EX-99.1 2 d423742dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2017 RESULTS

—Reports Earnings of $1.09 per Diluted Share—

SANTA ANA, Calif., July 27, 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 second quarter ended June 30, 2017.

Current Quarter Highlights

 

    Total revenue of $1.5 billion, up 7 percent compared with last year

 

    Title Insurance and Services segment pretax margin of 14.8 percent

 

    Purchase revenues up 12 percent compared with last year

 

    Average revenue per order up 8 percent

 

    Closed orders per day up 3 percent

 

    Commercial revenues of $177.8 million, up 7 percent compared with last year

 

    Title Insurance and Services segment loss provision rate of 4.0 percent

 

    Specialty Insurance segment total revenues up 10 percent, with a pretax margin of 8.3 percent

 

    Debt-to-capital ratio of 18.7 percent as of June 30, 2017

 

    Cash flow from operations of $228.5 million, up 13 percent compared with last year

Selected Financial Information

($ in millions, except per share data)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
June 30
 
     2017      2016  

Total revenue

   $ 1,454.4      $ 1,361.5  

Income before taxes

     184.2        153.6  

Net income

   $ 122.3      $ 102.1  

Net income per diluted share

     1.09        0.92  

Total revenue for the second quarter of 2017 was $1.5 billion, an increase of 7 percent relative to the second quarter of 2016. Net income in the current quarter was $122.3 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, compared with net income of $102.1 million, or 92 cents per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2016. Net realized investment gains in the current quarter were $17.9 million, or 11 cents per diluted share, compared with gains of $8.1 million, or 5 cents per diluted share, in the second quarter of last year.

“Our continued operating discipline is reflected in the record title margin we achieved in the second quarter,” said Dennis J. Gilmore, chief executive officer at First American Financial Corporation. “Our purchase business performed well during the spring selling season, with revenues up 12 percent, and the momentum in our commercial business continued, with revenues up 7 percent from last year. The declining refinance market stabilized in the second quarter, and we continued to adjust the cost structure in our related businesses to reflect the lower activity level. This quarter we began to see the benefit of higher investment income driven by the increase in short-term interest rates. Our longer-term outlook remains optimistic, as we believe that ongoing improvement in the housing market will drive further growth in our revenue, margins and profitability.”

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First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results

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Title Insurance and Services

($ in millions, except average revenue per order)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
June 30
 
     2017     2016  

Total revenues

   $ 1,336.9     $ 1,255.9  

Income before taxes

   $ 197.3     $ 172.4  

Pretax margin

     14.8     13.7

Direct open orders

     299,600       347,800  

Direct closed orders

     213,900       244,200  

U.S. Commercial

    

Total revenues

   $ 177.9     $ 166.5  

Open orders

     32,400       32,100  

Closed orders

     20,700       19,900  

Average revenue per order

   $ 8,600     $ 8,400  

Total revenues for the Title Insurance and Services segment during the second quarter were $1.3 billion, a 6 percent increase from the same quarter of 2016. Direct premiums and escrow fees were up 2 percent compared with the second quarter of 2016, driven by a 16 percent increase in the average revenue per direct title order that was largely offset by a 12 percent decline in the number of direct title orders closed. The growth in the average revenue per direct title order to $2,294 was primarily attributable to the shift in the order mix to higher-premium residential purchase and commercial transactions, and to the increase in residential real estate values. Agent premiums were up 7 percent in the current quarter compared with last year, largely reflecting the normal reporting lag of approximately one quarter.

Information and other revenues were $199.2 million this quarter, an increase of $17.3 million, or 9 percent, compared with the same quarter of last year. This increase was driven by the impact of recent acquisitions.

Investment income was $34.7 million in the second quarter, up $7.2 million, or 26 percent, primarily due to the increase in short-term interest rates that drove higher interest income in our debt securities portfolio and on balances held in our tax-deferred property exchange business. In addition, investment income also benefited from a larger allocation to higher-yielding municipal bonds and an increase in average invested balances in our debt securities portfolio. Net realized investment gains totaled $16.7 million in the current quarter, compared with gains of $7.8 million in the second quarter of 2016.

Personnel costs were $415.6 million in the second quarter, an increase of $25.8 million, or 7 percent, compared with the same quarter of 2016. This increase was driven by the impact of recent acquisitions, higher average salary expense, and an increase in incentive compensation as a result of higher revenue and profitability. These increases were partially offset by lower temporary labor costs in the current quarter.

 

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First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results

Page 3

 

Other operating expenses were $199.7 million in the second quarter, up $4.2 million, or 2 percent, compared with the second quarter of 2016. The increase in expenses during the quarter was primarily attributable to recent acquisitions, partially offset by small decreases across a number of expense categories.

The provision for policy losses and other claims was $43.5 million in the second quarter, or 4.0 percent of title premiums and escrow fees, compared with a 5.5 percent loss provision rate in the second 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 $28.6 million in the second quarter, an increase of $6.1 million, or 27 percent, compared with the same period last year. The increase was primarily attributable to $2.8 million in purchased software licenses that were previously included in other operating expenses and $2.0 million from the acceleration of amortization due to a shortened useful life for a previously installed software interface.

Pretax income for the Title Insurance and Services segment was $197.3 million in the second quarter, compared with $172.4 million in the second quarter of 2016. Pretax margin was 14.8 percent in the current quarter, compared with 13.7 percent last year.

Specialty Insurance

($ in millions)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
June 30
 
     2017     2016  

Total revenues

   $ 115.2     $ 104.4  

Income before taxes

   $ 9.6     $ 4.7  

Pretax margin

     8.3     4.5

Total revenues for the Specialty Insurance segment were $115.2 million in the second quarter of 2017, an increase of 10 percent compared with the second quarter of 2016. The increase in revenues was primarily driven by higher premiums earned in the home warranty business line. The loss ratio in the home warranty business returned to normal seasonal levels this quarter, primarily due to operational improvements that drove lower claim severity and, to a lesser extent, favorable weather. Our property and casualty business experienced higher claim losses in the quarter due to higher claim frequency. However, the overall loss ratio for the segment still declined to 62.0 percent compared with 64.5 percent last year. As a result, the segment’s pretax margin in the current quarter was 8.3 percent, compared with 4.5 percent in the second quarter of last year.

 

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First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results

Page 4

 

Pension Termination Update

The termination of the company’s pension plan was completed in July. In the third quarter, the company will record a charge of approximately $153 million in the corporate segment, which will have a negligible impact on stockholders’ equity. The company expects an annual reduction of approximately $22 million in personnel expenses in the corporate segment based on the level of these expenses in 2016.

Teleconference/Webcast

First American’s second quarter 2017 results will be discussed in more detail on Thursday, July 27, 2017, at 11 a.m. EDT, 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 August 10, 2017, by dialing 201-612-7415 and using the conference ID 13665759. 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 investment advisory services. With total revenue of $5.6 billion in 2016, 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.

 

 

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First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results

Page 5

 

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 annual report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 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.

 

Media Contact:

 

Marcus Ginnaty

Corporate Communications

First American Financial Corporation

714-250-3298

  

Investor Contact:

 

Craig Barberio

Investor Relations

First American Financial Corporation

714-250-5214

 

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First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results

Page 6

 

First American Financial Corporation

Summary of Consolidated Financial Results and Selected Information

(in thousands, except per share amounts and title orders)

(unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
Jun 30
     For the Six Months Ended
Jun 30
 
     2017     2016      2017     2016  

Total revenues

   $ 1,454,429     $ 1,361,533      $ 2,771,472     $ 2,563,245  

Income before income taxes

   $ 184,154     $ 153,607      $ 268,034     $ 229,199  

Income tax expense

     62,259       51,156        88,070       74,076  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     121,895       102,451        179,964       155,123  

Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (362     302        (575     473  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to the Company

   $ 122,257     $ 102,149      $ 180,539     $ 154,650  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income per share attributable to stockholders:

         

Basic

   $ 1.10     $ 0.92      $ 1.62     $ 1.40  

Diluted

   $ 1.09     $ 0.92      $ 1.61     $ 1.40  

Cash dividends declared per share

   $ 0.34     $ 0.26      $ 0.68     $ 0.52  

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

         

Basic

     111,549       110,480        111,374       110,327  

Diluted

     112,199       110,978        112,026       110,842  

Selected Title Information

         

Title orders opened (1)

     299,600       347,800        559,200       650,700  

Title orders closed (1)

     213,900       244,200        405,200       437,300  

Paid title claims

     47,763       54,251        98,771       110,941  

 

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

 

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First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results

Page 7

 

First American Financial Corporation

Selected Balance Sheet Information

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     June 30,
2017
     December 31,
2016
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,166,764      $ 1,006,138  

Investment portfolio

     5,458,600        5,140,699  

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

     1,109,751        1,096,315  

Total assets

     9,314,286        8,831,777  

Reserve for claim losses

     1,017,232        1,025,863  

Notes and contracts payable

     734,455        736,693  

Total stockholders’ equity

   $ 3,193,423      $ 3,008,179  

 

 

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First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results

Page 8

 

First American Financial Corporation

Segment Information

(in thousands, unaudited)

 

For the Three Months Ended

June 30, 2017

   Consolidated      Title
Insurance
     Specialty
Insurance
     Corporate
(incl. Elims.)
 

Revenues

           

Direct premiums and escrow fees

   $ 641,080      $ 532,236      $ 108,844      $ —    

Agent premiums

     554,028        554,028        —          —    

Information and other

     201,851        199,243        2,874        (266

Net investment income

     39,609        34,665        2,321        2,623  

Net realized investment gains (1)

     17,861        16,738        1,123        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     1,454,429        1,336,910        115,162        2,357  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

           

Personnel costs

     444,418        415,592        17,891        10,935  

Premiums retained by agents

     435,771        435,771        —          —    

Other operating expenses

     222,814        199,705        16,766        6,343  

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     110,958        43,486        67,472        —    

Depreciation and amortization

     30,145        28,557        1,547        41  

Premium taxes

     17,179        15,253        1,926        —    

Interest

     8,990        1,241        —          7,749  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     1,270,275        1,139,605        105,602        25,068  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ 184,154      $ 197,305      $ 9,560      $ (22,711
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

June 30, 2016

   Consolidated      Title
Insurance
     Specialty
Insurance
     Corporate
(incl. Elims.)
 

Revenues

           

Direct premiums and escrow fees

   $ 623,975      $ 522,871      $ 101,104      $ —    

Agent premiums

     515,792        515,792        —          —    

Information and other

     182,771        181,958        819        (6

Net investment income

     30,925        27,478        2,254        1,193  

Net realized investment gains (1)

     8,070        7,823        247        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     1,361,533        1,255,922        104,424        1,187  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

           

Personnel costs

     417,725        389,799        17,023        10,903  

Premiums retained by agents

     403,669        403,669        —          —    

Other operating expenses

     216,361        195,495        14,209        6,657  

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     122,360        57,126        65,234        —    

Depreciation and amortization

     23,994        22,439        1,459        96  

Premium taxes

     16,027        14,246        1,781        —    

Interest

     7,790        711        —          7,079  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     1,207,926        1,083,485        99,706        24,735  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ 153,607      $ 172,437      $ 4,718      $ (23,548
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(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.

 

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First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results

Page 9

 

First American Financial Corporation

Segment Information

(in thousands, unaudited)

 

For the Six Months Ended           Title      Specialty      Corporate  

June 30, 2017

   Consolidated      Insurance      Insurance      (incl. Elims.)  

Revenues

           

Direct premiums and escrow fees

   $ 1,168,089      $ 954,195      $ 213,894      $ —    

Agent premiums

     1,128,610        1,128,610        —          —    

Information and other

     384,360        379,278        5,613        (531

Net investment income

     72,649        61,280        4,650        6,719  

Net realized investment gains (1)

     17,764        16,494        1,270        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2,771,472        2,539,857        225,427        6,188  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

           

Personnel costs

     859,548        800,428        35,154        23,966  

Premiums retained by agents

     889,697        889,697        —          —    

Other operating expenses

     430,223        382,976        34,051        13,196  

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     213,346        83,348        129,998        —    

Depreciation and amortization

     60,292        57,108        3,098        86  

Premium taxes

     32,627        29,102        3,525        —    

Interest

     17,705        1,650        —          16,055  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2,503,438        2,244,309        205,826        53,303  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ 268,034      $ 295,548      $ 19,601      $ (47,115
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
For the Six Months Ended           Title      Specialty      Corporate  

June 30, 2016

   Consolidated      Insurance      Insurance      (incl. Elims.)  

Revenues

           

Direct premiums and escrow fees

   $ 1,125,889      $ 926,911      $ 198,978      $ —    

Agent premiums

     1,028,037        1,028,037        —          —    

Information and other

     337,848        336,220        1,640        (12

Net investment income

     58,295        52,404        4,490        1,401  

Net realized investment gains (1)

     13,176        10,819        2,357        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2,563,245        2,354,391        207,465        1,389  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

           

Personnel costs

     800,437        744,879        33,802        21,756  

Premiums retained by agents

     808,708        808,708        —          —    

Other operating expenses

     403,036        360,993        28,961        13,082  

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     229,458        107,642        121,816        —    

Depreciation and amortization

     46,414        43,515        2,707        192  

Premium taxes

     30,404        27,187        3,217        —    

Interest

     15,589        1,356        —          14,233  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2,334,046        2,094,280        190,503        49,263  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ 229,199      $ 260,111      $ 16,962      $ (47,874
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(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.

 

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First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results

Page 10

 

First American Financial Corporation

Expense and Success Ratio Reconciliation

Title Insurance and Services Segment

($ in thousands, unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
Jun 30
    For the Six Months Ended
Jun 30
 
     2017     2016     2017     2016  

Total revenues

   $ 1,336,910     $ 1,255,922     $ 2,539,857     $ 2,354,391  

Less: Net realized investment gains

     16,738       7,823       16,494       10,819  

Net investment income

     34,665       27,478       61,280       52,404  

Premiums retained by agents

     435,771       403,669       889,697       808,708  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net operating revenues

   $ 849,736     $ 816,952     $ 1,572,386     $ 1,482,460  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Personnel and other operating expenses

   $ 615,297     $ 585,294     $ 1,183,404     $ 1,105,872  

Ratio (% net operating revenues)

     72.4     71.6     75.3     74.6

Ratio (% total revenues)

     46.0     46.6     46.6     47.0

Change in net operating revenues

   $ 32,784       $ 89,926    

Change in personnel and other operating expenses

     30,003         77,532    

Success Ratio (1)

     92       86  

 

(1) Change in personnel and other operating expenses divided by change in net operating revenues.

 

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First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results

Page 11

 

First American Financial Corporation

Supplemental Direct Title Insurance Order Information (1)

(unaudited)

 

     Q217     Q117     Q416     Q316     Q216  

Open Orders per Day

          

Purchase

     2,313       1,977       1,623       2,110       2,272  

Refinance

     1,319       1,236       1,777       2,574       2,128  

Refinance as % of residential orders

     36     38     52     55     48

Commercial

     506       507       484       492       501  

Default and other

     544       468       403       525       533  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total open orders per day

     4,681       4,187       4,287       5,702       5,434  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Closed Orders per Day

          

Purchase

     1,718       1,298       1,504       1,645       1,667  

Refinance

     910       1,030       1,758       1,714       1,428  

Refinance as % of residential orders

     35     44     54     51     46

Commercial

     324       310       340       318       310  

Default and other

     390       448       475       518       410  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total closed orders per day

     3,342       3,085       4,076       4,194       3,816  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average Revenue per Order (ARPO)

          

Purchase

   $ 2,319     $ 2,215     $ 2,206     $ 2,193     $ 2,138  

Refinance

     907       912       899       880       879  

Commercial

     8,589       7,617       8,808       8,162       8,379  

Default and other

     201       238       199       170       257  

Total ARPO

   $ 2,294     $ 2,035     $ 1,958     $ 1,859     $ 1,972  

Business Days

     64       62       62       64       64  

 

(1) U.S. operations only.

Totals may not add due to rounding.

 

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