Following an incident on a cruise ship, which resulted in arrest, First American Financial fired its CEO Kenneth DeGiorgio and replaced him with Mark Seaton, the chief financial officer.

It was a tabloid-headline start to a second quarter that some in the title business are saying is a mixed bag impacted by President Trump's tariff announcements.

"For those that monitor the housing market trends closely, it is clear to see that we have an educated consumer base sitting on the sidelines, poised and ready to take advantage of a quick rate drop or changes to market conditions that make buying a home more accessible," Stewart Information Services CEO Fred Eppinger said on the company's earnings call. "Unlike last year, the housing inventory is at a higher level of both quality and volume."

Title insurers have a strong tie to what happens in the mortgage originations market, both purchase and refi. The first quarter is typically a slow one for their transactions as a result. 

"Residential originations continue to be at trough levels, both in terms of purchase and refinance, but we experienced revenue improvement in both markets this quarter," First American's Seaton added on its earnings call. "Real estate goes in cycles, and we're at the very beginning of the next cycle."

After the quarter ended, Dream Finders Homes closed on its previously announced purchase of Alliant National Title. It joins Lennar, who owns 8% of Title Resource Group after the latter bought Doma; Pulte; DH Horton; and Shaddock National Holdings as homebuilders who own underwriters.

A pair of mortgage insurers, Essent Group and Radian Group, also operate title insurers.

Meanwhile, Blend Labs is looking to make an exit from title agency, putting the Title365 business it acquired from Mr. Cooper in 2021 up for sale, it said on its first quarter earnings call.

The following is a roundup of earnings at the four largest title insurers, plus one stand-alone publicly traded company.