Investors Title Company Announces Second Quarter 2024 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Investors Title Company (Nasdaq: ITIC) reported strong Q2 2024 results, with net income increasing 17.0% to $8.9 million ($4.70 per diluted share) compared to $7.6 million ($4.00 per diluted share) in Q2 2023. Revenues rose 12.1% to $65.4 million, driven by higher premiums from increased market activity and rising home prices. Operating expenses grew 11.7%, mainly due to higher agent commissions. For H1 2024, net income jumped to $13.4 million ($7.10 per diluted share) from $8.8 million ($4.62 per diluted share) in H1 2023. The company noted improved real estate market conditions, with declining mortgage rates and increased home inventories potentially signaling a positive outlook for the sector.

Positive

• Net income increased 17.0% year-over-year to $8.9 million in Q2 2024
• Revenues grew 12.1% to $65.4 million in Q2 2024
• Diluted EPS rose to $4.70 in Q2 2024 from $4.00 in Q2 2023
• H1 2024 net income increased by $4.6 million to $13.4 million
• Profit margins reached pre-pandemic levels
• Premiums written increased due to higher activity levels and higher average real estate sales prices
• Expenses improved due to ongoing expense management efforts

Negative

• Operating expenses increased 11.7% year-over-year in Q2 2024
• Personnel expenses decreased due to lower staffing levels

Insights

Financial Analyst

Investors Title Company's Q2 2024 results show strong performance, with net income increasing 17.0% to $8.9 million ($4.70 per diluted share). This marks their most profitable quarter in over two years, with margins comparable to pre-pandemic levels. Key highlights include:

• Revenue up 12.1% to $65.4 million, driven by higher premiums from increased market activity and rising home prices
• Operating expenses up 11.7%, mainly due to higher agent commissions
• Adjusted income before taxes (non-GAAP) increased to $10.0 million from $8.8 million

The company's improved profitability, despite higher operating expenses, suggests effective cost management and a favorable claims environment. The declining mortgage rates and increasing housing inventory could potentially stimulate further growth in the real estate market, benefiting Investors Title Company's core business.

Real Estate Market Analyst

The Q2 2024 results for Investors Title Company reflect a recovering real estate market. Key observations:

• Higher premiums written indicate increased real estate transaction activity
• Rising average home prices contributing to revenue growth
• Mortgage rates declined over 1% from Q4 2023 peak
• Substantial increase in housing inventory since the start of 2024

These trends suggest a potential market rebalancing. Lower mortgage rates could stimulate demand, while increased inventory may ease supply constraints. If sustained, these conditions could lead to a more robust real estate market, potentially driving further growth for title insurance providers. However, it's important to monitor how these factors interact with broader economic conditions and consumer sentiment in the coming quarters.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Investors Title Company (Nasdaq: ITIC) today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024. The Company reported net income of $8.9 million, or $4.70 per diluted share, compared with $7.6 million, or $4.00 per diluted share, for the prior year period.

Revenues increased 12.1% to $65.4 million, compared to $58.3 million in the prior year period, primarily due to an increase in premiums written stemming from higher activity levels in certain markets and continued increases in average home prices.

Operating expenses increased 11.7% compared to the prior year period, mostly driven by higher agent commissions and other expenses which fluctuate with the level of title-related revenues. Personnel expenses decreased due to lower staffing levels. Other categories of operating expenses were in line with the prior year period.

Income before income taxes increased to $11.3 million for the current year quarter, versus $9.8 million in the prior year period. Excluding the impact of net investment gains, adjusted income before income taxes (non-GAAP) increased to $10.0 million for the current year quarter, versus $8.8 million in the prior year period (see Appendix A for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure).

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, net income increased $4.6 million to $13.4 million, or $7.10 per diluted share, versus $8.8 million, or $4.62 per diluted share, for the prior year period. Revenues increased 8.4% to $118.8 million, compared with $109.7 million for the prior year period. Operating expenses increased 3.6% to $101.8 million, compared to $98.3 million for the prior year period. Aside from changes in net investment gains, overall results for the year-to-date period have been shaped predominantly by the same factors that affected the second quarter. Positive changes in the estimated fair value of equity security investments resulted in higher net investment gains compared to the prior year period.

Chairman J. Allen Fine commented, “We are pleased to report a 17.0% increase in net income for the second quarter as compared to the prior year period, our most profitable quarter in over two years, with profit margins comparable to pre-pandemic levels. Premiums written increased due to higher activity levels and higher average real estate sales prices. Our expense level continued to improve as a result of ongoing expense management efforts. Expenses in the quarter were also favorably impacted by relatively low claims experience versus historical norms.

"Real estate sales activity in the market improved during the quarter on a seasonal basis and relative to the prior year period. By quarter end, mortgage rates had declined over a full percentage point from their peak in the fourth quarter of 2023, and inventories of homes available for sale had increased substantially since the beginning of the year. If such trends persist, they may bring about an overall improvement to conditions in the real estate market."

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

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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 and Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024			2023			2024			2023
Revenues:
Net premiums written	$	51,416		$	44,005		$	91,596		$	82,971
Escrow and other title-related fees		4,801			4,604			8,524			8,259
Non-title services		4,304			4,565			8,608			9,877
Interest and dividends		2,568			2,150			5,088			4,224
Other investment income		890			1,648			1,001			2,401
Net investment gains		1,242			1,092			3,664			1,535
Other		161			250			360			390
Total Revenues		65,382			58,314			118,841			109,657
Operating Expenses:
Commissions to agents		26,550			20,603			46,420			39,929
Provision for claims		905			991			1,815			2,059
Personnel expenses		18,154			18,548			36,736			39,368
Office and technology expenses		4,308			4,513			8,773			8,913
Other expenses		4,198			3,813			8,033			7,981
Total Operating Expenses		54,115			48,468			101,777			98,250
Income before Income Taxes		11,267			9,846			17,064			11,407
Provision for Income Taxes		2,396			2,261			3,668			2,641
Net Income	$	8,871		$	7,585		$	13,396		$	8,766
Basic Earnings per Common Share	$	4.71		$	4.00		$	7.10		$	4.62
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Basic		1,884			1,895			1,886			1,896
Diluted Earnings per Common Share	$	4.70		$	4.00		$	7.10		$	4.62
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Diluted		1,886			1,896			1,887			1,896

 

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	June 30, 2024			December 31, 2023
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	26,686		$	24,031
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value		93,479			63,847
Equity securities, at fair value		36,837			37,212
Short-term investments		84,480			110,224
Other investments		21,670			17,385
Total investments		236,466			228,668
Premiums and fees receivable		13,478			13,338
Accrued interest and dividends		1,321			978
Prepaid expenses and other receivables		10,829			13,525
Property, net		26,516			23,886
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net		15,630			16,249
Lease assets		6,205			6,303
Other assets		2,643			2,500
Current income taxes recoverable		558			1,081
Total Assets	$	340,332		$	330,559
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
Reserve for claims	$	37,204		$	37,147
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		31,469			31,864
Lease liabilities		6,427			6,449
Deferred income taxes, net		3,416			3,546
Total liabilities		78,516			79,006
Stockholders’ Equity:
Common stock – no par value (10,000 authorized shares; 1,884 and 1,891 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, excluding in each period 292 shares of common stock held by the Company's subsidiary)		—			—
Retained earnings		261,648			250,915
Accumulated other comprehensive income		168			638
Total stockholders’ equity		261,816			251,553
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	340,332		$	330,559

 

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
Direct and Agency Net Premiums Written
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024	%		2023	%		2024	%		2023	%
Direct	$	15,531	30.2	$	15,776	35.9	$	28,852	31.5	$	28,490	34.3
Agency		35,885	69.8		28,229	64.1		62,744	68.5		54,481	65.7
Total	$	51,416	100.0	$	44,005	100.0	$	91,596	100.0	$	82,971	100.0

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
Appendix A
Non-GAAP Measures Reconciliation
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 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. Management believes that these measures are useful to evaluate the Company's internal operational performance from period to period because they eliminate the effects of external market fluctuations. The Company also believes users of the financial results would benefit from having access to such information, and that certain of the Company’s peers make available similar information. This information should not be used as a substitute for, or considered superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

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

	Three Months Ended June 30,							Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023			2024				2023
Revenues
Total revenues (GAAP)	$	65,382			$	58,314		$	118,841			$	109,657
Subtract: Net investment gains		(1,242	)			(1,092	)		(3,664	)			(1,535	)
Adjusted revenues (non-GAAP)	$	64,140			$	57,222		$	115,177			$	108,122
Income before Income Taxes
Income before income taxes (GAAP)	$	11,267			$	9,846		$	17,064			$	11,407
Subtract: Net investment gains		(1,242	)			(1,092	)		(3,664	)			(1,535	)
Adjusted income before income taxes (non-GAAP)	$	10,025			$	8,754		$	13,400			$	9,872

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240805438678/en/

Elizabeth B. Lewter

(919) 968-2200

 

Source: Investors Title Company

FAQ

What was Investors Title Company's net income for Q2 2024?

Investors Title Company (ITIC) reported a net income of $8.9 million for Q2 2024.

How much did Investors Title Company's revenue increase in Q2 2024?

Investors Title Company's revenue increased by 12.1% to $65.4 million in Q2 2024 compared to the prior year period.

What factors contributed to Investors Title Company's revenue growth in Q2 2024?

The revenue growth was primarily due to an increase in premiums written, stemming from higher activity levels in certain markets and continued increases in average home prices.

How did Investors Title Company's operating expenses change in Q2 2024?

Operating expenses increased 11.7% compared to the prior year period, mostly driven by higher agent commissions and other expenses related to title-related revenues.

What was Investors Title Company's earnings per share (EPS) for Q2 2024?

Investors Title Company reported earnings of $4.70 per diluted share for Q2 2024.