Edgar Filing: INVESTORS TITLE CO

a6699928.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

[ X ]

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011

[ ]	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____________________ to _______________________

Commission File Number: 0-11774

INVESTORS TITLE COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

North Carolina		56-1110199
(State of incorporation)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

121 North Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(919) 968-2200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No ___

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes __ No __

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):


Large accelerated filer	Accelerated filer	Non-accelerated filer	Smaller reporting company	X
		(do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ___ No X

As of April 12, 2011, there were 2,141,099 common shares of the registrant outstanding.

INVESTORS TITLE COMPANY

AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

PART I.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	Financial Statements:

	Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010	1

	Consolidated Statements of Income
	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010	2

	Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010	3

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010	4

	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	5

Item 2.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	18

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	30


PART II.	OTHER INFORMATION

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	31

Item 6.	Exhibits	32


SIGNATURE		33

Item 1. Financial Statements

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010
(Unaudited)


	March 31, 2011		December 31, 2010

Assets:
Investments in securities:
Fixed maturities:
Available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: 2011: $81,469,104; 2010: $81,784,262)	$	85,418,326	$	86,033,557
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (cost: 2011: $10,175,207; 2010: $9,458,773)		15,595,241		13,872,370
Short-term investments		20,895,922		27,203,550
Other investments		2,746,936		2,888,958
Total investments		124,656,425		129,998,435

Cash and cash equivalents		11,599,535		8,117,031
Premiums and fees receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of
$1,240,000 and $1,421,000 for 2011 and 2010, respectively		5,316,144		7,253,786
Accrued interest and dividends		946,078		1,150,602
Prepaid expenses and other assets		2,509,104		2,688,723
Property acquired in settlement of claims		119,938		127,938
Property, net		3,605,828		3,672,317
Current income taxes recoverable		378,256		-
Deferred income taxes, net		-		476,534

Total Assets	$	149,131,308	$	153,485,366

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Liabilities:
Reserves for claims	$	37,722,000	$	38,198,700
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		9,659,492		10,301,495
Current income taxes payable		-		1,056,356
Deferred income taxes, net		357,932		-
Total liabilities		47,739,424		49,556,551

Commitments and Contingencies

Stockholders' Equity:
Class A Junior Participating preferred stock (shares authorized 100,000; no shares issued)		-		-
Common stock - no par value (shares authorized 10,000,000;
2,156,078 and 2,282,596 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2011 and
December 31, 2010, respectively, excluding 291,676 shares for 2011 and 2010
of common stock held by the Company's subsidiary)		1		1
Retained earnings		95,233,547		98,240,109
Accumulated other comprehensive income		6,158,336		5,688,705
Total stockholders' equity		101,391,884		103,928,815

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$	149,131,308	$	153,485,366

See notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)



	Three Months Ended
	March 31
	2011			2010
Revenues:
Underwriting income:
Premiums written	$	17,912,286		$	11,829,821
Less - premiums for reinsurance ceded		46,698			43,519
Net premiums written		17,865,588			11,786,302
Investment income - interest and dividends		899,372			906,622
Net realized (loss) gain on investments		(26,160	)		25,150
Other		1,283,220			979,337
Total Revenues		20,022,020			13,697,411

Operating Expenses:
Commissions to agents		10,879,586			5,599,451
Provision for claims		721,626			1,312,404
Salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes		4,691,996			4,484,312
Office occupancy and operations		963,927			1,088,405
Business development		387,547			274,296
Filing fees, franchise and local taxes		214,113			145,422
Premium and retaliatory taxes		405,473			300,946
Professional and contract labor fees		308,524			365,078
Other		103,021			111,682
Total Operating Expenses		18,675,813			13,681,996

Income Before Income Taxes		1,346,207			15,415

Provision (Benefit) For Income Taxes		327,000			(2,000	)

Net Income	$	1,019,207		$	17,415

Basic Earnings Per Common Share	$	0.46		$	0.01

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Basic		2,234,480			2,285,134

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share	$	0.46		$	0.01

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted		2,239,500			2,295,164

Cash Dividends Paid Per Common Share	$	0.07		$	0.07

See notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)



									Accumulated
	Common Stock					Retained			Other Comprehensive		Total Stockholders'
	Shares			Amount		Earnings			Income		Equity

Balance, January 1, 2010		2,285,289		$	1	$	92,528,818		$	4,730,258	$	97,259,077
Net income							17,415					17,415
Dividends ($.07 per share)							(159,977	)				(159,977	)
Stock options exercised		2,375					28,807					28,807
Share based compensation expense							55,169					55,169
Repurchase of shares		(2,178	)				(73,382	)				(73,382	)
Amortization related to postretirement health benefits										3,788		3,788
Net unrealized gain on investments, net of tax										235,789		235,789

Balance, March 31, 2010		2,285,486		$	1	$	92,396,850		$	4,969,835	$	97,366,686

Balance, January 1, 2011		2,282,596		$	1	$	98,240,109		$	5,688,705	$	103,928,815
Net income							1,019,207					1,019,207
Dividends ($.07 per share)							(152,830	)				(152,830	)
Stock options exercised		250					3,750					3,750
Share-based compensation expense							52,320					52,320
Repurchase of shares		(126,768	)				(3,929,009	)				(3,929,009	)
Amortization related to postretirement health benefits										3,784		3,784
Net unrealized gain on investments, net of tax										465,847		465,847

Balance, March 31, 2011		2,156,078		$	1	$	95,233,547		$	6,158,336	$	101,391,884


See notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Investors Title Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)

	2011			2010
Operating Activities:
Net income	$	1,019,207		$	17,415
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		126,178			135,023
Amortization, net		81,973			83,326
Amortization of prior service cost		5,740			5,740
Share-based compensation expense related to stock options		52,320			55,169
Decrease in allowance for doubtful accounts on premiums receivable		(181,000	)		(325,000	)
Net realized loss (gain) on investments and other assets		26,160			(25,150	)
Net (earnings) loss from other investments		(67,482	)		30,389
Provision for claims		721,626			1,312,404
Provision for deferred income taxes		592,000			623,000
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Decrease in receivables and other assets		2,505,778			1,250,485
Increase in current income taxes receivable		(378,256	)		(706,026	)
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(642,003	)		(819,564	)
Decrease in current income taxes payable		(1,056,356	)		(670,290	)
Payments of claims, net of recoveries		(1,198,326	)		(1,972,404	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		1,607,559			(1,005,483	)

Investing Activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale securities		(3,065,044	)		(7,227,517	)
Purchases of short-term securities		(679,407	)		(4,875,327	)
Purchases of other investments		(5,681	)		(1,144	)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities		2,565,443			3,609,045
Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity securities		-			2,000
Proceeds from sales and maturities of short-term securities		6,987,035			5,497,230
Proceeds from sales and distributions of other investments		210,377			58,317
Purchases of property		(59,689	)		(64,316	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		5,953,034			(3,001,712	)

Financing Activities:
Repurchases of common stock		(3,929,009	)		(73,382	)
Exercise of options		3,750			28,807
Dividends paid		(152,830	)		(159,977	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(4,078,089	)		(204,552	)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents		3,482,504			(4,211,747	)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period		8,117,031			8,733,221
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period	$	11,599,535		$	4,521,474

Supplemental Disclosures:
Cash Paid During the Period for:
Income taxes, payments, net	$	1,170,000		$	752,000

Non cash net unrealized gain on investments, net of deferred tax
provision of ($240,517) and ($122,548) for 2011 and 2010,
respectively	$	(465,847	)	$	(235,789	)

See notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

INVESTORS TITLE COMPANY

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited)

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Reference should be made to the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" of Investors Title Company’s (“the Company”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 for a complete description of the Company’s significant accounting policies.

Principles of Consolidation – The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of Investors Title Company and its subsidiaries (Investors Title Insurance Company, National Investors Title Insurance Company, Investors Title Exchange Corporation, Investors Title Accommodation Corporation, Investors Title Management Services, Inc., Investors Title Commercial Agency, LLC, Investors Capital Management Company, and Investors Trust Company), and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows in the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2011.

Use of Estimates and Assumptions – The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions used.

Subsequent Events - The Company has evaluated and concluded that there were no material subsequent events requiring adjustment to or disclosure in its consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards – In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) updated the requirements for fair value measurements and disclosures to provide for additional disclosure related to transfers in and out of securities valuation hierarchy Levels 1 and 2, and to require companies to present Level 3 securities purchases, sales, issuances and settlement on a gross rather than net basis. Refer to Note 7 for a discussion of valuation hierarchy levels. The new disclosures are clarifications of existing disclosures and are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except that the disclosures requiring the presentation of Level 3 securities trading activity on a gross basis are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. This update did not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

Note 2 - Reserves for Claims

Transactions in the reserves for claims for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010 are summarized as follows:

	March 31, 2011			December 31, 2010
Balance, beginning of period	$	38,198,700		$	39,490,000
Provision, charged to operations		721,626			4,435,066
Payments of claims, net of recoveries		(1,198,326	)		(5,726,366	)
Ending balance	$	37,722,000		$	38,198,700

The total reserve for all reported and unreported losses the Company incurred through March 31, 2011 is represented by the reserves for claims. The Company's reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses are established using estimated amounts required to settle claims for which notice has been received (reported) and the amount estimated to be required to satisfy incurred claims of policyholders which may be reported in the future. Despite the variability of such estimates, management believes that the reserves are adequate to cover claim losses which might result from pending and future claims under policies issued through March 31, 2011. The Company continually reviews and adjusts its reserve estimates to reflect its loss experience and any new information that becomes available. Adjustments resulting from such reviews may be significant.

A summary of the Company’s loss reserves, broken down into its components of known title claims and incurred but not reported claims (“IBNR”), follows:

	March 31, 2011		%		December 31, 2010		%
Known title claims	$	5,871,595		15.6	$	6,121,941		16.0
IBNR		31,850,405		84.4		32,076,759		84.0
Total loss reserves	$	37,722,000		100.0	$	38,198,700		100.0

Claims and losses paid are charged to the reserves for claims. Although claims losses are typically paid in cash, occasionally claims are settled by purchasing the interest of the insured or the claimant in the real property. When this event occurs, the acquiring company carries assets at the lower of cost or estimated realizable value, net of any indebtedness on the property.

Note 3 - Comprehensive Income

Total comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was $1,488,838 and $256,992, respectively. The Company's accumulated other comprehensive income is comprised of unrealized holding gains/losses on available-for-sale securities, net of tax, and unrecognized prior service cost and unrealized gains/losses associated with postretirement benefit liabilities, net of tax. Accumulated other comprehensive income as of March 31, 2011 consists of $6,141,363 of unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale securities and $16,973 of unrecognized prior service cost and unrealized gains associated with postretirement benefit liabilities. Accumulated other comprehensive income as of March 31, 2010 consists of $5,075,931 of unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale securities and $(106,096) of unrecognized prior service cost and unrealized losses associated with postretirement benefit liabilities.

Note 4 - Earnings Per Common Share and Share Awards

Basic earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the combination of dilutive potential common stock, comprised of shares issuable under the Company’s share-based compensation plans and the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Dilutive common share equivalents includes the dilutive effect of in-the-money share-based awards, which are calculated based on the average share price for each period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the exercise price of a share-based award, the amount of compensation cost, if any, for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, and the amount of estimated tax benefits that would be recorded in additional paid-in capital, if any, when the share-based awards are exercised are assumed to be used to repurchase shares in the current period. The number of incremental dilutive potential common shares, calculated using the treasury stock method, was 5,020 and 10,030 for March 31, 2011, and 2010, respectively.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31:

	2011		2010
Net income	$	1,019,207	$	17,415
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Basic		2,234,480		2,285,134
Incremental shares outstanding assuming
the exercise of dilutive stock options and SARs (share settled)		5,020		10,030
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Diluted		2,239,500		2,295,164
Basic earnings per common share	$	.46	$	.01
Diluted earnings per common share	$	.46	$	.01

There were 14,000 and 10,500 shares excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, because these shares were anti-dilutive due to related share-based awards being out-of-the-money.

The Company has adopted employee stock award plans (the "Plans") under which restricted stock, and options or stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) to acquire shares (not to exceed 500,000 shares) of the Company's stock may be granted to key employees or directors of the Company at a price not less than the market value on the date of grant. SARs and options (which have predominantly been incentive stock options) awarded under the Plans thus far are exercisable and vest immediately or within one year or at 10% to 20% per year beginning on the date of grant and generally expire in five to ten years. All SARs issued to date have been share settled only. There have not been any SARs exercised in 2011 or 2010.

A summary of share-based award transactions for all share-based award plans follows:

				Weighted		Average
				Average		Remaining		Aggregate
	Number			Exercise		Contractual		Intrinsic
	Of Shares			Price		Term (years)		Value
Outstanding as of January 1, 2010		117,245		$	27.54		5.10	$	541,543
SARs granted		3,000			33.31
Options exercised		(9,445	)		14.88
Options/SARs cancelled/forfeited/expired		-			-
Outstanding as of December 31, 2010		110,800		$	28.77		4.51	$	353,955
SARs granted		-			-
Options exercised		(250	)		15.00
Options/SARs cancelled/forfeited/expired		(4,500	)		28.61
Outstanding as of March 31, 2011		106,050		$	28.81		4.37	$	430,610

Exercisable as of March 31, 2011		91,511		$	28.99		4.33	$	370,796

Unvested as of March 31, 2011		14,539		$	27.69		4.57	$	59,814

There was approximately $52,000 and $55,000 of compensation expense relating to SARs or options vesting on or before March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, included in salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes in the consolidated statements of income. As of March 31, 2011, there was approximately $157,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Company’s stock award plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 7 months.

There have been no stock options or SARs granted where the exercise price was less than the market price on the date of grant.

Note 5 – Segment Information

The Company has one reportable segment, title insurance services. The remaining immaterial segments have been combined into a group called “All Other.”

The title insurance segment primarily issues title insurance policies through approved attorneys from underwriting offices and through independent issuing agents. Title insurance policies insure titles to real estate.

Provided below is selected financial information about the Company's operations by segment for the periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010:

	Title			All			Intersegment
2011	Insurance			Other			Elimination			Total
Operating revenues	$	18,187,312		$	1,171,784		$	(210,288	)	$	19,148,808
Investment income		790,973			128,816			(20,417	)		899,372
Net realized loss on investments		(20,535	)		(5,625	)		-			(26,160	)
Total revenues	$	18,957,750		$	1,294,975		$	(230,705	)	$	20,022,020
Operating expenses		17,527,537			1,358,564			(210,288	)		18,675,813
Income (loss) before taxes	$	1,430,213		$	(63,589	)	$	(20,417	)	$	1,346,207
Assets	$	111,333,607		$	37,797,701		$	-		$	149,131,308

	Title		All			Intersegment
2010	Insurance		Other			Elimination			Total
Operating revenues	$	11,933,906	$	1,028,377		$	(196,644	)	$	12,765,639
Investment income		770,187		156,852			(20,417	)		906,622
Net realized gain (loss) on investments		43,803		(18,653	)		-			25,150
Total revenues	$	12,747,896	$	1,166,576		$	(217,061	)	$	13,697,411
Operating expenses		12,665,830		1,212,810			(196,644	)		13,681,996
Income (loss) before taxes	$	82,066	$	(46,234	)	$	(20,417	)	$	15,415
Assets	$	102,709,649	$	41,675,810		$	-		$	144,385,459

Note 6 – Retirement Agreements and Other Postretirement Benefits

On November 17, 2003, the Company’s subsidiary, Investors Title Insurance Company entered into employment agreements with key executives that provide for the continuation of certain employee benefits and other payments due under the agreements upon retirement totaling $5,280,000 and $5,134,000 as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. The executive employee benefits include health insurance, dental, vision and life insurance and are unfunded. These amounts are classified as accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The following sets forth the net periodic benefits cost for the executive benefits for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010:

	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011		For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010
Service cost – benefits earned during the year	$	6,424	$	6,424
Interest cost on the projected benefit obligation		7,689		7,689
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost		5,097		5,097
Amortization of unrecognized loss		643		643
Net periodic benefit cost	$	19,853	$	19,853

Note 7 - Fair Value Measurement

Valuation Hierarchy. The FASB has established a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs to valuation used to measure fair value of financial assets and liabilities, such as securities. This hierarchy categorizes the inputs into three broad levels as follows. Level 1 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based on the Company’s own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value.

Valuation Techniques. A financial instrument’s classification within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement—consequently, if there are multiple significant valuation inputs that are categorized in different levels of the hierarchy, the instrument’s hierarchy level is the lowest level (with Level 3 being the lowest level) within which any significant input falls.

The Level 1 category includes equity securities that are measured at fair value using quoted active market prices.

The Level 2 category includes fixed maturity investments such as corporate bonds, U.S. government and agency bonds and municipal bonds. Their fair value is principally based on market values obtained from a third party pricing service. Factors that are used in determining their fair market value include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data. The Company receives one quote per security from the pricing service, although as discussed below, the Company does consult other price resources when confirming that the prices it obtains reflect the fair values of the instruments in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. Generally, quotes obtained from the pricing service for instruments classified as Level 2 are not adjusted and are not binding. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company did not adjust any Level 2 fair values.

A number of the Company’s investment grade corporate bonds are frequently traded in active markets, and trading prices are consequently available for these securities. However, these securities were classified as Level 2 because the third party pricing service from which the Company has obtained fair values for these instruments uses valuation models which use observable market inputs in addition to traded prices. Substantially all of the input assumptions used in the service’s model are observable in the marketplace or can be derived or supported by observable market data.

The Level 3 category only includes the Company’s investments in student loan auction rate securities (“ARS”) because quoted prices were unavailable due to the failure of auctions. Some of the inputs to this model are unobservable in the market and are significant—therefore, the Company utilizes another third party pricing service to assist in the determination of fair market value of these securities. That service uses a proprietary valuation model that considers factors such as the following: the financial standing of the issuer; reported prices and the extent of public trading in similar financial instruments of the issuer or comparable companies; the ability of the issuer to obtain required financing; changes in the economic conditions affecting the issuer; pricing by other dealers in similar securities; time to maturity; and interest rates. The following table summarizes some key assumptions the service used to determine fair value as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

	2011	2010
Cumulative probability of earning maximum rate until maturity	0.0-0.9%	0.0-0.8%
Cumulative probability of principle returned prior to maturity	85.6-98.6%	85.3-98.6%
Cumulative probability of default at some future point	1.4-14.3%	1.4-14.7%

Based upon these inputs and assumptions, the pricing service provides a range of values to the Company for its ARS. The Company records the fair value based on the midpoint of the range and believes that this valuation is the most reasonable estimate of fair value. In 2011 and 2010, the difference in the low and high values of the ranges was between approximately three and four percent of the carrying value of the Company’s ARS.

The credit quality of the ARS the Company holds is high and comprised entirely of student loan ARS. All are investment grade and have a rating of AAA with Standard and Poor’s and Fitch or Aaa with Moody’s. The par value of the ARS bonds was $5,800,000 and $5,900,000 as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, with approximately 82.0% and 82.2% as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education.

The following table presents, by level, the financial assets carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010. The table does not include cash on hand and also does not include assets which are measured at historical cost or any basis other than fair value.

As of March 31, 2011	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Equity Securities
Common stock and nonredeemable preferred stock	$	15,595,241	$	-	$	-	$	15,595,241
Fixed Maturities
Obligations of states and political subdivisions*		-		66,470,106		2,540,746		69,010,852
Corporate Debt Securities*		-		13,551,474		2,856,000		16,407,474
Total	$	15,595,241	$	80,021,580	$	5,396,746	$	101,013,567


As of December 31, 2010	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Equity Securities
Common stock and nonredeemable preferred stock	$	13,872,370	$	-	$	-	$	13,872,370
Fixed Maturities
Obligations of states and political subdivisions*		-		67,202,641		2,618,844		69,821,485
Corporate Debt Securities*		-		13,358,672		2,853,400		16,212,072
Total	$	13,872,370	$	80,561,313	$	5,472,244	$	99,905,927

*Denotes fair market value obtained from pricing services.

There were no transfers into or out of Levels 1 and 2 during the period. The following table presents a reconciliation of the Company’s assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the period ended March 31, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010:

Changes in fair value during the period ended:	2011			2010
Beginning balance at January 1	$	5,472,244		$	10,097,795
Redemptions and sales		(100,000	)		(4,938,500	)
Realized loss-included in realized (loss) gain on investments		-			(314,386	)
Unrealized gain-included in other comprehensive income		24,502			627,335
Ending balance	$	5,396,746		$	5,472,244

Certain investments and other assets are measured at estimated fair value on a non-recurring basis, such as investments that are impaired during the period and recorded at estimated fair value in the financial statements as of or during the periods ended March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010. The following table summarizes the corresponding estimated fair value hierarchy of such investments and other assets at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 and the related impairments recognized.

March 31, 2011	Valuation Method	Impaired	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total at Estimated Fair Value		Impairment Losses
Cost method investment	Fair Value	Yes	$	-	$	-	$	47,874	$	47,874	$	(4,808	)
Total cost method investments			$	-	$	-	$	47,874	$	47,874	$	(4,808	)

December 31, 2010	Valuation Method	Impaired	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total at Estimated Fair Value		Impairment Losses
Cost method investment	Fair Value	Yes	$	-	$	-	$	52,625	$	52,625	$	(47,141	)
Other assets	Fair Value	Yes						-		-		(48,860	)
Total cost method investments and other assets			$	-	$	-	$	52,625	$	52,625	$	(96,001	)

To help ensure that fair value determinations are consistent with ASC 820 Fair Value Measurements, prices from our pricing services go through multiple review processes to ensure appropriate pricing. Pricing procedures and inputs used to price each security include, but are not limited to the following: unadjusted quoted market prices for identical securities such as stock market closing prices, non-binding quoted prices for identical securities in markets that are not active, interest rates, yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, volatility, prepayment speeds, loss severity, credit risks and default rates. The Company reviews the procedures and inputs used by its pricing services and verifies a sample of the services’ quotes by comparing them to values obtained from other pricing resources. In the event the Company disagrees with a price provided by its pricing services, the service reevaluates the price to corroborate the market information and then reviews inputs to the evaluation in light of potentially new market data. The Company believes that these processes and inputs result in appropriate classifications and fair values consistent with ASC 820.

Note 8 – Investments in Securities

The aggregate estimated fair value, gross unrealized holding gains, gross unrealized holding losses and cost or amortized cost for securities by major security type are as follows:

			Gross		Gross		Estimated
	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
March 31, 2011	Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
Fixed Maturities-
Available-for-sale, at fair value:
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	$	63,508,533	$	3,106,365	$	144,792	$	66,470,106
Corporate debt securities		12,636,315		1,030,384		115,225		13,551,474
Auction rate securities		5,324,256		72,490		-		5,396,746
Total	$	81,469,104	$	4,209,239	$	260,017	$	85,418,326
Equity Securities, available-for-sale at fair value-
Common stocks and nonredeemable preferred stocks	$	10,175,207	$	5,488,325	$	68,291	$	15,595,241
Total	$	10,175,207	$	5,488,325	$	68,291	$	15,595,241
Short-term investments-
Certificates of deposit and other	$	20,895,922	$	-	$	-	$	20,895,922
Total	$	20,895,922	$	-	$	-	$	20,895,922

December 31, 2010
Fixed Maturities-
Available-for-sale, at fair value:
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	$	64,120,509	$	3,248,821	$	166,690	$	67,202,640
Corporate debt securities		12,258,359		1,123,051		22,737		13,358,673
Auction rate securities		5,405,394		66,850				5,472,244
Total	$	81,784,262	$	4,438,722	$	189,427	$	86,033,557
Equity Securities, available-for-sale at fair value-
Common stocks and nonredeemable preferred stocks	$	9,458,773	$	4,430,175	$	16,578	$	13,872,370
Total	$	9,458,773	$	4,430,175	$	16,578	$	13,872,370
Short-term investments-
Certificates of deposit and other	$	27,203,550	$	-	$	-	$	27,203,550
Total	$	27,203,550	$	-	$	-	$	27,203,550

The scheduled maturities of fixed maturity securities at March 31, 2011 were as follows:
	Available-for-Sale
	Amortized		Fair
	Cost		Value
Due in one year or less	$	2,099,646	$	2,145,787
Due after one year through five years		33,012,920		34,659,579
Due five years through ten years		34,651,274		36,441,505
Due after ten years		11,705,264		12,171,455
Total	$	81,469,104	$	85,418,326

Gross realized gains and losses on securities for the three months ended March 31 are summarized as follows:

	2011			2010
Gross realized gains:
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	$	15,815		$	19,927
Common stocks and nonredeemable preferred stocks		46,189			78,382
Total		62,004			98,309
Gross realized losses:
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	$	-		$	-
Common stocks and nonredeemable preferred stocks		(13,888	)		(2,612	)
Other than temporary impairment of securities		(64,468	)		-
Total		(78,356	)		(2,612	)
Net realized (loss) gain	$	(16,352	)	$	95,697

Realized gains and losses are determined on the specific identification method. Also included in net realized (loss) gain on sales in the consolidated statements of income are impairments of other investments and loss on sales of property acquired in the settlement of claims totaling $(9,808) and $(22,998) for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The following table presents the gross unrealized losses on investment securities and the fair value of the related securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous loss position at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

	Less than 12 Months					12 Months or Longer					Total
	Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized
	Value		Losses			Value		Losses			Value		Losses
March 31, 2011
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	$	7,987,999	$	(144,792	)		-		-		$	7,987,999	$	(144,792	)
Corporate debt securities		2,010,519		(115,225	)		-		-			2,010,519		(115,225	)
Total Fixed Income Securities	$	9,998,518	$	(260,017	)	$	-	$	-		$	9,998,518	$	(260,017	)
Equity Securities		869,585		(38,410	)		243,057		(29,881	)		1,112,642		(68,291	)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	10,868,103	$	(298,427	)	$	243,057	$	(29,881	)	$	11,111,160	$	(328,308	)

	Less than 12 Months					12 Months or Longer					Total
	Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized
	Value		Losses			Value		Losses			Value		Losses
December 31, 2010
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	$	7,008,818	$	(166,690	)		-		-		$	7,008,818	$	(166,690	)
Corporate debt securities		1,077,263		(22,737	)		-		-			1,077,263		(22,737	)
Total Fixed Income Securities	$	8,086,081	$	(189,427	)	$	-	$	-		$	8,086,081	$	(189,427	)
Equity Securities		746,388		(7,710	)		220,635		(8,868	)		967,023		(16,578	)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	8,832,469	$	(197,137	)	$	220,635	$	(8,868	)	$	9,053,104	$	(206,005	)

As of March 31, 2011, the Company held $9,998,518 in fixed maturity securities with unrealized losses of $260,017. As of December 31, 2010, the Company held $8,086,081 in fixed maturity securities with unrealized losses of $189,427. The decline in fair value of the fixed maturity securities can be attributed primarily to changes in market interest rates and changes in credit spreads over Treasury securities. Because the Company does not have the intent to sell these securities and will likely not be compelled to sell them before it can recover its cost basis, the Company does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired.

As of March 31, 2011, the Company held $1,112,642 in equity securities with unrealized losses of $68,291. As of December 31, 2010, the Company held $967,023 in equity securities with unrealized losses of $16,578. The unrealized losses related to holdings of equity securities were caused by market changes that the Company considers to be temporary. Since the Company has the intent and ability to hold these equity income securities until a recovery of fair value, the Company does not consider these investments other-than-temporarily impaired.

Factors considered in determining whether a loss is temporary include the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost, the financial condition and prospects of the issuer (including credit ratings and analyst reports) and macro-economic changes. A total of 30 and 26 securities had unrealized losses at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. Reviews of the values of securities are inherently uncertain and the value of the investment may not fully recover, or may decline in future periods resulting in a realized loss. During 2011, the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment charge in the amount of $64,468 related to stocks. During 2010, the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment charge in the amount of $382,692 related to securities, of which, $281,156 was related to Level 3 auction rate securities that have had a history of being below cost and a change in the Company’s intent not to sell these securities. Other-than-temporary impairment charges are included in net realized (loss) gain on investments in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Note 9 – Commitments and Contingencies

A class action lawsuit is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia against several title insurance companies, including Investors Title Insurance Company, entitled Backel v. Fidelity National Title Insurance et al. (6:2008- CV-00181). The plaintiff in this case contends a lack of meaningful oversight by agencies with which title insurance rates are filed and approved. There are further allegations that the title insurance companies have conspired to fix title insurance rates. The plaintiffs seek monetary damages, including treble damages, as well as injunctive relief. Similar suits have been filed in other jurisdictions, several of which have already been dismissed. In West Virginia, the case has been placed on the inactive list pending the resolution of the bankruptcy of LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. The Company believes that this case is without merit, and intends to vigorously defend against the allegations. At this stage in the litigation, the Company does not have the ability to make a reasonable range of estimates in regards to potential loss amounts, if any.

The Company and its subsidiaries are also involved in other legal proceedings that are incidental to their business. In the Company’s opinion, based on the present status of these proceedings, any potential liability of the Company or its subsidiaries with respect to these legal proceedings, will not, in the aggregate, be material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition or operations.

Regulation. The Company’s title insurance and trust subsidiaries are regulated by various federal, state and local governmental agencies and are subject to various audits and inquiries. It is the opinion of management based on its present expectations that these audits and inquiries will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or operations.

Escrow and Trust Deposits. As a service to its customers, the Company, through Investors Title Insurance Company (“ITIC”), administers escrow and trust deposits representing earnest money received under real estate contracts, undisbursed amounts received for settlement of mortgage loans and indemnities against specific title risks. These amounts are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. However, the Company remains contingently liable for the disposition of these deposits.

Like-Kind Exchanges Proceeds. In administering tax-deferred property exchanges, the Company’s subsidiary, Investors Title Exchange Corporation (“ITEC”), serves as a qualified intermediary for exchanges, holding the net sales proceeds from relinquished property to be used for purchase of replacement property. Another Company subsidiary, Investors Title Accommodation Corporation (“ITAC”), serves as exchange accommodation titleholder and, through limited liability companies (“LLCs”) that are wholly owned subsidiaries of ITAC, holds property for exchangers in reverse exchange transactions. Like-kind exchange deposits and reverse exchange property totaled approximately $14,828,000 and $23,044,000 as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. These amounts are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying consolidated balance sheets; however, the Company remains contingently liable for the disposition of the transfers of property, disbursements of proceeds and the return on the proceeds at the agreed upon rate. These like-kind exchange funds are primarily invested in money market and other short-term investments, including approximately $1,000,000 of par value auction rate securities, as of March 31, 2011. The Company does not believe the current illiquidity of the auction rate securities will impact its operations, as it believes it has sufficient capital to provide continuous and immediate liquidity as necessary.

Note 10 – Related Party Transactions

The Company does business with unconsolidated limited liability companies that it has investments in that are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. These unconsolidated companies are primarily title insurance agencies. The following table sets forth the approximate values by year found within each financial statement classification:

Financial Statement Classification, Consolidated Balance Sheets	As of March 31, 2011		As of December 31, 2010
Other investments	$	1,545,000	$	1,682,000
Premiums and fees receivable		525,000		739,000

	For the Three Months Ended
Financial Statement Classification, Consolidated Statements of Income	March 31, 2011		March 31, 2010
Net premiums written	$	2,122,000	$	2,102,000
Other income		215,000		106,000

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

The Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K should be read in conjunction with the following discussion since it contains important information for evaluating the Company's operating results and financial condition.

Overview

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"). Operating revenues from the title segment accounted for 95.0% of the Company’s operating revenues in the first three months of 2011. 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.

There are two basic types of title insurance policies - one for the mortgage lender and one for the real estate owner. A lender often requires property owners to purchase title insurance 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 his investment. 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 claim is made against real property, title insurance provides indemnification against insured defects.

The Company issues title insurance policies through issuing agencies and also directly through home and branch offices. Issuing agents are typically real estate attorneys 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 premiums written.

Revenues for this segment 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.

Volume is a factor in the Company's profitability due to fixed operating costs which are incurred by the Company regardless of 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 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 sales, mortgage financing and mortgage refinancing. In turn, real estate activity is generally 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 cyclical nature of the residential and commercial real estate markets – and consequently, the land title industry - has historically caused fluctuations in revenues and profitability, and it is expected to continue to do so in the future. Additionally, there are seasonal influences in real estate activity and accordingly in revenue levels for title insurers.

Services other than title insurance provided by operating divisions of the Company that are not required to be reported separately are reported in a category called “All Other.” These other services include those offered by the Company and by its smaller wholly owned subsidiaries, Investors Title Exchange Corporation (“ITEC”), Investors Title Accommodation Corporation (“ITAC”), Investors Trust Company ("Investors Trust"), Investors Capital Management Company (“ICMC”) and Investors Title Management Services, Inc. (“ITMS”).

The Company’s exchange services division, ITEC and ITAC, provides customer services in connection with tax-deferred real property exchanges. ITEC serves as a qualified intermediary in like-kind exchanges of real or personal property under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 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 sale of the old property and the purchase of the new property, and accepting the formal identification of the replacement property within the required identification period. ITAC serves as exchange accommodation titleholder in reverse exchanges. An exchange accommodation offers a vehicle for accommodating a reverse exchange when the taxpayer must acquire replacement property before selling the relinquished property.

In conjunction with Investors Trust, ICMC provides investment management and trust services to individuals, companies, banks and trusts. ITMS offers various consulting services to provide clients with the technical expertise to start and successfully operate a title insurance agency.

Business Trends and Recent Conditions

By the mid 2000’s, there had been a long-term trend of rising home values in the United States that resulted in inflated home values in many areas of the country. From 2001 to 2003, the Federal Reserve lowered short-term interest rates 13 times. Sales of homes reached record highs and lenders began to loosen their loan underwriting standards, particularly in the non-traditional loan markets. These lower underwriting standards, when combined with new methods of financing non-traditional loans, helped create a supply of inexpensive credit which led to a build up in mortgage loans to high-risk borrowers. Subsequently, there was a substantial increase in loan defaults and mortgage foreclosures in the U.S. economy. During September 2008, there were multiple financial firm failures, mergers or restructurings that led to a financial crisis and loss of confidence in the financial system. Lenders responded to the financial crisis by implementing stricter loan underwriting standards. In addition to these tighter lending standards, high unemployment and weakened consumer confidence have reduced the demand for homes. These factors have contributed to a lower demand for title insurance and a decline in premium volume.

In an attempt to stabilize the struggling economy, the U.S. government took steps to provide economic stimulus during 2009 and 2010. The Economic Stimulus Bill included an $8,000 tax credit available for certain first time home buyers for the purchase of a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009. On November 6, 2009, the President signed a law which extended the first-time homebuyer credit to persons who signed a binding purchase contract by April 30, 2010 and closed on the purchase of their residence by September 30, 2010. A similar credit of $6,500 was also extended for homebuyers who had owned their current home at least five of the prior eight years.

According to data published by Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate in the United States was 4.85% for the first three months of 2011, compared with 5.00% for the first three months of 2010 and 4.41% for the last three months of 2010. The Mortgage Bankers Association (“MBA”) March 15, 2011 Mortgage Finance Forecast projects 2011 annual mortgage originations to be $1,031 billion, a decrease of approximately 34.4% compared with 2010. In 2010, refinancing activity accounted for 69.9% of all mortgage originations. In 2011, refinancing transactions are projected to account for only 41.1% of mortgage originations due to forecasted increases in mortgage interest rates and projected increases in purchasing activity. Refinancing activity is projected to decrease 61.4% and purchasing activity is projected to increase 28.1% from 2010 levels.

Many experts predict the overall state of the economy to improve in 2011. The Federal Reserve has announced that it will continue to purchase U.S. Treasury bonds to reduce long-term interest rates and federal lawmakers have agreed to extend certain provisions of the Bush-era tax cuts. According to the March 15, 2011 MBA Economic Forecast, projections show improvement in real gross domestic product, business and residential investments and the unemployment rate; however, due to foreclosures, tighter lending standards and continued high unemployment levels, real estate activity is expected to remain sluggish in 2011.

Historically, activity in real estate markets has varied over the course of market cycles 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 preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of certain assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures surrounding contingencies and commitments. Actual results could differ from these estimates. During the quarter ended March 31, 2011, the Company made no material changes in its critical accounting policies as previously disclosed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Results of Operations

For the quarter ended March 31, 2011, net premiums written increased 51.6% to $17,865,588, investment income decreased 0.8% to $899,372, total revenues increased 46.2% to $20,022,020 and net income increased approximately $1,000,000 to $1,019,207, all compared with the same quarter in 2010. Both net income per basic and diluted common share increased from $0.01 in the first quarter of 2010 to $0.46 for the comparable quarter in 2011.

Net operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 were primarily impacted by a lower provision for claims, premium growth mainly attributable to the Company’s recent expansion into Texas and to an overall increase in purchase transactions insured. Agent commissions increased over the prior year as a result of growth in agency premiums and an increase in agent business from markets with higher premium rates, primarily Texas. The lower provision for claims was due to favorable loss development in recent policy years, as well as from a decline in the relative share of North Carolina business as a percentage of the total. Since North Carolina’s premium rates are less than half the national average, the resulting loss ratio for North Carolina business is higher than for our other markets.

Operating Revenues

Operating revenues include net premiums written plus other fee income, trust income, management services income, and exchange services income. Investment income and realized investment gains and losses are not included in operating revenues and are discussed separately following operating revenues.

Title Orders: The volume of title orders issued increased 5.4% in the first quarter of 2011 to 43,517 compared with 41,268 title orders in the same period in 2010. The Company’s expansion into Texas was the primary reason for the increases in net premiums written and order counts.

Title insurance companies typically issue title insurance policies directly through branch offices or through title agencies. Following is a breakdown of net premiums generated by branch and agency operations for the quarters ended March 31:

	2011		%		2010		%
Branch	$	3,696,280		20.7	$	3,749,800		31.8
Agency		14,169,308		79.3		8,036,502		68.2
Total	$	17,865,588		100.0	$	11,786,302		100.0

Home and Branch Office Net Premiums: In the Company’s home and branch operations, the Company issues the insurance policy and retains the entire premium, as no commissions are paid in connection with these policies. Net premiums written from home and branch operations decreased 1.4% for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, as compared with the prior year quarter. The decrease in 2011 for home and branch operations primarily reflects stagnation in the real estate market and a decline in mortgage refinancing. All of the Company’s home office operations and the majority of branch offices are located in North Carolina; as a result, the home and branch office net premiums written are primarily for North Carolina policies.

Agency Net Premiums: When a policy is written through a title agency, agents retain the majority of the title premium collected, with the balance remitted to the title underwriter for bearing the risk of loss in the event that a claim is made under the title insurance policy. The increase in the percentage of total premiums written by agencies in 2011 is primarily due to the Company’s strategy of growth through expansion of its agency base and the influence of local geographic trends. Agency net premiums written increased 76.3% for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, compared with the prior year, primarily due to the Company’s recent expansion into Texas.

Following is a schedule of net premiums written for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 in select states in which the Company’s two insurance subsidiaries ITIC and NITIC currently underwrite insurance:

State	2011			2010
Texas	$	5,211,064		$	-
North Carolina		4,808,267			4,921,704
Michigan		1,826,367			956,846
South Carolina		1,646,942			1,369,186
Virginia		881,463			965,568
All Other States		3,532,586			3,606,583
Direct Premiums		17,906,689			11,819,887
Reinsurance Assumed		5,597			9,934
Reinsurance Ceded		(46,698	)		(43,519	)
Net Premiums	$	17,865,588		$	11,786,302

Other Revenues: Other revenues primarily include other fee income, trust income, management services income, exchange services income, and income related to the Company’s equity method investments. Other revenues were $1,283,220 for the first quarter of 2011 compared with $979,337 in the prior year quarter. The increase in other revenues is primarily due to increases in equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, exchange service revenues, trust income and fees associated with the title industry.

Nonoperating Revenues

Investment income and realized gains and losses from investments are included in nonoperating revenues.

Investment Income: The Company derives a substantial portion of its income from investments in municipal and corporate bonds and equity securities. The Company's title insurance subsidiaries are required by statute to maintain minimum levels of investments in order to protect the interests of policyholders.

In formulating its investment strategy, the Company has emphasized after-tax income. The Company’s investments are primarily in bonds and, to a lesser extent, equity securities. The effective maturity of the majority of the bonds is within 10 years. The Company’s invested assets are managed to fund its obligations and evaluated to ensure long term stability of capital accounts.

As the Company generates cash from operations, it is invested in accordance with the Company’s investment policy and corporate goals. The Company’s investment policies have been designed to balance multiple goals, including the assurance of a stable source of income from interest and dividends, the preservation of principle, and the provision of liquidity sufficient to meet insurance underwriting and other obligations as they become payable in the future. Securities purchased may include a combination of taxable bonds, tax-exempt bonds and equity securities. The Company strives to maintain a high quality investment portfolio. Interest and investment income levels are primarily a function of general market performance, interest rates and the amount of cash available for investment.

Investment income decreased 0.8% to $899,372 in the first quarter of 2011 compared with $906,622 in the same period in 2010. The Company believes the decline in investment income in 2011 was due primarily to a lower investment balance and a slightly lower level of interest earned on short-term funds.

Net Realized (Loss) Gain on Investments: Dispositions of equity securities at a realized gain or loss reflect such factors as industry sector allocation decisions, ongoing assessments of issuers’ business prospects and tax planning considerations. Additionally, the amounts of net realized investment gains and losses are affected by assessments of securities’ valuation for other-than-temporary impairment. As a result of the interaction of these factors and considerations, net realized investment gains or losses can vary significantly from period to period.

Net realized loss on investments was $26,160 for the first quarter of 2011, compared with a net realized gain of $25,150 for the same period in 2010. The 2011 net loss included impairment charges of $69,276 on certain investments and other assets that were deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, offset by net realized gains on the sales of investments and property acquired in the settlement of claims of $43,116. The 2009 net loss included impairment charges of $22,998 on certain investments offset by net realized gains on the sales of investments of $48,148. Management believes unrealized losses on remaining fixed income and equity securities at March 31, 2011 are temporary in nature.

The securities in the Company’s portfolio are subject to economic conditions and market risks. The Company considers relevant facts and circumstances in evaluating whether a credit or interest-related impairment of a security is other-than-temporary. Relevant facts and circumstances include the extent and length of time the fair value of an investment has been below cost.

There are a number of risks and uncertainties inherent in the process of monitoring impairments and determining if an impairment is other-than-temporary. These risks and uncertainties include the risk that the economic outlook will be worse than expected or have more of an impact on the issuer than anticipated, the risk that the Company’s assessment of an issuer’s ability to meet all of its contractual obligations will change based on changes in the characteristics of that issuer, the risk that information obtained by the Company or changes in other facts and circumstances leads management to change its intent to hold the equity security until it recovers in value or its intent to sell the debt security, and the risk that management is making decisions based on misstated information in the financial statements provided by issuers.

Expenses

Operating Expenses: The Company’s operating expenses consist primarily of commissions to agents, salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes, provisions for claims and office occupancy and operations. Operating expenses increased 36.5% for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 compared with the same period in 2010. The total increase in operating expenses resulted primarily from increases in commissions partially offset by decreases in the provision for claims.

Following is a summary of the Company’s operating expenses for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010. Inter-segment eliminations have been netted; therefore, the individual segment amounts will not agree to Note 5 in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2011		%	Three Months Ended March 31, 2010		%
Title insurance	$	17,339,985	92.8	$	12,484,519	91.2
All other		1,335,828	7.2		1,197,477	8.8
	$	18,675,813	100.0	$	13,681,996	100.0

On a combined basis, profit margins were 6.7% and 0.1% in the first quarters of 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Commissions: Agent commissions represent the portion of premiums retained by agents pursuant to the terms of their respective agency contracts. Current quarter commissions to agents increased 94.3% from the prior year primarily due to increased premiums from agency operations in Texas in 2011. Commission expense as a percentage of net premiums written by agents was 76.8% and 69.7% for the first quarter 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase in average commission rate in 2011 compared with 2010 is related to the Company’s growth in agency premiums and an increase in agent business from markets with higher premium rates, primarily Texas. Commission rates vary by the geographic area in which the commission is paid and may be influenced by state regulations.

Provisions for Claims: The provision for claims as a percentage of net premiums written was 4.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2011, versus 11.1% for the same period in 2010. Factors resulting in the lower loss provision rate in 2011 include favorable loss development in recent policy years, as well as a decline in the relative share of North Carolina business as a percentage of the total. Since North Carolina’s premium rates are less than half the national average, the resulting loss ratio for North Carolina business is higher than for our other markets.

The improvement in the loss provision rate for the first quarter of 2011 from the 2010 level resulted in approximately $1,268,000 less in reserves than would have been recorded at the higher 2010 level. Loss provision ratios are subject to variability and are reviewed and adjusted as experience develops.

Title claims are typically reported and paid within the first several years of policy issuance. The provision for claims reflects actual payments of claims, net of recovery amounts, plus adjustments to the specific and incurred but not reported claims reserves, the latter of which are actuarially determined based on historical claims experience. Actual payments of claims, net of recoveries, were $1,198,326 and $1,972,404 in the first quarter of 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Reserves for Claims: At March 31, 2011, the total reserves for claims were approximately $37,722,000. Of that total, $5,871,595 was reserved for specific claims, and approximately $31,850,000 was reserved for claims for which the Company had no notice. Because of the uncertainty of future claims, changes in economic conditions and the fact that many claims do not materialize for several years, reserve estimates are subject to variability.

Changes in the expected liability for claims for prior periods reflect the uncertainty of the claims environment, as well as the limited predictive power of historical data. The Company continually updates and refines its reserve estimates as current experience develops and credible data emerges. Adjustments may be required as new information develops which often varies from past experience.

Movements in the reserves related to prior periods were primarily the result of changes to estimates to better reflect the latest reported loss data, rather than as a result of material changes to underlying key actuarial assumptions or methodologies. Such changes include payments on claims closed during the quarter, new details that emerge on still-open cases that cause claims adjusters to increase or decrease the case reserves and the impact that these types of changes have on the Company’s total loss provision.

Salaries, Employee Benefits and Payroll Taxes: Personnel costs include base salaries, benefits and payroll taxes, and bonuses paid to employees. Salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes were $4,691,996 and $4,484,312 for the first quarters of 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase in 2011 was primarily due to an increase in employee benefits and bonus expense. On a consolidated basis, salaries, employee benefits and payroll taxes as a percentage of total revenues were 23.4% and 32.7% for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Office Occupancy and Operations: Overall office occupancy and operations expenses as a percentage of total revenues were 4.8% and 7.9% for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The decrease in office occupancy and operations expenses in 2011 compared with 2010 were primarily due to decreases in internet and communications, insurance, rent and postage expenses as part of the Company’s ongoing initiative to reduce operating expenses.

Premium and Retaliatory Taxes: Title insurance companies are generally not subject to state income or franchise taxes. However, in most states they are subject to premium and retaliatory taxes, as defined by statute. Premium tax rates vary from state to state; accordingly, the total premium tax burden is dependent upon the geographical mix of operating revenues. Premium and retaliatory taxes as a percentage of net premiums written were 2.3% and 2.6% for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Professional and Contract Labor Fees: Professional and contract labor fees for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 decreased approximately $57,000 compared with the prior year period, primarily due to decreases in temporary labor fees incurred.

Business Development: Business development expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 increased approximately $113,000 compared with 2010 primarily due to increases in marketing expenses related to a higher levels of marketing efforts, partially offset by decreases in travel-related expenses.

Other Expenses: Other operating expenses primarily include miscellaneous operating expenses of the trust division and other miscellaneous expenses of the title segment. These amounts typically fluctuate in relation with transaction volume of the title segment and the trust division.

Income Taxes

The provision (benefit) for income taxes was $327,000 and $(2,000) for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Income tax expense (benefit) as a percentage of earnings before income taxes was 24.3% and (13.0%), for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase for 2011 from 2010 was primarily due to a higher proportion of taxable to tax-exempt investment income. The effective income tax rate for both 2011 and 2010 was below the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 34%, primarily due to the effect of tax exempt income. Tax-exempt income lowers the effective tax rate.

The Company believes it is more likely than not that the tax benefits associated with recognized, impairment and unrecognized losses recorded through March 31, 2011 will be realized. However, this judgment could be impacted by further market fluctuations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity: Cash flows provided by operating activities increased from 2010 to 2011, primarily due to the collection of receivables and an increase in net income in the first quarter of 2011. Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2011 increased approximately $3,500,000 from the prior year quarter to approximately $11,600,000, due to cash provided by investing and operating activities in 2011.

Due to the Company’s historical consistent ability to generate positive cash flows from its consolidated operations and investment income, management believes that funds generated from operations will enable the Company to adequately meet its current operating needs for the foreseeable future. However, there can be no assurance that future experience will be similar to historical experience, since it is influenced by such factors as the interest rate environment, the Company’s claims-paying ability and its financial strength ratings. The Company is unaware of any trend that is likely to result in material adverse liquidity changes, but continually assesses its capital allocation strategy, including decisions relating to repurchasing the Company’s stock and/or conserving cash. The Company’s current cash requirements include general operating expenses, income taxes, capital expenditures, dividends on its common stock declared by the Board of Directors and share repurchases of its common stock.

In addition to operational liquidity, the Company maintains a high degree of liquidity within its investment portfolio in the form of short-term investments and other readily marketable securities.

The Company’s investment portfolio is considered as available-for-sale. The Company reviews the status of each of its securities quarterly to determine whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred.

Cash Flows: Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities were $1,607,559 and $(1,005,483) for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The primary use of cash in operations was payments of claims, accounts payable and income taxes. Cash flows from operations have historically been the primary source of financing for expanding operations, additions to property and equipment, dividends to shareholders, and operating requirements.

The principal non-operating use of cash and cash equivalents in 2011 was repurchases of common stock. The principal non-operating use of cash and cash equivalents in 2010 was purchases of securities to the investment portfolio. The net effect of all activities on total cash and cash equivalents was an increase of $3,482,504 for 2011 and a decrease of $4,211,747 for 2010. As of March 31, 2011, the Company held cash and cash equivalents of $11,599,535, short-term investments of $20,895,922, fixed maturity securities of $85,418,326 and equity securities of $15,595,241.

As noted previously, the Company’s operating results and cash flows are heavily dependent on the real estate market. The Company’s business has certain fixed costs such as personnel; therefore, changes in the real estate market are monitored closely and operating expenses such as staffing levels are managed and adjusted accordingly. The Company believes, however, that its significant working capital position and management of operating expenses will aid its ability to manage cash resources through fluctuations in the real estate market

Receipt of Dividends from Subsidiaries: The Company believes that all anticipated cash requirements for current operations will be met from internally generated funds, through cash dividends and distributions from subsidiaries and cash generated by investment securities. The Company’s significant sources of funds are dividends and distributions from its subsidiaries. The holding company receives cash from its subsidiaries in the form of dividends and as reimbursements for operating and other administrative expenses that it incurs. The reimbursements are executed within the guidelines of management agreements between the holding company and its subsidiaries.

The Company’s ability to pay dividends and operating expenses is dependent on funds received from the insurance subsidiaries, which are subject to regulation in the states in which they do business. Each state of domicile regulates the extent to which the Company’s title underwriters can pay dividends or make distributions. These regulations, among other things, require prior regulatory approval of the payment of dividends and other intercompany transfers. The Company believes that amounts available for transfer from the insurance and other subsidiaries are adequate to meet the Company’s current operating needs.

The maximum dividend permitted by law is not necessarily indicative of an insurer’s actual ability to pay dividends, which may be constrained by regulatory and business considerations, such as the impact of dividends on surplus, which could affect an insurer’s ratings. Further, depending on regulatory and business conditions, the Company may in the future need to retain cash in its underwriting subsidiaries in order to maintain their ratings or their statutory capital position. Such requirements could be the result of adverse financial results, changes in interpretation of statutory accounting requirements by regulators, reserve charges or investment losses.

Purchase of Company Stock: On November 10, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the purchase of an additional 394,582 shares pursuant to the Company’s stock repurchase plan, such that there was authority remaining under the plan to purchase up to an aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Company's common stock pursuant to the plan immediately after the approval. Pursuant to this approval, the Company purchased 126,768 shares in the quarter ended March 31, 2011 and 2,178 shares in the quarter ended March 31, 2010 at an average per share price of $30.99 and $33.69, respectively.

Capital Expenditures: During 2011, the Company has plans for various capital improvement projects, including hardware purchases and software projects that are anticipated to be funded via cash flows from operations. All material anticipated capital expenditures are subject to periodic review and revision and may vary depending on a number of factors.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As a service to its customers, the Company, through ITIC, administers escrow and trust deposits representing earnest money received under real estate contracts, undisbursed amounts received for settlement of mortgage loans and indemnities against specific title risks. These amounts are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. However, the Company remains contingently liable for the disposition of these deposits.

In addition, in administering tax-deferred property exchanges, ITEC serves as a qualified intermediary for exchanges, holding the net sales proceeds from relinquished property to be used for purchase of replacement property. ITAC serves as exchange accommodation titleholder and, through limited liability companies that are wholly owned subsidiaries of ITAC, holds property for exchangers in reverse exchange transactions. Like-kind exchange deposits are held at third-party financial institutions. These amounts are not considered assets of the Company for accounting purposes and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Exchange services revenues include earnings on these deposits; therefore, investment income is shown as exchange services revenue, rather than investment income. The Company remains contingently liable to customers for the transfers of property, disbursements of proceeds, and the return on the proceeds at the agreed upon rate.

External assets under management and administration by Investors Trust Company are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

It is not the general practice of the Company to enter into off-balance sheet arrangements, nor is it the policy of the Company to issue guarantees to third parties. The Company does not have any material source of liquidity or financing that involves off-balance sheet arrangements. Other than items noted above, off-balance sheet arrangements are generally limited to the future payments under noncancelable operating leases, payments due under various agreements with third party service providers and unaccrued obligations pursuant to certain executive employment agreements.

Recent Accounting Standards

For a description of recent accounting pronouncements, please refer to Note 1 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere herein.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as information included in future filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and information contained in written material, press releases and oral statements issued by or on behalf of the Company, contains, or may contain, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect management’s current outlook for future periods. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as "plan," "expect," "aim," "believe," "project," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "should," "could" and other expressions that indicate future events and trends. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Company's strategy for growth, product and service development, market share position, claims, expenditures, financial results and cash requirements, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that are subject to risks and uncertainties.

Actual future results and trends may differ materially from historical results or those projected in any such forward-looking statements depending on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

●

the level of real estate transactions, the level of mortgage origination volumes (including refinancing) and changes to the insurance requirements of the participants in the secondary mortgage market, and the effect of these factors on the demand for title insurance;

●

changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including the performance of the financial and real estate markets;

●

compliance with government regulation and significant changes to applicable regulations or in their application by regulators;

●

the possible inadequacy of provisions for claims to cover actual claim losses;

●

the incidence of fraud-related losses;

●

heightened regulatory scrutiny and investigations of the title insurance industry;

●

unanticipated adverse changes in securities markets, including interest rates, which could result in material losses on the Company’s investments;

●

the Company’s dependence on key management personnel, the loss of whom could have a material adverse affect on the Company’s business;

●

the Company’s ability to develop and offer products and services that meet changing industry standards in a timely and cost-effective manner;

●

statutory requirements applicable to the Company’s insurance subsidiaries which require them to maintain minimum levels of capital, surplus and reserves and restrict the amount of dividends that they may pay to the Company without prior regulatory approval;

●

significant competition that the Company’s operating subsidiaries face;

●

the Company’s business concentration in the states of North Carolina and Texas;

●

weakness in the commercial real estate market and increases in the amount or severity of commercial real estate claims; and

●

other risks detailed elsewhere in this document and in the Company’s other filings with the SEC.

These and other risks and uncertainties may be described from time to time in the Company's other reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more details on factors that could affect expectations, see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. The Company is not under any obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) and does not undertake to update or alter any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. You should consider the possibility that actual results may differ materially from our forward-looking statements.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company's disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

No system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the system of controls are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that the system of controls has operated effectively in all cases. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, however, are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the objectives of disclosure controls and procedures are met.

Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2011, to provide reasonable assurance that the objectives of disclosure controls and procedures are met.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the quarter ended March 31, 2011, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(a)	None
(b)	None
(c)	The following table provides information about purchases by the Company (and all affiliated purchasers) during the quarter ended March 31, 2011 of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act:

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan		Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plan
Beginning of period								473,576
01/01/11– 01/31/11		2,500	$	31.56		2,500		471,076
02/01/11– 02/28/11		13,079	$	31.85		13,079		457,997
03/01/11– 03/31/11		111,189	$	30.88		111,189		346,808
Total:		126,768	$	30.99		126,768		346,808

For the quarter ended March 31, 2011, the Company purchased an aggregate of 126,768 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the purchase plan (the “Plan”) that was publicly announced on June 5, 2000. On November 10, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the purchase of an additional 394,582 shares pursuant to the Plan, such that there was authority remaining under the Plan to purchase up to an aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Plan immediately after this approval. Unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Plan will expire when all shares authorized for purchase under the Plan have been purchased. The Company anticipates making further purchases under this Plan from time to time in the future, depending on such factors as the prevailing market price of the Company’s common stock, the Company’s available cash and then existing alternative uses for such cash.

Item 6. Exhibits

31(i)

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31(ii)

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	INVESTORS TITLE COMPANY

	By:	/s/ James A. Fine, Jr.
		James A. Fine, Jr.
		President, Principal Financial Officer and
		Principal Accounting Officer

Dated: April 29, 2011