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Enact Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 1 narrowed. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income fell from second quarter: Net income was $159 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, versus $175 million, or $1.25, in the second quarter and $163 million, or $1.10, a year earlier. Adjusted operating income was $164 million, or $1.19 per diluted share. Source
  • Net premiums earned declined on ceded premiums: Net premiums earned were $242 million, down 1% from the second quarter and from a year earlier. Management attributed the decline to higher ceded premiums under continued quota share reinsurance, partly offset by growth in adjacencies and in-force. Source
  • Higher new delinquencies drove losses: Excluding reserve releases, losses rose sequentially on seasonal new delinquencies. Year over year, newer books progressed along their expected loss development pattern, partly offset by a lower claim rate in the quarter. Source
  • New insurance written down on refinances: New insurance written was $14 billion, down 7% from the second quarter mainly on lower refinance activity and flat from a year earlier. Monthly premium policies were 95% of the quarter's NIW, and purchase originations were 93%. Source
  • PMIERs cushion narrowed after EMICO dividend: PMIERs sufficiency was 158%, about $1.8 billion above requirements, versus 161% and $1.9 billion in the second quarter. Management said the decrease was primarily driven by the EMICO dividend to EHI. Source
  • Repurchases of $118 million in quarter: The company repurchased about 2.4 million shares at an average price of $48.19, for about $118 million, in the quarter, compared with about $93 million in the second quarter. Source

“Enact’s performance this quarter reflects the strength of our business, the commitment of our team and the value we provide to our customers,”

Rohit Gupta, President and CEO of Enact

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Capital return Sourcefull-year 2026approximately $600 millionNarrowed, low end up from in the range of $550 million to $600 million
Operating expenses, excluding reorganization costs Source2026, based on year-to-date performancelower end of the $205 million to $210 million rangeLowered from $205 million to $210 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 capital return guidance was raised to about $600 million from a prior range of $550 million to $600 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Operating expense guidance, excluding reorganization costs, was moved to the lower end of the prior $205 million to $210 million range. Source
  • New: A quota share reinsurance agreement was announced in the quarter, ceding about 35% of a portion of expected new insurance written for the 2028 book year. Source
  • New: AM Best upgraded the insurance financial strength rating of EMICO and EMIC-NC to A from A-, and the long-term issuer rating of EHI to bbb from bbb-. Source

Earnings and returns

  • Net income fell from second quarter: Net income was $159 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, versus $175 million, or $1.25, in the second quarter and $163 million, or $1.10, a year earlier. Adjusted operating income was $164 million, or $1.19 per diluted share. Source
  • Return on equity slightly lower: Return on equity was 12.0% and adjusted operating return on equity was 12.4%, compared with 13.0% and 13.2% in the second quarter and 12.4% and 12.6% a year earlier. Source

Premiums and in-force growth

  • In-force up about 1% year over year: Primary insurance in-force was $275 billion, approximately flat from the second quarter and up about 1% from a year earlier, when it was $272 billion. Source
  • Net premiums earned declined on ceded premiums: Net premiums earned were $242 million, down 1% from the second quarter and from a year earlier. Management attributed the decline to higher ceded premiums under continued quota share reinsurance, partly offset by growth in adjacencies and in-force. Source

“We continued to execute against our strategic priorities, prudently manage risk and invest for the future, strengthening our ability to deliver sustainable value for our stakeholders, while helping more people responsibly achieve the dream of homeownership.”

Rohit Gupta, President and CEO of Enact

Losses and reserve releases

  • Loss ratio rose to 20%: Losses incurred were $47 million, a 20% loss ratio, versus $33 million and 14% in the second quarter and $36 million and 15% a year earlier. Source
  • Higher new delinquencies drove losses: Excluding reserve releases, losses rose sequentially on seasonal new delinquencies. Year over year, newer books progressed along their expected loss development pattern, partly offset by a lower claim rate in the quarter. Source

Operating expenses and reorganization

  • Expense ratio held at 21%: Operating expenses were $50 million and the expense ratio was 21%, versus $52 million and 21% in the second quarter and $53 million and 22% a year earlier. Restructuring costs raised the expense ratio by one percentage point. Source
  • Reorganization costs excluded from adjusted results: Costs associated with reorganization were $675 thousand in the quarter and are excluded from adjusted operating income, compared with $971 thousand in the second quarter. Source

Investment income and gains

  • Investment income rose on higher yields: Net investment income was $74 million, up from $73 million in the second quarter and $69 million a year earlier, driven by higher portfolio book yields. Source
  • Investment losses tied to asset sales: Net investment losses were $6 million, compared with $2 million in the second quarter. Management said the losses reflect identifying assets that, upon sale, allow recouping losses through higher net investment income. Source

New business and persistency

  • New insurance written down on refinances: New insurance written was $14 billion, down 7% from the second quarter mainly on lower refinance activity and flat from a year earlier. Monthly premium policies were 95% of the quarter's NIW, and purchase originations were 93%. Source
  • Persistency edged up from second quarter: Persistency was 81%, up from 80% in the second quarter and down from 83% a year earlier. About 89% of loans carry mortgage rates below 7%. Source

Capital, liquidity and ratings

  • PMIERs cushion narrowed after EMICO dividend: PMIERs sufficiency was 158%, about $1.8 billion above requirements, versus 161% and $1.9 billion in the second quarter. Management said the decrease was primarily driven by the EMICO dividend to EHI. Source
  • EMICO paid a $200 million dividend: EMICO completed a $200 million dividend to EHI in the third quarter, to primarily support capital returns and financial flexibility. The second-quarter dividend was $150 million. Source
  • Holding company cash and investments rose: Cash of $286 million and $427 million of invested assets were held by Enact Holdings at September 30, 2026, up $52 million from the prior quarter. The debt to capital ratio was 13%, up from 12%. Source

Share repurchases and dividend

  • Repurchases of $118 million in quarter: The company repurchased about 2.4 million shares at an average price of $48.19, for about $118 million, in the quarter, compared with about $93 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Further buybacks through November 3: Through November 3, 2026, the company repurchased about 1.3 million shares at an average price of $45.68, for $57 million. Source
  • Dividend of $0.24 paid in quarter: About $33 million, or $0.24 per share, was paid in dividends in the third quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Dividend payable December 17: The $0.24 per share dividend is payable December 17, 2026, to shareholders of record on November 25, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Prior-year reserve development Source$37 million reserve release
Net investment income Source$74 million
Book value per share Source$38.30

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: The final amount and form of capital returned depend on business performance, market conditions and regulatory approval. Source
  • Operational: Losses from newer books rose as they moved along their expected loss development pattern, partly offset by a lower claim rate. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: About $200 million remains of the previously announced $500 million repurchase authorization. Source
  • Not stated: Management referred to the range provided last quarter and adjusted expense guidance to its lower end. 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.