STC Stock: Insider Activity, Filings & Research
Stewart Information Services Corporation (STC) — Drillr’s hub for STC insider activity, SEC filings, earnings signals and AI research. Over the trailing 3 months, STC insiders filed 7 open-market buys and 2 sales (SEC Form 4).
STC insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2, 2026 | BRADLEY C ALLEN JRdirector | Buy | 12 | $63.80 |
| Jun 2, 2026 | BRADLEY C ALLEN JRdirector | Buy | 758 | $63.87 |
| Jun 2, 2026 | BRADLEY C ALLEN JRdirector | Buy | 230 | $63.87 |
| May 8, 2026 | Vaid Helendirector | Grant | 1,791 | — |
| May 8, 2026 | Apel Thomas Gdirector | Grant | 1,791 | — |
| May 8, 2026 | Matz Deborah Janedirector | Grant | 1,791 | — |
| May 8, 2026 | Sanchez Rodriquez Manueldirector | Grant | 1,791 | — |
| May 8, 2026 | Corey William S. Jr.director | Grant | 1,791 | — |
| May 8, 2026 | Morris Matthewdirector | Grant | 1,791 | — |
| May 8, 2026 | Pallotta Karen Rdirector | Grant | 1,791 | — |
| May 8, 2026 | BRADLEY C ALLEN JRdirector | Grant | 1,791 | — |
| May 8, 2026 | Clarke Robertdirector | Grant | 3,151 | — |
| May 4, 2026 | Swed Ryan M.officer: Group President | Tax | 241 | $69.10 |
| May 4, 2026 | Swed Ryan M.officer: Group President | Option | 802 | — |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Hisey David Cofficer: Chief Financial Officer | Sell | 5,639 | $71.09 |
Source: STC SEC Form 4 filings, latest Jun 2, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Stewart Information Services Corporation company profile
Overview
Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE:STC) is a leading provider of title insurance and real estate transaction services founded in 1893 and headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company has been publicly traded since 1973 and operates across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia through a network of directly owned offices and independent agencies. Stewart has weathered numerous real estate cycles over its 130-year history and has evolved from a traditional title insurance company into a diversified real estate services provider offering technology solutions, appraisal management, and ancillary services to support the broader real estate ecosystem.
Business
Stewart Information Services operates in the title insurance and real estate services industry, providing essential services that facilitate real estate transactions. The company's core business revolves around title insurance, which protects property buyers and mortgage lenders against financial losses from defects in a property's title or ownership history. When someone purchases real estate, there's always a risk that previous owners, creditors, or government entities might have claims against the property that weren't discovered during the initial search. Title insurance provides coverage against these hidden risks. The company operates through two primary business segments: 1. Title Segment (approximately 85-90% of revenue): This core business involves searching public records to examine the history of property ownership, identifying potential title defects, and issuing title insurance policies to protect buyers and lenders. The segment includes both direct operations (where Stewart owns the offices) and agency operations (where independent agents sell Stewart's policies). Within this segment, Stewart serves both residential customers (homebuyers) and commercial clients (businesses, developers, investors). The commercial side has been particularly strong, with domestic commercial revenues growing significantly due to energy sector transactions and larger deal sizes. 2. Real Estate Solutions Segment (approximately 10-15% of revenue): This growing segment provides ancillary services including appraisal management (coordinating property valuations for lenders), online notarization and closing services, credit reports, property searches, and valuation services. This segment serves mortgage lenders, servicers, and other participants in the real estate finance ecosystem with technology-enabled solutions that streamline the transaction process. The title insurance industry is heavily regulated at the state level, with rates often set by state insurance departments. The business is cyclical, closely tied to real estate transaction volumes, which fluctuate based on interest rates, economic conditions, and housing market dynamics.
Revenue model
Stewart generates revenue primarily through insurance premiums and service fees from real estate transactions. In the Title segment, the company earns premiums when it issues title insurance policies, with rates typically regulated by state insurance departments. For residential transactions, Stewart charges fees averaging around $2,900-$3,000 per file, while commercial transactions command significantly higher fees, averaging $17,000-$19,600 per file due to their complexity and higher property values. The company operates through multiple distribution channels. In direct operations, Stewart owns the offices and retains 100% of the premium revenue. In agency operations, independent agents sell Stewart's policies and retain a portion of the premium (typically 70-80%), while Stewart keeps the remainder plus underwriting fees. The Real Estate Solutions segment generates revenue through service fees charged to mortgage lenders and other clients for appraisals, credit reports, and technology services. Several factors significantly impact Stewart's profitability margins. Transaction volume is the primary driver, as the business has high fixed costs but variable revenue based on real estate activity. Interest rate movements dramatically affect demand - when rates rise above 6-7%, refinancing activity drops sharply and home purchases decline due to affordability constraints. Housing inventory levels also matter, as low inventory constrains transaction volumes even when demand exists. The mix of business affects margins substantially. Commercial transactions generate much higher fees per file than residential deals, so shifts toward commercial business improve profitability. Similarly, direct operations are more profitable than agency business since Stewart retains the full premium. Claims experience impacts margins through loss provisions, though title insurance historically has low claims rates compared to other insurance lines. Finally, regulatory changes in state-mandated pricing can directly affect revenue, as seen with recent Texas Department of Insurance fee reduction proposals that Stewart is challenging.
Competitive moat
Stewart's competitive moat is moderate but faces ongoing challenges in an industry with relatively low barriers to entry. The company's primary advantages stem from its established brand recognition and regulatory relationships built over 130 years in business. Title insurance requires deep expertise in local property laws and public records, creating some expertise-based barriers, and Stewart's long operating history provides credibility with real estate professionals who refer business. The company benefits from network effects through its relationships with real estate agents, attorneys, and mortgage lenders who repeatedly choose Stewart for transactions. These relationships create switching costs, as professionals prefer working with familiar, reliable partners. Stewart's scale advantages include its national footprint, technology investments, and ability to handle large commercial transactions that smaller competitors cannot manage. However, Stewart's moat is not particularly strong. The title insurance industry is highly fragmented with numerous regional and local competitors, and state rate regulation limits pricing power, making it difficult to differentiate on price. Technology is increasingly commoditizing basic title services, and new entrants with digital-first approaches pose threats to traditional operators. The business is also vulnerable to disintermediation as some large lenders and technology companies explore bringing title services in-house or partnering directly with smaller providers. Competition comes from other national title insurers like First American and Fidelity National, regional players, and emerging technology-enabled competitors. The industry's cyclical nature means that during downturns, competition intensifies for the reduced transaction volume, pressuring margins across all players. Stewart's moat is sufficient to maintain market position but not strong enough to generate sustained above-market returns without operational excellence and strategic positioning.
Risks & safety
Stewart maintains a solid financial position with adequate liquidity and manageable debt levels, though profitability remains volatile due to market cycles. • Liquidity and Cash Position: Strong with $216 million in cash and short-term investments as of Q4 2024, plus $380 million total cash and investments providing substantial operating flexibility • Debt and Solvency: Debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40 indicates moderate leverage; no immediate solvency concerns with $1.4 billion in stockholders' equity • Cash Flow Variability: Operating cash flow fluctuates significantly with market cycles - positive $136 million in 2024 but negative $30 million in Q1 2025, reflecting seasonal and cyclical patterns • Valuation Metrics: Trading at 25.4x trailing earnings and 11.3x EV/EBITDA, suggesting modest valuation relative to historical cyclical peaks but potentially expensive given current market conditions • Regulatory and Market Risks: Vulnerable to state insurance department rate cuts and prolonged real estate market downturns that could pressure margins and cash generation
Recent development
Over the past several years, Stewart has pursued a strategic transformation focused on diversifying beyond traditional title insurance while strengthening its core operations. The company has made significant investments in technology and digitalization, including launching the Connect Close platform for attorney agents and upgrading title production systems to centralize and digitize title data management. Stewart has aggressively expanded its commercial services capabilities, particularly in the energy sector, which has driven substantial revenue growth with commercial revenues increasing 50% in 2024. The company has hired dedicated commercial teams specializing in hospitality, affordable housing, and energy transactions, capitalizing on infrastructure and alternative energy development trends. The Real Estate Solutions segment has emerged as a key growth driver, expanding beyond traditional appraisal management to offer comprehensive mortgage industry services including online notarization, credit reporting, and data solutions. This segment has attracted significant new client acquisitions and represents Stewart's push into higher-margin, technology-enabled services that are less cyclical than traditional title insurance. Stewart has also pursued strategic acquisitions including FNC Title Services for reverse mortgage transactions and BCHH for institutional investor title services, though management has remained disciplined about valuations during the current market downturn. The company has focused on organic growth initiatives including expanding agency operations in 15 target states and growing market share in key metropolitan statistical areas through operational improvements and competitive positioning rather than aggressive expansion during the challenging market environment.
STC company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
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