Stewart Reports Third Quarter 2021 Results

Oct 27, 2021
- Operating revenues of $829.8 million, an increase of $239.1 million, or 41 percent, compared to the prior year quarter
- Net income of $88.7 million ($86.4 million on an adjusted basis) compared to $55.9 million (GAAP and adjusted basis) in the prior year quarter
- Diluted EPS of $3.26 ($3.17 on an adjusted basis) compared to prior year quarter diluted EPS of $2.21 (GAAP and adjusted basis)

HOUSTON, Oct. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE: STC) today reported net income attributable to Stewart for the third quarter 2021 of $88.7 million ($3.26 per diluted share), compared to net income attributable to Stewart of $55.9 million ($2.21 per diluted share) for the third quarter 2020. On an adjusted basis, Stewart's third quarter 2021 net income was $86.4 million ($3.17 per diluted share), an increase of $30.5 million, or 55 percent, from the third quarter 2020. Third quarter 2021 pretax income before noncontrolling interests was $116.4 million compared to pretax income before noncontrolling interests of $76.3 million for the third quarter 2020.

Third quarter 2021 results included $2.9 million of pretax net realized and unrealized gains, which included a $2.5 million gain related to an acquisition contingent liability adjustment recorded in the ancillary services and corporate segment.

"In many ways, Stewart's performance this quarter exemplifies the momentum we have experienced over the past year and a half as the company continues to execute on its long-term growth and profitability improvement strategy. In the third quarter, we took advantage of healthy domestic and Canadian residential markets and improving commercial trends, along with increased scale and continued operating discipline," commented Fred Eppinger, chief executive officer. "Going forward, while we acknowledge the uncertainty that future market conditions hold, we remain bullish on underlying purchase market trends and the opportunity increased commercial activity should offer in the foreseeable future. With that as the backdrop, Stewart remains committed to taking advantage of these market conditions while building a stable and resilient business over the full real estate cycle."

Selected Financial Information
Summary results of operations are as follows (dollars in millions, except per share amounts, and amounts may not foot as presented due to rounding):


Quarter Ended

September 30,


Nine Months Ended

September 30,


2021

2020


2021

2020







Total revenues

836.7

595.7


2,344.1

1,551.7

Pretax income before noncontrolling interests

116.4

76.3


319.9

134.6

Income tax expense

(23.1)

(16.1)


(70.5)

(29.3)

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

(4.7)

(4.4)


(11.6)

(10.1)

Net income attributable to Stewart

88.7

55.9


237.7

95.2

Non-GAAP adjustments, after taxes*

(2.2)

-


(13.7)

6.8

Adjusted net income attributable to Stewart*

86.4

55.9


224.0

102.0

Net income per diluted Stewart share

3.26

2.21


8.78

3.93

Adjusted net income per diluted Stewart share*

3.17

2.21


8.27

4.21

    * See Appendix A for an explanation and reconciliation of non-GAAP adjustments.

Title Segment
Summary results of the title segment are as follows (dollars in millions, except pretax margin):


Quarter Ended September 30,



2021

2020

% Change







Operating revenues

767.9

562.7

36%


Investment income

4.1

5.0

(19)%


Net realized and unrealized gains

0.3

-

100%


Pretax income

119.1

82.4

45%


Pretax margin

15.4%

14.5%



Pretax income for the title segment increased by $36.8 million, or 45 percent, while pretax margin improved 90 basis points to 15.4 percent in the third quarter 2021 compared to the prior year quarter. Title operating revenues grew $205.1 million, or 36 percent, as direct title and gross independent agency revenues increased $86.0 million, or 31 percent, and $119.2 million, or 42 percent, respectively. Consistent with the increase in title revenues, overall segment operating expenses in the third quarter 2021 increased $167.7 million, or 35 percent, with agency retention expenses and combined title employee costs and other operating expenses increasing by 43 percent and 30 percent, respectively, compared to the third quarter 2020. Average independent agency remittance rate in the third quarter 2021 was 17.9 percent, slightly lower than 18.2 percent in the prior year quarter. As a percentage of title revenues, combined title employee costs and other operating expenses improved to 37.5 percent in the third quarter 2021 compared to 39.5 percent in the third quarter 2020.

Title loss expense increased $1.9 million, or 7 percent, in the third quarter 2021 compared to the prior year quarter, primarily as a result of higher title revenues, partially offset by favorable claims experience. As a percentage of title revenues, the title loss expense in the third quarter 2021 was 4.0 percent compared to 5.1 percent in the prior year quarter.

The segment's investment income declined $0.9 million, or 19 percent, primarily due to lower dividend income on cost-basis investments and decreased interest income resulting from lower interest rates during the third quarter 2021 compared to last year's quarter.

Direct title revenues information is presented below (dollars in millions):


Quarter Ended September 30,



2021

2020

% Change









Non-commercial:






Domestic

249.1

208.2

20%



International

44.2

30.4

45%



Commercial:






Domestic

64.5

36.7

76%



International

8.3

4.8

73%



Total direct title revenues

366.1

280.1

31%








Direct title revenues increased as a result of overall revenue improvements in both non-commercial and commercial operations. Non-commercial revenues in the third quarter 2021 improved $54.7 million, or 23 percent, compared to the prior year quarter, primarily driven by increased residential purchase transactions and scale. Purchase transactions improved 8 percent in the third quarter 2021 compared to the third quarter 2020, while refinancing transactions decreased in the third quarter 2021, consistent with market trends. Domestic commercial revenues improved $27.8 million, or 76 percent, in the third quarter 2021, primarily due to increased commercial transaction size and volume compared to the third quarter 2020. Domestic commercial and residential fees per file in the third quarter 2021 were approximately $15,400 and $2,400, respectively, which were 59 percent and 24 percent, respectively, higher compared to the third quarter 2020. Total international revenues increased $17.3 million, or 49 percent, in the third quarter 2021 compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to improved volumes in our Canadian operations.

Ancillary Services and Corporate Segment
Summary results of the ancillary services and corporate segment are as follows (dollars in millions):


Quarter Ended September 30,



2021

2020

% Change







Operating revenues

61.9

27.9

122%


Net realized and unrealized gains

2.6

-

100%


Pretax loss

(2.7)

(6.0)

55%


The segment's operating revenues increased $34.0 million, or 122 percent, in the third quarter 2021, compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to revenues generated by recent acquisitions and higher appraisal management services revenues. In the third quarter 2021, the ancillary services operations generated pretax income of $2.8 million (which included a $2.5 million gain related to an acquisition contingent liability adjustment and $4.2 million of purchased intangibles amortization expense), compared to a pretax income of $0.3 million (which included $1.1 million of purchased intangibles amortization expense) in the third quarter 2020. Net expenses attributable to parent company and corporate operations for the third quarters 2021 and 2020 were approximately $5.6 million and $6.3 million, respectively.

Expenses
Consolidated employee costs in the third quarter 2021 increased $41.9 million, or 27 percent, compared to the prior year quarter, primarily driven by higher salaries and employee benefits on a 23 percent higher average employee count resulting from recent acquisitions, and increased incentive compensation on higher overall operating results. As a percentage of total operating revenues, consolidated employee costs for the third quarter 2021 improved to 23.8 percent compared to 26.3 percent in the third quarter 2020.

Total other operating expenses in the third quarter 2021 increased $54.1 million, or 55 percent, compared to the prior year quarter. This increase was principally driven by increased appraisal and service expenses tied to higher revenues in ancillary services, higher outside title search, premium tax and attorney fee split expenses on increased title revenues, increased rent and other occupancy expenses related to recent acquisitions, state sales tax assessments, and higher marketing and travel expenses. As a percentage of total operating revenues, consolidated other operating expenses for the third quarter 2021 were 18.4 percent compared to 16.7 percent in the third quarter 2020. Excluding the effect of the ancillary services appraisal and service expenses, the other operating expenses ratios would have been 13.5 percent and 13.4 percent in the third quarters 2021 and 2020, respectively.  

Other
Net cash provided by operations in the third quarter 2021 improved to $106.9 million, compared to net cash provided by operations of $90.8 million in the third quarter 2020, primarily driven by the higher net income and lower payment of claims.

Third quarter Earnings Call
Stewart will hold a conference call to discuss the third quarter 2021 earnings at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, October 28, 2021. To participate, dial (877) 876-9174 (USA) and (785) 424-1669 (International) - access code STCQ321. Additionally, participants can listen to the conference call through Stewart's Investor Relations website at http://investors.stewart.com/news-and-events/events/default.aspx . The conference call replay will be available from 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 28, 2021 until midnight on November 4, 2021, by dialing (888) 562-3382 (USA) or (402) 220-1192 (International) - the access code is also STCQ321.

About Stewart
Stewart (NYSE:STC) is a global real estate services company, offering products and services through our direct operations, network of Stewart Trusted Providers™ and family of companies. From residential and commercial title insurance and closing and settlement services to specialized offerings for the mortgage industry, we offer the comprehensive service, deep expertise and solutions our customers need for any real estate transaction. More information can be found at http://www.stewart.com, subscribe to the Stewart blog at http://blog.stewart.com or follow Stewart on Twitter® @stewarttitleco.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements. Certain statements in this earnings release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements relate to future, not past, events and often address our expected future business and financial performance. These statements often contain words such as "may," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "will," "foresee" or other similar words. Forward-looking statements by their nature are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to be materially different than those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the volatility of economic conditions, including the duration and ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; adverse changes in the level of real estate activity; changes in mortgage interest rates, existing and new home sales, and availability of mortgage financing; our ability to respond to and implement technology changes, including the completion of the implementation of our enterprise systems; the impact of unanticipated title losses or the need to strengthen our policy loss reserves; any effect of title losses on our cash flows and financial condition; the ability to attract and retain highly productive sales associates; the impact of vetting our agency operations for quality and profitability; independent agency remittance rates; changes to the participants in the secondary mortgage market and the rate of refinancing that affects the demand for title insurance products; regulatory non-compliance, fraud or defalcations by our title insurance agencies or employees; our ability to timely and cost-effectively respond to significant industry changes and introduce new products and services; the outcome of pending litigation; the impact of changes in governmental and insurance regulations, including any future reductions in the pricing of title insurance products and services; our dependence on our operating subsidiaries as a source of cash flow; our ability to access the equity and debt financing markets when and if needed; our ability to grow our international operations; seasonality and weather; and our ability to respond to the actions of our competitors. These risks and uncertainties, as well as others, are discussed in more detail in our documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and if applicable, as supplemented by any risk factors contained in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed subsequently. All forward-looking statements included in this earnings release are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update, amend or clarify any forward-looking statements contained in this earnings release to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof, except as may be required by applicable law.

ST-IR

 

STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands of dollars, except per share amounts and except where noted)



Quarter Ended

September 30,


Nine Months Ended
September 30,


2021

2020


2021

2020

Revenues:






Title revenues:






Direct operations

366,091

280,114


999,098

696,611

Agency operations

401,762

282,605


1,138,023

802,022

Ancillary services

61,934

27,957


176,057

44,573

Total operating revenues

829,787

590,676


2,313,178

1,543,206

Investment income

4,053

5,027


13,127

14,530

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

2,887

(7)


17,816

(6,035)


836,727

595,696


2,344,121

1,551,701

Expenses:






Amounts retained by agencies

329,906

231,051


935,861

659,138

Employee costs

197,587

155,638


555,451

428,817

Other operating expenses

152,587

98,531


415,864

245,003

Title losses and related claims

30,345

28,427


92,687

68,600

Depreciation and amortization

9,144

5,144


22,394

13,436

Interest

712

562


1,960

2,075


720,281

519,353


2,024,217

1,417,069

Income before taxes and noncontrolling interests

116,446

76,343


319,904

134,632

Income tax expense

(23,051)

(16,058)


(70,547)

(29,293)

Net income

93,395

60,285


249,357

105,339

Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

4,732

4,376


11,639

10,107

Net income attributable to Stewart

88,663

55,909


237,718

95,232







Net earnings per diluted share attributable to Stewart

3.26

2.21


8.78

3.93

Diluted average shares outstanding (000)

27,238

25,297


27,090

24,256







Selected financial information:






Net cash provided by operations

106,865

90,751


257,317

140,861

Other comprehensive (loss) income

(6,781)

4,589


(12,245)

11,375

 

Monthly Domestic Order Counts:








Opened Orders
2021:

July

August

Sept

Total


Closed Orders
2021:

July

August

Sept

Total

Commercial

1,420

1,544

1,485

4,449


Commercial

1,411

1,390

1,398

4,199

Purchase

23,296

25,248

24,669

73,213


Purchase

19,025

18,979

18,372

56,376

Refinancing

20,681

22,602

20,918

64,201


Refinancing

14,697

16,533

16,207

47,437

Other

506

800

455

1,761


Other

285

549

267

1,101

Total

45,903

50,194

47,527

143,624


Total

35,418

37,451

36,244

109,113












Opened Orders
2020:

July

August

Sept

Total


Closed Orders
2020:

July

August

Sept

Total

Commercial

1,330

1,071

1,302

3,703


Commercial

1,415

1,096

1,288

3,799

Purchase

24,001

23,406

26,261

73,668


Purchase

17,206

16,212

18,989

52,407

Refinancing

28,729

28,181

29,913

86,823


Refinancing

17,609

17,239

21,179

56,027

Other

212

275

580

1,067


Other

112

106

337

555

Total

54,272

52,933

58,056

165,261


Total

36,342

34,653

41,793

112,788

 

STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands of dollars)



September 30, 2021

December 31, 2020

Assets:



Cash and cash equivalents

607,605

432,683

Short-term investments

17,198

20,678

Investments in debt and equity securities, at fair value

700,719

684,387

Receivables – premiums from agencies

47,324

34,507

Receivables – other

73,208

58,112

Allowance for uncollectible amounts

(6,222)

(4,807)

Property and equipment, net

59,998

51,671

Operating lease assets, net

117,354

106,479

Title plants

73,127

72,863

Goodwill

536,176

431,477

Intangible assets, net of amortization

72,549

37,382

Deferred tax assets

4,556

4,330

Other assets

71,903

48,813


2,375,505

1,978,575

Liabilities:



Notes payable

275,276

101,773

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

209,144

225,180

Operating lease liabilities

129,064

119,089

Estimated title losses

534,551

496,275

Deferred tax liabilities

10,770

23,852


1,158,805

966,169

Stockholders' equity:



Common Stock and additional paid-in capital

306,257

301,937

Retained earnings

899,528

688,819

Accumulated other comprehensive income

4,777

17,022

Treasury stock

(2,666)

(2,666)

Stockholders' equity attributable to Stewart

1,207,896

1,005,112

Noncontrolling interests

8,804

7,294

Total stockholders' equity

1,216,700

1,012,406


2,375,505

1,978,575




Number of shares outstanding (000)

26,890

26,728

Book value per share

44.92

37.60

 

STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION

SEGMENT INFORMATION

(In thousands of dollars)


Three months ended:

September 30, 2021


September 30, 2020


Title

Ancillary
Services
and
Corporate

Consolidated


Title

Ancillary
Services
and
Corporate

Consolidated

Revenues:








Operating revenues

767,862

61,925

829,787


562,719

27,957

590,676

Investment income

4,053

-

4,053


5,027

-

5,027

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

331

2,556

2,887


(3)

(4)

(7)


772,246

64,481

836,727


567,743

27,953

595,696

Expenses:








Amounts retained by agencies

329,906

-

329,906


231,051

-

231,051

Employee costs

187,151

10,436

197,587


149,050

6,588

155,638

Other operating expenses

101,141

51,446

152,587


73,091

25,440

98,531

Title losses and related claims

30,345

-

30,345


28,427

-

28,427

Depreciation and amortization

4,556

4,588

9,144


3,748

1,396

5,144

Interest

-

712

712


-

562

562


653,099

67,182

720,281


485,367

33,986

519,353

Income (loss) before taxes

119,147

(2,701)

116,446


82,376

(6,033)

76,343












Nine months ended:

September 30, 2021


September 30, 2020


Title

Ancillary
Services
and
Corporate

Consolidated


Title

Ancillary
Services
and
Corporate

Consolidated

Revenues:








Operating revenues

2,137,129

176,049

2,313,178


1,498,633

44,573

1,543,206

Investment income

13,127

-

13,127


14,530

-

14,530

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

7,693

10,123

17,816


(6,545)

510

(6,035)


2,157,949

186,172

2,344,121


1,506,618

45,083

1,551,701

Expenses:








Amounts retained by agencies

935,861

-

935,861


659,138

-

659,138

Employee costs

524,468

30,983

555,451


411,633

17,184

428,817

Other operating expenses

269,444

146,420

415,864


203,942

41,061

245,003

Title losses and related claims

92,687

-

92,687


68,600

-

68,600

Depreciation and amortization

13,579

8,815

22,394


11,302

2,134

13,436

Interest

-

1,960

1,960


-

2,075

2,075


1,836,039

188,178

2,024,217


1,354,615

62,454

1,417,069

Income (loss) before taxes

321,910

(2,006)

319,904


152,003

(17,371)

134,632

Appendix A
Non-GAAP Adjustments

Management uses a variety of financial and operational measurements other than its financial statements prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to analyze its performance. These include: (1) adjusted revenues, which are reported revenues adjusted for any net realized and unrealized gains and losses and (2) net income after earnings from noncontrolling interests and adjusted for net realized and unrealized gains and losses and non-recurring expenses (adjusted net income). Adjusted diluted earnings per share (adjusted diluted EPS) is calculated using adjusted net income divided by the diluted average weighted outstanding shares. Management views these measures as important performance measures of core profitability for its operations and as key components of its internal financial reporting. Management believes investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures that management uses.

Below is a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measurements used by management to the most directly comparable GAAP measures for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (dollars in millions, except share and per share amounts, and amounts may not foot as presented due to rounding).


Quarter Ended
September 30,


Nine Months Ended
September 30,


2021

2020

% Change


2021

2020

% Change









Total revenues

836.7

595.7



2,344.1

1,551.7


Less: Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

2.9

-



17.8

(6.0)


Adjusted revenues

833.8

595.7

40%


2,326.3

1,557.7

49%









Net income attributable to Stewart

88.7

55.9



237.7

95.2


Non-GAAP pretax adjustments:








Net realized and unrealized (gains) losses

(2.9)

-



(17.8)

6.0


Cost initiatives severance expenses

-

-



-

2.8


Net tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments

0.7

-



4.1

(2.0)


Non-GAAP adjustments, after taxes

(2.2)

-



(13.7)

6.8


Adjusted net income attributable to Stewart

86.4

55.9

55%


224.0

102.0

120%









Diluted average shares outstanding (000)

27,238

25,297



27,090

24,256


Adjusted net income per share

3.17

2.21



8.27

4.21


 

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SOURCE Stewart Information Services Corporation