Attached files

file filename
8-K - FORM 8-K - First American Financial Corpd385852d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

   NEWS       FOR

IMMEDIATE

RELEASE

    
    

FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2012 RESULTS

—Reports Earnings of 68 Cents per Diluted Share —

SANTA ANA, Calif., July 26, 2012 – First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF), a leading global provider of title insurance and settlement services to the real estate and mortgage industries, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012.

Current Quarter Highlights

 

   

Total revenues up 18 percent compared to last year

 

   

Title Insurance and Services segment pretax margin of 11.7 percent

- Highest pretax margin since 2005

 

   

Title open orders up 36 percent compared to last year

 

   

Commercial division revenues of $98.2 million, up 16 percent compared to last year

 

   

Cash flow from operations of $111.6 million

Selected Financial Information

($ in millions, except per share data)

 

     For the Three Months  Ended
June 30
 
     2012      2011  

Total revenues

   $ 1,089.8       $ 927.3   

Income before taxes

     112.3         49.2   

Net income

   $ 73.0       $ 32.3   

Net income per diluted share

     0.68         0.30   

Total revenues for the second quarter of 2012 were $1.1 billion, an increase of 18 percent relative to the second quarter of 2011. Net income in the current quarter was $73.0 million, or 68 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $32.3 million, or 30 cents per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2011. The current quarter results include net realized investment gains of $5.7 million, or 3 cents per diluted share, compared with net realized investment losses of $2.9 million, or 2 cents per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2011.

“In the second quarter we achieved our best results since 2005, with a title margin of 11.7 percent,” said Dennis J. Gilmore, chief executive officer at First American Financial Corporation. “The cost-efficient and scalable operations we built over the last several years enabled us to demonstrate significant operating leverage in the quarter.

“Second-quarter open orders were up 36 percent year-over-year, primarily driven by strong refinance activity. We also saw an increase in resale and commercial transactions in the quarter. Given first-half results and a strong order pipeline, we are on track to deliver on our goal of an 8 to 10 percent title margin for the full year 2012.”

 

-more-


 

First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results

Page 2

 

Title Insurance and Services

($ in millions, except average revenue per order)

 

     For the Three Months  Ended
June 30
 
     2012     2011  

Total revenues

   $ 1,012.0      $ 857.8   

Income before taxes*

   $ 118.4      $ 60.8   

Pretax margin

     11.7     7.1

Direct open orders

     411,200        302,400   

Direct closed orders

     289,300        215,600   

Commercial**

    

Total revenues

   $ 98.2      $ 84.5   

Open orders

     19,100        18,200   

Closed orders

Average revenue per order

    

$

12,100

7,100

  

  

   

$

9,500

7,400

  

  

 

* See footnote (2) on page 7.
** Includes commercial activity from the National Commercial Services division only.

Total revenues for the Title Insurance and Services segment were $1.0 billion, an 18 percent increase from the same quarter of 2011. Direct premiums and escrow fees were up 27 percent from the second quarter of 2011, driven by a 34 percent increase in the number of direct title orders closed in the quarter, partially offset by a 5 percent decline in the average revenue per direct title order to $1,466. Agent premiums were up 15 percent in the current quarter, which is consistent with the 16 percent increase in direct premiums experienced in the previous quarter, reflecting the normal reporting lag of approximately one quarter.

Information and other revenues were $167.4 million this quarter, up 6 percent as compared to the same quarter of last year, primarily attributable to higher demand for the company’s data and information products. Total investment income was up 10 percent, reflecting higher net realized investment gains in the current quarter that were partly offset by lower yield on the investment portfolio.

Personnel costs were $299.3 million in the second quarter, an increase of $29.6 million, or 11 percent, compared with the second quarter of 2011. This increase was primarily due to higher incentive-based compensation driven by improved revenues and profitability, partially offset by reduced severance expense related to the expense reduction program the company implemented last year.

Other operating expenses were $189.8 million in the second quarter, up $8.0 million, or 4 percent, compared with the second quarter of 2011. The increase in other operating expenses was primarily due to higher production-related expenses and temporary labor driven by the increase in order volumes in the current quarter, largely offset by a decline in legal expenses.

The provision for policy losses and other claims was $54.8 million in the second quarter, or 6.6 percent of title premiums and escrow fees, up $14.6 million compared with the same quarter of the prior year. The current quarter rate of 6.6 percent reflects an ultimate loss rate of 5.9 percent for the current policy year and a net increase in the loss reserve estimates for prior policy years.

 

- more -


 

First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results

Page 3

 

Pretax income for the Title Insurance and Services segment was $118.4 million in the second quarter, compared with $60.8 million in the second quarter of 2011. Pretax margin was 11.7 percent in the current quarter, compared with 7.1 percent last year.

Specialty Insurance

($ in millions)

 

     For the Three Months  Ended
June 30
 
     2012     2011  

Total revenues

   $ 79.6      $ 71.6   

Income before taxes*

   $ 13.3      $ 10.4   

Pretax margin

     16.7     14.5

 

* See footnote (2) on page 7.

Total revenues for the Specialty Insurance segment were $79.6 million in the second quarter of 2012, an increase of 11 percent compared with the second quarter of 2011. The increase in revenues was driven by higher premiums earned in both the home warranty and property and casualty business lines. The overall loss ratio in the Specialty Insurance segment was 55 percent in the current quarter, as compared with a 54 percent loss ratio in the prior year. Total investment income was $6.0 million in the current quarter, up $2.9 million from the prior year due to higher net realized investment gains. As a result of higher total investment income in the current quarter, pretax margin was 16.7 percent, up from 14.5 percent in the second quarter of 2011.

Teleconference/Webcast

First American’s second quarter 2012 results will be discussed in more detail on Thursday, July 26, 2012, at 11 a.m. ET, via teleconference. The toll-free dial-in number is (888) 989-5217. Callers from outside the United States may dial (773) 799-3263. The pass code for the event is “First American.”

The live audio webcast of the call will be available on First American’s website at www.firstam.com/investor. An audio replay of the conference call will be available through Aug. 3, 2012, by dialing (203) 369-1533. An audio archive of the call will also be available on First American’s investor website.

About First American

First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF) is a leading provider of title insurance and settlement services to the real estate and mortgage industries, that traces its heritage back to 1889. First American and its affiliated companies also provide title plant management services; title and other real property records and images; valuation products and services; home warranty products; property and casualty insurance; and banking, trust and investment advisory services. With revenues of $3.8 billion in 2011, the company offers its products and services directly and through its agents and partners in all 50 states and abroad. More information about the company can be found at www.firstam.com.

 

- more -


 

First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results

Page 4

 

Website Disclosure

First American posts information of interest to investors at www.firstam.com/investor. This includes opened and closed title insurance order counts for its direct title insurance operations, which are posted approximately 12 days after the end of each month.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release and the related management commentary and responses to investor questions, including but not limited to those related to future title margins, the liquidation of CoreLogic, Inc. shares, closed title order outlook, emphasis on growth in core businesses primarily through organic growth and select acquisitions, future title claims experience and corporate expense expectations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may contain the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “predict,” “estimate,” “project,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” or other similar words and phrases. Risks and uncertainties exist that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the anticipated results to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements include: interest rate fluctuations; changes in the performance of the real estate markets; volatility in the capital markets; unfavorable economic conditions; impairments in the company’s goodwill or other intangible assets; failures at financial institutions where the company deposits funds; changes in applicable government regulations; heightened scrutiny by legislators and regulators of the company’s title insurance and services segment and certain other of the company’s businesses; regulation of title insurance rates; reform of government-sponsored mortgage enterprises; limitations on access to public records and other data; product migration; changes resulting from increases in the size of the company’s customers; changes in measures of the strength of the company’s title insurance underwriters, including ratings and statutory surpluses; losses in the company’s investment portfolio; expenses of and funding obligations to the pension plan; material variance between actual and expected claims experience; defalcations, increased claims or other costs and expenses attributable to the company’s use of title agents; systems interruptions and intrusions, wire transfer errors or unauthorized data disclosures; inability to realize the benefits of the company’s offshore strategy; inability of the company’s subsidiaries to pay dividends or repay funds; and other factors described in the company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release and related management commentary contain certain financial measures that are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), including a personnel and other operating expense ratio. The company is presenting these non-GAAP financial measures because they provide the company’s management and investors with additional insight into the operational efficiency and performance of the company relative to earlier periods and relative to the company’s competitors. The company does not intend for these non-GAAP financial measures to be a substitute for any GAAP financial information. In this news release, these non-GAAP financial measures have been presented with, and reconciled to, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Investors should use these non-GAAP financial measures only in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measures.

 

Media Contact:    Investor Contact:
Carrie Navarifar    Craig Barberio

Corporate Communications

   Investor Relations

First American Financial Corporation

   First American Financial Corporation

(714) 250-3298

   (714) 250-5214

(Additional Financial Data Follows)

 

- more -


 

First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results

Page 5

 

Summary of Consolidated Financial Results and Selected Information

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

(unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended     For the Six Months Ended  
     June 30     June 30  
     2012      2011     2012      2011  

Total revenues

   $ 1,089,833       $ 927,343      $ 2,056,596       $ 1,859,043   

Income before income taxes

   $ 112,290       $ 49,215      $ 163,840       $ 25,766   

Income tax expense

     38,773         17,068        59,214         8,860   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

     73,517         32,147        104,626         16,906   

Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

     516         (194     332         (100
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income attributable to the Company

   $ 73,001       $ 32,341      $ 104,294       $ 17,006   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income per share attributable to stockholders:

          

Basic

   $ 0.69       $ 0.31      $ 0.98       $ 0.16   

Diluted

   $ 0.68       $ 0.30      $ 0.97       $ 0.16   

Cash dividends per share

   $ 0.08       $ 0.06      $ 0.16       $ 0.12   

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

          

Basic

     106,230         105,222        105,926         104,953   

Diluted

     107,945         106,838        107,681         106,802   

Selected Title Information

          

Title orders opened

     411,200         302,400        788,400         589,500   

Title orders closed

     289,300         215,600        550,600         441,200   

Paid title claims

   $ 71,850       $ 80,257      $ 152,305       $ 161,614   

 

- more -


 

First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results

Page 6

 

First American Financial Corporation

Selected Balance Sheet Information

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     June 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 796,163       $ 418,299   

Investment portfolio

     2,660,058         2,642,917   

Goodwill and other intangible assets

     885,871         878,414   

Total assets

     5,790,943         5,370,337   

Reserve for claim losses

     974,026         1,014,676   

Notes payable

     273,630         299,975   

Total stockholders’ equity

     2,158,024         2,028,600   

 

- more -


 

First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results

Page 7

 

First American Financial Corporation

Segment Information

(in thousands, unaudited)

 

For the Three Months Ended    Consolidated     Title
Insurance
    Specialty
Insurance
     Corporate
(incl.  Elims.)
 

June 30, 2012

         

Revenues

         

Direct premiums and escrow fees

   $ 497,288      $ 424,146      $ 73,142       $ —     

Agent premiums

     400,361        400,361        —           —     

Information and other

     167,827        167,411        418         (2

Investment income

     18,696        18,190        2,231         (1,725

Net realized investment gains(1)

     5,661        1,864        3,797         —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     1,089,833        1,011,972        79,588         (1,727
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

         

Personnel costs

     322,043        299,348        13,717         8,978   

Premiums retained by agents

     321,348        321,348        —           —     

Other operating expenses

     205,647        189,759        9,594         6,294   

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     95,389        54,820        40,569         —     

Depreciation and amortization

     18,456        16,669        1,116         671   

Premium taxes

     12,228        10,922        1,306         —     

Interest

     2,432        661        —           1,771   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     977,543        893,527        66,302         17,714   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes(2)

   $ 112,290      $ 118,445      $ 13,286       $ (19,441
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
For the Three Months Ended    Consolidated     Title
Insurance
    Specialty
Insurance
     Corporate
(incl. Elims.)
 

June 30, 2011

         

Revenues

         

Direct premiums and escrow fees

   $ 401,978      $ 333,920      $ 68,058       $ —     

Agent premiums

     348,441        348,441        —           —     

Information and other

     157,710        157,293        416         1   

Investment income

     22,094        20,026        2,567         (499

Net realized investment (losses) gains(1)

     (2,880     (1,832     605         (1,653
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     927,343        857,848        71,646         (2,151
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

         

Personnel costs

     293,451        269,740        12,490         11,221   

Premiums retained by agents

     279,812        279,812        —           —     

Other operating expenses

     196,780        181,783        9,488         5,509   

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     77,237        40,267        36,970         —     

Depreciation and amortization

     18,867        16,955        1,077         835   

Premium taxes

     9,913        8,707        1,206         —     

Interest

     2,068        (167     —           2,235   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     878,128        797,097        61,231         19,800   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes(2)

   $ 49,215      $ 60,751      $ 10,415       $ (21,951
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recorded in earnings.
(2) Beginning with the first quarter of 2012, changes were made to the allocation of certain expenses between business segments and the corporate division, primarily related to benefit plans, shared services, and interest expense. Prior period financials were reclassified to conform to the current presentation as further disclosed in the company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

 

- more -


 

First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results

Page 8

 

First American Financial Corporation

Segment Information

(in thousands, unaudited)

 

For the Six Months Ended    Consolidated     Title
Insurance
    Specialty
Insurance
     Corporate
(incl. Elims.)
 

June 30, 2012

         

Revenues

         

Direct premiums and escrow fees

   $ 911,074      $ 767,785      $ 143,289       $ —     

Agent premiums

     777,347        777,347        —           —     

Information and other

     323,587        322,700        893         (6

Investment income

     41,073        35,511        4,696         866   

Net realized investment gains (losses)(1)

     3,515        (150     4,908         (1,243
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2,056,596        1,903,193        153,786         (383
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

         

Personnel costs

     627,322        576,925        27,380         23,017   

Premiums retained by agents

     623,512        623,512        —           —     

Other operating expenses

     394,797        361,510        20,637         12,650   

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     182,067        107,000        75,067         —     

Depreciation and amortization

     36,515        33,002        2,172         1,341   

Premium taxes

     23,076        20,655        2,421         —     

Interest

     5,467        1,322        —           4,145   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     1,892,756        1,723,926        127,677         41,153   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes(2)

   $ 163,840      $ 179,267      $ 26,109       $ (41,536
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
For the Six Months Ended    Consolidated     Title
Insurance
    Specialty
Insurance
     Corporate
(incl.  Elims.)
 

June 30, 2011

         

Revenues

         

Direct premiums and escrow fees

   $ 763,072      $ 629,351      $ 133,721       $ —     

Agent premiums

     748,362        748,362        —           —     

Information and other

     308,468        307,720        745         3   

Investment income

     42,865        37,593        5,075         197   

Net realized investment (losses) gains(1)

     (3,724     (3,255     936         (1,405
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     1,859,043        1,719,771        140,477         (1,205
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

         

Personnel costs

     576,753        528,807        24,141         23,805   

Premiums retained by agents

     599,799        599,799        —           —     

Other operating expenses

     387,170        357,295        19,098         10,777   

Provision for policy losses and other claims

     206,749        136,642        70,107         —     

Depreciation and amortization

     37,966        34,126        2,093         1,747   

Premium taxes

     18,956        16,747        2,209         —     

Interest

     5,884        1,300        —           4,584   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     1,833,277        1,674,716        117,648         40,913   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes(2)

   $ 25,766      $ 45,055      $ 22,829       $ (42,118
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recorded in earnings.
(2) Beginning with the first quarter of 2012, changes were made to the allocation of certain expenses between business segments and the corporate division, primarily related to benefit plans, shared services, and interest expense. Prior period financials were reclassified to conform to the current presentation as further disclosed in the company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

 

- more -


 

First American Financial Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results

Page 9

 

First American Financial Corporation

Expense Ratio Reconciliation

Title Insurance and Services Segment

($ in thousands, unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months Ended
June 30
    For the Six Months Ended
June 30
 
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Total revenues

   $ 1,011,972      $ 857,848      $ 1,903,193      $ 1,719,771   

-Net realized investment gains (losses)

     1,864        (1,832     (150     (3,255

-Investment income

     18,190        20,026        35,511        37,593   

-Premiums retained by agents

     321,348        279,812        623,512        599,799   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net operating revenues

   $ 670,570      $ 559,842      $ 1,244,320      $ 1,085,634   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Personnel and other operating expenses

   $ 489,107      $ 451,523      $ 938,435      $ 886,102   

Ratio (% net operating revenues)

     72.9     80.7     75.4     81.6

Ratio (% total revenues)

     48.3     52.6     49.3     51.5

 

###