EX-99.1 2 si7626ex991.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Stewart Reports Earnings for Third Quarter 2006

          HOUSTON, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE: STC) today reported the results of its operations for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006. (Dollar amounts in the table below are in millions, except per share figures.)

 

 

Third Quarter

 

 

 


 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 



 



 

Total revenues

 

$

641.5

 

$

639.4

 

Pretax earnings before minority interests

 

 

27.0

 

 

57.2

 

Net earnings

 

 

14.2

 

 

31.8

 

Net earnings per diluted share

 

 

0.77

 

 

1.74

 


 

 

Nine Months

 

 

 


 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 



 



 

Total revenues

 

$

1,825.7

 

$

1,801.5

 

Pretax earnings before minority interests

 

 

64.9

 

 

143.7

 

Net earnings

 

 

32.5

 

 

79.7

 

Net earnings per diluted share

 

 

1.78

 

 

4.37

 

          Financial Highlights

 


 

*

Revenues increased 0.3 percent to $641.5 million in the third quarter of 2006 compared with $639.4 million for the third quarter of 2005. Pretax earnings (calculated before minority interests) for the third quarter of 2006 were $27.0 million compared with $57.2 million for the same period of 2005.

 

 

 

 

*

Revenues increased 1.3 percent to $1.83 billion in the first nine months of 2006 compared with $1.80 billion for the first nine months of 2005. Pretax earnings (calculated before minority interests) for the first nine months of 2006 were $64.9 million compared with $143.7 million for the same period of 2005.

 

 

 

 

*

The increase in revenue in the third quarter of 2006 from the same period in 2005 was due primarily to revenues from new agencies, the impact of acquisitions and strong growth in commercial transactions, offset by a decline in revenues and transactions handled by our direct operations.  The decrease in revenues from direct operations resulted from a reduction in residential closings due to a higher interest rate environment that has significantly impacted certain major markets of the country.  Mortgage interest rates averaged 6.6 percent in the third quarter of 2006 compared with 5.8 percent in the third quarter of 2005. Acquisitions increased revenues by $12.1 million for the quarter.

 

 

 

 

*

Profits for the third quarter of 2006 versus 2005 were reduced primarily due to a higher complement of lower-margin agency business compared to direct operations and higher other operating costs.  Other operating costs increased primarily due to expenses associated with new offices, increased technology development for higher productivity and security costs to comply with both privacy laws and Sarbanes-Oxley. The Company is continually monitoring changes in transaction volumes and has now reduced staff levels accordingly while continuing with its goal to provide superior customer service and gain market share. Excluding the effect of increases from new locations, the Company’s workforce was reduced by approximately 650 employees, or 6.4 percent, since September 30, 2005.  A significant number of these staff reductions occurred during the third quarter and, as such, the corresponding reduction in employee costs will be realized in the fourth quarter of 2006.

 

 

 

 

*

Stewart’s book value per share increased to $44.11 at September 30, 2006 compared with $42.21 at December 31, 2005.

 

 

 

 

*

Title orders from direct operations declined in the third quarter of 2006 by 23.2 percent from the same period a year ago. September orders were 25.0 percent lower than the same month a year ago. The increase in mortgage interest rates and a reduction in home sales were the major reasons for the decline in title orders.




          “Within our REI portal group, PropertyInfo.com, we changed leadership and consolidated our web-based title services for agencies to provide a one-stop order and delivery point for our agency network,” said Stewart Morris, Jr., president and co-chief executive officer. “We also have consolidated and rebranded the lender services division of Stewart Mortgage Information, which is now known as Stewart Lender Services.  Products and services, spanning from loan origination to post-closing services, are available at http://www.stewartlenderservices.com .

           “Homebuyers have evolved rapidly from print-based media to online searching,” added Stewart Morris, Jr. “Our SureClose® transaction management platform, patent-pending eClosingRoom™, e-signature, e-notarization, e- recording and e-vault technologies position Stewart to continue to exceed consumer expectations for lower costs and more efficient closings.  Our investment in technology has resulted in a key marketing and productivity tool.  We are moving our primary title production and transaction management systems to an integrated web-based platform.”

          “Our rapidly growing commercial title business is a bright spot on the financial side,” said Malcolm S. Morris, chairman and co-chief executive officer.  “We have tripled our commercial business since 2000.  Commercial customers are serviced by Stewart’s National Title Services (NTS), which has 20 offices across the country plus more than 900 Stewart Title offices and branches.  In addition, the 2004 acquisition of Title Associates in New York has also contributed greatly to this growth. Our commercial closers, underwriters, marketing specialists and escrow officers deliver stellar service.  Stewart Title Guaranty Company’s balance sheet, with an industry- record 31 years of growth in surplus and reserves, provides the confidence level that commercial policyholders demand.

          “The current growing commercial real estate market is benefiting not only our title business but also our subsidiary, Asset Preservation, Inc., which is a national leader in tax-deferred exchanges under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code.” 

          Stewart Information Services Corporation is a customer-oriented, technology-driven, strategically competitive, real estate information and transaction management company. Stewart provides title insurance and related information services required for settlement by the real estate and mortgage industries through more than 9,500 policy-issuing offices and agencies in the United States and international markets. Stewart also provides post-closing lender services, mortgage default management solutions, automated county clerk land records, property ownership mapping, geographic information systems, property information reports, flood certificates, document preparation, background checks and expertise in tax-deferred exchanges. More information can be found at http://www.stewart.com . 

          This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which include all statements other than statements of historical facts. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and no assurance can be given that Stewart’s expectations will be achieved. In particular, historical order counts do not necessarily indicate future revenues because Stewart cannot predict the number of orders that will result in closings.



STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(In thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

 

 

Three months ended
September 30

 

Nine months ended
September 30

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title insurance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct operations

 

 

262,610

 

 

287,607

 

 

766,041

 

 

779,422

 

Agency operations

 

 

348,842

 

 

320,545

 

 

970,685

 

 

935,730

 

Real estate information services

 

 

20,161

 

 

22,760

 

 

59,915

 

 

61,075

 

Investment income

 

 

8,750

 

 

8,016

 

 

25,683

 

 

21,473

 

Investment and other gains - net

 

 

1,158

 

 

514

 

 

3,349

 

 

3,783

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

641,521

 

 

639,442

 

 

1,825,673

 

 

1,801,483

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts retained by agencies

 

 

282,592

 

 

259,557

 

 

784,403

 

 

762,781

 

Employee costs

 

 

183,447

 

 

183,863

 

 

546,218

 

 

513,353

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

101,758

 

 

97,963

 

 

299,003

 

 

270,927

 

Title losses and related claims

 

 

35,374

 

 

31,434

 

 

99,849

 

 

83,778

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

9,791

 

 

8,592

 

 

26,905

 

 

24,642

 

Interest

 

 

1,577

 

 

883

 

 

4,424

 

 

2,278

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

614,539

 

 

582,292

 

 

1,760,802

 

 

1,657,759

 

Earnings before taxes and minority interests

 

 

26,982

 

 

57,150

 

 

64,871

 

 

143,724

 

Income taxes

 

 

7,942

 

 

19,880

 

 

18,431

 

 

50,041

 

Minority interests

 

 

4,890

 

 

5,499

 

 

13,933

 

 

14,019

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net earnings

 

 

14,150

 

 

31,771

 

 

32,507

 

 

79,664

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Average number of diluted shares (000)

 

 

18,297

 

 

18,259

 

 

18,302

 

 

18,236

 

Earnings per share -diluted

 

 

0.77

 

 

1.74

 

 

1.78

 

 

4.37

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Segment information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title revenues

 

 

621,360

 

 

616,682

 

 

1,765,758

 

 

1,740,408

 

Title pretax earnings before minority interests

 

 

26,973

 

 

51,748

 

 

63,382

 

 

133,833

 

REI revenues

 

 

20,161

 

 

22,760

 

 

59,915

 

 

61,075

 

REI pretax earnings before minority interests

 

 

9

 

 

5,402

 

 

1,489

 

 

9,891

 

Selected financial information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash provided by operations

 

 

42,333

 

 

45,903

 

 

55,122

 

 

133,272

 

Title loss payments - net of recoveries

 

 

24,694

 

 

26,336

 

 

79,850

 

 

59,777

 

Changes in other comprehensive earnings - net of taxes

 

 

7,455

 

 

(4,099

)

 

2,115

 

 

(5,244

)

Number of title orders opened (000):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July

 

 

59

 

 

77

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August

 

 

68

 

 

86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September

 

 

56

 

 

75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter

 

 

183

 

 

238

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

September 30
2006

 

December 31
2005

 

 

 



 



 

Stockholders’ equity

 

 

803,783

 

 

766,313

 

Number of shares outstanding (000)

 

 

18,223

 

 

18,154

 

Book value per share

 

 

44.11

 

 

42.21

 




STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
BALANCE SHEETS (condensed)
(In thousands of dollars)

 

 

September 30
2006

 

December 31
2005

 

 

 



 



 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

127,582

 

 

134,734

 

Short-term investments

 

 

168,628

 

 

206,717

 

Investments - statutory reserve funds

 

 

476,609

 

 

449,475

 

Investments - other

 

 

89,283

 

 

85,802

 

Receivables - premiums from agencies

 

 

47,800

 

 

49,397

 

Receivables - other

 

 

48,136

 

 

47,791

 

Allowance for uncollectible amounts

 

 

(8,952

)

 

(8,526

)

Property and equipment

 

 

91,286

 

 

85,762

 

Title plants

 

 

68,777

 

 

58,930

 

Goodwill

 

 

188,435

 

 

155,624

 

Intangible assets

 

 

14,593

 

 

15,268

 

Other assets

 

 

94,356

 

 

80,177

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

1,406,533

 

 

1,361,151

 

 

 



 



 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable

 

 

94,626

 

 

88,413

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

 

109,848

 

 

125,255

 

Estimated title losses

 

 

369,427

 

 

346,704

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

11,196

 

 

15,784

 

Minority interests

 

 

17,653

 

 

18,682

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

602,750

 

 

594,838

 

Contingent liabilities and commitments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common and Class B Common Stock and additional paid-in capital

 

 

148,215

 

 

145,367

 

Retained earnings

 

 

651,739

 

 

619,232

 

Accumulated other comprehensive earnings

 

 

7,743

 

 

5,628

 

Treasury stock

 

 

(3,914

)

 

(3,914

)

 

 



 



 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

803,783

 

 

766,313

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

1,406,533

 

 

1,361,151

 

 

 



 



 

          October 26, 2006

SOURCE  Stewart Information Services Corporation
          -0-                                                                      10/26/2006
          /CONTACT:  Ted C. Jones, Director - Investor Relations of Stewart Information Services Corporation, +1-713-625-8014/
          /Web site:  http://www.stewart.com
                            http://www.stewartlenderservices.com /