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NMI Holdings, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 February 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q4 net income and diluted EPS: Q4 net income was $94.2 million, or $1.20 per diluted share, against $96.0 million, or $1.22, in the third quarter, and $86.2 million, or $1.07, a year earlier. Source
  • Quarterly return on equity below Q3: Annualized return on equity was 14.8% for Q4, against 15.6% in Q3 and 15.6% a year earlier; full-year return on equity was 16.2%, against 17.4% in 2024. Source
  • New insurance written rose in Q4: New insurance written was $14.2 billion in Q4, up 9% from Q3 and 19% from a year earlier. Source
  • Loans in default rose to 7,661: Loans in default reached 7,661 at year end, up from 7,093 at Q3 and 6,642 a year earlier; the default rate was 1.12%. Source
  • Loss ratio rose to 13.9%: Claims and claim expenses were $21.2 million in Q4, against $18.6 million in Q3 and $17.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • PMIERs assets above requirement: Total PMIERs available assets were $3.5 billion, against net risk-based required assets of $2.1 billion, at quarter end. Source

“In 2025, we delivered strong operating performance, generated significant NIW volume and consistent growth in our insured portfolio, and achieved record financial results and a 16.2% return on equity.”

Adam Pollitzer, President and Chief Executive Officer of National MI

Results and growth drivers

  • Q4 net income and diluted EPS: Q4 net income was $94.2 million, or $1.20 per diluted share, against $96.0 million, or $1.22, in the third quarter, and $86.2 million, or $1.07, a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year net income and diluted EPS: Full-year net income was $388.9 million, or $4.92 per diluted share, against $360.1 million, or $4.43, for 2024. Source
  • Total revenue rose year on year: Total revenue was $180.7 million, against $178.7 million in Q3 and $166.5 million a year earlier, with net premiums earned at $152.5 million. Source
  • Quarterly return on equity below Q3: Annualized return on equity was 14.8% for Q4, against 15.6% in Q3 and 15.6% a year earlier; full-year return on equity was 16.2%, against 17.4% in 2024. Source

New business and insured portfolio

  • New insurance written rose in Q4: New insurance written was $14.2 billion in Q4, up 9% from Q3 and 19% from a year earlier. Source
  • Insured portfolio reached $221.4 billion: Primary insurance-in-force ended at $221.4 billion, up 1% from Q3 and 5% from a year earlier; cancellations, repayments and other reductions were $11.1 billion in the quarter. Source
  • Refinance volume rose in Q4: Refinance NIW was $2.4 billion in Q4, against $0.6 billion in Q3, while purchase NIW was $11.8 billion. Source
  • Monthly-premium share of NIW: Monthly-premium NIW was $13.8 billion in Q4; single-premium NIW was $362 million. Source
  • Borrower credit score on new business: Weighted average FICO on Q4 new insurance written was 759, against 756 in Q3. Source

“We have a strong customer franchise, a talented team driving us forward every day, an exceptionally high-quality book”

Adam Pollitzer, President and Chief Executive Officer of National MI

Credit performance and claims

  • Loans in default rose to 7,661: Loans in default reached 7,661 at year end, up from 7,093 at Q3 and 6,642 a year earlier; the default rate was 1.12%. Source
  • Claim severity rose in Q4: Severity on claims paid was 81% in Q4, against 65% a year earlier; 164 claims were paid in the quarter, against 108. Source
  • Average reserve per default rose: Average reserve per default was $25.6 thousand at year end, against $22.9 thousand a year earlier, with case reserves at $23.5 thousand. Source
  • 2022 book year has highest loss ratio: The 2022 book year shows an inception-to-date loss ratio of 16.6%, the highest among the book years listed. Source
  • New defaults exceeded cures in 2025: For 2025, new defaults were 9,940 and cures were 8,427, which lifted the default inventory from 6,642 to 7,661 loans. Source

Margins and expense detail

  • Loss ratio rose to 13.9%: Claims and claim expenses were $21.2 million in Q4, against $18.6 million in Q3 and $17.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Expense ratio fell year on year: Expense ratio was 20.4%, against 19.3% in Q3 and 21.7% a year earlier; underwriting and operating expenses were $31.1 million in Q4. Source
  • Full-year underwriting costs rose: Full-year underwriting and operating expenses were $119.9 million, against $118.4 million in 2024. Source
  • Full-year claims expense rose: Full-year claims and claim expenses were $57.6 million, against $31.5 million in 2024. Source
  • Full-year interest expense fell: Full-year interest expense was $28.5 million, against $36.9 million in 2024. Source

“Looking forward, we're well-positioned to continue delivering differentiated growth, returns and value for our shareholders.”

Adam Pollitzer, President and Chief Executive Officer of National MI

Capital, reinsurance and PMIERs

  • PMIERs assets above requirement: Total PMIERs available assets were $3.5 billion, against net risk-based required assets of $2.1 billion, at quarter end. Source
  • Shares outstanding declined: Shares outstanding were 76,285,242 at year end, against 78,600,726 a year earlier. Source
  • Treasury stock cost increased: Treasury stock at cost rose to $351.8 million from $246.6 million at year end 2024, covering 12,086,223 shares. Source
  • Ceded risk-in-force under QSR: Ceded risk-in-force under the QSR Transactions was $12.8 billion at year end, against $13.0 billion a year earlier. Source
  • 2016 QSR coverage terminated: NMIC terminated coverage under the 2016 QSR Transaction effective July 1, 2025, by mutual agreement on a cut-off basis. Source

Portfolio mix and reserve roll-forward

  • California is largest state exposure: California is the largest state by primary RIF at 10.1%, followed by Texas at 8.3% and Florida at 7.2%. Source
  • Fixed-rate loans dominate RIF: Fixed-rate loans made up 98% of primary RIF at each date shown, and five-year-plus adjustable-rate loans made up 2%. Source
  • Higher-LTV insured volume rose: Primary IIF on loans with LTV of 95.01% and above was $26.7 billion, up from $26.0 billion at Q3. Source
  • 2025 book year holds most new exposure: The 2025 book year holds $46.0 billion of primary IIF and $12.0 billion of primary RIF. Source
  • Reserve balance and recoverables: Reserve for claims and claim expenses was $196.4 million at year end, including $38.6 million of reinsurance recoverables. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Combined ratio Source34.3% (Q4 2025); 33.7% (Q4 2024); 29.5% (full year 2025); 26.6% (full year 2024)
Prior-year reserve development Source$5.4 million reduction in Q4 2025; $57.9 million reduction for full year 2025
Investment income Source$27.5 million (Q4 2025)
Book value per share Source$33.98 (December 31, 2025)

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.