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Stewart Information Services Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 February 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and earnings rose from prior year: Net income attributable to Stewart was $36.3M vs $22.7M; diluted EPS $1.25 vs $0.80, or $1.65 vs $1.12 on an adjusted basis. Source
  • Title operating revenues rose 19%: Direct title operating revenue grew 18% and agency title operating revenue grew 20% against the prior-year quarter; segment operating revenues were $668.4M. Source
  • Domestic commercial revenue rose 38%: Domestic commercial direct title revenue was $116.1M vs $84.1M; international commercial revenue fell 32% to $7.5M. Source
  • Title loss ratio improved: Title loss expense was $23.0M, up 11%; management cited continued overall favorable claims experience. Source
  • Agency retention costs rose with revenue: Agency retention expenses were $43.9M higher; combined employee and other operating costs were $40.3M higher, consistent with title revenue growth. Source
  • Opened domestic orders rose 6%: Domestic opened orders were 73,527 vs 69,339; closed orders were 58,556 vs 59,425, down 1.5%. Source
  • Notes payable and goodwill rose: Notes payable were $646.6M vs $445.8M; goodwill was $1,272.0M vs $1,084.1M; intangible assets, net, were $325.1M vs $173.1M. Source

“I am pleased with our strong fourth quarter results as they demonstrate continued progress across all lines of business as the market begins to slowly improve”

Fred Eppinger, chief executive officer

Fourth quarter and full year results

  • Revenue and earnings rose from prior year: Net income attributable to Stewart was $36.3M vs $22.7M; diluted EPS $1.25 vs $0.80, or $1.65 vs $1.12 on an adjusted basis. Source
  • Full-year revenue passed $2.9 billion: Full-year net income was $115.5M vs $73.3M; diluted EPS $4.05 vs $2.61, or $4.89 vs $3.35 on an adjusted basis. Source
  • Pretax margin improved on higher income: Pretax margin was 6.5% vs 5.3%; adjusted pretax margin was 8.5% vs 7.1%. Source
  • Net realized losses reduced reported results: Net realized and unrealized losses were $3.8M pretax, mainly in the title segment; the prior-year quarter had $1.7M of gains. Source

Title, real estate solutions and corporate

  • Title operating revenues rose 19%: Direct title operating revenue grew 18% and agency title operating revenue grew 20% against the prior-year quarter; segment operating revenues were $668.4M. Source
  • Title pretax income rose 28%: Title pretax income was $58.0M vs $45.2M; adjusted pretax income was $68.1M vs $50.5M, with an adjusted pretax margin of 10.0% vs 8.8%. Source
  • Real estate solutions revenue rose 29%: Real estate solutions revenue was $111.9M vs $87.0M; pretax income $3.9M vs $0.9M; adjusted pretax income $9.5M vs $6.5M, with an adjusted margin of 8.5% vs 7.4%. Source
  • Corporate expense rose on interest: Net corporate expense was $10.1M vs $9.7M, attributed to higher interest on increased debt balances. Source

“We are focused on improving our operational results in all of our businesses regardless of market conditions and taking advantage of opportunities.”

Fred Eppinger, chief executive officer

Commercial and residential title volumes

  • Domestic commercial revenue rose 38%: Domestic commercial direct title revenue was $116.1M vs $84.1M; international commercial revenue fell 32% to $7.5M. Source
  • Commercial fee per file rose 39%: Average domestic commercial fee was $27,300 vs $19,600; average domestic residential fee was $3,300 vs $2,900, up 13%. Source
  • Non-commercial revenue rose 11% domestically: Domestic non-commercial revenue was $180.2M vs $162.5M; international non-commercial revenue rose 20% to $31.0M. Source

Costs, claims and margins

  • Title loss ratio improved: Title loss expense was $23.0M, up 11%; management cited continued overall favorable claims experience. Source
  • Agency retention costs rose with revenue: Agency retention expenses were $43.9M higher; combined employee and other operating costs were $40.3M higher, consistent with title revenue growth. Source
  • Employee costs fell as share of revenue: Employee costs rose $25.9M (13%) on higher salaries, benefits and incentive compensation; management cited a higher average employee count. Source
  • Other operating expenses rose 23%: Other operating expenses rose $36.0M, including title outside search and premium tax expenses; the ratio to operating revenues was 25%, comparable to the prior year. Source

Orders and closed transactions

  • Opened domestic orders rose 6%: Domestic opened orders were 73,527 vs 69,339; closed orders were 58,556 vs 59,425, down 1.5%. Source
  • Refinancing closings rose 28%: Closed refinancing orders were 15,507 vs 12,155; closed purchase orders were 31,845 vs 32,305; closed other orders were 6,949 vs 10,662. Source
  • Commercial openings rose; closings eased: Opened commercial orders were 4,496 vs 4,283; closed commercial orders were 4,255 vs 4,303. Source

Cash, debt and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow rose in quarter: Net cash provided by operations was $89.5M vs $68.0M in the quarter; full-year $205.7M vs $135.6M. Source
  • Notes payable and goodwill rose: Notes payable were $646.6M vs $445.8M; goodwill was $1,272.0M vs $1,084.1M; intangible assets, net, were $325.1M vs $173.1M. Source
  • Cash balance rose to $321.8 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $321.8M vs $216.3M at year-end 2024; short-term investments were $47.9M vs $41.2M. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Investment income Source$14.0 million in the fourth quarter 2025 vs $14.5 million; $57.8 million full year vs $55.4 million
Book value per share Source$54.30 at December 31, 2025 vs $50.50 at December 31, 2024

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Fair-value changes on equity securities produced $4.7M of losses in the quarter, within the net realized and unrealized total. 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.