Investors Title CompanyNASDAQ: ITIC

Investors Title Company Announces Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

· Issued by Investors Title Company via Business Wire

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Investors Title Company (Nasdaq: ITIC) today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022. The Company reported net income of $2.3 million, or $1.20 per diluted share, compared to $19.8 million, or $10.42 per diluted share, for the prior year period.

Revenues for the quarter decreased 16.5% to $70.9 million, compared with $85.0 million for the prior year quarter. Total revenues were offset by the recognition of a $12.2 million unrealized loss in the Company’s equity portfolio. Net premiums written increased 3.1% versus the prior year period, driven by higher average home values and growth of our footprint in the Texas market, setting a second quarter record. Escrow and title-related fees increased 78.1% due to a larger share of business that generates escrow income, and fee income associated with commercial activity. Revenues from non-title services increased 17.8% due primarily to higher levels of property exchange transaction volumes. Realized gains from sales of equity securities were $1.9 million higher, while other income decreased $3.8 million due to a non-recurring gain on the sale of property which occurred in the prior year quarter.

Operating expenses increased 13.9%, compared to the prior year period, primarily due to increases in personnel costs, title fees, and office and technology expenses. Personnel costs were 31.3% higher than the prior year period due to staffing of new offices, hiring to support growth initiatives, and increased employee benefit costs. Office, technology, and other operating expenses increased 49.4% in support of expanding our geographic footprint and various ongoing technology initiatives.

Income before income taxes decreased $22.3 million to $3.0 million for the current quarter versus $25.3 million in the prior year period. Excluding the impact of changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments, income before income taxes (non-GAAP) decreased 26.1% to $15.1 million for the current quarter versus $20.5 million in the prior year period (see Appendix A for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure).

For the six months ended June 30, 2022, net income decreased $25.1 million to $8.5 million, or $4.45 per diluted share, versus $33.6 million, or $17.70 per diluted share, for the prior year period. Net premiums written increased 2.9% to $132.8 million, versus $129.0 million in the prior year period. Operating expenses increased 12.9% to $129.2 million, mainly due to increases in personnel and office, technology, and other operating expenses. Overall results for the first six months have been shaped predominantly by the same factors that affected the second quarter.

Chairman J. Allen Fine added, “We are pleased to report a new record level of premiums written for the second quarter. Although net income is down for the quarter, much of the negative comparison is attributable to market losses in our equity portfolio and the gain on the sale of property in the prior year quarter.

The impact of higher mortgage rates has been varied as we have seen some slowing of activity in some markets but ongoing strength in others. Refinance activity has been more significantly impacted by higher rates than activity generated by home sales. We remain optimistic about the Company’s prospects for solid financial results and continue to focus on identifying opportunities to profitably expand our market presence, regardless of cyclical changes in the real estate market.”

Investors Title Company’s subsidiaries issue and underwrite title insurance policies. The Company also provides investment management services and services in connection with tax-deferred exchanges of like-kind property.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as “plan,” expect,” “aim,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “should,” “could,” “would,” and other expressions that indicate future events and trends. Such statements include, among others, any statements regarding the Company’s expected performance for this year, projections regarding U.S. recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, future home price fluctuations, changes in home purchase or refinance demand, activity and the mix thereof, interest rate changes, expansion of the Company’s market presence, enhancing competitive strengths, development in housing affordability, wages, unemployment or overall economic conditions or statements regarding our actuarial assumptions and the application of recent historical claims experience to future periods. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated and historical results. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic (including any of its variants) and its effects (and the effects of measures undertaken to combat it) on the economy and the Company’s business; the cyclical demand for title insurance due to changes in the residential and commercial real estate markets; the occurrence of fraud, defalcation or misconduct; variances between actual claims experience and underwriting and reserving assumptions, including the limited predictive power of historical claims experience; declines in the performance of the Company’s investments; government regulations; changes in the economy; the potential impact of inflation and responses by government regulators, including the Federal Reserve; loss of agency relationships, or significant reductions in agent-originated business; difficulties managing growth, whether organic or through acquisitions and other considerations set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in subsequent filings.

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2022

2021

2022

2021

Revenues:

Net premiums written

$

69,626

$

67,527

$

132,751

$

129,004

Escrow and other title-related fees

6,209

3,487

11,273

6,285

Non-title services

2,836

2,408

5,262

4,486

Interest and dividends

911

898

1,826

1,914

Other investment income

1,106

1,483

2,443

2,424

Net realized investment gains

2,038

182

3,785

503

Changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments

(12,172

)

4,829

(18,087

)

8,068

Other

348

4,147

647

4,355

Total Revenues

70,902

84,961

139,900

157,039

Operating Expenses:

Commissions to agents

33,826

34,346

63,683

64,888

Provision for claims

1,310

1,436

1,486

3,027

Personnel expenses

20,898

15,914

42,152

32,067

Office and technology expenses

4,288

3,211

8,656

5,953

Other expenses

7,627

4,766

13,177

8,501

Total Operating Expenses

67,949

59,673

129,154

114,436

Income before Income Taxes

2,953

25,288

10,746

42,603

Provision for Income Taxes

674

5,506

2,282

8,998

Net Income

$

2,279

$

19,782

$

8,464

$

33,605

Basic Earnings per Common Share

$

1.20

$

10.44

$

4.46

$

17.74

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Basic

1,897

1,894

1,897

1,894

Diluted Earnings per Common Share

$

1.20

$

10.42

$

4.45

$

17.70

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Diluted

1,899

1,899

1,900

1,898

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

June 30, 2022

December 31, 2021

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

35,486

$

37,168

Investments:

Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value

61,385

79,791

Equity securities, at fair value

54,901

76,853

Short-term investments

71,319

45,930

Other investments

19,693

20,298

Total investments

207,298

222,872

Premiums and fees receivable

25,377

22,953

Accrued interest and dividends

733

817

Prepaid expenses and other receivables

13,002

11,721

Property, net

15,698

13,033

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

18,325

15,951

Operating lease right-of-use assets

6,561

5,202

Other assets

2,322

1,771

Current income taxes receivable

390

—

Total Assets

$

325,192

$

331,488

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Liabilities:

Reserve for claims

$

36,603

$

36,754

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

40,044

43,868

Operating lease liabilities

6,704

5,329

Current income taxes payable

—

3,329

Deferred income taxes, net

8,662

13,121

Total liabilities

92,013

102,401

Stockholders’ Equity:

Common stock – no par value (10,000 authorized shares; 1,897 and 1,895 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, excluding in each period 292 shares of common stock held by the Company's subsidiary)

—

—

Retained earnings

232,759

225,861

Accumulated other comprehensive income

420

3,226

Total stockholders’ equity

233,179

229,087

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

$

325,192

$

331,488

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries

Net Premiums Written By Branch and Agency

For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2022

%

2021

%

2022

%

2021

%

Branch

$

16,161

23.2

$

17,048

25.2

$

33,579

25.3

$

34,408

26.7

Agency

53,465

76.8

50,479

74.8

99,172

74.7

94,596

73.3

Total

$

69,626

100.0

$

67,527

100.0

$

132,751

100.0

$

129,004

100.0

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries

Appendix A

Non-GAAP Measures Reconciliation

For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Management uses various financial and operational measurements, including financial information not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), to analyze Company performance. This includes adjusting revenues to remove the impact of changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments, which are recognized in net income under GAAP. Management believes that these measures are useful to evaluate the Company's internal operational performance from period to period because they eliminate the effects of external market fluctuations. The Company also believes users of the financial results would benefit from having access to such information, and that certain of the Company’s peers make available similar information. This information should not be used as a substitute for, or considered superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

 

The following tables reconcile non-GAAP financial measurements used by Company management to the comparable measurements using GAAP:

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2022

2021

2022

2021

Revenues

Total revenues (GAAP)

$

70,902

$

84,961

$

139,900

$

157,039

Add (Subtract): Changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments

12,172

(4,829

)

18,087

(8,068

)

Adjusted revenues (non-GAAP)

$

83,074

$

80,132

$

157,987

$

148,971

Income before Income Taxes

Income before income taxes (GAAP)

$

2,953

$

25,288

$

10,746

$

42,603

Add (Subtract): Changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments

12,172

(4,829

)

18,087

(8,068

)

Adjusted income before income taxes (non-GAAP)

$

15,125

$

20,459

$

28,833

$

34,535

Elizabeth B. Lewter (919) 968-2200

Source: Investors Title Company