greeksoup/ stock research

NMI Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income below second quarter: Net income was $93.5 million, or $1.23 diluted EPS, against $105.8 million and $1.38 in the second quarter. A year earlier it was $96.0 million and $1.22. Source
  • Claims expense rose from second quarter: Claims and claim expenses were $29.1 million, against $13.1 million in the second quarter and $18.6 million a year earlier. The loss ratio was 18.7%. Source
  • Prior-year reserves reduced claims: Nine-month claims incurred on prior-year defaults were a $43.0 million reduction, against $52.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Defaults rose in number and rate: Loans in default reached 8,571, against 8,020 in the second quarter and 7,093 a year earlier. The default rate was 1.23%. Source
  • New insurance written fell from second quarter: New insurance written was $13.6 billion, down 15% from $16.1 billion in the second quarter and up 4% from $13.0 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Insurance in force grew: Primary insurance-in-force was $229.7 billion, up 1% on the second quarter and 5% on a year earlier. Policies in force reached 697,361. Source
  • Book value excluding unrealized rose: Book value per share excluding net unrealized gains and losses was $38.13, against $36.88 in the second quarter and $33.32 a year earlier. Source
  • Buybacks in quarter and since inception: The company repurchased 626,383 shares for $27.1 million in the quarter. Repurchases since the program began total 14.3 million shares, or $435 million. Source

“During the period, we helped more than 53,000 borrowers, writing nearly $13.6 billion of new coverage in support of hard-working families across the country.”

Adam Pollitzer, President and Chief Executive Officer of National MI

Quarter results and drivers

  • Net income below second quarter: Net income was $93.5 million, or $1.23 diluted EPS, against $105.8 million and $1.38 in the second quarter. A year earlier it was $96.0 million and $1.22. Source
  • Adjusted results close to GAAP: Adjusted net income was $93.7 million, or $1.23 per diluted share. The only adjustment was net realized investment losses of $346 thousand. Source
  • Revenue held near prior quarter: Total revenue was $187.6 million, against $187.9 million in the second quarter and $178.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net premiums earned slightly lower: Net premiums earned were $155.5 million, against $157.5 million in the second quarter and $151.3 million a year earlier. Source

Losses and reserve development

  • Claims expense rose from second quarter: Claims and claim expenses were $29.1 million, against $13.1 million in the second quarter and $18.6 million a year earlier. The loss ratio was 18.7%. Source
  • Loss ratio higher than a year earlier: The nine-month loss ratio was 13.5%, against 8.1% in the same period of 2025. Source
  • Prior-year reserves reduced claims: Nine-month claims incurred on prior-year defaults were a $43.0 million reduction, against $52.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Defaults rose in number and rate: Loans in default reached 8,571, against 8,020 in the second quarter and 7,093 a year earlier. The default rate was 1.23%. Source
  • Claim severity rose to 87 percent: Severity was 87%, against 73% a year earlier. Claims paid totaled $15.3 million across 216 claims in the quarter. Source
  • Reserve balance grew since December: The reserve for insurance claims and claim expenses was $234.2 million, against $196.4 million at December 31, 2025. Source

“At National MI, we’re proud to provide a low-cost, high-value solution that helps borrowers dramatically reduce the cash they need at the closing table and buy a home years earlier than they otherwise could”

Adam Pollitzer, President and Chief Executive Officer of National MI

Operating costs and expense ratio

  • Operating expenses up modestly: Underwriting and operating expenses were $30.8 million, against $30.5 million in the second quarter and $29.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Expense ratio slightly higher: The expense ratio was 19.8%, against 19.4% in the second quarter and 19.3% a year earlier. The nine-month expense ratio was 19.6%. Source
  • Interest expense held steady: Interest expense was $7.1 million, close to the second quarter and to the third quarter of 2025. Source

Insurance in force and new business

  • New insurance written fell from second quarter: New insurance written was $13.6 billion, down 15% from $16.1 billion in the second quarter and up 4% from $13.0 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Insurance in force grew: Primary insurance-in-force was $229.7 billion, up 1% on the second quarter and 5% on a year earlier. Policies in force reached 697,361. Source
  • Annual persistency lower than prior year: Annual persistency was 80.8%, against 81.4% in the second quarter and 83.9% a year earlier. Quarterly run-off was 4.9%, against 5.1%. Source
  • Average loan size rose: Average loan size was $329 thousand, against $327 thousand in the second quarter and $323 thousand a year earlier. Source
  • Net premium yield steady: The average net premium yield was 0.27%, against 0.28% in each of the four prior quarters shown. Source

Credit mix and geography

  • New business credit scores steady: The weighted average credit score on new business was 758, against 760 in the second quarter and 756 a year earlier. Scores of 760 or above made up $7.3 billion of NIW. Source
  • Refinance volume fell in quarter: Refinance NIW was $634 million, down from $1.76 billion in the second quarter. Purchase NIW was $12.9 billion. Source
  • Weighted loan-to-value near 92 percent: Weighted average LTV on new business was 92.3%, against 92.1% in the second quarter. NIW at 95.01% LTV and above was $1.9 billion. Source
  • 2021 and prior book years largest: Insurance in force for the 2021 and prior book years was $54.7 billion, the largest book-year amount; the 2025 book year held $41.0 billion. Source
  • Top ten states hold about half: The top ten states made up 50.9% of primary risk-in-force. California was 9.9%, Texas 7.9% and Florida 7.0%. Source

Investment income and book value

  • Investment income rose 20 percent: Net investment income was up 20% from a year earlier. Nine-month net investment income was $91.1 million. Source
  • Book value excluding unrealized rose: Book value per share excluding net unrealized gains and losses was $38.13, against $36.88 in the second quarter and $33.32 a year earlier. Source
  • Unrealized loss on portfolio grew: Accumulated other comprehensive loss was $149.9 million, against $46.1 million at December 31, 2025. Fixed maturities at fair value were $3.24 billion against $3.43 billion amortized cost. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Buybacks in quarter and since inception: The company repurchased 626,383 shares for $27.1 million in the quarter. Repurchases since the program began total 14.3 million shares, or $435 million. Source
  • Share count lower than year-end: Shares outstanding were 74,805,855 at September 30, 2026, against 76,285,242 at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Shareholders' equity rose from year-end: Total shareholders' equity was $2.70 billion, against $2.59 billion at December 31, 2025. Retained earnings were $2.27 billion. Source
  • PMIERs available assets versus required: PMIERs available assets were $3.8 billion at quarter end, against net risk-based required assets of $2.2 billion. Source
  • Ceded risk-in-force and profit commission: Ceded risk-in-force under the QSR Transactions was $12.9 billion, against $12.6 billion in the second quarter. Profit commission was $16.1 million, against $19.4 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Continued growth and returns aimed for: Management said it is well positioned to keep serving lenders, support mortgage market safety and soundness, and deliver through-the-cycle growth, returns and value. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Combined ratio Source38.5%
Prior-year reserve development Source(2,375) thousand
Investment income Source$32.2 million
Book value per share Source$36.13

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.