UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

þ		QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 001-02658

STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		74-1677330
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
1980 Post Oak Blvd., Houston TX		77056
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 625-8100

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o		Accelerated filer þ		Non-accelerated filer o		Smaller reporting company o
				(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ

On October 28, 2011, the following shares of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock were outstanding:

Common, $1 par value			18,247,925
Class B Common, $1 par value			1,050,012

 

 

FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT

QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item		Page
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
1. Financial Statements			1
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			14
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			26
4. Controls and Procedures			27
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
1. Legal Proceedings			27
1A. Risk Factors			27
5. Other Information			27
6. Exhibits			27
Signature			28
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-31.3
EX-32.1
EX-32.2
EX-32.3
EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

As used in this report, “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “Stewart” mean Stewart Information Services Corporation and our subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

 

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS (LOSS)

		For the Three Months								For the Nine Months
		Ended September 30,								Ended September 30,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
						($000 omitted, except per share)
Revenues
Title insurance:
Direct operations			164,411				161,949				469,482				462,654
Agency operations			228,350				242,938				633,988				675,962
Real estate information			22,494				19,673				76,443				57,874
Investment income			4,287				4,281				12,029				14,496
Investment and other (losses) gains– net			(1,013	)			1,224				(2,115	)			11,932
			418,529				430,065				1,189,827				1,222,918
Expenses
Amounts retained by agencies			188,355				202,167				524,103				562,722
Employee costs			114,461				113,160				348,973				346,795
Other operating expenses			66,717				70,476				190,093				202,558
Title losses and related claims			35,200				39,050				101,384				102,836
Depreciation and amortization			4,751				5,132				14,343				16,744
Interest			1,356				1,355				3,928				4,307
			410,840				431,340				1,182,824				1,235,962
Earnings (loss) before taxes and noncontrolling interests			7,689				(1,275	)			7,003				(13,044	)
Income tax expense (benefit)			1,381				(30	)			2,570				4,294
Net earnings (loss)			6,308				(1,245	)			4,433				(17,338	)
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests			1,766				1,783				4,244				5,225
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Stewart			4,542				(3,028	)			189				(22,563	)
Comprehensive earnings (loss):
Net earnings (loss)			6,308				(1,245	)			4,433				(17,338	)
Other comprehensive earnings, net of tax (benefit) expense of ($2,681), $4,060, $214 and $6,929			4,423				9,609				6,414				13,442
Comprehensive earnings (loss)			10,731				8,364				10,847				(3,896	)
Less comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests			1,766				1,783				4,244				5,225
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Stewart			8,965				6,581				6,603				(9,121	)
Basic average shares outstanding (000)			19,234				18,335				19,095				18,304
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Stewart			0.24				(0.17	)			0.01				(1.23	)
Dilutive average shares outstanding (000)			24,344				18,335				19,095				18,304
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Stewart			0.22				(0.17	)			0.01				(1.23	)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

		As of				As of
		September 30,				December 31,
		2011				2010
		($000 omitted)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents			108,535				144,564
Cash and cash equivalents – statutory reserve funds			14,631				9,926
			123,166				154,490
Short-term investments			32,472				33,457
Investments in debt and equity securities available-for-sale, at fair value:
Statutory reserve funds			396,155				396,317
Other			61,133				54,007
			457,288				450,324
Receivables:
Notes			10,473				10,747
Premiums from agencies			43,303				45,399
Income taxes			7,811				651
Trade and other receivables			43,926				41,323
Allowance for uncollectible amounts			(17,666	)			(19,438	)
			87,847				78,682
Property and equipment, at cost
Land			6,418				6,445
Buildings			23,797				23,769
Furniture and equipment			236,568				250,355
Accumulated depreciation			(208,466	)			(219,000	)
			58,317				61,569
Title plants, at cost			77,406				77,397
Real estate, at lower of cost or net realizable value			2,382				3,266
Investments in investees, on an equity method basis			17,909				17,608
Goodwill			216,277				206,861
Intangible assets, net of amortization			7,541				8,228
Other assets			54,120				49,324
			1,134,725				1,141,206
Liabilities
Notes payable			13,522				8,784
Convertible senior notes			64,469				64,338
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			76,261				95,666
Estimated title losses			489,873				495,849
Deferred income taxes			25,581				28,236
			669,706				692,873
Contingent liabilities and commitments
Stockholders’ equity
Common and Class B Common Stock and additional paid-in capital			151,998				143,264
Retained earnings			282,855				282,666
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings			20,024				13,610
Treasury stock – 352,161 and 476,227 common shares, at cost			(2,666	)			(4,330	)
Stockholders’ equity attributable to Stewart			452,211				435,210
Noncontrolling interests			12,808				13,123
Total stockholders’ equity (19,297,975 and 18,375,058 shares outstanding)			465,019				448,333
			1,134,725				1,141,206

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

		For the Nine Months
		Ended September 30,
		2011				2010
		($000 omitted)
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to cash (used) provided by operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)			4,433				(17,338	)
Add (deduct):
Depreciation and amortization			14,343				16,744
Provision for bad debt			1,250				3,269
Investment and other losses (gains) – net			2,115				(11,932	)
Payments for title losses in excess of provisions			(6,501	)			(19,907	)
Insurance recoveries of title losses			3,210				6,599
(Increase) decrease in receivables – net			(6,626	)			41,737
Increase in other assets – net			(566	)			(2,534	)
Decrease in payables and accrued liabilities – net			(15,622	)			(5,743	)
Decrease in net deferred income taxes			(2,869	)			(158	)
Net earnings from equity investees			(1,043	)			(1,487	)
Dividends received from equity investees			1,889				1,906
Other – net			1,052				3,204
Cash (used) provided by operating activities			(4,935	)			14,360
Investing activities:
Proceeds from investments available-for-sale matured and sold			172,783				173,881
Purchases of investments available-for-sale			(170,017	)			(140,534	)
Proceeds from redemptions of investments – pledged			—				217,225
Purchases of property and equipment and title plants – net			(13,788	)			(9,045	)
Increases in notes receivable			(324	)			(420	)
Collections on notes receivable			650				641
Change in cash and cash equivalents due to sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries (see below)			—				(1,873	)
Cash paid for the acquisition of subsidiaries and other – net (see below)			(8,262	)			—
Cash paid for loan guarantee obligation			(3,928	)			—
Net cash (paid) received for other assets, cost-basis investments, equity investees and other			(77	)			4,654
Cash (used) provided by investing activities			(22,963	)			244,529
Financing activities:
Payments on notes payable			(4,688	)			(15,806	)
Payments on line of credit			—				(216,141	)
Purchase of remaining interest of consolidated subsidiaries			—				(4,116	)
Proceeds from notes payable			6,500				2,834
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(4,457	)			(5,485	)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests			13				—
Cash used by financing activities			(2,632	)			(238,714	)
Effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates			(794	)			270
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents			(31,324	)			20,445
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			154,490				116,100
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period			123,166				136,545

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

		For the Nine Months
		Ended September 30,
		2011				2010
		($000 omitted)
Supplemental information:
Settlement of wage and hour litigation through issuance of Common Stock			7,582				—
Settlement of note payable through issuance of Common Stock held in treasury			1,299				—
Changes in financial statement amounts due to purchase of subsidiary:
Goodwill acquired			9,416				—
Receivables and other assets acquired			5,767				—
Liabilities acquired			(3,671	)			—
Debt assumed			(3,250	)			—
Cash paid for the acquisition of subsidiaries and other — net			8,262				—
Changes in financial statement amounts due to sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries:
Note receivable			—				2,433
Investments in investees, on an equity method basis			—				5,315
Goodwill			—				(5,902	)
Title plants			—				(1,048	)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation			—				(1,564	)
Intangible asset, net of amortization			—				2,928
Other – net			—				(814	)
Liabilities			—				1,390
Noncontrolling interests			—				336
Investment and other gains – net			—				(1,201	)
Change in cash and cash equivalents due to sale and deconsolidation of Subsidiaries			—				1,873

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Interim financial statements

NOTE 1

Interim financial statements. The financial information contained in this report for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and as of September 30, 2011, is unaudited. This report should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

A. Management’s responsibility. The accompanying interim financial statements were prepared by management, who is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. These financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), including management’s best judgments and estimates. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of this information for all interim periods, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, have been made. The Company’s results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year and actual results could differ from those estimates.

B. Consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements include all subsidiaries in which the Company owns more than 50% of the voting rights to electing directors. All significant intercompany amounts and transactions have been eliminated and provisions have been made for noncontrolling interests. Unconsolidated investees, in which the Company typically owns 20% through 50% of the equity, are accounted for by the equity method.

C. Reclassifications. Certain amounts in the 2010 interim financial statements have been reclassified for comparative purposes. Net losses, as previously reported, were not affected.

D. Recent Significant Accounting Pronouncements. In September 2011, the Intangibles-Goodwill and Other Topic of the FASB ASC was amended. The result of the issuance is an added initial qualitative step in performing the goodwill impairment analysis. The amendment is effective as of the beginning of the first annual and interim reporting periods that begin after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permissible. The Company will adopt the amendment as of January 1, 2012.

Investments in debt and equity securities

NOTE 2

Investments in debt and equity securities. The amortized costs and fair values follow:

		September 30, 2011								December 31, 2010
						Fair								Fair
		Amortized costs				values				Amortized costs				values
						($000 omitted)
Debt securities:
Municipal			31,864				33,382				39,589				40,185
Corporate and utilities			229,426				235,572				228,270				229,972
Foreign			154,385				161,198				155,977				157,745
U.S. Government			20,737				22,648				20,792				22,422
Equity securities			5,005				4,488				—				—
			441,417				457,288				444,628				450,324

Gross unrealized gains and losses were:

		September 30, 2011								December 31, 2010
		Gains				Losses				Gains				Losses
						($000 omitted)
Debt securities:
Municipal			1,525				7				1,235				639
Corporate and utilities			9,143				2,997				4,574				2,872
Foreign			6,815				2				1,861				93
U.S. Government			1,911				—				1,634				4
Equity securities			—				517				—				—
			19,394				3,523				9,304				3,608

Debt securities as of September 30, 2011 mature, according to their contractual terms, as follows (actual maturities may differ due to call or prepayment rights):

						Fair
		Amortized costs				values
		($000 omitted)
In one year or less			34,076				34,416
After one year through five years			214,176				161,249
After five years through ten years			152,540				116,204
After ten years			35,620				140,931
			436,412				452,800

As of September 30, 2011, gross unrealized losses on investments and the fair values of the related securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, were:

		Less than 12 months								More than 12 months								Total
		Losses				Fair values				Losses				Fair values				Losses				Fair values
										($000 omitted)
Debt securities:
Municipal			7				1,178				—				—				7				1,178
Corporate and utilities			2,995				81,901				2				1,752				2,997				83,653
Foreign			2				623				—				—				2				623
U.S. Government			—				—				—				—				—				—
Equity securities			518				4,486				—				—				518				4,486
			3,522				88,188				2				1,752				3,524				89,940

The unrealized loss positions were primarily caused by interest rate fluctuations. The number of investments in an unrealized loss position as of September 30, 2011 was 57. Since the Company does not intend to sell and will more-likely-than-not maintain each debt security until its anticipated recovery, and no significant credit risk is deemed to exist, these investments are not considered other-than-temporarily impaired.

As of December 31, 2010, gross unrealized losses on investments and the fair values of the related securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, were:

		Less than 12 months								More than 12 months								Total
		Losses				Fair values				Losses				Fair values				Losses				Fair values
										($000 omitted)
Debt securities:
Municipal			638				14,391				1				25				639				14,416
Corporate and utilities			2,868				95,354				4				235				2,872				95,589
Foreign			93				55,773				—				—				93				55,773
U.S. Government			4				3,711				—				—				4				3,711
			3,603				169,229				5				260				3,608				169,489

The Company believes its investment portfolio is diversified and expects no material loss to result from the failure to perform by issuers of the debt securities it holds. Investments made by the Company are not collateralized. Foreign debt securities primarily include Canadian government bonds and United Kingdom treasury bonds.

Fair value measurements

NOTE 3

Fair value measurements. The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB ASC defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal, or most advantageous, market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Fair Value Measurements Topic establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs when possible. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:

	•		Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
	•		Level 2 — observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data; and
	•		Level 3 — unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair values of the assets or liabilities, including certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

As of September 30, 2011, financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:

										Fair value
		Level 1				Level 2				measurements
						($000 omitted)
Short-term investments			32,472				—				32,472
Investments available-for-sale:
Debt securities:
Municipal			—				33,382				33,382
Corporate and utilities			—				235,572				235,572
Foreign			161,198				—				161,198
U.S. Government			22,648				—				22,648
Equity securities			4,488				—				4,488
			220,806				268,954				489,760

As of September 30, 2011, Level 1 financial instruments consist of short-term investments, U.S. and foreign government bonds and equity securities. Level 2 financial instruments consist of municipal and corporate bonds. The municipal bonds are valued using a third-party pricing service, and the corporate bonds are valued using actual transaction levels, independent broker/dealer quotes or information, or a combination thereof. When no relevant broker/dealer information can be obtained, the third-party service price will be used. The third-party pricing service for both municipal and corporate bonds determines a consensus price derived from prices provided by various broker/dealers that meet certain statistical requirements within a predefined statistical deviation. If a consensus price cannot be determined, then the third-party providing service, by using a recognized pricing model, a theoretical value, based on where similar bonds, as defined by credit quality and market sector have traded, is used.

Investment income

NOTE 4

Investment income. Gross realized investment and other gains and losses follows:

		For the Three Months								For the Nine Months
		Ended September 30,								Ended September 30,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
						($000 omitted)
Realized gains			884				1,860				4,476				13,399
Realized losses			(1,897	)			(636	)			(6,591	)			(1,467	)
			(1,013	)			1,224				(2,115	)			11,932

Expenses assignable to investment income were insignificant. There were no significant investments as of September 30, 2011 that did not produce income during the year.

Proceeds from the sales of investments available-for-sale follows:

		For the Three Months								For the Nine Months
		Ended September 30,								Ended September 30,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
						($000 omitted)
Proceeds from sales of investments available-for-sale			15,406				40,051				126,165				140,986

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, investment and other (losses) gains — net included realized losses on the impairment of cost-basis investments of $1.2 million and a loan guarantee obligation of $3.9 million. The realized losses were partially offset by realized gains of $3.1 million from the sale of debt investments available-for-sale.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, investment and other (losses) gains — net included realized gains of $6.3 million primarily from a transfer of the rights to internally developed software, $4.3 million from the sale of debt investments available-for-sale, and $1.2 million from the sale of interests in subsidiaries.

Share based incentives

NOTE 5

Share-based incentives. The Company accounts for its stock option plan in accordance with the Compensation — Stock Compensation Topic of the FASB ASC and uses the modified prospective method under which share-based compensation expense is recognized for new share-based awards granted, and any outstanding awards that are modified, repurchased or canceled subsequent to January 1, 2006. Compensation expense is based on the fair value of the options, which is estimated using the Black-Scholes Model. All options expire 10 years from the date of grant and are granted at the closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant. There are no unvested awards since all options are immediately exercisable.

There were no options granted for option awards during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and, accordingly, no compensation expense has been reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2011, the Company granted 51,000 shares of fully vested, unrestricted Common Stock with a fair value of $0.6 million, which was recorded as compensation expense. During the same period, the Company also granted 37,000 shares of restricted Common Stock with a fair value of $0.4 million. The restricted Common Stock awards will vest at 20% over five years beginning March 10, 2011. Compensation expense associated with restricted stock awards will be recognized over this vesting period.

In March 2010, the Company granted 51,000 shares of fully vested, unrestricted Common Stock with a fair value of $0.7 million, which was recorded as compensation expense. During this same period, the Company also granted 37,000 shares of restricted Common Stock with a fair value of $0.5 million. The restricted Common Stock awards will vest at 20% over five years beginning March 10, 2010. Compensation expense associated with restricted stock awards will be recognized over this vesting period.

Earnings per share

NOTE 6

Earnings per share. The Company’s basic earnings per share attributable to Stewart was calculated by dividing net earnings (loss) attributable to Stewart by the weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding during the reporting periods.

To calculate diluted earnings per share, net earnings and number of shares are adjusted for the effects of any dilutive shares. Using the if-converted method, net earnings is adjusted for interest expense, net of any tax effects, applicable to the convertible senior notes. The number of shares is adjusted by adding the number of dilutive shares, assuming they are issued, during the same reporting period. The treasury stock method is used to calculate the dilutive number of shares related to the Company’s stock option plan.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company did not have any dilutive shares under the treasury stock method mentioned above since the exercise prices of the options were greater than the weighted-average market value of the shares, which excludes them from the diluted earnings calculation.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company did not present diluted earnings per share using the if-converted method mentioned above since the add back of the tax affected interest expense on the convertible debt resulted in antidilution. Also, since the Company reported a net loss after adjustments related to the if-converted method for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, there were no calculations of diluted per share amounts for these period.

The calculation of the diluted earnings per share using the if-converted method is as follows for the three months ended September 30, 2011:

		For the Three
		Months Ended
		September 30,
		2011
		($000’s omitted,
		except per share
		data)
Numerator:
Net earnings attributable to Stewart			4,542
Interest expense, net of tax effects			785
If-converted net earnings attributable to Stewart			5,327
Denominator (000):
Basic average shares outstanding			19,234
Dilutive average number of shares relating to convertible senior notes			5,047
Dilutive average number of shares relating to restricted shares grant			63
Dilutive average shares outstanding			24,344
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Stewart			0.22

Contingent liabilities and commitments

NOTE 7

Contingent liabilities and commitments. As of September 30, 2011, the Company was contingently liable for guarantees of indebtedness owed primarily to banks and others by certain third parties totaling $0.7 million. Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, the Company guarantees the third-party indebtedness of certain of its consolidated subsidiaries, which aggregated $3.5 million as of September 30, 2011, and related primarily to unused letters of credit for workers’ compensation self-insurance coverage. These guarantees expire no later than 2019. The maximum potential future payments for the indebtedness guarantees were not more than the related notes payable recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company also guarantees the indebtedness related to lease obligations of certain of its consolidated subsidiaries. The maximum future obligations arising from these lease-related guarantees are not more than the Company’s future minimum lease payments.

Segment information

NOTE 8

Segment information. The Company’s two reportable segments are title insurance-related services (Title) and real estate information (REI). Under the Company’s internal reporting system, most general corporate expenses are incurred by and charged to the title segment. Technology operating costs are also charged to the title segment, except for direct expenditures incurred by the REI segment. All investment income is included in the title segment as it is primarily generated by the investments of the title underwriters’ operations.

Selected statement of operations information related to these segments follows:

		For the Three Months								For the Nine Months
		Ended September 30,								Ended September 30,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
						($000 omitted)
Revenues:
Title			396,035				410,392				1,113,384				1,165,044
REI			22,494				19,673				76,443				57,874
			418,529				430,065				1,189,827				1,222,918
Intersegment revenues:
Title			62				17				165				202
REI			971				711				2,322				1,894
			1,033				728				2,487				2,096
Depreciation and amortization:
Title			4,339				4,585				12,583				14,833
REI			412				547				1,760				1,911
			4,751				5,132				14,343				16,744
Earnings (loss) before taxes and noncontrolling interests:
Title			147				(9,250	)			(27,482	)			(35,012	)
REI			7,542				7,975				34,485				21,968
			7,689				(1,275	)			7,003				(13,044	)

Selected balance sheet information as of September 30 and December 31, respectively, related to these segments follows:

		2011				2010
		($000 omitted)
Identifiable assets:
Title			1,072,055				1,082,083
REI			62,670				59,123
			1,134,725				1,141,206

Revenues generated in the United States and all international operations follows:

		For the Three Months								For the Nine Months
		Ended September 30,								Ended September 30,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
						($000 omitted)
United States			387,275				405,936				1,107,924				1,146,819
International			31,254				24,129				81,903				76,099
			418,529				430,065				1,189,827				1,222,918

Regulatory and legal developments

NOTE 9

Regulatory and legal developments. Stewart Title Guaranty Company (STGC) and Stewart Title Guaranty de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (STGM) were defendants in a lawsuit in the State District Court of Harris County, Texas, Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp. v. Stewart Title Guaranty Company. The lawsuit was filed in 2008 and concerns 16 owners’ and 16 lenders’ title insurance policies on 16 parcels of land in Mexico issued by STGM and reinsurance agreements by STGC. Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp. asserted claims against STGC under reinsurance of the lenders’ policies as well as extra-contractual claims under Texas law. K.R. Playa VI, S de R.L. de C.V., the owner of the parcels, asserted claims against STGC and separate claims against STGM under the owners’ policies as well as extra-contractual claims under Texas law. The State District Court dismissed the extra-contractual claims against STGC and STGM based on application of Mexican law.

After a 10 week trial, the jury returned a verdict of no damages, favorable to STGC and STGM, on April 29, 2011. Judgment was entered on June 30, 2011. Both Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp. and K.R. Playa VI, S de R.L. de C.V. subsequently filed motions for new trial and motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, which the State District Court denied by orders dated September 12, 2011. Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp. and K.R. Playa VI, S de R.L. de C.V. filed notices of appeal on September 28, 2011. The Company does not believe that the outcome will materially affect its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

*   *   *

In January 2009, an action was filed by individuals against Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Stewart Title of California, Inc., Cuesta Title Company and others in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Luis Obispo alleging that the plaintiffs have suffered damages relating to loans they made through Hurst Financial Corporation to an individual named Kelly Gearhart and entities controlled by Gearhart. Thereafter, several other lawsuits making similar allegations, including a lawsuit filed by several hundred individuals, were filed in San Luis Obispo Superior Court, and one such lawsuit was removed to the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The defendants vary from case to case, but Stewart Information Services Corporation, Stewart Title Company and Stewart Title Insurance Company have also each been sued in at least one of the cases. Each of the complaints alleges some combination of the following purported causes of action: breach of contract, negligence, fraud, aiding and abetting fraud, constructive fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, financial elder abuse, violation of California Business and Professions Code Section 17200, negligent misrepresentation, conversion, conspiracy, alter ego, specific performance and declaratory relief. The Company has demurred to or moved to dismiss the complaints in the actions where responses to the complaints have been due. Although the San Luis Obispo Superior Court has sustained demurrers to certain causes of action and certain individuals and entities and dismissed Stewart Information Services Corporation from one case without leave to amend, and plaintiffs in one case have dismissed Stewart Title Insurance Company following the Court’s sustaining of Stewart Title Insurance Company’s demurrer, the Court has overruled the demurrers as to some causes of action. The United States District Court for the Central District of California granted the Company’s motion to dismiss the First Amended Complaint as to the claim for violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, with prejudice, and remanded the remainder of the case to the San Luis Obispo Superior Court. The Company filed a motion to coordinate the cases for pretrial purposes, and the Court issued an order assigning all the cases to a single judge, an Order Coordinating Related Cases for Pre-Trial Purposes, and a First Case Management Order for the Related Cases. Discovery is ongoing. No trial dates have been set. Although the Company cannot predict the outcome of these actions, it is vigorously defending itself against the allegations and does not believe that the outcome will materially affect its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

*   *   *

In February 2008, an antitrust class action was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Stewart Title Insurance Company, Monroe Title Insurance Corporation, Stewart Information Services Corporation, several other unaffiliated title insurance companies and the Title Insurance Rate Service Association, Inc. (TIRSA). The complaint alleges that the defendants violated Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act by collectively filing proposed rates for title insurance in New York through TIRSA, a state-authorized and licensed rate service organization.

Complaints were subsequently filed in the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York and in the United States District Courts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, Massachusetts, Arkansas, California, Washington, West Virginia, Texas and Delaware. All of the complaints make similar class action allegations, except that certain of the complaints also allege violations of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and various state antitrust and consumer protection laws. The complaints generally request treble damages in unspecified amounts, declaratory and injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees. To date, 78 such complaints have been filed, each of which names the Company and/or one or more of its affiliates as a defendant (and have been consolidated in the aforementioned states), of which seven have been voluntarily dismissed.

As of July 8, 2011, the Company has obtained dismissals of the claims in Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania (where the court dismissed the damages claims and granted defendants summary judgment on the injunctive claims), Texas and Washington. The Company filed a motion to dismiss in West Virginia (where all proceedings have been stayed and the docket closed). The plaintiffs have appealed the dismissal in Ohio to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the dismissals in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The dismissals in New York and Texas have been affirmed by the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second and Fifth Circuits, respectively, and on October 4, 2010, the United States Supreme Court denied the plaintiffs’ petitions for review of those decisions. The plaintiffs have appealed to the Second Circuit the dismissal of the RESPA claims by the court in New York. Although the Company cannot predict the outcome of these actions, it is vigorously defending itself against the allegations and does not believe that the outcome will materially affect its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

*   *   *

The Company is also subject to other claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of its business, most of which involve disputed policy claims. In some of these lawsuits, the plaintiff seeks exemplary or treble damages in excess of policy limits. The Company does not expect that any of these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Along with the other major title insurance companies, the Company is party to a number of class action lawsuits concerning the title insurance industry. The Company believes that it has adequate reserves for the various litigation matters and contingencies discussed above and that the likely resolution of these matters will not materially affect its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

The Company is subject to administrative actions and litigation relating to the basis on which premium taxes are paid in certain states. Additionally, the Company has received various other inquiries from governmental regulators concerning practices in the insurance industry. Many of these practices do not concern title insurance. The Company believes that it has adequately reserved for these matters and does not anticipate that the outcome of these inquiries will materially affect its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

The Company is also subject to various other administrative actions and inquiries into its business conduct in certain of the states in which it operates. While the Company cannot predict the outcome of the various regulatory and administrative matters, it believes that it has adequately reserved for these matters and does not anticipate that the outcome of any of these matters will materially affect its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

MANAGEMENT’S OVERVIEW

We reported net earnings of $4.5 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011 on revenues of $418.5 million. These results compare to a net loss of $3.0 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, on revenues of $430.1 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010. Year-to-date earnings per diluted share were $0.01 in 2011 compared to a loss per share of $1.23 in the first nine months of 2010.

Total revenues decreased 2.7% in the third quarter 2011 compared with the same period in 2010. Operating revenues decreased 2.2%, with a 3.0% decline in title revenues partially offset by an increase of 14.3% in REI services. The decline in title revenues resulted primarily from declining home sales due to sluggish housing market conditions, but was partially mitigated by continuing improvement in commercial title premiums, which yielded a 12.4% increase in the third quarter 2011 versus the same period in 2010.

We continued to see improvements in our core operations during the third quarter. Our REI segment once again performed very well, and we further enhanced our already strong position for ongoing growth with the acquisition of PMH Financial during the quarter. Our direct title operations posted solid year-over-year growth in its contribution to earnings. The performance of our independent agency operations improved significantly as our efforts to increase remittance rates as well as enhance the overall quality of the network continue to bear fruit. Commercial revenues again showed year-over-year growth, while international operations expanded the trend of improving earnings. Underwriting operations were impacted by accruals for large title claims, although cash claims payments declined from prior year levels, an important leading indicator of future claims expense.

Our REI revenues increased 14.3% to $22.5 million in the third quarter 2011 from $19.7 million in the third quarter 2010. Revenues from loan modification services declined, as anticipated, from the very high levels of the past several quarters due to a natural shift in the business from the emphasis of lenders on collections and keeping people in their homes (home retention) to foreclosure and real estate owned (REO) business. This decline was more than offset by revenues from our REO services, a product line we significantly expanded with our acquisition of PMH Financial this quarter.

Title claims expense again declined when compared to the prior year, decreasing 9.9% for the third quarter 2011 compared to the same quarter in 2010, and remained relatively consistent when compared to the second quarter 2011. As a percentage of title operating revenues, title losses were 9.6%, 9.2% and 9.0% in the third quarter 2010, second quarter 2011, and the third quarter 2011, respectively. Claims expense in the third quarter 2010 included charges of $4.9 million relating to the establishment of reserves for large claims, while second quarter 2011 and third quarter 2011 included charges of $4.8 million and $4.7 million, respectively, to increase the estimated reserves on new and existing large claims.

We are on track to return to a normal loss ratio by the end of 2012, as year-to-date cash claim payments through the third quarter 2011 declined 11.8% compared to payments through third quarter 2010, and decreased 10.6% when comparing third quarter 2011 to third quarter 2010.

Losses incurred on known claims for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 decreased 10.4% compared to the same period in 2010. Incurred losses for the third quarter 2011 dropped 1.0% from the third quarter 2010.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Actual results can differ from our accounting estimates. While we do not anticipate significant changes in our estimates, there is a risk that such changes could have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations for future periods.

Title loss reserves

Our most critical accounting estimate is providing for title losses associated with issued title insurance policies. Our liability for estimated title losses as of September 30, 2011 comprises both known claims ($129.6 million) and our estimate of claims that may be reported in the future ($360.3 million). The amount of the reserve represents the aggregate future payments (net of recoveries recognized) that we expect to incur on policy and escrow losses and in costs to settle claims.

Provisions for title losses, as a percentage of title operating revenues, were 9.2% and 9.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Actual loss payment experience, including the impact of payments on large losses as well as changes in estimates for large losses, is the primary reason for increases or decreases in our loss provision. A change of 100 basis points in this percentage, a reasonably likely scenario based on our historical loss experience, would have increased or decreased our provision for title losses and pretax operating results approximately $11.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Our method for recording the reserves for title losses on both an interim and annual basis begins with the calculation of our current loss provision rate, which is applied to our current premiums resulting in a title loss expense for the period. This loss provision rate is set to provide for losses on current year policies, including the costs of administering, investigating, and/or defending claims, and is determined using moving average ratios of recent actual policy loss payment experience (net of recoveries recognized) to premium revenues.

At each quarter end, our recorded reserve for title losses begins with the prior period’s reserve balance for claim losses, adds the current period provision to that balance and subtracts actual paid claims, resulting in an amount that our management compares to its actuarially-based calculation of the ending reserve balance to provide for future title losses. The actuarially-based calculation is a paid loss development calculation where loss development factors are selected based on company data and input from our third-party actuaries. We also obtain input from third-party actuaries in the form of a reserve analysis utilizing generally accepted actuarial methods. While we are responsible for determining our loss reserves, we utilize this actuarial input to assess the overall reasonableness of our reserve estimation. If our recorded reserve amount is within a reasonable range (+/- 3.0%) of our actuarially-based reserve calculation and the actuary’s point estimate, but not at the point estimate, our management assesses the major factors contributing to the different reserve estimates in order to determine the overall reasonableness of our recorded reserve, as well as the position of the recorded reserves relative to the point estimate and the estimated range of reserves. The major factors considered can change from period to period and include items such as current trends in the real estate industry (which management can assess, although there is a time lag in the development of this data for use by the actuary), the size and types of claims reported and changes in our claims management process. If the recorded amount is not within a reasonable range of our third-party actuary’s point estimate, we will adjust the recorded reserves in the current period and reassess the provision rate on a prospective basis. Once our reserve for title losses is recorded, it is reduced in future periods as a result of claims payments and may be increased or reduced by revisions to our estimate of the overall level of required reserves.

Large claims (those exceeding $1.0 million on a single claim), including large title losses due to independent agency defalcations, are analyzed and reserved for separately due to the higher dollar amount of loss, lower volume of claims reported and sporadic reporting of such claims. Large title losses due to independent agency defalcations typically occur when the independent agency misappropriates funds from escrow accounts under its control. Such losses are usually discovered when the independent agency fails to pay off an outstanding mortgage loan at closing (or immediately thereafter) from the proceeds of the new loan. Once the previous lender determines that its loan has not been paid off timely, it will file a claim against the title insurer. It is at this point that the title insurance underwriter is alerted to the potential theft and begins its investigation. As is industry practice, these claims are considered a claim on the newly issued title insurance policy since such policy insures the holder (in this case, the new lender) that all previous liens on the property have been satisfied. Accordingly, these claim payments are charged to policy loss expense. These incurred losses are typically more severe in terms of dollar value compared with traditional title policy claims because the independent agency is often able over time to conceal misappropriation of escrow funds relating to more than one transaction through the constant volume of funds moving through its escrow accounts. As long as new funds continue to flow into escrow accounts, an independent agent can mask one or more defalcations. In declining real estate markets, lower transaction volumes result in a lower incoming volume of funds, making it more difficult to cover up the misappropriation with incoming funds. Thus, when the defalcation is discovered, it often relates to several transactions. In addition, the overall decline in an independent agency’s revenues, profits and cash flows increases the agency’s incentive to improperly utilize the escrow funds from real estate transactions.

Internal controls relating to independent agencies include, but are not limited to, pre-signing and periodic audits, site visits and reconciliations of policy inventories and premiums. The audits and site visits cover examination of the escrow account bank reconciliations and an examination of a sample of closed transactions. In some instances, we are limited in our scope by attorney agents who cite client confidentiality. Certain states have mandated a requirement for annual reviews of all agents by their underwriter. We also determine whether our independent agencies have appropriate internal controls as defined by the American Land Title Association and us. However, even with adequate internal controls in place, their effectiveness can be circumvented by collusion or improper management override at the independent agencies. To aid in the selection of agencies to review, we have developed an agency risk model that aggregates data from different areas to identify possible problems. This is not a guarantee that all agencies with deficiencies will be identified. In addition, we are typically not the only underwriter for which an independent agency issues policies and agencies may not always provide complete financial records for our review.

Due to the inherent uncertainty in predicting future title policy losses, significant judgment is required by both our management and our third party actuaries in estimating reserves. As a consequence, our ultimate liability may be materially greater or less than current reserves and/or our third party actuary’s calculated estimate.

Agency revenues

We recognize revenues on title insurance policies written by independent agencies (agencies) when the policies are reported to us. In addition, where reasonable estimates can be made, we accrue for revenues on policies issued but not reported until after period end. We believe that reasonable estimates can be made when recent and consistent policy issuance information is available. Our estimates are based on historical reporting patterns and other information about our agencies. We also consider current trends in our direct operations and in the title industry. In this accrual, we are not estimating future transactions. We are estimating revenues on policies that have already been issued by agencies but not yet reported to or received by us. We have consistently followed the same basic method of estimating unreported policy revenues for more than 10 years.

Our accruals for revenues on unreported policies from agencies were not material to our consolidated assets or stockholders’ equity as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. The differences between the amounts our agencies have subsequently reported to us compared to our estimated accruals are substantially offset by any differences arising from prior years’ accruals and have been immaterial to consolidated assets and stockholders’ equity during each of the three prior years. We believe our process provides the most reliable estimate of the unreported revenues on policies and appropriately reflects the trends in agency policy activity.

Goodwill and other long-lived assets

Our evaluation of goodwill is normally completed annually in the third quarter using June 30 balances (our current annual review has been completed), but an evaluation may also be made whenever events may indicate impairment. This evaluation is based on a combination of a discounted cash flow analysis (DCF) and market approaches that incorporate market multiples of comparable companies and our own market capitalization. The DCF model utilizes historical and projected operating results and cash flows, initially driven by estimates of changes in future revenue levels, and risk-adjusted discount rates. Our projected operating results are primarily driven by anticipated mortgage originations, which we obtain from projections by industry experts. Fluctuations in revenues, followed by our ability to appropriately adjust our employee count and other operating expenses, are the primary reasons for increases or decreases in our projected operating results. Our market-based valuation methodologies utilize (i) market multiples of earnings and/or other operating metrics of comparable companies and (ii) our market capitalization and a control premium based on market data and factors specific to our ownership and corporate governance structure (such as our Class B Common Stock). To the extent that our future operating results are below our projections, or in the event of continued adverse market conditions, an interim review for impairment may be required, which may result in an impairment of goodwill.

We evaluate goodwill separately for our two reporting units (Title and REI). Goodwill is assigned to these reporting units at the time the goodwill is initially recorded. Once assigned to a reporting unit, the goodwill is pooled and no longer attributable to a specific acquisition. All activities within a reporting unit are available to support the carrying value of the goodwill.

We also evaluate the carrying values of title plants and other long-lived assets when events occur that may indicate impairment. The process of determining impairment for our goodwill and other long-lived assets relies on projections of future cash flows, operating results, discount rates and overall market conditions, including our market capitalization. Uncertainties exist in these projections and they are subject to changes relating to factors such as interest rates and overall real estate and financial market conditions, our market capitalization and overall stock market performance. Actual market conditions and operating results may vary materially from our projections.

Based on these evaluations, we estimate and expense to current operations any loss in value of these assets. As part of our process, we obtain input from third-party appraisers regarding the fair value of our reporting units. While we are responsible for assessing whether an impairment of goodwill exists, we utilize the input from third-party appraisers to assess the overall reasonableness of our conclusions. There were no impairment write-offs of goodwill or other long-lived assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 or 2010.

Operations. Our business has two main operating segments: title insurance-related services and real estate information (REI). These segments are closely related due to the nature of their operations and common customers.

Our primary business is title insurance and settlement-related services. We close transactions and issue title policies on homes and commercial and other real properties located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and international markets through policy-issuing offices and agencies. Our REI segment provides electronic delivery of data, products and services related to real estate and mortgage loss mitigation, bank real estate owned management services, default services, post-closing services, automated county clerk land records, property ownership mapping, geographic information systems, property information reports, document preparation, background checks and expertise in Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 tax-deferred property exchanges.

Factors affecting revenues. The principal factors that contribute to changes in operating revenues for our title and REI segments include:

	•		mortgage interest rates;
	•		ratio of purchase transactions compared with refinance transactions;
	•		ratio of closed orders to open orders;
	•		home prices;
	•		volume of distressed property transactions;
	•		consumer confidence;
	•		demand by buyers;
	•		number of households;
	•		availability of loans for borrowers;
	•		premium rates;
	•		market share;
	•		opening of new offices and acquisitions;
	•		number of commercial transactions, which typically yield higher premiums; and
	•		government or regulatory initiatives, including tax incentives or policy initiatives

Premiums are determined in part by the insured values of the transactions we handle. To the extent inflation causes increases in the prices of homes and other real estate, premium revenues are also increased. Conversely, falling home prices cause premium revenues to decline. These factors may override the seasonal nature of the title insurance business. Historically, our first quarter is the least active and our third and fourth quarters are the most active in terms of title insurance revenues.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Comparisons of our results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 with the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 follow. Factors contributing to fluctuations in our results of operations are presented in the order of their monetary significance and we have quantified, when necessary, significant changes. Results from our REI segment are included in our discussions regarding the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and when relevant, we have discussed REI segment’s results separately.

Our statements on home sales and loan activity are based on published industry data from sources including Fannie Mae, the National Association of Realtors^®, the Mortgage Bankers Association and Freddie Mac. We also use information from our direct operations.

Operating environment. Data as of September 2011 compared with the same period in 2010 indicates annualized sales of new homes, seasonally adjusted, remained relatively unchanged, and sales of existing homes, seasonally adjusted, increased 11.4%. September 2011 existing home sales were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.9 million versus 4.4 million a year earlier. Even though interest rates continue to be relatively low by historical standards, general economic conditions conducive to the housing market such as low unemployment, increasing household formation, and a comparatively low inventory of unsold homes, are not present. One-to-four family residential lending decreased from an estimated $463 billion in the third quarter 2010 to $286 billion in the second quarter 2011 (most recent actual data available), primarily driven by an estimated $151 billion decrease in refinance originations from the third quarter 2010 to the second quarter 2011 (most recent data available). Commercial lending activity industry-wide improved by 107% in the second quarter 2011 (most recent data available) compared with the same period of 2010.

According to Fannie Mae and other industry experts, the real estate and related lending markets continue to face challenges due to weakened consumer confidence, partially resulting from high unemployment. Mortgage originations are forecasted to decrease from $1.7 trillion in 2010 to $1.3 trillion in 2011, with reductions in both purchase and refinance originations.

Three months ended September 30, 2011 compared with three months ended September 30, 2010

Title revenues. Revenues from direct title operations increased $2.5 million, or 1.5%, in the third quarter 2011 compared to the third quarter 2010 primarily due to the increase in commercial and large transactions, partially offset by a decrease in the number of closings. The largest revenue increases were in Canada and other foreign operations and Texas, partially offset by decreases in New York. Revenues from commercial and other large transactions increased $2.8 million, or 12.4%, in the third quarter 2011 compared to the third quarter 2010.

Direct orders closed decreased 7.7% in the third quarter 2011 compared to the third quarter 2010, although the average revenue per file closed increased 8.8% for the same period. The increase in average revenue per file closed is driven by a change in the type of order closed, with the third quarter 2011 experiencing more large commercial closings and fewer residential refinancings than in the third quarter 2010. On average, refinance premium rates are 60% of the title premium revenue of a similarly priced sale transaction. Direct operating revenues, excluding large commercial policies, decreased 0.2% in the third quarter 2011 compared to the third quarter 2010. The average revenue per file closed, excluding large commercial policies, increased 10.6% in the third quarter 2011 compared to the third quarter 2010.

Revenues from independent agencies decreased $14.6 million, or 6.0%, in the third quarter 2011 compared to the third quarter 2010. This decrease is largely due to the decline in transaction volumes from large agents as a result of fewer refinancing transactions occurring in the third quarter 2011 compared with the same period in 2010. The largest decreases in revenues from agencies during the three months ended September 30, 2011 were in California, New Jersey and Washington, partially offset by large increases in New York and Ohio.

REI revenues. Real estate information operating revenues increased $2.8 million, or 14.3%, in the third quarter 2011 compared to the third quarter 2010. Revenues from loan modification services declined, as anticipated, from the very high levels of the past several quarters due to a natural shift in the business from the emphasis of lenders on collections and keeping people in their homes (home retention) to foreclosure and real estate owned (REO) business. This decline was more than offset by revenues from our REO services, a product line we significantly expanded with our acquisition of PMH Financial this quarter.

Investment income. Investment income in the third quarter 2011 was comparable to the third quarter 2010. Certain investment gains and losses, which are included in our results of operations in investment and other (losses) gains — net, were realized as part of the ongoing management of our investment portfolio for the purpose of improving performance.

For the third quarter 2011, investment and other (losses) gains — net included a $1.2 million charge related to the impairment of cost basis investments.

For the third quarter 2010, investment and other (losses) gains— net included realized gains of $1.4 million primarily from the sale of debt and equity investments available-for-sale, partially offset by realized losses of $0.5 million for the impairment of cost-basis investments.

Retention by agencies. Amounts retained by title agencies are based on agreements between agencies and our title underwriters. The average retention percentage may vary from year-to-year due to the geographic mix of agency operations, the volume of title revenues and, in some states, laws or regulations. On average, amounts retained by independent agencies, as a percentage of revenues generated by them, were 82.5% and 83.2% in the third quarters of 2011 and 2010, respectively. We actively increased remittance rates with many of our independent agencies in 2010 and throughout 2011, increasing the amount of premiums remitted by our independent agencies to our underwriters. As these efforts were ongoing during most of 2010 and in 2011, we have not yet realized a full year of increased remittances. Since remittance rates vary by state, geographic shifts in housing market activity may cause some quarter-to-quarter remittance rate fluctuations. As the year progresses, the overall remittance rate should remain on an upward trajectory as we complete this nationwide transition to higher remittance levels and begin to fully recognize the benefits of these increases. In addition, we expect the mix of agency business to normalize as real estate markets continue to stabilize nationally, resulting in lower average retention percentages in the aggregate.

Employee costs. Our employee costs and certain other operating expenses are sensitive to inflation. Employee costs in the third quarter 2011 were up 1.1% from the third quarter 2010. This increase in employee costs was driven primarily by the acquisition of PMH Financial. Excluding PMH, employee count has declined by more than 225 since September 30, 2010 and approximately 240 since the beginning of 2011. Partially offsetting the impact of the decline in employee count is increased overtime due to the sharp rise in open orders during the quarter as well as incentive compensation relating to the near-doubling of earnings contributed by the combined direct and REI operations. Overall, employee costs in the third quarter 2011 were down 1.8% sequentially from the second quarter 2011.

In our REI segment, total employee costs increased $2.3 million, or 43.5%, in the third quarter 2011 compared to the third quarter 2010 primarily due to increases in staffing from the acquisition of PMH Financial in the third quarter 2011.

Other operating expenses. Other operating expenses include costs that are fixed in nature, costs that follow, to varying degrees, changes in transaction volumes and revenues and costs that fluctuate independently of revenues. Costs that are fixed in nature include attorney fees, equipment rental, insurance, professional fees, rent and other occupancy expenses, repairs and maintenance, technology costs, telephone and title plant rent. Costs that follow, to varying degrees, changes in transaction volumes and revenues include fee attorney splits, bad debt expenses, certain REI expenses, copy supplies, delivery fees, outside search fees, postage, premium taxes and title plant expenses. Costs that fluctuate independently of revenues include auto expenses, general supplies, litigation defense and settlement costs, promotion costs and travel.

In the third quarter 2011 compared with the same period in 2010, other operating expenses for the combined business segments decreased $3.8 million, or 5.3%. Costs fixed in nature decreased $0.6 million, or 2.0%, in the third quarter 2011, due to decreases in rent and other occupancy costs, professional fees and telephone costs partially offset by an increase in insurance costs. Costs that follow, to varying degrees, changes in transaction volumes and revenues were comparable to the third quarter 2010. Costs that fluctuate independently of revenues decreased $3.1 million, or 20.8%, in the third quarter 2011 primarily due to a decrease in litigation defense costs.

Title losses. Provisions for title losses, as a percentage of title operating revenues, were 9.0% and 9.6% for the third quarters of 2011 and 2010, respectively. The third quarter 2011 included $4.7 million of charges relating to the establishment of reserves for large title claims. Excluding the impact of large losses, title losses were 7.8% of title revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The third quarter 2010 included a $4.9 million charge relating to adjustments to previously recorded large title losses. Excluding the impact of the large title losses in the third quarter 2010, title losses were 8.4% of revenues. These adjusted percentages are non-GAAP financial measures; however, management believes they are important to investors in understanding title loss ratios. Cash claim payments for third quarter 2011 decreased 10.6% from the third quarter 2010.

Income taxes. Our effective tax rates were (23.3%) and 1.0% for the third quarters 2011 and 2010, respectively, based on net earnings (loss) before taxes and after deducting earnings of noncontrolling interests, which aggregated $5.9 million and ($3.1) million for the third quarters 2011 and 2010, respectively. Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 consists principally of taxes in foreign jurisdictions for our profitable international operations and of U.S. federal tax on entities not included in our U.S. consolidated return. Income tax expense for the third quarter 2011 included a $1.5 million charge for the reversal of an intra-period income tax benefit that had been recorded in the second quarter related to cumulative losses in that quarter and a $1.7 million income tax benefit from the carry back of losses to prior periods.

Nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared with nine months ended September 30, 2010

Title revenues. Revenues from direct title operations increased $6.8 million, or 1.5%, in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the first nine months of 2010 primarily due to an increase in commercial and large transactions, partially offset by a decrease in the number of closings. The largest revenue increases were in Canada and other foreign operations, California and Florida. These increases were partially offset by a large decrease in New York. Commercial revenues increased 18.7%, or $12.2 million.

Direct operating revenues, excluding large commercial policies, decreased 1.4% in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the first nine months of 2010, primarily due to fewer direct orders closed. The average revenue per file closed, excluding large commercial policies, increased 6.6% in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the first nine months of 2010. Direct orders closed, including large commercial policies, decreased 7.3% in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the first nine months of 2010, although the average revenue per closing, including large commercial policies, increased 9.7% during the same period. Our decrease in direct orders closed and increase in average revenue per closing are driven by a different mix of closings, with the first nine months of 2011 experiencing more large commercial closings and fewer residential refinancing closings than in the first nine months of 2010. On average, refinance premium rates are 60% of the title premium revenue of a similarly priced sale transaction.

Revenues from independent agencies decreased $42.0 million, or 6.2%, in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the first nine months of 2010. This decrease is largely due to a decline in transaction volumes from large agents as a result of fewer refinancing transactions occurring in the first nine months of 2011 compared with the same period in 2010. The largest decreases in revenues from agencies during the first nine months of 2011 were in California, New Jersey and Utah, partially offset by increases in New York.

Since the beginning of the current downturn in real estate markets across the country, the median selling price of homes has fallen 26.3% from August 2007 to September 2011, which has resulted in lower premium revenue per resale closing. As a consequence, in 2009 we began a review of our premium rates in all states. Where possible, we are seeking to raise rates or to modify agency splits (the percent of premium remitted to the underwriter compared to the amount retained by the agency) to levels necessary to improve profitability from our agency operations. To date, we have increased title premium rates in 34 states and have increased remittance rates with our independent agencies in 38 states. As these efforts were ongoing during most of 2010 and into 2011, we have not yet realized a full year of increased remittances.

REI revenues. Real estate information operating revenues increased $18.6 million, or 32.1%, in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the first nine months of 2010. The increase was primarily due to a rise in demand for our loan modification services, although our acquisition of PMH Financial in third quarter 2011 largely accounted for this quarter’s revenue growth. Demand for loan modification services is dependent on the number and scale of governmental programs and lender projects and can fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter.

Investment income. Investment income decreased $2.5 million, or 17.0%, in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the first nine months of 2010, primarily due to decreases in the average invested balances and, to a lesser extent, decreases in yield. Certain realized investment gains and losses, which are included in our results of operations in investment and other (losses) gains— net, arise from the ongoing management of our investment portfolio for the purpose of improving performance.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, investment and other (losses) gains— net include a $1.2 million charge related to impairment of cost basis investments and a $3.9 million charge relating to a loan guarantee obligation partially offset by realized gains of $2.5 million from the sale of debt instruments available-for-sale. The loan guarantee charge represents the payoff value on a defaulted third party loan on which we served as guarantor. As collateral for our guarantee, we hold a personal guarantee collateralized by equity in a private company. We are assessing the value of the assets the third party lender held as collateral (which we will assume ownership of), the ability of the individual guarantor to pay us, and the value of the equity in the private company supporting that individual guarantee. Since such evaluation has not been completed, no anticipated recovery is included in the financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2011.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, investment and other (losses) gains - net included realized gains of $6.3 million primarily from a transfer of the rights to internally developed software, $4.3 million from the sale of debt and equity investments available-for-sale and $1.2 million from the sale of interests in subsidiaries.

Retention by agencies. Amounts retained by title agencies are based on agreements between agencies and our title underwriters. The average retention percentage may vary from year-to-year due to the geographic mix of agency operations, the volume of title revenues and, in some states, laws or regulations. On average, amounts retained by independent agencies, as a percentage of revenues generated by them, were 82.7% and 83.3% in the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, respectively. We actively increased remittance rates with many of our independent agencies in 2010 and in 2011, increasing the amount of premiums remitted by our independent agencies to our underwriters. As these efforts were ongoing during most of 2010, we have not yet realized a full year of increased remittances. Since remittance rates vary by state, geographic shifts in housing market activity may cause some quarter-to-quarter remittance rate fluctuation. As the year progresses, the overall remittance rate should remain on an upward trajectory as we complete this nationwide transition to higher remittance levels and begin to fully recognize the benefits of these increases. In addition, we expect the mix of agency business to normalize as real estate markets continue to stabilize nationally, resulting in lower average retention percentages in the aggregate.

Employee costs. Our employee costs and certain other operating expenses are sensitive to inflation. Employee costs for the combined business segments increased only 0.6% in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the first nine months of 2010. This increase in employee costs was driven primarily by the acquisition of PMH Financial. Excluding PMH, employee count has declined by more than 225 since September 30, 2010 and approximately 240 since the beginning of 2011. Many of these reductions occurred late in the second quarter so the benefit of the reduced expense is not fully realized in our year-to-date earnings. Partially offsetting the impact of the decline in employee count is increased overtime due to the sharp rise in open orders during the third quarter 2011 as well as incentive compensation relating to the near-doubling of earnings contributed by the combined direct and REI operations.

In our REI segment, total employee costs increased $3.4 million, or 20%, in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the first nine months of 2010, primarily due to increases in staffing driven by increased demand for our loan modification services and the acquisition of PMH Financial in the third quarter 2011.

Other operating expenses. Other operating expenses include costs that are fixed in nature, costs that follow, to varying degrees, changes in transaction volumes and revenues and costs that fluctuate independently of revenues. Costs that are fixed in nature include attorney fees, equipment rental, insurance, litigation defense and settlement costs, professional fees, rent and other occupancy expenses, repairs and maintenance, technology costs, telephone and title plant rent. Costs that follow, to varying degrees, changes in transaction volumes and revenues include fee attorney splits, bad debt expenses, certain REI expenses, copy supplies, delivery fees, outside search fees, postage, premium taxes and title plant expenses. Costs that fluctuate independently of revenues include auto and airplane expenses, general supplies, promotion costs and travel.

Other operating expenses for the combined business segments decreased $12.5 million, or 6.2%, in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the first nine months of 2010. Costs fixed in nature decreased $5.8 million in the first nine months of 2011 compared with the first nine months of 2010 primarily due to decreases in rent and other occupancy expenses and telephone costs resulting from office closures in prior years and other cost reduction efforts. Costs that follow, to varying degrees, changes in transaction volumes and revenues decreased $4.2 million in the first nine months of 2011 compared with the first nine months of 2010, primarily related to a reduction in bad debt expense, a decrease in attorney fee splits and other cost reduction efforts. Costs that fluctuate independently of revenues decreased $2.5 million compared with the first nine months of 2010 due to decreases in litigation defense costs.

Title losses. Provisions for title losses, as a percentage of title operating revenues, were 9.2% and 9.0% for the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, respectively. Provisions for title losses in the first nine months of 2011 included $15.2 million of charges to increase the estimated reserves for several large title losses as well as establish reserves for new large claims. The first nine months of 2010 included a $10.2 million charge relating to adjustments to estimated reserves on previously recorded large title losses. Excluding the impact of the large title losses through the third quarter 2011 and 2010, the year-to-date title losses were 7.8% and 8.1% of revenues, respectively. These adjusted percentages are non-GAAP measures; however, management believes they are important to investors in understanding title loss ratios. Cash claims payments decreased 11.8% from the first nine months of 2010.

Income taxes. Our effective tax rates were (93.2%) and (23.5%) for the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, respectively, based on earnings (losses) before taxes and after deducting noncontrolling interests, which aggregated $2.8 million and ($18.3) million for the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, respectively. Income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 consists principally of taxes in foreign jurisdictions for our profitable international operations and of U.S. federal tax on entities not included in our U.S. consolidated return. Income tax expense was for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, was partially offset by favorable tax adjustments primarily in our foreign operations. A valuation allowance has been established against our U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets. The valuation allowance will be evaluated for reasonableness as we return to profitability.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our liquidity and capital resources represent our ability to generate cash flow to meet our obligations to our shareholders, customers (payments to satisfy claims on title policies), vendors, employees, lenders and others. As of September 30, 2011, our cash and investments, including amounts reserved pursuant to statutory requirements, aggregated $612.9 million.

A substantial majority of our consolidated cash and investments as of September 30, 2011 was held by Stewart Title Guaranty Company (Guaranty) and its subsidiaries. The use and investment of these funds, dividends to the holding company, and cash transfers between Guaranty and its subsidiaries and the holding company are subject to certain legal and regulatory restrictions. In general, Guaranty may use its cash and investments in excess of its legally-mandated statutory premium reserve (established in accordance with requirements under Texas law) to fund its insurance operations, including claims payments. Guaranty may also, subject to certain limitations and upon regulatory approval, pay dividends to the holding company and/or provide funds to its subsidiaries (whose operations consist principally of field title offices) for their operating and debt service needs.

A summary of our net consolidated cash flows for the nine months ended September 30 follows:

		2011				2010
		(dollars in millions)
Net cash (used) provided by operating activities			(4.9	)			14.4
Net cash (used) provided by investing activities			(23.0	)			244.5
Net cash used by financing activities			(2.6	)			(238.7	)

Operating activities

Our principal sources of cash from operations are premiums on title policies, fees for title service-related transactions and loan modification services. Our independent agencies remit cash to us net of their contractual retention. Our principal cash expenditures for operations are employee costs, operating costs and title claims payments.

Net cash used in operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $4.9 million as compared to net cash provided by operations of $14.4 million for the comparable 2010 period. This decline of $19.3 million was primarily due to the receipt of a $50.9 million income tax refund in the first quarter 2010. Excluding the impact of this cash receipt, net cash from operations improved by $31.6 million in the current year. This improvement was largely driven by increased revenues in our real estate information services segment and decreased claims payments and other operating expenses resulting in a $22.8 million improvement in net earnings attributable to Stewart for the first nine months of 2011 compared with the first nine months of 2010. Also, although transaction volume in our direct title operations has declined, a shift in mix to a higher proportion of resale transactions versus refinance transactions has resulted in a higher overall cash yield per transaction. While we do not track the transaction mix of our independent agents, we believe this shift in mix has also positively influenced cash flow from this channel. Also improving cash flow from our independent agent network is an increase in our average cash remittance rate from 16.8% in the first nine months of 2010 to 17.3% in the first nine months of 2011. Further, the growth in revenues in our commercial operations, which generate much larger fees per transaction than residential operations, has contributed to the improved cash flow. Cash payments on title claims were also improved with payments totaling $105.6 million in the first nine months of 2011 compared to $119.7 million in the first nine months of 2010.

Our business continues to be labor intensive, although we have made significant progress in automating our production processes. We have centralized order processing into Regional Production Centers, which allows us to more easily adjust staffing levels as order volumes fluctuate. There are typically delays between changes in market conditions and changes in staffing levels; therefore, employee costs do not change at the same rate revenues change.

The insurance regulators of the states in which our underwriters are domiciled require our statutory premium reserves to be fully funded, segregated and invested in high-quality securities and short-term investments. As of September 30, 2011, cash and investments funding the statutory premium reserve aggregated $410.8 million and our statutory estimate of claims that may be reported in the future totaled $360.3 million. In addition to this restricted cash and investments, we had unrestricted cash and investments (excluding equity method investments) of $202.1 million, which are available, subject to certain regulatory requirements, for underwriter operations, including claims payments.

Investing activities

Cash from investing activities was generated principally by proceeds from investments matured and sold in the amounts of $172.8 million and $173.9 million for the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, respectively. We used cash for the purchases of investments in the amounts of $170.0 million and $140.5 million for the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, respectively. The cash from sales and maturities not reinvested was used principally to fund operations.

Capital expenditures were $13.8 million and $9.0 million for the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, respectively. We maintain investments in capital expenditures at a level that enables us to implement technologies increasing our operational and back-office efficiencies. Notwithstanding this, we also continue to aggressively manage cash flow and, therefore, overall capital spending will continue to be at relatively reduced levels compared to historical norms. Additionally, during the third quarter our REI group completed the acquisition of a majority ownership in PMH Financial. Cash paid for acquisitions during the first nine months of 2011 totaled $8.3 million.

In June 2011, we paid $3.9 million in satisfaction of a loan guaranty obligation on a defaulted third-party loan.

Financing activities and capital resources

Total debt and stockholders’ equity were $78.0 million and $465.0 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2011. Included in total debt are $64.5 million principal amount of convertible senior notes which mature October 2014 if not converted into shares of common stock.

We repaid $4.7 million and $15.8 million of debt in accordance with the underlying terms of the debt instruments for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. We also have available a $10.0 million bank line of credit, expiring in June 2013, under which no borrowings were outstanding at September 30, 2011. During the third quarter, we added a $6.0 million in bank debt to fund the acquisition of PMH Financial due in July 2016.

As previously disclosed and in accordance with a settlement agreement in the amount of $7.6 million, we issued 635,863 shares of Common Stock in January 2011 to settle our “wage and hour” class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts against our subsidiary Stewart Title California, Inc. We did not receive any proceeds from the issuance of these shares. Additionally, in the second quarter 2011, we satisfied a residual note balance of $1.3 million related to the acquisition of the remaining interest in a subsidiary through the issuance of stock held in treasury.

Effect of changes in foreign currency rates

The effect of changes in foreign currency rates on the consolidated statements of cash flows was a net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $0.8 million for the first nine months of 2011 as compared to a net decrease of $0.3 million for the first nine months of 2010. Our principal foreign operating unit is in Canada, and, the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar decreased during the first nine months of 2011.

***********

Throughout 2010 and continuing in 2011, we have worked to increase title premium rates charged and premium remittance rates from independent agents to our underwriters. As of September 30, 2011, we have increased title premium rates in 34 states and have increased remittance rates from our independent agencies in 38 states. In addition, we have continued to reduce our employee count and other operating costs. During the first nine months of 2011, our operating results have improved significantly, as has our operating cash flow as noted above. We anticipate improved operating results, and thus cash flow, for the remainder of 2011 from the impact of these actions and from our REI businesses and will continue to seek rate increases or modify agency splits where appropriate, as well as aggressively seek opportunities to lower operating costs. We will also continue to consider opportunities to enter into new lines of business or to supplement and expand existing lines of business (for example, our acquisition of PMH Financial in July 2011) in order to improve our results of operations and cash flows.

We believe we have sufficient liquidity and capital resources to meet the cash needs of our ongoing operations. However, if we determine that supplemental debt, including additional convertible debentures, or equity funding is warranted or can be obtained on favorable terms to provide additional liquidity, we may pursue those sources of cash. Other than scheduled maturities of debt, operating lease payments and anticipated claims payments in 2011, we have no material commitments. We expect that cash flows from operations and cash available from our underwriters, subject to regulatory restrictions, will be sufficient to fund our operations, including claims payments. However, to the extent that these funds are not sufficient, we may be required to borrow funds on terms less favorable than we currently have, or seek funding from the equity market, which may not be successful or may be on terms that are dilutive to existing shareholders.

Contingent liabilities and commitments. As of September 30, 2011, we were contingently liable for guarantees of indebtedness owed primarily to banks and others by certain third parties totaling $0.7 million. Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, we guarantee the third-party indebtedness of certain of our consolidated subsidiaries, which aggregated $3.5 million as of September 30, 2011, and related primarily to unused letters of credit for workers’ compensation self-insurance coverage. These guarantees expire no later than 2019. The maximum potential future payments for the indebtedness guarantees were not more than the related notes payable recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. We also guarantee the indebtedness related to lease obligations of certain of our consolidated subsidiaries. The maximum future obligations arising from these lease-related guarantees are not more than our future minimum lease payments.

Other comprehensive earnings. Unrealized gains and losses on investments and changes in foreign currency exchange rates are reported net of deferred taxes in accumulated other comprehensive earnings, a component of stockholders’ equity, until realized. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, net unrealized investment gains of $9.9 million, which increased our comprehensive income, were primarily related to temporary increases in fair market values of corporate and government bond investments. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, net unrealized investment gains of $11.8 million, which decreased our comprehensive loss, were primarily related to temporary increases in fair market values of corporate bond investments. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, primarily related to our Canadian operations, decreased comprehensive income by $3.5 million, net of taxes, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and decreased comprehensive loss by $1.6 million for the first nine months of 2010.

Off-balance sheet arrangements. We do not have any material source of liquidity or financing that involves off-balance sheet arrangements, other than our contractual obligations under operating leases. We also routinely hold funds in segregated escrow accounts pending the closing of real estate transactions and have qualified intermediaries in tax-deferred property exchanges for customers pursuant to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company holds the proceeds from these transactions until a qualifying exchange can occur. See Note 18 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Forward-looking statements. Certain statements in this report are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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 “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “will” 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 severity and duration of current financial and economic conditions; continued weakness or further adverse changes in the level of real estate activity; changes in mortgage interest rates 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 on the need to further strengthen our policy loss reserves; any effect of title losses on our cash flows and financial condition; the impact of our increased diligence and inspections in our agency operations; changes to the participants in the secondary mortgage market and the rate of refinancings that affect the demand for title insurance products; our ability to successfully consummate acquisitions, and our ability to successfully integrate and manage acquired businesses should opportunities arise; 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 litigation claims by large classes of claimants; 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 and underwriters as a source of cash flow; the continued realization of expected expense savings resulting from our expense reduction steps; our ability to access the equity and debt financing markets when and if needed; our ability to grow our international operations; our ability to respond timely to the actions of our competitors; failure to comply with financial covenants contained in our debt instruments; and inability to make scheduled payments on or refinance our indebtedness. 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, 2010 and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this report to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof, except as may be required by applicable law.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

There have been no material changes during the quarter ended September 30, 2011 in our investment strategies, types of financial instruments held or the risks associated with such instruments that would materially alter the market risk disclosures made in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Our principal executive officers and principal financial officer are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures. They evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of September 30, 2011, and have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures are adequate and effective to ensure that information we are required to disclose in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officers and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2011 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. As a result, no corrective actions were required or undertaken.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

See discussion of legal proceedings in NOTE 9 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this Report, which is incorporated by reference into this Part II, Item 1, as well as Item 3. Legal Proceedings, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no changes during the quarter ended September 30, 2011 to our risk factors as listed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

Item 5. Other Information

We had a book value per share of $24.10 and $24.40 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. As of September 30, 2011, our book value per share was based on approximately $465.0 million in stockholders’ equity and 19,297,937 shares of Common and Class B Common Stock outstanding. As of December 31, 2010, our book value per share was based on approximately $448.3 million in stockholders’ equity and 18,375,058 shares of Common and Class B Common Stock outstanding.

Item 6. Exhibits

Those exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are listed in the Index to Exhibits immediately preceding the exhibits filed herewith and such listing is incorporated herein by reference.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, I have duly caused this report to be signed on our behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

November 2, 2011
Date

		Stewart Information Services Corporation
		Registrant
	By:	/s/ J. Allen Berryman
		J. Allen Berryman, Executive Vice President,
		Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, Treasurer         and Principal Financial Officer

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
3.1				-		Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated May 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference in this report from Exhibit 3.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 5, 2009)
3.2				-		Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated April 30, 2010 (incorporated by reference in this report from Exhibit 3.2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010)
3.3				-		By-Laws of the Registrant, as amended March 13, 2000 (incorporated by reference in this report from Exhibit 3.2 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000)
4.1				-		Rights of Common and Class B Common Stockholders (incorporated by reference to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 hereto)
4.2				-		Indenture related to 6.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014, dated as of October 15, 2009, by and between the Registrant, the Guarantors party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 15, 2009)
4.3				-		Form of 6.0% Convertible Senior Note due 2014 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 15, 2009)
31.1		*		-		Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2		*		-		Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.3		*		-		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1		*		-		Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2		*		-		Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.3		*		-		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS		**		-		XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH		**		-		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL		**		-		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF		**		-		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB		**		-		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE		**		-		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

* Filed herewith

** Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.