INVESTORS TITLE CO (ITIC)

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Investors Title Company's (the "Company") Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 (the "2025 Form 10-K") as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") should be read in conjunction with the following discussion since it contains information which is important for evaluating the Company's operating results and financial condition.

In addition, the Company may make forward-looking statements in the following discussion and analysis. Forward looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary. See "Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements" at the end of this discussion and analysis, as well as the sections titled "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of the 2025 Form 10-K for factors that could affect forward-looking statements.

Overview

Title Insurance

The Company is a holding company that engages primarily in issuing title insurance through two subsidiaries, Investors Title Insurance Company (“ITIC”) and National Investors Title Insurance Company (“NITIC”). Through ITIC and NITIC, the Company underwrites land title insurance for owners and mortgagees as a primary insurer. Total revenues from the title segment accounted for 92.0% of the Company's revenues for the six-month period ended June 30, 2026.

Title insurance protects against loss or damage resulting from title defects that affect real property and typically arise prior to the policy date. When real property is conveyed from one party to another, occasionally there is an undisclosed defect in the title or a mistake or omission in a prior deed, will or mortgage that may give a third party a legal claim against such property.  If a covered claim is made against real property, title insurance provides indemnification against insured defects.

There are two basic types of title insurance policies – one for the mortgage lender and one for the real property owner.  A lender often requires the property owner to purchase a lender’s title insurance policy to protect its position as a holder of a mortgage loan, but the lender’s title insurance policy does not protect the property owner.  The property owner has to purchase a separate owner’s title insurance policy to protect its investment.

The Company issues title insurance policies directly and through a network of agents.  Issuing agents are typically real estate attorneys, independent agents or subsidiaries of community and regional mortgage lending institutions, depending on local customs and regulations and the Company’s marketing strategy in a particular territory.  The ability to attract and retain issuing agents is a key determinant of the Company’s growth in title insurance premiums written.

Revenues for the title insurance segment primarily result from purchases of new and existing residential and commercial real estate, refinance activity and certain other types of mortgage lending such as home equity lines of credit.

Title insurance premiums vary from state to state and are subject to extensive regulation. Statutes generally provide that rates must not be excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory. The process of implementing a rate change in most states involves pre-approval by the applicable state insurance regulator.

Volume is a factor in the Company’s profitability due to fixed operating costs that are incurred by the Company regardless of title insurance premium volume.  The resulting operating leverage tends to amplify the impact of changes in volume on the Company’s profitability.  The Company’s profitability also depends, in part, upon its ability to manage its investment portfolio to maximize investment returns and to minimize risks such as interest rate changes, defaults and impairments of assets.

The Company’s volume of title insurance premiums is affected by the overall level of residential and commercial real estate activity, which includes property sales, mortgage financing and mortgage refinancing.  Real estate activity, home sales and mortgage lending are cyclical in nature. Real estate activity is affected by a number of factors, including the availability of mortgage credit, the cost of real estate, consumer confidence, employment and family income levels, and general United States economic conditions.  Interest rate volatility is also an important factor in the level of residential and commercial real estate activity.

The Company’s title insurance premiums in future periods are likely to fluctuate due to these and other factors which are beyond management’s control.

Historically, the title insurance business tends to be seasonal as well as cyclical. Because home sales are typically strongest in periods of favorable weather, the first calendar quarter tends to have the lowest activity levels, while the spring and summer quarters tend to be more active. Mortgage refinance activity tends to be influenced less by seasonality and more by economic cycles, with activity levels increasing during times of falling interest rates.

26

Exchange Services

The Company’s exchange services division, consisting of the operations of Investors Title Exchange Corporation (“ITEC”) and Investors Title Accommodation Corporation (“ITAC”), provides customer services in connection with tax-deferred real property exchanges. ITEC acts as a qualified intermediary in tax-deferred exchanges of real property held for productive use in a trade or business or for investment, and its income is derived from fees for handling exchange transactions and a portion of the interest earned on client deposits held by the Company. In its role as qualified intermediary, ITEC coordinates the exchange aspects of the real estate transaction, and its duties include drafting standard exchange documents, holding the exchange funds between the time the old property is sold and the new property is purchased, and accepting the formal identification of the replacement property within the required identification period. ITAC provides services as an exchange accommodation titleholder for accomplishing “parking transactions” as set forth in the safe harbor contained in Internal Revenue Procedure 2000-37.  These transactions include reverse exchanges when taxpayers decide to acquire replacement property before selling the relinquished property, or “build to suit” exchanges, when improvements must be made to the replacement property before the taxpayer acquires the improved replacement property. The services provided by the Company’s exchange services division, ITEC and ITAC, are pursuant to provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. From time to time, these laws are subject to review and changes, which may negatively affect the demand for tax-deferred exchanges in general, and consequently, the revenues and profitability of the Company’s exchange services division. Given that income is derived from a portion of the interest earned on client deposits held by the Company, interest rate fluctuations may also impact the profitability of the Company's exchange services division.

Management Services, Investment Management and Trust Services

Other services provided by operating divisions of the Company are not reported separately, but rather are reported collectively in a category called “All Other.”  These other services include those offered by the Company and by its wholly owned subsidiaries, Investors Title Management Services, Inc. (“ITMS”) and Investors Trust Company (“Investors Trust”).

ITMS offers various consulting and management services to provide clients with the technical expertise to start and successfully operate a title insurance agency.

The Company’s trust services division, Investors Trust, provides investment management and trust services to individuals, companies, banks and trusts.

Business Trends and Recent Conditions

The housing market is heavily influenced by government policies and overall economic conditions. Regulatory reform and initiatives by various governmental agencies, including the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and other regulatory changes, could impact lending standards or the processes and procedures used by the Company. The current real estate environment, including interest rates and general economic activity, typically influences the demand for real estate. Changes in either of these areas, in addition to any inventory constraints or volatility in the cost and availability of building materials, could impact the Company's results of operations in future periods.

Inflationary pressures, ongoing geopolitical and military conflicts, and changes in government regulations and policy, including as a result of policies implemented by the Trump administration, have created additional volatile market conditions and uncertainties in the global economy. These events have impacted and could continue to impact the Company in a number of ways including, but not limited to, future fluctuations in the Company's investment portfolio and potential decreases in net premiums written. The Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) of the Federal Reserve has closely monitored the risks associated with these developments and responded by increasing the target federal funds rate across several meetings from 2022 through 2023, followed by a gradual reduction in 2024 and 2025. Although the federal funds rate does not directly impact mortgage interest rates, it can have a significant influence as lenders pass on the costs of rate increases to consumers. The current period of elevated mortgage interest rates has impacted the demand and pricing of real estate.

27

Regulatory Environment

The FOMC issues disclosures on a periodic basis that include projections of the federal funds rate and expected actions. Starting at the March 2022 meeting of the FOMC through July 2023, the FOMC repeatedly increased the target range, reaching a high of between 5.25% and 5.50%. During several meetings in 2024 and 2025, the FOMC lowered the federal funds rate. The most recent adjustment, in December 2025, reduced the target range to 3.5% and 3.75%. Through the second quarter of 2026, the FOMC maintained the target range for the federal funds rate, indicating that future policy actions would depend on continued evaluation of incoming economic data, changes in the economic outlook, and the balance of associated risks. In normal economic situations, future adjustments to the FOMC’s stance of monetary policy are expected to be based on realized and expected economic developments to achieve maximum employment and inflation near the FOMC's symmetric long-term 2.0% objective.

Real Estate Environment

The Mortgage Bankers Association's ("MBA") July 22, 2026 Mortgage Finance Forecast (“MBA Forecast”) projects 2026 purchase activity to increase 4.4% to $1.4 trillion and mortgage refinance activity to increase 7.6% to $747 billion, resulting in a net increase in total mortgage originations of 5.5% to $2.2 trillion, all from 2025 levels. In 2025, purchase activity accounted for 66.1% of all mortgage originations and is projected in the MBA Forecast to represent 65.5% of all mortgage originations in 2026. According to data published by Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rates in the United States were 6.3% and 6.8% for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively. The MBA Forecast projects that mortgage interest rates will reach 6.5% in 2026 and remain relatively flat through 2028. Due to the rapidly changing environment brought on by inflationary pressures, federal government shutdowns, inventory constraints, geopolitical and military conflicts, and changes in government regulations and policy, including as a result of the policies implemented by the Trump administration, these projections and the impact of

[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes in this report. The following discussion may contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary. See the sections in this Annual Report on Form 10-K titled “Safe Harbor and Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” included in Part I, Item 1A that could affect forward-looking statements.

21

Overview

Title Insurance

Investors Title Company (the “Company”) is a holding company that engages primarily in issuing title insurance through two subsidiaries, Investors Title Insurance Company (“ITIC”) and National Investors Title Insurance Company (“NITIC”). Total revenues from the title segment accounted for 90.2% of the Company’s revenues in 2025. Through ITIC and NITIC, the Company underwrites land title insurance for owners and mortgagees as a primary insurer.

Title insurance protects against loss or damage resulting from title defects that affect real property and customarily arising prior to the policy date. When real property is conveyed from one party to another, occasionally there is an undisclosed defect in the title or a mistake or omission in a prior deed, will or mortgage that may give a third party a legal claim against such property. If a covered claim is made against real property, title insurance provides indemnification against insured defects.

There are two basic types of title insurance policies – one for the mortgage lender and one for the real property owner. A lender often requires the property owner to purchase a lender’s title insurance policy to protect its position as a holder of a mortgage loan, but the lender’s title insurance policy does not protect the property owner. The property owner has to purchase a separate owner’s title insurance policy to protect its investment.

The Company issues title insurance policies directly and through a network of agents. Issuing agents are typically real estate attorneys, independent agents or subsidiaries of community and regional mortgage lending institutions, depending on local customs and regulations and the Company’s marketing strategy in a particular territory. The ability to attract and retain issuing agents is a key determinant of the Company’s growth in title insurance premiums written.

Revenues for the title insurance segment primarily result from purchases of new and existing residential and commercial real estate, refinance activity and certain other types of mortgage lending such as home equity lines of credit.

Title insurance premiums vary from state to state and are subject to extensive regulation. Statutes generally provide that rates must not be excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory. The process of implementing a rate change in most states involves pre-approval by the applicable state insurance regulator.

Volume is a factor in the Company’s profitability due to fixed operating costs that are incurred by the Company regardless of title insurance premium volume. The resulting operating leverage tends to amplify the impact of changes in volume on the Company’s profitability. The Company’s profitability also depends, in part, upon its ability to manage its investment portfolio to maximize investment returns and to minimize risks such as interest rate changes, defaults and impairments of assets.

The Company’s volume of title insurance premiums is affected by the overall level of residential and commercial real estate activity, which includes property sales, mortgage financing and mortgage refinancing. Real estate activity, home sales and mortgage lending are cyclical in nature. Real estate activity is affected by a number of factors, including the availability of mortgage credit, the cost of real estate, consumer confidence, employment and family income levels, and general United States economic conditions. Interest rate volatility is also an important factor in the level of residential and commercial real estate activity.

The Company’s title insurance premiums in future periods are likely to fluctuate due to these and other factors which are beyond management’s control.

22

Exchange Services

The Company’s exchange services division, consisting of the operations of Investors Title Exchange Corporation (“ITEC”) and Investors Title Accommodation Corporation (“ITAC”), provides customer services in connection with tax-deferred real property exchanges. ITEC acts as a qualified intermediary in tax-deferred exchanges of real property held for productive use in a trade or business or for investment, and its income is derived from fees for handling exchange transactions and a portion of the interest earned on client deposits held by the Company. In its role as qualified intermediary, ITEC coordinates the exchange aspects of the real estate transaction, and its duties include drafting standard exchange documents, holding the exchange funds between the time the old property is sold and the new property is purchased, and accepting the formal identification of the replacement property within the required identification period. ITAC provides services as an exchange accommodation titleholder for accomplishing “parking transactions” as set forth in the safe harbor contained in Internal Revenue Procedure 2000-37.  These transactions include reverse exchanges, when taxpayers decide to acquire replacement property before selling the relinquished property, or “build to suit” exchanges, when improvements must be made to the replacement property before the taxpayer acquires the improved replacement property. The services provided by the Company’s exchange services division, ITEC and ITAC, are pursuant to provisions in the IRC. From time to time, these laws are subject to review and changes, which may negatively affect the demand for tax-deferred exchanges in general, and consequently, the revenues and profitability of the Company’s exchange services division. Given that income is derived from a portion of the interest earned on client deposits held by the Company, interest rate fluctuations may also impact the profitability of the Company’s exchange services division.

Management Services, Investment Management and Trust Services

Other services provided by operating divisions of the Company are not reported separately, but rather are reported collectively in a category called “All Other.”  These other services include those offered by the Company and by its wholly owned subsidiaries, Investors Title Management Services, Inc. (“ITMS”) and Investors Trust Company (“Investors Trust”).

ITMS offers various consulting and management services to provide clients with the technical expertise to start and successfully operate a title insurance agency.

The Company’s trust services division, Investors Trust, provides investment management and trust services to individuals, companies, banks and trusts.

Business Trends and Recent Conditions

The housing market is heavily influenced by government policies and overall economic conditions. Regulatory reform and initiatives by various governmental agencies, including the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and other regulatory changes, could impact lending standards or the processes and procedures used by the Company. The current real estate environment, including interest rates and general economic activity, typically influence the demand for real estate. Changes in either of these areas, in addition to any inventory constraints or volatility in the cost and availability of building materials, could impact the Company's results of operations in future periods.

Inflationary pressures, ongoing geopolitical and military conflicts, and changes in government regulations and policy, including as a result of policies implemented by the Trump administration such as the implementation of widespread tariff reform, have created additional volatile market conditions and uncertainties in the global economy. These events have impacted and could continue to impact the Company in a number of ways including, but not limited to, future fluctuations in the Company's investment portfolio and potential decreases in net premiums written. The FOMC has closely monitored the risks associated with these developments and responded by increasing the target federal funds rate across several meetings from 2022 through 2023, followed by a gradual reduction beginning in 2024 and continuing into 2025. Although the federal funds rate does not directly impact mortgage interest rates, it can have a significant influence as lenders pass on the costs of rate increases to consumers. The current period of elevated mortgage interest rates has impacted the demand and pricing of real estate.

Regulatory Environment

The FOMC issues disclosures on a periodic basis that include projections of the federal funds rate and expected actions. Starting at the March 2022 meeting of the FOMC through July 2023, the FOMC repeatedly increased the target federal funds range, reaching a high of between 5.25% and 5.50%. During several meetings in 2024 and 2025, the FOMC lowered the federal funds rate. The most recent adjustment, in December 2025, reduced the target range to 3.5% and 3.75%. In normal economic situations, future adjustments to the FOMC’s stance of monetary policy are expected to be based on realized and expected economic developments to achieve maximum employment and inflation near the FOMC's symmetric long-term 2.0% objective.

23

Real Estate Environment

The Mortgage Bankers Association's (“MBA”) January 21, 2026 Mortgage Finance Forecast (“MBA Forecast”) projects 2026 purchase activity to increase 6.4% to $1.4 trillion and refinance activity to increase 9.5% to $760 billion, resulting in an increase in total mortgage originations of 7.5% to $2.2 trillion, all from 2025 levels. In 2025, purchase activity accounted for 66.1% of all mortgage originations and, according to the MBA Forecast, is projected to represent 65.5% of all mortgage originations in 2026. According to data published by Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rates in the United States were 6.6% and 6.7% for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Per the MBA Forecast, mortgage interest rates are projected to decline in the subsequent year period, decreasing to 6.1% in 2026, before increasing to 6.3% in 2027. Due to the rapidly changing environment brought on by inflationary pressures, inventory constraints, geopolitical and military conflicts, and changes in government regulations and policy, including as a result of the policies implemented by the Trump administration, these projections and the impact of actual future developments on the Company could be subject to material change.

Historically, activity in real estate markets has varied over the course of market cycles by geographic region and in response to evolving economic factors. Operating results can vary from year to year based on cyclical market conditions and do not necessarily indicate the Company's future operating results and cash flows.

Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies

The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and follow general practices within the industries in which it operates. This preparation requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates and assumptions are based on information available as of the date of the consolidated financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, actual results could diff

[Excerpt truncated for page length; the complete text is on the linked full-MD&A page.]