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Enact Holdings, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income eased from fourth quarter: Net income was $168 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, versus $177 million or $1.22 in 4Q25, and $166 million or $1.08 in 1Q25. Source
  • Losses rose on lower reserve release: Losses incurred were $37 million, a 15% loss ratio, versus $18 million and 7% in 4Q25, and $31 million and 12% in 1Q25. Source
  • Net reserve release was $39 million: Net reserve release was $39 million, against $60 million in 4Q25, which included the claim rate cut from 9% to 8%, and $47 million in 1Q25. Source
  • New insurance written declined sequentially: NIW was $13 billion, down 11% from 4Q25 and up 30% from 1Q25. The quarter was 96% monthly premium policies and 77% purchase originations. Source
  • Book value per share rose: Book value per share was $38.09, and $38.68 excluding AOCI, against $37.66 and $37.87 at year-end 2025. Source
  • Quarterly dividend raised 14%: The Board declared $0.24 per share, up from $0.21. The company paid about $30 million, or $0.21 per share, in dividends in the first quarter. Source
  • Repurchases of about $93 million: The company repurchased about 2.3 million shares in the quarter at an average of $40.66, for roughly $93 million in total. Source

“Affordability and mortgage rate volatility continued to shape housing activity, and against this backdrop we continued to demonstrate the resiliency of our model, prudently growing new insurance written while maintaining our focus on expense and risk management.”

Rohit Gupta, President and CEO of Enact

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly dividend SourceDividend payable June 18, 2026$0.24 per common shareRaised from $0.21

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Quarterly dividend raised from $0.21 to $0.24 per share, a 14% increase. Source
  • Ended: The $350 million repurchase authorization was completed during the quarter. Source

Earnings and returns

  • Net income eased from fourth quarter: Net income was $168 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, versus $177 million or $1.22 in 4Q25, and $166 million or $1.08 in 1Q25. Source
  • Adjusted operating income also eased: Adjusted operating income was $172 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, versus $179 million or $1.23 in 4Q25, and $169 million or $1.10 in 1Q25. Source
  • Return on equity was 12.5%: Annualized ROE was 12.5%, against 13.3% in 4Q25 and 13.1% in 1Q25. Adjusted operating ROE was 12.9%, against 13.5% and 13.4%. Source

Losses, reserves and premiums

  • Losses rose on lower reserve release: Losses incurred were $37 million, a 15% loss ratio, versus $18 million and 7% in 4Q25, and $31 million and 12% in 1Q25. Source
  • Net reserve release was $39 million: Net reserve release was $39 million, against $60 million in 4Q25, which included the claim rate cut from 9% to 8%, and $47 million in 1Q25. Source
  • Earned premiums dipped on ceded premiums: Net premiums earned were $243 million, down 1% from 4Q25 and from 1Q25, mainly because of higher ceded premiums. Source

“As we look ahead, our strong balance sheet, differentiated capabilities and ongoing commitment to innovation position us to succeed in this dynamic market environment as we help people responsibly achieve homeownership.”

Rohit Gupta, President and CEO of Enact

Expenses and investment income

  • Operating expenses fell sequentially: Operating expenses were $49 million with a 20% expense ratio, versus $59 million and 24% in 4Q25. The company cited incentive-based compensation as the driver of the decrease. Source
  • Investment income rose on rates and assets: Net investment income was $71 million, up from $69 million in 4Q25 and $63 million in 1Q25, driven by elevated interest rates and higher average invested assets. Source
  • Realized investment losses recorded: Net investment losses were $6 million. The company said this activity comes from identifying assets whose sale allows losses to be recouped through higher investment income. Source

New business and in-force book

  • New insurance written declined sequentially: NIW was $13 billion, down 11% from 4Q25 and up 30% from 1Q25. The quarter was 96% monthly premium policies and 77% purchase originations. Source
  • Persistency held at 80%: Primary persistency was 80%, flat from 4Q25 and down from 84% in 1Q25. Source
  • Insurance in force edged down: Primary IIF was $272 billion, down from $273 billion in 4Q25 and up about 2% from $268 billion in 1Q25. Source

Capital, liquidity and ratings

  • Book value per share rose: Book value per share was $38.09, and $38.68 excluding AOCI, against $37.66 and $37.87 at year-end 2025. Source
  • Parent cash and investments rose $25M: The company held $287 million cash and $365 million invested assets at March 31. The combined total rose $25 million, mainly from the EMICO dividend, less capital returned. Source
  • EMICO paid $150 million dividend: EMICO completed a $150 million dividend in the first quarter, which the company said will mainly support capital returns and financial flexibility. Source
  • PMIERs sufficiency held at 162%: PMIERs sufficiency was 162%, or $1.9 billion above requirements, the same as in 4Q25. Source
  • S&P moved ratings view to positive: S&P moved its rating view on EMICO, EHI and Enact Re to positive during the quarter. Source

Shareholder returns

  • Quarterly dividend raised 14%: The Board declared $0.24 per share, up from $0.21. The company paid about $30 million, or $0.21 per share, in dividends in the first quarter. Source
  • Repurchases of about $93 million: The company repurchased about 2.3 million shares in the quarter at an average of $40.66, for roughly $93 million in total. Source
  • April buybacks and remaining authority: Through April 30, 2026, the company bought 0.7 million shares at an average of $42.56, for $30 million. About $438 million remains of the $500 million authorization. Source

Management view and strategy

  • Disciplined execution and credit performance cited: Management described the start to 2026 as reflecting disciplined execution, resilient credit performance and a focus on long-term value creation. Source
  • Prudent growth alongside cost and risk focus: Management said new insurance written grew prudently while expense and risk management stayed in focus, amid affordability and rate volatility. Source
  • Balance sheet and innovation cited: Management pointed to its balance sheet, differentiated capabilities and commitment to innovation as positioning the company for the current market. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 May 2026

  • Dividend payment on June 18: The $0.24 dividend is payable June 18, 2026, to holders of record on May 28, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Prior-year reserve development Source$39 million net reserve release
Investment income Source$71 million
Book value per share Source$38.09

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management named affordability and mortgage rate volatility as shaping housing activity. Source
  • Demand: About 21% of insured mortgages carry rates at least 50 basis points above the March 2026 average, which the company reported alongside persistency. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The company said it completed the $350 million repurchase authorization announced April 30, 2025, during the quarter. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.