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Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

   NEWS    FOR

IMMEDIATE

RELEASE

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL REPORTS RESULTS

FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR OF 2015

Reports Earnings of 74 Cents per Diluted Share for the Fourth Quarter

SANTA ANA, Calif., Feb. 11, 2016 – 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, 2015.

Current Quarter Highlights

 

  Total revenue of $1.4 billion, up 8 percent compared with last year

 

  Title Insurance segment pretax margin of 10.3 percent

 

  Commercial revenues of $206.1 million, up 4 percent compared with last year

 

  - Revenues for the full year 2015 up 17 percent

 

  Specialty Insurance segment pretax margin of 10.0 percent

 

  Cash flow from operations of $199.1 million, up 2 percent compared with last year

 

  Debt-to-capital ratio of 17.5 percent as of Dec. 31, 2015

Selected Financial Information

($ in millions, except per share data)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
December 31
     For the Full Year Ended
December 31
 
     2015      2014      2015      2014  

Total revenue

   $ 1,356.7       $ 1,255.5       $ 5,175.5       $ 4,677.9   

Income before taxes

     116.8         122.9         432.8         350.6   

Net income

   $ 81.6       $ 80.5       $ 288.1       $ 233.5   

Net income per diluted share

     0.74         0.74         2.62         2.15   

Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $1.4 billion, an increase of 8 percent relative to the fourth quarter of 2014. Net income in the current quarter was $81.6 million, or 74 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $80.5 million, or 74 cents per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2014. The current quarter results include net realized investment losses of $6.3 million, or 4 cents per diluted share, compared with gains of $6.8 million, or 4 cents per share, in the fourth quarter of last year. In addition, investment income in the current quarter was reduced by impairments of investments in affiliates totaling $2.0 million, or 1 cent per diluted share, compared with impairments of $20.0 million, or 12 cents per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2014. This quarter’s effective tax rate of 30.0 percent benefited from $5.6 million in non-recurring items, or 5 cents per diluted share, largely due to the release of valuation allowances against foreign deferred tax assets.

Total revenue for the full year of 2015 was $5.2 billion, an increase of 11 percent relative to the prior year. Net income was $288.1 million, or $2.62 per diluted share, compared with $233.5 million, or $2.15 per diluted share, in 2014.

 

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First American Financial Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results

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“Strong earnings in the fourth quarter capped off a great year for First American,” said Dennis J. Gilmore, chief executive officer at First American Financial Corporation. “We successfully implemented the significant changes required as part of the new mortgage disclosure rule that went into effect in October. After experiencing some initial delays, our direct residential business returned to its typical closing timeframes by the end of the quarter. Our commercial business had another record year, with revenues up 17 percent. For 2015, our title segment posted a 10.2 percent margin, while the return on equity of the company improved to nearly 11 percent, both in line with our stated objectives.

“Despite uncertainties in the economy, we remain optimistic about the housing market. We are well positioned to capitalize on anticipated growth in the purchase market. Refinance volumes have improved due to the recent decline in mortgage rates and our commercial pipeline remains healthy. Given this positive outlook, our board of directors recently approved a 4 percent increase in the common stock dividend to $1.04 per share annually.”

Title Insurance and Services

($ in millions, except average revenue per order)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
December 31
 
     2015     2014  

Total revenue

   $ 1,253.1      $ 1,157.9   

Income before taxes

   $ 128.7      $ 124.5   

Pretax margin

     10.3     10.8

Direct open orders

     278,700        268,600   

Direct closed orders

     204,300        204,700   

U.S. Commercial

    

Total revenues

   $ 206.1      $ 198.7   

Open orders

     31,900        31,800   

Closed orders

     21,500        20,800   

Average revenue per order

   $ 9,600      $ 9,500   

Total revenue for the Title Insurance and Services segment was $1.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015, an increase of 8 percent from the same quarter of 2014. Direct premiums and escrow fees were up 4 percent compared with last year, due to a 5 percent increase in average revenue per order, with the number of direct title orders closed in the quarter essentially flat. The average revenue per direct title order climbed to $2,236, due to an increase in the average revenue per closed order for purchase transactions, as well as a shift in the mix toward commercial transactions. Agent premiums were up 14 percent in the current quarter, reflecting the normal reporting lag of approximately one quarter.

Information and other revenues were $161.1 million this quarter, down 2 percent compared with the same quarter of last year. This decline was primarily driven by lower demand for the company’s default information products due to the decline in loss mitigation and foreclosure activity, and unfavorable currency translation, partly offset by the impact of recent acquisitions.

 

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First American Financial Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results

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Investment income in the current quarter was $24.4 million, up $21.7 million, due primarily to $20.0 million in impairments of investments in affiliates in the fourth quarter of last year. Interest income from the investment portfolio was also higher due to growth in average invested balances in the debt securities portfolio. Net realized investment losses, including other-than-temporary impairments, were $5.9 million in the quarter, compared with net realized gains of $4.6 million last year.

Personnel costs were $381.5 million in the fourth quarter, up $33.4 million, or 10 percent, compared with the fourth quarter of 2014. This increase was primarily due to higher incentive-based compensation as compared with last year.

Other operating expenses were $179.7 million in the fourth quarter, down $4.9 million, or 3 percent, compared with the fourth quarter of 2014. This decline was primarily due to higher earnings credits and a reduction in professional services and production-related costs, partially offset by increased software expense.

The provision for policy losses and other claims was $69.8 million in the fourth quarter, or 6.5 percent of title premiums and escrow fees, compared with a loss provision rate of 6.6 percent in the same quarter of the prior year.

Pretax income for the Title Insurance and Services segment was $128.7 million in the fourth quarter, compared with $124.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Pretax margin was 10.3 percent in the current quarter, compared with 10.8 percent last year.

Specialty Insurance

($ in millions)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
December 31
 
     2015     2014  

Total revenue

   $ 100.4      $ 95.5   

Income before taxes

   $ 10.1      $ 17.6   

Pretax margin

     10.0     18.4

Total revenue for the Specialty Insurance segment was $100.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, up 5 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2014. The overall loss ratio for the Specialty Insurance segment was 59.1 percent in the current quarter, up from 52.5 percent in the prior year, with higher losses experienced in both business lines. The increase in the loss ratio in home warranty was primarily due to a return to a more typical seasonal loss ratio as compared with an unusually low ratio last year. In the property and casualty business, the loss ratio increase was primarily due to hailstorm events in New Mexico. In addition, there was a $2.6 million unfavorable swing in net realized gains and losses in the current quarter, which added to the decline in the pretax margin to 10.0 percent, compared with 18.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

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First American Financial Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results

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Teleconference/Webcast

First American’s fourth quarter and full year 2015 results will be discussed in more detail on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2015, 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 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. 25, 2016, by dialing 201-612-7415 and using the conference ID 13628414. 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 revenues of $5.2 billion in 2015, the company offers its products and services directly and through its agents throughout the United States and abroad. 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 and responses to investor questions, including but not limited to those related to economic uncertainties; the outlook for the housing market, including growth in the purchase market; the company’s ability to capitalize on an improving purchase market; the outlook for the commercial business, including moderated growth; growth opportunities from new data products; the impact of the new mortgage disclosure rule; future operating expenses; refinance order volumes; loss provision rate projections; and reductions in paid claims, are 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 may contain the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “predict,” “estimate,” “project,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” or other similar words and phrases. 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: 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 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; the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s exercise of its broad rulemaking and supervisory powers; the effects of and compliance with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s integrated disclosure rules; regulation of title insurance rates; reform of government-sponsored mortgage enterprises; 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

 

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First American Financial Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results

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capital and surplus; losses in the company’s investment portfolio; expenses of and funding obligations to the pension plan; 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 mitigation efforts; systems damage, failures, interruptions and intrusions, wire transfer errors or unauthorized data disclosures; inability to realize the benefits of the company’s offshore strategy; 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, 2015, 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:   Investor Contact:
Marcus Ginnaty   Craig Barberio
Corporate Communications   Investor Relations
First American Financial Corporation   First American Financial Corporation
714-250-3298   714-250-5214

(Additional Financial Data Follows)

 

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First American Financial Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results

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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
December 31
     For the Twelve Months Ended
December 31
 
     2015      2014      2015      2014  

Total revenues

   $ 1,356,668       $ 1,255,451       $ 5,175,456       $ 4,677,949   

Income before income taxes

   $ 116,799       $ 122,897       $ 432,765       $ 350,560   

Income tax expense

     35,063         42,159         143,895         116,345   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

     81,736         80,738         288,870         234,215   

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     171         227         784         681   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income attributable to the Company

   $ 81,565       $ 80,511       $ 288,086       $ 233,534   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income per share attributable to stockholders:

           

Basic

   $ 0.75       $ 0.75       $ 2.65       $ 2.18   

Diluted

   $ 0.74       $ 0.74       $ 2.62       $ 2.15   

Cash dividends declared per share

   $ 0.25       $ 0.24       $ 1.00       $ 0.84   

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

           

Basic

     108,859         107,356         108,427         106,884   

Diluted

     110,252         109,143         109,826         108,688   

Selected Title Information

           

Title orders opened

     278,700         268,600         1,261,700         1,155,500   

Title orders closed

     204,300         204,700         882,400         816,400   

Paid title claims

   $ 49,115       $ 67,567       $ 254,777       $ 272,123   

 

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First American Financial Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results

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First American Financial Corporation

Selected Balance Sheet Information

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     December 31,
2015
     December 31,
2014
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,027,321       $ 1,190,080   

Investment portfolio

     4,785,033         4,033,892   

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

     1,012,456         1,015,757   

Total assets

     8,254,351         7,666,100   

Reserve for claim losses

     983,880         1,011,780   

Notes and contracts payable

     585,102         587,337   

Total stockholders’ equity

   $ 2,758,502       $ 2,572,917   

 

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First American Financial Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results

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First American Financial Corporation

Segment Information

(in thousands, unaudited)

 

For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2015

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

Revenues

        

Direct premiums and escrow fees

   $ 593,579      $ 495,843      $ 97,736      $ —     

Agent premiums

     577,758        577,758        —          —     

Information and other

     161,804        161,052        758        (6

Net investment income

     29,859        24,368        2,298        3,193   

Net realized investment (losses) (1)

     (6,332     (5,897     (435     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,356,668        1,253,124        100,357        3,187   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses

        

Personnel costs

     409,617        381,482        16,212        11,923   

Premiums retained by agents

     456,173        456,173        —          —     

Other operating expenses

     199,671        179,674        13,478        6,519   

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     127,542        69,827        57,715        —     

Depreciation and amortization

     22,207        20,916        1,196        95   

Premium taxes

     17,349        15,664        1,685        —     

Interest

     7,310        656        —          6,654   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,239,869        1,124,392        90,286        25,191   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ 116,799      $ 128,732      $ 10,071      $ (22,004
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014

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

Revenues

        

Direct premiums and escrow fees (2)

   $ 567,717      $ 477,125      $ 90,592      $ —     

Agent premiums (2)

     508,262        508,262        —          —     

Information and other (2)

     165,879        165,179        707        (7

Net investment income

     6,787        2,703        1,983        2,101   

Net realized investment gains (1)

     6,806        4,600        2,206        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,255,451        1,157,869        95,488        2,094   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses

        

Personnel costs (2)

     372,206        348,056        14,891        9,259   

Premiums retained by agents (2)

     400,950        400,950        —          —     

Other operating expenses (2)

     203,933        184,560        12,799        6,574   

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     112,284        64,744        47,540        —     

Depreciation and amortization

     21,718        20,405        1,191        122   

Premium taxes

     15,223        13,766        1,457        —     

Interest

     6,240        841        —          5,399   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,132,554        1,033,322        77,878        21,354   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ 122,897      $ 124,547      $ 17,610      $ (19,260
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes impairment losses recorded in earnings, except for impairments on investments accounted for under the equity method, which are recorded in investment income.
(2) During the fourth quarter of 2015, the company reclassified certain revenues and expenses. The 2014 amounts have been revised to conform to the 2015 presentation.

 

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First American Financial Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results

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First American Financial Corporation

Segment Information

(in thousands, unaudited)

 

For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2015

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

Revenues

         

Direct premiums and escrow fees

   $ 2,310,047      $ 1,929,783      $ 380,264       $ —     

Agent premiums

     2,098,265        2,098,265        —           —     

Information and other

     673,138        669,984        3,180         (26

Net investment income

     100,553        97,520        8,850         (5,817

Net realized investment (losses) gains (1)

     (6,547     (7,442     1,463         (568
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     5,175,456        4,788,110        393,757         (6,411
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

         

Personnel costs

     1,594,935        1,491,892        65,742         37,301   

Premiums retained by agents

     1,656,722        1,656,722        —           —     

Other operating expenses

     820,969        745,278        49,741         25,950   

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     491,092        263,881        227,211         —     

Depreciation and amortization

     85,596        80,359        4,775         462   

Premium taxes

     64,269        57,500        6,769         —     

Interest

     29,108        2,524        —           26,584   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     4,742,691        4,298,156        354,238         90,297   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ 432,765      $ 489,954      $ 39,519       $ (96,708
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2014

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

Revenues

         

Direct premiums and escrow fees (2)

   $ 2,052,242      $ 1,698,430      $ 353,812       $ —     

Agent premiums (2)

     1,867,402        1,867,402        —           —     

Information and other (2)

     657,197        654,961        2,260         (24

Net investment income

     71,041        59,785        7,288         3,968   

Net realized investment gains (1)

     30,067        23,850        5,306         911   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     4,677,949        4,304,428        368,666         4,855   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

         

Personnel costs (2)

     1,435,628        1,338,011        63,072         34,545   

Premiums retained by agents (2)

     1,472,066        1,472,066        —           —     

Other operating expenses (2)

     807,634        736,491        44,645         26,498   

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     450,023        253,122        196,901         —     

Depreciation and amortization

     85,597        77,820        4,978         2,799   

Premium taxes

     57,194        51,098        6,096         —     

Interest

     19,247        2,796        —           16,451   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     4,327,389        3,931,404        315,692         80,293   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ 350,560      $ 373,024      $ 52,974       $ (75,438
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes impairment losses recorded in earnings, except for impairments on investments accounted for under the equity method, which are recorded in investment income.
(2) During the fourth quarter of 2015, the company reclassified certain revenues and expenses. The 2014 amounts have been revised to conform to the 2015 presentation.

 

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First American Financial Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 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
December 31
    For the Twelve Months Ended
December 31
 
     2015     2014     2015     2014  

Total revenues

   $ 1,253,124      $ 1,157,869      $ 4,788,110      $ 4,304,428   

Less: Net realized investment (losses) gains

     (5,897     4,600        (7,442     23,850   

Net investment income

     24,368        2,703        97,520        59,785   

Premiums retained by agents

     456,173        400,950        1,656,722        1,472,066   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net operating revenues

   $ 778,480      $ 749,616      $ 3,041,310      $ 2,748,727   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Personnel and other operating expenses

   $ 561,156      $ 532,616      $ 2,237,170      $ 2,074,502   

Ratio (% net operating revenues)

     72.1     71.1     73.6     75.5

Ratio (% total revenues)

     44.8     46.0     46.7     48.2

Change in net operating revenues

   $ 28,864        $ 292,583     

Change in personnel and other operating expenses

     28,540          162,668     

Success Ratio (1)

     99       56  

 

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

 

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First American Financial Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results

Page 11

 

First American Financial Corporation

Supplemental Direct Title Order Information

(unaudited)

 

     Q415     Q315     Q215     Q115     Q414  

Open Orders per Day

          

Purchase

     1,649        2,099        2,324        2,002        1,611   

Refinance

     1,616        1,629        1,758        2,379        1,627   

Refinance as % of residential orders

     49     44     43     54     50

Commercial

     507        532        544        532        505   

Other (1)

     653        596        612        612        522   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total open orders per day

     4,424        4,856        5,238        5,525        4,263   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Closed Orders per Day

          

Purchase

     1,443        1,687        1,681        1,247        1,420   

Refinance

     1,112        1,152        1,420        1,471        1,122   

Refinance as % of residential orders

     44     41     46     54     44

Commercial

     341        321        325        300        330   

Other (1)

     346        339        425        386        377   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total closed orders per day

     3,242        3,500        3,852        3,403        3,249   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average Revenue per Order (ARPO) (2)

          

Purchase

   $ 2,053      $ 2,071      $ 2,028      $ 1,913      $ 1,936   

Refinance

     867        857        865        874        863   

Commercial

     9,591        8,357        8,179        8,113        9,549   

Other (1)

     152        299        222        351        170   

Total ARPO

   $ 2,236      $ 2,077      $ 1,918      $ 1,834      $ 2,134   

Business Days

     63        64        64        61        63   

 

(1) Includes default and other orders
(2) U.S. operations only. During the fourth quarter of 2015, the company reclassified certain revenues, which impacted the calculation of ARPO. Prior quarter amounts have been revised to conform to the fourth quarter of 2015 presentation.

Totals may not add due to rounding

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