CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock ($1 par value)	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Treasury stock	Noncontrolling interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative effect adjustment on adoption of new accounting standards (Note 1-D)	$ 0			$ 3,592	$ (3,592)
Balances at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017	678,810	$ 24,072	$ 159,954	491,698	(847)	$ (2,666)	$ 6,599
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net loss attributable to Stewart	(3,780)			(3,780)
Dividends on Common Stock ($0.30 per share)	(7,151)			(7,151)
Stock-based compensation and other	140	28	112
Stock repurchases	(579)	(14)	(565)
Purchase of remaining interest in consolidated subsidiary	(281)		(201)				(80)
Net change in unrealized gains and losses on investments, net of taxes	(8,006)				(8,006)
Net realized gain reclassification, net of taxes	(249)				(249)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of taxes	(1,592)				(1,592)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,819						1,819
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,928)						(2,928)
Balances at end of period at Mar. 31, 2018	$ 656,203	$ 24,086	$ 159,300	$ 484,359	$ (14,286)	$ (2,666)	$ 5,410