Insurance Portfolio and Market Position - As of December 31, 2025, the company had issued master policies with 2,193 customers, including national and regional mortgage banks, totaling $221.4 billion of primary insurance in force (IIF) and $59.3 billion of primary risk in force (RIF) [23]. - For the year ended December 31, 2025, the company generated new insurance written (NIW) of $48.9 billion [23]. - The U.S. residential mortgage market had approximately $14 trillion of mortgage debt outstanding as of December 31, 2025, with private mortgage insurers accounting for 38% of total high-LTV loan origination volume [25][33]. - The private mortgage insurance industry consists of six approved participants, indicating a highly competitive market environment [32]. - The company aims to expand its customer base and grow its insured portfolio by focusing on long-term relationships and disciplined risk selection [24]. - No individual customer accounted for greater than 10% of consolidated revenues in 2025 [49]. Risk Management and Underwriting - The company employs a proprietary risk-based pricing platform, Rate GPS®, to establish individualized premium rates based on various risk factors [65]. - The underwriting guidelines incorporate credit eligibility requirements, including borrower credit scores (FICO), maximum DTI levels, and maximum LTVs [52]. - The company has established processes to manage the risk associated with outsourcing underwriting functions, including monitoring third-party underwriters [55]. - The incidence of default is influenced by factors such as loss of income, unemployment, and local housing prices [71]. - The company has implemented a quality control process to ensure adherence to underwriting guidelines, conducting audits of insured loans on a random and targeted basis [80]. - The company has established enterprise-wide policies and procedures to manage credit market and operational risks, supported by a Risk Committee and an internal audit function [78]. Financial Performance and Capital Management - The company's PMIERs available assets exceeded its risk-based required assets by 70% as of December 31, 2025, indicating strong capital sufficiency [29]. - As of December 31, 2025, the investment portfolio consisted of investment-grade fixed maturity securities, including U.S. Treasury securities and corporate debt securities, aimed at preserving capital and generating income [88]. - NMIC is required to maintain available assets that equal or exceed the greater of $400 million or a total risk-based required asset amount, which is determined on a loan-by-loan basis [103]. - The risk-based required asset amount for performing primary insurance is subject to a floor of 5.6% of performing primary adjusted RIF [103]. - NMIC must certify compliance with PMIERs requirements by April 15 each year, with the latest certification confirming full compliance as of December 31, 2024 [104]. Regulatory Environment - NMIC holds a certificate of authority in all 50 states and D.C., subject to ongoing financial reporting and regulatory requirements [105]. - The RTC ratio for NMIC is calculated as net RIF divided by statutory capital, with a maximum permitted RTC ratio of 25:1 in most jurisdictions [119]. - Wisconsin requires mortgage insurers to establish a contingency loss reserve with annual contributions equal to the greater of 50% of net earned premiums or a specified minimum policyholders' position [117]. - State insurance regulators have the authority to change regulations governing mortgage insurance, including capital requirements and underwriting standards [120]. - MI premium rates are subject to prior approval in certain states, requiring justification based on loss experience and future trend analysis [122]. Competitive Landscape - The company faces intense competition in the mortgage insurance industry, with six private MI companies competing for the same residential mortgage originators [167]. - The company may experience increased competition due to consolidation among competitors or the emergence of new private MI companies, potentially impacting market share [167]. - Government mortgage insurance programs have captured a significant share of the high-LTV MI market, which could continue to pose a competitive disadvantage for the company [175]. - The company’s ability to attract and retain significant mortgage originators is critical for achieving business goals; loss of major customers could negatively impact NIW and market share [177]. Economic and Market Risks - Changes in inflation, interest rates, and mortgage interest rates may adversely impact the company's future revenue and financial condition [162]. - Economic conditions, such as rising unemployment and inflation, could increase borrower defaults, impacting the company's financial condition [187]. - The Federal Reserve's actions led to the federal funds rate reaching its highest levels in 22 years by July 2023, resulting in elevated mortgage interest rates and reduced refinancing activities [194]. - A decline in mortgage interest rates in the future is expected to drive higher refinancing levels, which could negatively impact future revenues due to potential lower premium rates on replacement mortgages [195]. - Rising inflation may increase the company's expense base, negatively affecting consumer spending and housing demand, which could lower overall NIW volume and future revenues [198]. Claims and Loss Management - The company expects claims to increase as its insured loan portfolio grows, with actual claims being difficult to predict due to various macroeconomic factors [206]. - The establishment of claims reserves is subject to significant judgment and uncertainty, with potential for actual claims to exceed reserves, adversely impacting financial results [210]. - The mix of business written affects revenue streams and loss probabilities, with higher-risk loans (e.g., LTVs over 95%) leading to increased default likelihood [205]. - The company does not account for potential losses from insured loans that are not currently in default, which may significantly impact future results if such losses emerge [213]. - The company is exposed to risks from natural disasters and pandemics, which could lead to increased defaults on insured mortgages and negatively affect incurred losses [214]. Technology and Innovation - The company has invested in a proprietary insurance management platform, AXIS, to enhance underwriting and servicing capabilities, supporting future growth [84]. - The company has launched mobile applications that provide customers with access to information and resources, enhancing customer engagement [86]. Employee and Workplace Culture - The company had 225 full-time and part-time employees as of December 31, 2025, and engaged third-party vendors for additional support services [91]. - As of December 31, 2025, 71% of the employee population identified as members of a diverse group, including 54% as women and 35% as racial/ethnic minorities [94]. - The company was recognized as a Great Place to Work for the tenth consecutive year, highlighting its commitment to employee satisfaction and workplace culture [95].
NMI (NMIH) - 2025 Q4 - Annual Report