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Fidelity National (FNF) In Line With Estimates, Revenues Top
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Fidelity National Financial, Inc.’s (FNF - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2017 adjusted earnings from continuing operations of 60 cents per share are in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, the bottom line deteriorated 7.7% year over year.
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Nonetheless, in the fourth quarter, the company witnessed yet another solid performance by its title insurance business. Also, the insurer expects a strong industry-leading performance from its title insurance business in the near term.
Full-Year Highlights
For 2017, Fidelity National reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.27, falling short of the consensus mark by 8.1% but inching up 0.9% year over year.
Total revenues of $7.7 billion rose 5.6% year over year.
Behind the Headlines
Revenues of about $2.0 billion increased 5.3% year over year. Improvement in Agency title premiums besides Escrow, title related and other fees as well as interest and investment income drove this year-over-year growth. Also, the top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.4%.
Title segment revenues grew 5.6% year over year to $1.9 billion from $1.8 billion. Adjusted pretax earnings declined 6.5% year over year to $273 million. Total commercial revenues nudged up 1% year over year to $288 million. Average fee per file climbed 16% from the year-ago quarter while title claims fell 17.1% year over year.
Total expense for the fourth quarter came in at about $1.8 million, up 11.1% from $1.6 million in the year-ago quarter. Higher personnel cost, other operating expenses, depreciation and amortization and claim loss expense were primarily responsible for the rise in expenses.
Financial Update
Net cash flows from operations stood at $175 million, having plummeted 57.9% from the year-ago quarter.
The company exited the fourth quarter with total assets worth $9.2 billion, down 36.7% from the year-end 2016.
Dividend Update
In the fourth quarter, the company’s board approved a dividend of 27 cents per share, reflecting an 8% hike from the payout in the prior quarter. The dividend also marked the sixth straight year hike.
Among other players from the insurance industry having reported fourth-quarter earnings, the bottom line of Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO - Free Report) , MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG - Free Report) and The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
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Fidelity National (FNF) In Line With Estimates, Revenues Top
Fidelity National Financial, Inc.’s (FNF - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2017 adjusted earnings from continuing operations of 60 cents per share are in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, the bottom line deteriorated 7.7% year over year.
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Fidelity National Financial, Inc. Quote
Nonetheless, in the fourth quarter, the company witnessed yet another solid performance by its title insurance business. Also, the insurer expects a strong industry-leading performance from its title insurance business in the near term.
Full-Year Highlights
For 2017, Fidelity National reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.27, falling short of the consensus mark by 8.1% but inching up 0.9% year over year.
Total revenues of $7.7 billion rose 5.6% year over year.
Behind the Headlines
Revenues of about $2.0 billion increased 5.3% year over year. Improvement in Agency title premiums besides Escrow, title related and other fees as well as interest and investment income drove this year-over-year growth. Also, the top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.4%.
Title segment revenues grew 5.6% year over year to $1.9 billion from $1.8 billion. Adjusted pretax earnings declined 6.5% year over year to $273 million. Total commercial revenues nudged up 1% year over year to $288 million. Average fee per file climbed 16% from the year-ago quarter while title claims fell 17.1% year over year.
Total expense for the fourth quarter came in at about $1.8 million, up 11.1% from $1.6 million in the year-ago quarter. Higher personnel cost, other operating expenses, depreciation and amortization and claim loss expense were primarily responsible for the rise in expenses.
Financial Update
Net cash flows from operations stood at $175 million, having plummeted 57.9% from the year-ago quarter.
The company exited the fourth quarter with total assets worth $9.2 billion, down 36.7% from the year-end 2016.
Dividend Update
In the fourth quarter, the company’s board approved a dividend of 27 cents per share, reflecting an 8% hike from the payout in the prior quarter. The dividend also marked the sixth straight year hike.
Zacks Rank
Fidelity National has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Insurers
Among other players from the insurance industry having reported fourth-quarter earnings, the bottom line of Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO - Free Report) , MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG - Free Report) and The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All
Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.
See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>