Investors Title Company Announces First Quarter 2024 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Investors Title Company (Nasdaq: ITIC) announced first quarter 2024 results, reporting $4.5 million net income, $2.40 per diluted share, and $53.5 million revenues. Operating expenses decreased 4.3%, income before taxes increased to $5.8 million, and adjusted income before taxes (non-GAAP) rose to $3.4 million. Chairman highlighted revenue growth, cost reductions, and commitment to market expansion.

Positive

• Revenue increased by 4.1% to $53.5 million.

• Net income rose to $4.5 million, a significant increase from $1.2 million in the prior year.

• Operating expenses decreased by 4.3% due to reduced staffing levels and other overhead expense reductions.

• Income before taxes increased to $5.8 million, showing a significant improvement from $1.6 million in the prior year.

• Adjusted income before taxes (non-GAAP) increased to $3.4 million compared to $1.1 million in the prior year, excluding net investment gains.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Investors Title Company's report for the first quarter of 2024 reflects a substantial improvement in financial performance compared to the same period last year. The growth in net income from $1.2 million to $4.5 million and a corresponding increase in earnings per share from $0.62 to $2.40, is indicative of a strong financial turnaround. This is particularly notable considering that revenues only grew by 4.1%, from $51.3 million to $53.5 million, suggesting that the company has successfully enhanced its operational efficiency. The reduction in operating expenses by 4.3% due to lowered personnel expenses and overheads, while still managing to increase agent commissions to support higher premium volumes, is a strategic move that signals a diligent focus on cost management. Adjusted income before taxes also presents a more accurate picture of core profitability by excluding volatile net investment gains, showing an increase from $1.1 million to $3.4 million. From a retail investor's perspective, these improvements suggest the company is on a solid trajectory, enhancing its value proposition through disciplined expense control and capitalizing on favorable market conditions in their key areas. However, it’s important to monitor whether such cost reductions can be sustained without sacrificing service quality or long-term growth potential.

Market Research Analyst

The increase in mortgage originations despite low housing affordability hints at underlying resilience in the real estate market, which is a key driver for the title insurance industry. Investors Title Company's ability to increase premiums written in such a market environment can be perceived as a sign of strategic agility and perhaps a reflection of its competitive strength. The company's mention of investing in opportunities for market expansion could suggest a forward-looking growth strategy that might appeal to investors looking for companies with both current profitability and a vision for future growth. However, it's important for investors to consider the cyclical nature of the real estate market and the implications this has on the sustainability of the company's earnings. The focus on disciplined expense management is also commendable, but it remains to be seen how this will balance against the need for investment in growth opportunities, especially in 'challenging operating conditions'.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Investors Title Company (Nasdaq: ITIC) today announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The Company reported net income of $4.5 million, or $2.40 per diluted share, compared with net income of $1.2 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, for the prior year period.

Revenues increased 4.1% to $53.5 million, compared to $51.3 million in the prior year period, primarily due to increases in premiums written and higher net investment gains. The increase in premiums written is attributable to higher activity levels in some of our key markets. Positive changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments resulted in higher net investment gains compared to the prior year period.

Operating expenses decreased 4.3% compared to the prior year period, predominantly due to a $2.2 million decline in personnel expenses resulting from reduced staffing levels and decreases in other overhead expense categories. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in commissions to agents commensurate with higher agent premium volumes. The provision for claims and office and technology expenses were in line with the prior year period.

Income before income taxes increased to $5.8 million for the current year quarter, versus $1.6 million in the prior year period. Excluding the impact of net investment gains, adjusted income before income taxes (non-GAAP) increased to $3.4 million for the current year quarter, versus $1.1 million in the prior year period (see Appendix A for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure).

Chairman J. Allen Fine commented, “We are pleased to report favorable results compared to the prior year period. Higher revenue levels, coupled with reductions in overhead expenses, resulted in improvement in earnings relative to the prior year.

“Operating conditions remained challenging for the real estate market during the quarter, although there was some improvement. Despite record low levels of housing affordability, mortgage originations on a national level increased during the first quarter, compared to the same prior year period, favorably impacting some of our key markets. We remain committed to identifying and investing in opportunities to profitably expand our market presence and improve our competitive strengths, while taking a long-term view toward disciplined expense management over the ebbs and flows of the economic cycle.”

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

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as “plan,” expect,” “aim,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “should,” “could,” “would,” and other expressions that indicate future events and trends. Such statements include, among others, any statements regarding the Company’s expected performance for this year, future home price fluctuations, changes in home purchase or refinance demand, activity and the mix thereof, interest rate changes, expansion of the Company’s market presence, enhancing competitive strengths, development in housing affordability, wages, unemployment or overall economic conditions or statements regarding our actuarial assumptions and the application of recent historical claims experience to future periods. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated and historical results. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the cyclical demand for title insurance due to changes in the residential and commercial real estate markets; the occurrence of fraud, defalcation or misconduct; variances between actual claims experience and underwriting and reserving assumptions, including the limited predictive power of historical claims experience; declines in the performance of the Company’s investments; government regulations; changes in the economy; the impact of inflation and responses by government regulators, including the Federal Reserve, such as changes in interest rates; loss of agency relationships, or significant reductions in agent-originated business; difficulties managing growth, whether organic or through acquisitions and other considerations set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in subsequent filings.

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Operations For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
			2024			2023
Revenues:
Net premiums written		$	40,180		$	38,966
Escrow and other title-related fees			3,723			3,655
Non-title services			4,304			5,312
Interest and dividends			2,520			2,074
Other investment income			111			753
Net investment gains			2,422			443
Other			199			140
Total Revenues			53,459			51,343
Operating Expenses:
Commissions to agents			19,870			19,326
Provision for claims			910			1,068
Personnel expenses			18,582			20,820
Office and technology expenses			4,465			4,400
Other expenses			3,835			4,168
Total Operating Expenses			47,662			49,782
Income before Income Taxes			5,797			1,561
Provision for Income Taxes			1,272			380
Net Income		$	4,525		$	1,181
Basic Earnings per Common Share		$	2.40		$	0.62
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Basic			1,888			1,897
Diluted Earnings per Common Share		$	2.40		$	0.62
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Diluted			1,889			1,897

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands) (unaudited)
	March 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	21,613		$	24,031
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value		62,647			63,847
Equity securities, at fair value		36,708			37,212
Short-term investments		113,379			110,224
Other investments		21,758			17,385
Total investments		234,492			228,668
Premiums and fees receivable		12,911			13,338
Accrued interest and dividends		1,090			978
Prepaid expenses and other receivables		8,843			13,525
Property, net		25,325			23,886
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net		15,910			16,249
Lease assets		6,679			6,303
Other assets		2,631			2,500
Current income taxes recoverable		—			1,081
Total Assets	$	329,494		$	330,559
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
Reserve for claims	$	37,316		$	37,147
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		27,732			31,864
Lease liabilities		6,828			6,449
Current income taxes payable		282			—
Deferred income taxes, net		3,374			3,546
Total liabilities		75,532			79,006
Stockholders’ Equity:
Common stock – no par value (10,000 authorized shares; 1,884 and 1,891 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, excluding in each period 292 shares of common stock held by the Company's subsidiary)		—			—
Retained earnings		253,616			250,915
Accumulated other comprehensive income		346			638
Total stockholders’ equity		253,962			251,553
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	329,494		$	330,559

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries Direct and Agency Net Premiums Written For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands) (unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024	%		2023	%
Direct	$	13,321	33.2	$	12,714	32.6
Agency		26,859	66.8		26,252	67.4
Total	$	40,180	100.0	$	38,966	100.0

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
Appendix A
Non-GAAP Measures Reconciliation
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

Management uses various financial and operational measurements, including financial information not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), to analyze Company performance. This includes adjusting revenues to remove the impact of net investment gains and losses, which are recognized in net income under GAAP. Net investment gains and losses include realized gains and losses on sales of investment securities and changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments. Beginning with the three months ended June 30, 2023, management decided to exclude realized gains and losses on sales of investment securities in addition to changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments for consistency with a similar change in the presentation in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The non-GAAP financial measures for prior year periods included in this Appendix have also been updated for consistency with this presentation. Therefore adjusted revenues (non-GAAP) and adjusted income before income taxes (non-GAAP) below are not comparable with previously published non-GAAP financial measures for the Company. Management believes that these measures are useful to evaluate the Company's internal operational performance from period to period because they eliminate the effects of external market fluctuations. The Company also believes users of the financial results would benefit from having access to such information, and that certain of the Company’s peers make available similar information. This information should not be used as a substitute for, or considered superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

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

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024				2023
Revenues
Total revenues (GAAP)	$	53,459			$	51,343
Subtract: Net investment gains		(2,422	)			(443	)
Adjusted revenues (non-GAAP)	$	51,037			$	50,900
Income before Income Taxes
Income before income taxes (GAAP)	$	5,797			$	1,561
Subtract: Net investment gains		(2,422	)			(443	)
Adjusted income before income taxes (non-GAAP)	$	3,375			$	1,118

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240503918568/en/

Elizabeth B. Lewter

(919) 968-2200

Source: Investors Title Company

FAQ

What are Investors Title Company's first quarter 2024 results?

Investors Title Company reported $4.5 million net income, $2.40 per diluted share, and $53.5 million revenues for the first quarter of 2024.

How did the operating expenses change in the first quarter of 2024?

Operating expenses decreased by 4.3% in the first quarter of 2024, mainly due to reduced staffing levels and other overhead expense reductions.

What was the reason behind the increase in revenues for Investors Title Company?

The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher premiums written and higher net investment gains in the first quarter of 2024.

What is the NASDAQ symbol for Investors Title Company?

The NASDAQ symbol for Investors Title Company is ITIC.

Who commented on Investors Title Company's first quarter 2024 results?

Chairman J. Allen Fine commented on Investors Title Company's first quarter 2024 results.