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Fidelity National Financial, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted earnings rose to $1.39: Adjusted net earnings were $370 million, or $1.39 per share, against $318 million, or $1.16 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Title contributed most of earnings: The Title segment contributed $339 million of adjusted net earnings, against $260 million a year earlier. The F&G segment contributed $65 million. Source
  • Title margin reached 17.8%: The adjusted pre-tax title margin was 17.8%, against 15.5% a year earlier. The company describes this as industry leading. Source
  • Record F&G assets before reinsurance: Assets under management before reinsurance reached a record $74.7 billion, up 8%. Retained AUM was $55.9 billion, up 1%. Source
  • Net sales fell on flow reinsurance: Net sales were $1.5 billion, against $2.7 billion a year earlier. The company said flow reinsurance was in line with capital targets. Source
  • F&G adjusted earnings fell to $65 million: F&G adjusted net earnings were $65 million, against $89 million a year earlier. The company said the figure reflects its roughly 72% stake, against 82% previously. Source
  • Quarterly capital returns of $195 million: The company returned about $195 million in the quarter: $138 million of common dividends and $57 million of share repurchases. Source

“Our second quarter results highlight the strength of FNF’s business model and the benefits of having two complementary market-leading franchises.”

William P. Foley, II, Chairman

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
F&G long-term expected return on alternative investments Sourcelong-termapproximately 12%Lowered from approximately 12% to 14%

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The F&G Life Re (Bermuda) sale took effect March 1, 2026, with a $1.8 billion inforce block ceded under it. Source
  • New: The F&G chief executive named in this release is Conor Murphy. The first-quarter release named Chris Blunt in that role. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted earnings rose to $1.39: Adjusted net earnings were $370 million, or $1.39 per share, against $318 million, or $1.16 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Title contributed most of earnings: The Title segment contributed $339 million of adjusted net earnings, against $260 million a year earlier. The F&G segment contributed $65 million. Source
  • GAAP earnings include mark-to-market items: GAAP net earnings attributable to common shareholders were $288 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, against $278 million, or $1.02. The company excludes mark-to-market effects and non-recurring items from adjusted figures. Source

Title segment performance

  • Title margin reached 17.8%: The adjusted pre-tax title margin was 17.8%, against 15.5% a year earlier. The company describes this as industry leading. Source
  • Title revenue excluding gains up 16%: Title revenue excluding recognized gains and losses was $2.5 billion, up 16% from the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Commercial revenue rose 32%: Commercial revenue was $440 million, up 32% from the prior year quarter. Source
  • Direct and agency premiums both grew: Direct title premiums were $767 million, up 21%. Agency title premiums were $967 million, up 15%. Source

“The Title business delivered an outstanding second quarter, generating adjusted pre-tax title earnings of $448 million, up 33% over the prior year, and an industry-leading adjusted pre-tax title margin of 17.8%.”

Mike Nolan, Chief Executive Officer

Title orders and fee per file

  • Refinance orders grew fastest: Refinance orders opened rose 16% and closed rose 26% on a daily basis. Purchase orders opened rose 3% and closed rose 4%. Source
  • Purchase orders rose modestly: Purchase orders opened increased 3% and closed increased 4% on a daily basis compared with the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Commercial orders rose on both measures: Commercial orders opened rose 7% and commercial orders closed rose 11% compared with the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Fee per file rose 5%: Total fee per file was $4,107 for the quarter, up 5% from the second quarter of 2025. Source

F&G sales and assets

  • Record F&G assets before reinsurance: Assets under management before reinsurance reached a record $74.7 billion, up 8%. Retained AUM was $55.9 billion, up 1%. Source
  • Note maturity lowered retained assets: Retained AUM also reflected a $750 million funding agreement-backed note maturity in the second quarter, alongside positive asset flows. Source
  • Gross sales below prior-year opportunistic volume: Gross sales were $2.7 billion, against $4.1 billion a year earlier, which included near record opportunistic sales. Source
  • Net sales fell on flow reinsurance: Net sales were $1.5 billion, against $2.7 billion a year earlier. The company said flow reinsurance was in line with capital targets. Source
  • Core retail sales reached $1.8 billion: Core sales were $2.0 billion, including $1.8 billion of core retail sales from indexed annuities and indexed universal life. Source

“Having spent the past year working closely with our employees, distribution partners and leadership team, my confidence in the future of F&G has only grown stronger.”

Conor Murphy, F&G’s Chief Executive Officer and President

F&G earnings and investments

  • F&G adjusted earnings fell to $65 million: F&G adjusted net earnings were $65 million, against $89 million a year earlier. The company said the figure reflects its roughly 72% stake, against 82% previously. Source
  • Alternative investment returns below expected: Investment income from alternative investments was $35 million, or $0.13 per share, below the long-term expected return. The same item was $55 million in the prior year quarter. Source
  • Impairments below pricing assumptions: Management said the investment portfolio continued to perform well, with credit performance and impairments below pricing assumptions. Source

Costs and title margin drivers

  • Title expense discipline cited: Management attributed the results across commercial, residential and agency businesses partly to disciplined expense management and scale. Source
  • Title earnings rose on revenue: Adjusted pre-tax title earnings were $448 million, up from $337 million, driven mainly by higher direct operating revenue and agent premiums. Source
  • GAAP and adjusted title margins compared: The pre-tax title margin was 17.8%, against 16.6% a year earlier. The adjusted figure was 17.8%, against 15.5%. Source

Capital and returns to shareholders

  • Quarterly capital returns of $195 million: The company returned about $195 million in the quarter: $138 million of common dividends and $57 million of share repurchases. Source
  • First-half returns reached $417 million: First-half capital returned was about $417 million, including $278 million of dividends and $139 million of share repurchases. Source
  • Holding company cash at $457 million: The holding company ended the quarter with $457 million of cash and short-term liquid investments. Source
  • Common equity and notes payable: Total equity attributable to common shareholders was $7,453 million at June 30, 2026, against $7,424 million at December 31, 2025. Notes payable were $4,378 million. Source

Strategy, technology and staffing

  • AI embedded in title workflows: Management said it believes AI in title workflows can add value through efficiency, risk reduction, fraud prevention and customer experience. Source
  • F&G shifting toward fee-based earnings: F&G management sees opportunities to scale fee-based, higher-margin and less capital-intensive earnings while growing the spread-based franchise. Source
  • Field staffing reached 11,000: Total field operations employees were 11,000 at the end of the quarter, against 10,500 a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Possible strong commercial year: Management said commercial could make this one of the strongest commercial years in the company's history. Source
  • Residential recovery expected eventually: Management said FNF is positioned to benefit from an eventual recovery in residential transaction volumes. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Investment income Source$811 million consolidated; $86 million Title; $718 million F&G

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management described the residential market as constrained by elevated mortgage rates and historically low transaction volumes. Source
  • Financial: F&G reported a net loss attributable to common shareholders of $55 million, which included unfavorable mark-to-market movement. Source
  • External: Management described the market environment for F&G as dynamic and said F&G is positioned to navigate it. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said product margin was reduced after the F&G Life Re sale, lower surrender charge fee income and higher other liability costs, as expected. 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.