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter of last year. Excluding net realized investment gains and losses, the current quarter's pretax margin was 14.7 percent, compared with 8.5 percent last year.

Teleconference/Webcast

First American's fourth-quarter and year-end 2019 results will be discussed in more detail on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, 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. 27, 2020, by dialing 201-612-7415 and using the conference ID 13698002. 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; banking, trust and wealth management services; and other related products and services. With total revenue of $6.2 billion in 2019, the company offers its products and services directly and through its agents throughout the United States and abroad. In 2019, First American was named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the fourth consecutive year. 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; uncertainty from the expected discontinuance of LIBOR and transition to any other interest rate benchmark; volatility in the capital markets; unfavorable economic conditions; failures at financial institutions where the company deposits funds; regulatory oversight and changes in applicable laws and government regulations, including data privacy laws; 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; innovation efforts of the company and other industry participants and any related market disruption; technological and other developments that change the way real estate transactions are conducted and related documents are processed; 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; and other factors described in the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, 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, success ratios, net operating revenues; and adjusted revenues, adjusted pretax income, adjusted earnings per share, and adjusted pretax margins for the company, its title insurance and services segment and its specialty insurance segment. 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,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Total revenues

 

$

1,728,664

 

 

$

1,417,113

 

 

$

6,202,061

 

 

$

5,747,844

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

$

288,513

 

 

$

118,918

 

 

$

905,018

 

 

$

609,538

 

Income tax expense

 

 

63,907

 

 

 

25,744

 

 

 

195,170

 

 

 

133,640

 

Net income

 

 

224,606

 

 

 

93,174

 

 

 

709,848

 

 

 

475,898

 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

608

 

 

 

1,525

 

 

 

2,438

 

 

 

1,402

 

Net income attributable to the Company

 

$

223,998

 

 

$

91,649

 

 

$

707,410

 

 

$

474,496

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share attributable to stockholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

1.98

 

 

$

0.81

 

 

$

6.26

 

 

$

4.21

 

Diluted

 

$

1.97

 

 

$

0.81

 

 

$

6.22

 

 

$

4.19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends declared per share

 

$

0.42

 

 

$

0.42

 

 

$

1.68

 

 

$

1.60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

113,301

 

 

 

112,768

 

 

 

113,080

 

 

 

112,613

 

Diluted

 

 

113,984

 

 

 

113,387

 

 

 

113,655

 

 

 

113,279

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selected Title Insurance Segment Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title orders opened(1)

 

 

251,700

 

 

 

202,400

 

 

 

1,093,000

 

 

 

981,800

 

Title orders closed(1)

 

 

224,200

 

 

 

176,500

 

 

 

795,800

 

 

 

730,800

 

Paid title claims

 

$

42,469

 

 

$

43,342

 

 

$

162,207

 

 

$

165,771

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) U.S. direct title insurance orders only.

 

 

First American Financial Corporation

 

Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Information

 

(in thousands, unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

1,485,959

 

 

$

1,467,129

 

Investments

 

 

6,589,443

 

 

 

6,225,520

 

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

 

 

1,242,741

 

 

 

1,253,538

 

Total assets

 

 

11,519,167

 

 

 

10,630,635

 

Reserve for claim losses

 

 

1,063,044

 

 

 

1,042,679

 

Notes and contracts payable

 

 

728,232

 

 

 

732,019

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

$

4,420,484

 

 

$

3,741,881

 

 

First American Financial Corporation

 

Segment Information

 

(in thousands, unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Title

 

 

Specialty

 

 

Corporate

 

December 31, 2019

 

Consolidated

 

 

Insurance

 

 

Insurance

 

 

(incl. Elims.)

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct premiums and escrow fees

 

$

748,443

 

 

$

626,130

 

 

$

122,313

 

 

$

--

 

Agent premiums

 

 

671,602

 

 

 

671,602

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

--

 

Information and other

 

 

205,973

 

 

 

202,972

 

 

 

3,253

 

 

 

(252

)

Net investment income

 

 

78,806

 

 

 

69,843

 

 

 

2,753

 

 

 

6,210

 

Net realized investment gains

 

 

23,840

 

 

 

20,608

 

 

 

3,232

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

 

1,728,664

 

 

 

1,591,155

 

 

 

131,551

 

 

 

5,958

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel costs

 

 

476,683

 

 

 

450,153

 

 

 

19,874

 

 

 

6,656

 

Premiums retained by agents

 

 

529,749

 

 

 

529,749

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

--

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

256,251

 

 

 

224,024

 

 

 

23,421

 

 

 

8,806

 

Provision for policy losses and other claims

 

 

114,515

 

 

 

51,912

 

 

 

62,603

 

 

 

--

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

31,484

 

 

 

29,600

 

 

 

1,846

 

 

 

38

 

Premium taxes

 

 

19,725

 

 

 

17,950

 

 

 

1,775

 

 

 

--

 

Interest

 

 

11,744

 

 

 

3,951

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

7,793

 

 

 

 

1,440,151

 

 

 

1,307,339

 

 

 

109,519

 

 

 

23,293

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

$

288,513

 

 

$

283,816

 

 

$

22,032

 

 

$

(17,335

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Title

 

 

Specialty

 

 

Corporate

 

December 31, 2018

 

Consolidated

 

 

Insurance

 

 

Insurance

 

 

(incl. Elims.)

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct premiums and escrow fees

 

$

652,834

 

 

$

537,414

 

 

$

115,420

 

 

$

--

 

Agent premiums

 

 

583,075

 

 

 

583,075

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

--

 

Information and other

 

 

185,377

 

 

 

182,646

 

 

 

2,995

 

 

 

(264

)

Net investment income

 

 

63,289

 

 

 

69,307

 

 

 

2,629

 

 

 

(8,647

)

Net realized investment losses

 

 

(67,462

)

 

 

(58,011

)

 

 

(9,451

)

 

 

--

 

 

 

 

1,417,113

 

 

 

1,314,431

 

 

 

111,593

 

 

 

(8,911

)

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel costs

 

 

436,494

 

 

 

425,605

 

 

 

18,122

 

 

 

(7,233

)

Premiums retained by agents

 

 

458,028

 

 

 

458,028

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

--

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

225,123

 

 

 

199,200

 

 

 

17,841

 

 

 

8,082

 

Provision for policy losses and other claims

 

 

116,238

 

 

 

44,820

 

 

 

71,418

 

 

 

--

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

33,393

 

 

 

31,615

 

 

 

1,740

 

 

 

38

 

Premium taxes

 

 

17,938

 

 

 

16,245

 

 

 

1,693

 

 

 

--

 

Interest

 

 

10,981

 

 

 

2,481

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

8,500

 

 

 

 

1,298,195

 

 

 

1,177,994

 

 

 

110,814

 

 

 

9,387

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

$

118,918

 

 

$

136,437

 

 

$

779

 

 

$

(18,298

)

 

First American Financial Corporation

 

Segment Information

 

(in thousands, unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Title

 

 

Specialty

 

 

Corporate

 

December 31, 2019

 

Consolidated

 

 

Insurance

 

 

Insurance

 

 

(incl. Elims.)

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct premiums and escrow fees

 

$

2,659,273

 

 

$

2,188,056

 

 

$

471,217

 

 

$

--

 

Agent premiums

 

 

2,373,140

 

 

 

2,373,140

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

--

 

Information and other

 

 

787,831

 

 

 

776,124

 

 

 

12,742

 

 

 

(1,035

)

Net investment income

 

 

315,413

 

 

 

282,910

 

 

 

11,249

 

 

 

21,254

 

Net realized investment gains

 

 

66,404

 

 

 

55,722

 

 

 

10,682

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

 

6,202,061

 

 

 

5,675,952

 

 

 

505,890

 

 

 

20,219

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel costs

 

 

1,806,005

 

 

 

1,701,742

 

 

 

80,120

 

 

 

24,143

 

Premiums retained by agents

 

 

1,874,266

 

 

 

1,874,266

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

--

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

923,298

 

 

 

805,480

 

 

 

80,705

 

 

 

37,113

 

Provision for policy losses and other claims

 

 

446,040

 

 

 

182,450

 

 

 

263,590

 

 

 

--

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

129,021

 

 

 

121,643

 

 

 

7,225

 

 

 

153

 

Premium taxes

 

 

70,612

 

 

 

62,938

 

 

 

7,674

 

 

 

--

 

Interest

 

 

47,801

 

 

 

15,220

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

32,581

 

 

 

 

5,297,043

 

 

 

4,763,739

 

 

 

439,314

 

 

 

93,990

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

$

905,018

 

 

$

912,213

 

 

$

66,576

 

 

$

(73,771

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Title

 

 

Specialty

 

 

Corporate

 

December 31, 2018

 

Consolidated

 

 

Insurance

 

 

Insurance

 

 

(incl. Elims.)

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct premiums and escrow fees

 

$

2,507,669

 

 

$

2,052,951

 

 

$

454,718

 

 

$

--

 

Agent premiums

 

 

2,284,906

 

 

 

2,284,906

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

--

 

Information and other

 

 

781,467

 

 

 

770,725

 

 

 

11,802

 

 

 

(1,060

)

Net investment income

 

 

230,289

 

 

 

223,318

 

 

 

10,190

 

 

 

(3,219

)

Net realized investment losses

 

 

(56,487

)

 

 

(49,119

)

 

 

(7,368

)

 

 

--

 

 

 

 

5,747,844

 

 

 

5,282,781

 

 

 

469,342

 

 

 

(4,279

)

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel costs

 

 

1,748,949

 

 

 

1,671,846

 

 

 

75,355

 

 

 

1,748

 

Premiums retained by agents

 

 

1,799,836

 

 

 

1,799,836

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

--

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

900,208

 

 

 

793,364

 

 

 

74,025

 

 

 

32,819

 

Provision for policy losses and other claims

 

 

452,633

 

 

 

173,520

 

 

 

279,113

 

 

 

--

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

125,927

 

 

 

119,053

 

 

 

6,721

 

 

 

153

 

Premium taxes

 

 

69,775

 

 

 

62,646

 

 

 

7,129

 

 

 

--

 

Interest

 

 

40,978

 

 

 

7,513

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

33,465

 

 

 

 

5,138,306

 

 

 

4,627,778

 

 

 

442,343

 

 

 

68,185

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

$

609,538

 

 

$

655,003

 

 

$

26,999

 

 

$

(72,464

)

 

First American Financial Corporation

 

Reconciliation of Pretax Margins and Earnings per Diluted Share

 

Excluding Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses ("NRIG(L)")

 

(in thousands, except margin and per share amounts, unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

1,728,664

 

 

$

1,417,113

 

 

$

6,202,061

 

 

$

5,747,844

 

Less: NRIG(L)

 

 

23,840

 

 

 

(67,462

)

 

 

66,404

 

 

 

(56,487

)

Total revenues excluding NRIG(L)

 

$

1,704,824

 

 

$

1,484,575

 

 

$

6,135,657

 

 

$

5,804,331

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax income

 

$

288,513

 

 

$

118,918

 

 

$

905,018

 

 

$

609,538

 

Less: NRIG(L)

 

 

23,840

 

 

 

(67,462

)

 

 

66,404

 

 

 

(56,487

)

Pretax income excluding NRIG(L)

 

$

264,673

 

 

$

186,380

 

 

$

838,614

 

 

$

666,025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax margin

 

 

16.7

%

 

 

8.4

%

 

 

14.6

%

 

 

10.6

%

Less: Pretax margin impact of NRIG(L)

 

 

1.2

%

 

 

(4.2

)%

 

 

0.9

%

 

 

(0.9

)%

Pretax margin excluding NRIG(L)

 

 

15.5

%

 

 

12.6

%

 

 

13.7

%

 

 

11.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per diluted share (EPS)

 

$

1.97

 

 

$

0.81

 

 

$

6.22

 

 

$

4.19

 

Less: EPS impact of NRIG(L)

 

 

0.16

 

 

 

(0.47

)

 

 

0.46

 

 

 

(0.39

)

EPS excluding NRIG(L)

 

$

1.80

 

 

$

1.28

 

 

$

5.76

 

 

$

4.58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title Insurance and Services Segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

1,591,155

 

 

$

1,314,431

 

 

$

5,675,952

 

 

$

5,282,781

 

Less: NRIG(L)

 

 

20,608

 

 

 

(58,011

)

 

 

55,722

 

 

 

(49,119

)

Total revenues excluding NRIG(L)

 

$

1,570,547

 

 

$

1,372,442

 

 

$

5,620,230

 

 

$

5,331,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax income

 

$

283,816

 

 

$

136,437

 

 

$

912,213

 

 

$

655,003

 

Less: NRIG(L)

 

 

20,608

 

 

 

(58,011

)

 

 

55,722

 

 

 

(49,119

)

Pretax income excluding NRIG(L)

 

$

263,208

 

 

$

194,448

 

 

$

856,491

 

 

$

704,122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax margin

 

 

17.8

%

 

 

10.4

%

 

 

16.1

%

 

 

12.4

%

Less: Pretax margin impact of NRIG(L)

 

 

1.0

%

 

 

(3.8

)%

 

 

0.9

%

 

 

(0.8

)%

Pretax margin excluding NRIG(L)

 

 

16.8

%

 

 

14.2

%

 

 

15.2

%

 

 

13.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specialty Insurance Segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

131,551

 

 

$

111,593

 

 

$

505,890

 

 

$

469,342

 

Less: NRIG(L)

 

 

3,232

 

 

 

(9,451

)

 

 

10,682

 

 

 

(7,368

)

Total revenues excluding NRIG(L)

 

$

128,319

 

 

$

121,044

 

 

$

495,208

 

 

$

476,710

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax income

 

$

22,032

 

 

$

779

 

 

$

66,576

 

 

$

26,999

 

Less: NRIG(L)

 

 

3,232

 

 

 

(9,451

)

 

 

10,682

 

 

 

(7,368

)

Pretax income excluding NRIG(L)

 

$

18,800

 

 

$

10,230

 

 

$

55,894

 

 

$

34,367

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax margin

 

 

16.7

%

 

 

0.7

%

 

 

13.2

%

 

 

5.8

%

Less: Pretax margin impact of NRIG(L)

 

 

2.0

%

 

 

(7.8

)%

 

 

1.9

%

 

 

(1.4

)%

Pretax margin excluding NRIG(L)

 

 

14.7

%

 

 

8.5

%

 

 

11.3

%

 

 

7.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: Beginning in the first quarter of 2018, the company adopted new accounting guidance, which requires investments in equity securities to be measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in net income, through net realized investment gains or losses, rather than through the balance sheet as previously required. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

 

 

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,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Total revenues

 

$

1,591,155

 

 

$

1,314,431

 

 

$

5,675,952

 

 

$

5,282,781

 

Less: Net realized investment gains (losses)

 

 

20,608

 

 

 

(58,011

)

 

 

55,722

 

 

 

(49,119

)

          Net investment income

 

 

69,843

 

 

 

69,307

 

 

 

282,910

 

 

 

223,318

 

          Premiums retained by agents

 

 

529,749

 

 

 

458,028

 

 

 

1,874,266

 

 

 

1,799,836

 

Net operating revenues

 

$

970,955

 

 

$

845,107

 

 

$

3,463,054

 

 

$

3,308,746

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel and other operating expenses

 

$

674,177

 

 

$

624,805

 

 

$

2,507,222

 

 

$

2,465,210

 

Ratio (% net operating revenues)

 

 

69.4

%

 

 

73.9

%

 

 

72.4

%

 

 

74.5

%

Ratio (% total revenues)

 

 

42.4

%

 

 

47.5

%

 

 

44.2

%

 

 

46.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in net operating revenues

 

$

125,848

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

154,308

 

 

 

 

 

Change in personnel and other operating expenses

 

 

49,372

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42,012

 

 

 

 

 

Success Ratio(1)

 

 

39

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(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)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q419

 

 

Q319

 

 

Q219

 

 

Q119

 

 

Q418

 

Open Orders per Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase

 

 

1,622

 

 

 

2,108

 

 

 

2,251

 

 

 

1,907

 

 

 

1,611

 

Refinance

 

 

1,487

 

 

 

1,922

 

 

 

1,408

 

 

 

1,001

 

 

 

763

 

Refinance as % of residential orders

 

 

48

%

 

 

48

%

 

 

38

%

 

 

34

%

 

 

32

%

Commercial

 

 

522

 

 

 

523

 

 

 

515

 

 

 

491

 

 

 

471

 

Default and other

 

 

364

 

 

 

405

 

 

 

454

 

 

 

335

 

 

 

368

 

Total open orders per day

 

 

3,995

 

 

 

4,958

 

 

 

4,628

 

 

 

3,734

 

 

 

3,213

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Closed Orders per Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase

 

 

1,469

 

 

 

1,639

 

 

 

1,626

 

 

 

1,205

 

 

 

1,413

 

Refinance

 

 

1,391

 

 

 

1,256

 

 

 

854

 

 

 

605

 

 

 

603

 

Refinance as % of residential orders

 

 

49

%

 

 

43

%

 

 

34

%

 

 

33

%

 

 

30

%

Commercial

 

 

332

 

 

 

289

 

 

 

301

 

 

 

271

 

 

 

330

 

Default and other

 

 

366

 

 

 

318

 

 

 

291

 

 

 

392

 

 

 

456

 

Total closed orders per day

 

 

3,559

 

 

 

3,502

 

 

 

3,072

 

 

 

2,474

 

 

 

2,802

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Revenue per Order (ARPO)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase

 

$

2,541

 

 

$

2,528

 

 

$

2,560

 

 

$

2,430

 

 

$

2,446

 

Refinance

 

 

1,195

 

 

 

1,159

 

 

 

1,128

 

 

 

1,119

 

 

 

1,093

 

Commercial

 

 

11,425

 

 

 

10,791

 

 

 

9,356

 

 

 

8,960

 

 

 

11,153

 

Default and other

 

 

209

 

 

 

257

 

 

 

358

 

 

 

223

 

 

 

245

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total ARPO

 

$

2,603

 

 

$

2,513

 

 

$

2,620

 

 

$

2,475

 

 

$

2,824

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business Days

 

63

 

 

64

 

 

64

 

 

61

 

 

63

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) U.S. operations only.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals may not sum due to rounding.