CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Investors Title Company today announced its results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010. For the quarter, net income increased to $2,368,550, or $1.04 per diluted share, compared with $309,300, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the prior year period. For the year, net income increased 32.0% to $6,372,626, or $2.78 per diluted share, compared with $4,828,779, or $2.10 per diluted share, for the prior year.
The increase in net income for the quarter was driven primarily by revenue growth and favorable claims experience. Higher levels of refinance activity led to a 53.7% increase in net premiums written. Operating expenses increased 28.9% to $18,641,944 versus the prior year period, primarily due to a 73.2% increase in commissions, commensurate with the increase in premium volumes and a greater contribution from agency business. The increase in commission expense was partially offset by lower claims expense. Despite the increase in premium volume, the provision for claims decreased 31.2% versus the prior year period due to a recovery of approximately $600,000 as well as favorable claims experience related to prior policy years.
The increase in net income for the year is due to reductions in claims expense and other operating expenses, as well as realized gains on investments, partially offset by a higher effective income tax rate compared with 2009. While total revenues were flat versus 2009, operating expenses decreased 4.1% to $62,693,729. The higher effective income tax rate is attributable to a change in the mix of tax-exempt investment income relative to the prior year.
Chairman J. Allen Fine added, “We are pleased to report a substantial improvement in operating results for 2010. Net premiums written in the second half of the year increased 41.7% over the first half from an increase in refinance activity as well as contributions from new agents. Operating expenses were favorable compared with the prior year due to continued improvement in our claims loss rate as well as reductions in other operating expense categories. Our balance sheet and financial condition remain very strong, and we continue to enhance our competitive strengths and market position by emphasizing operational efficiency and the expansion of our agency base.”
Investors Title Company is engaged through its subsidiaries in the business of issuing and underwriting title insurance policies. The Company also provides investment management services to individuals, companies, banks and trusts, as well as services in connection with tax-deferred exchanges of like-kind property.
Certain statements contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, among other statements, any predictions regarding activity in the U.S. real estate market, future enhancement of our operational efficiency or agency base expansion. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated and historical results. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: cyclical demand for title insurance due to changes in the residential and commercial real estate markets; the occurrence of fraud, defalcation or misconduct; variances between actual claims experience and underwriting and reserving assumptions; declines in the performance of the Company’s investments; government regulation; and other considerations set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in subsequent filings.
Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries | ||||||||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Income | ||||||||||||||
For the Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 |
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(Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||||||
December 31 | December 31 | |||||||||||||
2010 |
2009 |
2010 |
2009 |
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Revenues: | ||||||||||||||
Underwriting income: | ||||||||||||||
Premiums Written | $ | 19,367,125 | $ | 12,587,939 | $ | 61,664,348 | $ | 62,250,774 | ||||||
Less-premiums for reinsurance ceded | 79,331 | 37,511 | 201,907 | 95,523 | ||||||||||
Net premiums written | 19,287,794 | 12,550,428 | 61,462,441 | 62,155,251 | ||||||||||
Investment income-interest and dividends | 913,950 | 921,045 | 3,671,178 | 3,783,116 | ||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments | 348,608 | (97,329 | ) | 654,674 | (498,089 | ) | ||||||||
Other | 1,681,142 | 1,268,431 | 5,521,062 | 5,867,882 | ||||||||||
Total Revenues | 22,231,494 | 14,642,575 | 71,309,355 | 71,308,160 | ||||||||||
Operating Expenses: | ||||||||||||||
Commissions to agents | 10,481,297 | 6,052,270 | 31,189,207 | 29,254,311 | ||||||||||
Provision for claims | 1,190,725 | 1,731,724 | 4,435,066 | 8,465,123 | ||||||||||
Salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes | 4,510,829 | 4,326,490 | 17,695,956 | 18,189,483 | ||||||||||
Office occupancy and operations | 897,072 | 1,041,088 | 3,935,563 | 4,333,579 | ||||||||||
Business development | 582,473 | 469,748 | 1,544,588 | 1,398,057 | ||||||||||
Filing fees, franchise and local taxes | 38,602 | 24,603 | 573,075 | 571,677 | ||||||||||
Premium and retaliatory taxes | 359,745 | 255,177 | 1,279,400 | 1,268,301 | ||||||||||
Professional and contract labor fees | 472,438 | 379,758 | 1,511,283 | 1,362,706 | ||||||||||
Other | 108,763 | 185,417 | 529,591 | 549,144 | ||||||||||
Total Operating Expenses | 18,641,944 | 14,466,275 | 62,693,729 | 65,392,381 | ||||||||||
Income Before Income Taxes | 3,589,550 | 176,300 | 8,615,626 | 5,915,779 | ||||||||||
Provision (Benefit) For Income Taxes | 1,221,000 | (133,000 | ) | 2,243,000 | 1,087,000 | |||||||||
Net Income | $ | 2,368,550 | $ | 309,300 | $ | 6,372,626 | $ | 4,828,779 | ||||||
Basic Earnings Per Common Share | $ | 1.04 | $ | 0.14 | $ | 2.79 | $ | 2.11 | ||||||
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Basic | 2,283,513 | 2,285,991 | 2,284,657 | 2,291,816 | ||||||||||
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share | $ | 1.04 | $ | 0.14 | $ | 2.78 | $ | 2.10 | ||||||
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted | 2,287,201 | 2,288,814 | 2,289,847 | 2,299,429 |
Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries | ||||||
Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||
As of December 31, 2010 and 2009 | ||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||
December 31, 2010 |
December 31, 2009 | |||||
Assets | ||||||
Investments in securities: | ||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||
Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost | $ | - | $ | 2,000 | ||
Available-for-sale, at fair value | 86,033,557 | 88,801,186 | ||||
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value | 13,872,370 | 11,854,301 | ||||
Short-term investments | 27,203,550 | 20,717,434 | ||||
Other investments | 2,888,958 | 2,307,220 | ||||
Total investments | 129,998,435 | 123,682,141 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 8,117,031 | 8,733,221 | ||||
Premiums and fees receivable, net | 7,253,786 | 5,170,476 | ||||
Accrued interest and dividends | 1,150,602 | 1,122,806 | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 2,688,723 | 1,815,653 | ||||
Property acquired in settlement of claims | 127,938 | 175,476 | ||||
Property, net | 3,672,317 | 3,894,724 | ||||
Deferred income taxes, net | 476,534 | 1,833,207 | ||||
Total Assets | $ | 153,485,366 | $ | 146,427,704 | ||
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | ||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||
Reserves for claims | $ | 38,198,700 | $ | 39,490,000 | ||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 10,301,495 | 9,008,337 | ||||
Current income taxes payable | 1,056,356 | 670,290 | ||||
Total liabilities | 49,556,551 | 49,168,627 | ||||
Stockholders' Equity: | ||||||
Common stock - no par value (shares authorized 10,000,000; 2,282,596 and 2,285,289 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, excluding 291,676 shares for 2010 and 2009 of common stock held by the Company's subsidiary) |
1 | 1 | ||||
Retained earnings | 98,240,109 | 92,528,818 | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 5,688,705 | 4,730,258 | ||||
Total stockholders' equity | 103,928,815 | 97,259,077 | ||||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | $ | 153,485,366 | $ | 146,427,704 |
Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net Premiums Written By Branch and Agency | |||||||||||||||||||||
For the Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
December 31 | December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | % | 2009 | % | 2010 | % | 2009 | % | ||||||||||||||
Branch | $ | 4,920,512 | 25.5 | $ | 4,093,859 | 32.6 | $ | 17,961,144 | 29.2 | $ | 21,474,082 | 34.5 | |||||||||
Agency | 14,367,282 | 74.5 | 8,456,569 | 67.4 | 43,501,297 | 70.8 | 40,681,169 | 65.5 | |||||||||||||
Total | $ | 19,287,794 | 100.0 | $ | 12,550,428 | 100.0 | $ | 61,462,441 | 100.0 | $ | 62,155,251 | 100.0 |