Essent .(US:ESNT)2026-02-13 16:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q4 2025, the company reported net income of $155 million or $1.60 per diluted share, compared to $1.67 in the previous quarter and $1.58 in Q4 2024 [4][11] - Full year 2025 net income was $690 million or $6.90 per diluted share, with a return on average equity of 12% [4] - Book value per share increased by 13% year-over-year to $60.31 as of December 31 [5] - The mortgage insurance in force was $248 billion, reflecting a 2% increase year-over-year [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The mortgage insurance segment ended Q4 2025 with insurance in force of $248.4 billion, a decrease of $452 million from Q3 2025 but an increase of $4.7 billion or 1.9% year-over-year [12] - Persistency for the mortgage insurance portfolio was 85.7% at the end of Q4 2025, down from 86% in Q3 2025 [12] - The average base premium rate for the mortgage insurance portfolio remained stable at 41 basis points, while the average net premium rate decreased by 1 basis point to 34 basis points [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The portfolio default rate increased to 2.5%, up 21 basis points from the previous quarter, reflecting normal seasonality and aging of the insurance in force [13] - The weighted average FICO score for the insurance in force was 747, with a weighted average original loan-to-value (LTV) of 93% [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a disciplined capital management strategy, returning nearly $700 million to shareholders in 2025 through dividends and share repurchases [10] - A 13% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.35 per share was approved, effective Q1 2026 [10] - The company is expanding into the Lloyd's market through Essent Re, aiming for diversification and capital efficiency without requiring additional capital [21][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the current housing market presents challenges, but the company is well-positioned for future growth as demographics favor homeownership [40] - The company anticipates modest growth in insurance in force due to current market conditions, but expects a potential spike in demand when more buyers enter the market [40][41] - Credit quality remains strong, and management is confident in the future cash flows, which supports ongoing share repurchases and dividends [48] Other Important Information - The consolidated cash and investments totaled $6.6 billion with an aggregate yield of 3.9% for the year [9] - Essent Re earned nearly $80 million in third-party net income for 2025, with $2.3 billion in risk at year-end [8] Q&A Session Summary Question: Why enter the Lloyd's market now? - Management indicated that the expansion into the Lloyd's market has been in process for a while, focusing on leveraging existing assets and capital efficiencies [21][22] Question: Is the decrease in new insurance written (NIW) a strategic decision? - Management clarified that the decrease in NIW is not a reflection of a strategic pullback but rather optimizing unit economics and focusing on shareholder returns [29][30] Question: What is the outlook for insurance in force growth? - Management expects growth to remain modest in the near term but believes that demographic trends will eventually lead to increased demand [40][41] Question: Are there differences in performance across different vintages? - Management reported no significant differences in defaults across vintages, indicating a stable credit environment [44][45] Question: What is the company's credit outlook? - Management emphasized that the current cautious approach is not a credit call but rather a focus on optimizing unit economics and shareholder value [57][58]