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RADIAN GROUP INC (RDN)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- EPS beat, revenue light: Radian reported diluted EPS from continuing operations of $1.11 vs S&P Global Primary EPS consensus of $1.01; total revenues were $303.2M vs $308.8M consensus. EPS outperformance reflected stable premium yields and lower operating expense ex acquisition-related costs; revenue was modestly below Street despite strong net premiums earned. Bold: EPS beat, Revenue miss *.
- Operating expense guidance lowered: Management reduced full-year 2025 operating expenses for continuing operations to approximately $250M (from prior ~$320M that included discontinued ops), supporting near-term margin resilience .
- Strategic transformation intact: The Inigo acquisition (expected close Q1 2026) is anticipated to deliver mid-teens EPS accretion and ~200 bps ROE accretion in the first full year; Radian expects combined annual revenue to double post-close. Bold: EPS accretion and ROE uplift guided .
- Capital/liquidity strong; buybacks paused near term: Holding company liquidity reached $995M; Radian Guaranty capacity to distribute up to $195M in Q4 and at least $600M in 2026. Management expects to revisit buybacks within a few quarters after closing/funding Inigo as excess capital rebuilds .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Strong underwriting and portfolio growth: Net premiums earned hit $237M (highest in >3 years), NIW rose to $15.5B, and primary IIF reached an all-time high of $281B, with persistency at 84% and stable in-force premium yield at ~38 bps .
- Credit performance resilient: Favorable reserve development of $35M offset new-default provisioning; loss ratio 7.5% remained low relative to long-term cycles. Management highlighted embedded borrower equity and sustained cure rates supporting reduced severity and strong cures .
- Strategic repositioning clarity: CEO emphasized transformation into a global, multi-line specialty insurer and cited attractive Inigo valuation (1.5x projected tangible equity) and expected synergies/capital flexibility post-close. Bold: Transformational acquisition .
What Went Wrong
- Revenue shortfall vs Street: Total revenues of $303.2M came in below S&P consensus ($308.8M), despite solid net premiums and investment income; Street models for consolidated revenue likely anticipated higher investment/other line contributions. Bold: Revenue miss *.
- Sequential uptick in delinquencies/defaults: Primary delinquent loans increased to 23,819; new defaults were ~13,378, and loss ratio rose to 7.5% from 5.1% in Q2, reflecting expected seasonality and portfolio seasoning .
- Non-operating acquisition costs: Other operating expenses included $9M of acquisition-related items; while overall “other operating expenses” declined sequentially, the non-operating costs were a headwind to reported margins in the quarter .
Financial Results
Segment breakdown (Mortgage Insurance):
KPIs:
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO: “We delivered excellent financial results during the quarter and announced our plans to strategically transform Radian into a global, multi-line specialty insurer… The acquisition of Inigo… is expected to significantly expand our total addressable market, create meaningful capital synergies… and profitable growth.” .
- CFO: “We anticipate operating expenses for continuing operations to be approximately $250 million for the full year 2025… We expect our holding company liquidity to be approximately $1.8 billion at the beginning of 2026… deliver mid-teen operating EPS accretion and ~200 bps of ROE accretion starting in year one.” .
Q&A Highlights
- Accretion math: Management confirmed adding ~200 bps to operating ROE (13.9% in Q3) is a fair framework; buyback pause temporarily inflates capital base, implying future ROE normalization post-Inigo funding .
- Capital synergies/reinsurance: Post-close, potential reinsurance and capital synergies with Inigo could enhance accretion beyond base-case; more detail planned at investor day .
- Divestiture process: Three businesses carried at ~$170M held-for-sale; no large gain/loss expected; ~$7M estimated sales costs to date; significant inbound interest; target completion by Q3 2026 .
- Buyback cadence: With ≥$600M 2026 dividends and rebuilt liquidity, share repurchases likely within a few quarters post-Inigo close, contingent on excess capital at Holdco .
- Claims/cure assumptions: Default-to-claim rate held at 7.5% through-the-cycle; sustained cures supported by embedded equity and evolved servicer forbearance practices post-COVID; management sees prudence in maintaining assumptions .
Estimates Context
Notes: Values retrieved from S&P Global. Company-reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.11 in Q3 2025; S&P “Primary EPS” actual (1.07) reflects different methodology/definition than company diluted EPS *.
Highlights:
- Q3 2025: EPS beat ($1.07 vs $1.01), Revenue miss ($303.2M vs $308.8M)*.
- Q2 2025: EPS beat ($1.01 vs $0.98), Revenue miss ($298.6M vs $324.9M)*.
- Q1 2025: EPS beat ($0.99 vs $0.97), Revenue miss ($318.1M vs $321.6M)*.
- Q3 2024: EPS beat ($1.03 vs $0.92), Revenue miss ($313.4M vs $326.2M)*.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Near-term setup: Outperformance on EPS vs consensus with stable premium yields and adjusted EPS at $1.15 underpin resilient core MI economics; monitor seasonal default dynamics and investment income trajectory .
- Medium-term thesis: Post-Inigo, Radian targets mid-teens EPS accretion and ~200 bps ROE uplift with doubled annual revenue potential, supported by strong liquidity and disciplined capital deployment .
- Operating leverage: Lowered OpEx run-rate (~$250M) provides operating leverage tailwind as NIW/in-force grow and expense ratio improved vs Q2 .
- Capital returns: Buybacks paused to fund Inigo, but ≥$600M dividends expected from Guaranty in 2026 and leverage <20% by YE 2026 suggest capacity to resume repurchases within a few quarters post-close .
- Credit quality: Embedded borrower equity and robust cure trends continue to limit severity; maintaining 7.5% default-to-claim rate assumption appears prudent through-the-cycle .
- Liquidity/covenants: Expanded $500M undrawn revolver (accordion to +$250M) enhances flexibility; PMIERs excess remains ample at $1.9B .
- Watch catalysts: Regulatory approvals and investor day details on reinsurance synergies; divestiture execution/timing; potential buyback resumption guidance could move the stock .
Citations: All company metrics, commentary, and guidance sourced from Radian’s Q3 2025 earnings press release and 8-K furnishing the release **[890926_0001193125-25-265795_rdn-ex99_1.htm:1]** **[890926_0001193125-25-265795_rdn-ex99_1.htm:3]** **[890926_0001193125-25-265795_rdn-ex99_1.htm:6]** **[890926_0001193125-25-265795_rdn-ex99_1.htm:12]** **[890926_c95bce948ac444e2968c06b1ce4f1fa7_2]** **[890926_c95bce948ac444e2968c06b1ce4f1fa7_6]** **[890926_c95bce948ac444e2968c06b1ce4f1fa7_8]**, and Q3 2025 earnings call transcript **[0000890926_2237288_3]** **[0000890926_2237288_4]** **[0000890926_2237288_5]** **[0000890926_2237288_6]** **[0000890926_2237288_7]** **[0000890926_2237288_8]** **[0000890926_2237288_9]**. Prior quarter comparisons sourced from Q1 and Q2 2025 press releases **[890926_ed4e8441657241f7928983359cb7306c_0]** **[890926_99dd476c3f0a4d16a5e491ac692c20ad_0]**. *Estimates and “Primary EPS/Revenue” consensus retrieved from S&P Global via GetEstimates.