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First Nat'l Fin Corp (TSE:FN)
TSX:FN

First National Financial (FN) AI Stock Analysis

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First National Financial

(TSX:FN)

Rating:57Neutral
Price Target:―
First National Financial's overall stock score reflects a mixed picture. Strengths include a high dividend yield and potential undervaluation. However, significant risks include high leverage, negative cash flow, and technical indicators suggesting downward pressure. The earnings call's cautiously optimistic tone and recent dividend announcements provide some balance, but financial vulnerabilities remain a concern.
Positive Factors
Earnings Growth
FN appears on track to resume earnings growth underpinned by more accommodative monetary policies and improving housing market transaction activity.
Origination Outlook
Single-family outlook remains constructive with FN guiding for increased year-over-year origination in the next two quarters.
Valuation
Valuations normalizing near long-term average with the stock trading at 10.5x earnings and a 6.3% dividend yield.
Negative Factors
Economic Uncertainty
Recent macro/trade developments introduce significant uncertainty that could delay a more meaningful recovery.
Tariff Impact
Tariff uncertainty may affect Canada negatively and could have an unfavorable impact on the Company, particularly if employment is affected in future periods.

First National Financial (FN) vs. iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC)

First National Financial Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionFirst National Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, originates, underwrites, and services commercial and residential mortgages in Canada. The company operates in two segments, Residential and Commercial segments. It offers single-family residential, and multi-unit residential and commercial mortgages. The company provides its services through mortgage broker distribution channel, as well as online. First National Financial Corporation was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
How the Company Makes MoneyFirst National Financial generates revenue primarily through its mortgage lending activities. The company earns interest income from the mortgages it originates and services. It also generates fees from underwriting and processing mortgage applications. Additionally, FN earns income by securitizing mortgages and selling them to investors, which provides liquidity and allows the company to originate more loans. Significant partnerships with financial institutions and access to capital markets are crucial factors that support FN's ability to maintain its lending operations and expand its market reach.

First National Financial Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 29, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 2.69%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 29, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed picture with strong growth in funding and MUA but faced challenges in profitability, NIM compression, and increased expenses. The outlook for Q2 remains positive with expectations for continued growth in originations.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Increase in Single Family Funding
Single family funding increased 34% year-over-year, showing substantial growth in this segment.
Commercial Mortgage Growth
Commercial mortgage originations rose 18% due to focus on insured multi-unit residential housing market.
Record MUA Growth
MUA increased 7% year-over-year, amounting to a $10.3 billion increase, showing resilience despite market challenges.
Positive Outlook for Q2
Expectations for ongoing growth in originations and strong funding volumes into Q2, supported by a robust commitment pipeline.
Negative Updates
Decrease in Pre-Fair Market Value Income
Pre-fair market value income was 16% lower than the previous year, reflecting challenges in profitability.
NIM Compression
Net interest margin was compressed by about 7 basis points year-over-year due to high-margin pandemic-era mortgages amortizing.
Lower Third-Party Underwriting Revenues
Revenues from third-party underwriting were lower, contributing to decreased mortgage servicing income.
Elevated Alt A Arrears
Alt A arrears remain elevated compared to the prime portfolio, posing a risk to credit performance.
Increase in Interest and Operating Expenses
Interest expense increased by 20% due to higher use of short-term funding, and operating costs rose due to IT expenses and headcount growth.
Company Guidance
In their first quarter earnings call for fiscal year 2025, First National reported a pre-fair market value income of $52.6 million, marking a 16% decrease from the previous year, despite a 7% year-over-year increase in Mortgage Under Administration (MUA) to $10.3 billion. Single-family funding surged by 34% year-over-year, and commercial mortgage originations rose 18%, supported by seven Bank of Canada rate reductions and government incentives like increased purchase price caps and 30-year amortizations for insured mortgages. However, challenges included a 7 basis point compression in net interest margin (NIM) and a 2% decline in net interest revenue on securitized mortgages. The Alt A arrears remained elevated compared to prime mortgages but showed improvement month-over-month. First National anticipates continued year-over-year growth in originations into Q2, driven by strong single-family mortgage commitments, while maintaining credit quality without adjusting pricing strategies.

First National Financial Financial Statement Overview

Summary
First National Financial is facing challenges with declining revenue, high leverage, and negative cash flow. Despite a strong net profit margin, the company struggles with cost management and cash conversion, and its high debt-to-equity ratio poses a significant risk.
Income Statement
55
Neutral
The company's income statement shows mixed results. While there's a noticeable decline in total revenue from $751.4 million in 2023 to $587.6 million in 2024, the net profit margin remains relatively strong at 34.6% for 2024. However, the gross profit margin is misleading as it equates to total revenue, suggesting all revenue is considered as gross profit without accounting for costs. This highlights potential issues with cost management or reporting. Additionally, EBIT and EBITDA are not reported for 2024, which limits the assessment of operating performance.
Balance Sheet
60
Neutral
The balance sheet reveals a high debt-to-equity ratio of 61.5, indicating significant leverage, which is typical for the banking industry but still poses potential risk if not managed carefully. The equity ratio is low at 1.4%, suggesting limited equity buffer against liabilities. Despite these concerns, the consistency in stockholders' equity over the years provides some stability. However, the high level of total liabilities compared to equity is a notable risk factor.
Cash Flow
45
Neutral
Cash flow analysis indicates challenges with negative operating cash flow of -$763.7 million and free cash flow of -$768.1 million for 2024, reflecting potential liquidity issues. The free cash flow to net income ratio is negative, suggesting that the company's earnings are not translating into cash flow. This raises concerns about the sustainability of operations without external financing. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is also negative, further highlighting cash generation issues.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.35B587.61M751.40M698.99M513.63M459.87M
Gross Profit567.85M587.61M-589.24M-290.85M-391.21M-464.95M
EBITDA423.56M453.28M511.47M0.00321.91M319.63M
Net Income178.07M203.39M252.81M197.73M194.56M190.23M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets52.17B51.16B45.96B43.76B42.27B39.49B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments0.000.00702.40M-51.17M-52.87M-22.92M
Total Debt46.90B45.40B40.61B38.40B36.99B35.37B
Total Liabilities51.46B50.42B45.22B38.35B37.12B38.92B
Stockholders Equity715.86M738.21M737.76M698.98M577.41M570.80M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-562.73M-768.10M-109.71M496.78M-434.85M-254.54M
Operating Cash Flow-559.32M-763.72M-103.51M509.16M-402.89M-250.96M
Investing Cash Flow-2.27M105.40M-77.45M-52.87M-12.74M145.83M
Financing Cash Flow720.51M663.69M163.82M-556.73M133.05M220.05M

First National Financial Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price41.26
Price Trends
50DMA
38.82
Positive
100DMA
38.88
Positive
200DMA
39.03
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.79
Negative
RSI
73.39
Negative
STOCH
88.22
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TSE:FN, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 41.26 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 39.68, above the 50-day MA of 38.82, and above the 200-day MA of 39.03, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.79 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 73.39 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 88.22 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for TSE:FN.

First National Financial Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (58)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
TSMKP
74
Outperform
C$755.62M10.4011.99%8.52%19.71%-15.59%
TSTF
73
Outperform
C$633.06M13.646.74%12.48%-8.68%-25.42%
TSAI
68
Neutral
C$547.94M11.059.47%11.18%-1.56%-9.70%
TSFC
67
Neutral
C$450.39M12.038.89%10.48%-4.56%0.77%
63
Neutral
C$700.79M37.65-151.96%2.46%35.48%-4412.25%
58
Neutral
$12.55B5.32-2.71%5.27%5.88%-56.03%
TSFN
57
Neutral
C$2.47B14.2024.01%8.31%13.85%-33.76%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TSE:FN
First National Financial
41.26
7.97
23.94%
TSE:AI
Atrium Mortgage Invest
11.53
1.59
16.00%
TSE:FC
Firm Cap Mortgage Invest
12.26
2.16
21.39%
TSE:DLCG
Dominion Lending Centres, Inc. (Canada) Class A
8.93
5.32
147.37%
TSE:MKP
MCAN Mortgage
19.24
4.34
29.13%
TSE:TF
Timbercreek Financial
7.65
1.12
17.15%

First National Financial Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
First National Financial Reports Q1 2025 Results with Record MUA Growth
Neutral
Apr 29, 2025

First National Financial Corporation reported a 7% increase in Mortgages Under Administration (MUA) to a record $155.4 billion for the first quarter of 2025, with revenue rising 2% to $528.9 million. Despite these gains, net income fell to $24.6 million due to lower mortgage servicing revenue, falling interest rates, and planned investments. The company anticipates future profitability from its securitization and servicing portfolios, with expectations of continued origination growth in the second quarter.

Spark’s Take on TSE:FN Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, TSE:FN is a Neutral.

First National Financial’s stock score reflects a mixed picture. Financial vulnerabilities such as high leverage and negative cash flow are key risks. However, strengths in mortgage growth and a high dividend yield provide some balance. Technical analysis shows potential downside risks, and the earnings call suggests cautious optimism amid operational challenges.

To see Spark’s full report on TSE:FN stock, click here.

Dividends
First National Financial Announces April Dividend Payment
Positive
Apr 15, 2025

First National Financial Corporation announced a monthly dividend payment of $0.208334 per common share for April 2025, payable on May 15, 2025. This announcement underscores the company’s commitment to providing returns to its shareholders and reflects its strong position in the mortgage industry as one of the leading non-bank mortgage originators and underwriters in Canada.

Spark’s Take on TSE:FN Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, TSE:FN is a Neutral.

First National Financial’s overall stock score reflects a mixed picture. The company has significant strengths in mortgage growth and maintains a high dividend yield, appealing to income-focused investors. However, financial vulnerabilities such as high leverage and negative cash flow pose risks. Additionally, technical indicators imply potential downward pressure. The earnings call’s cautiously optimistic tone balances some of these concerns, highlighting strategic growth areas while acknowledging challenges.

To see Spark’s full report on TSE:FN stock, click here.

Financial Disclosures
First National Financial Announces Q1 2025 Earnings Call
Neutral
Mar 25, 2025

First National Financial Corporation has announced its schedule for the first quarter 2025 financial reporting. The company will release its financial results on April 29, 2025, after market close, followed by an earnings call on April 30, 2025. This announcement highlights the company’s transparency and commitment to keeping stakeholders informed, potentially impacting its market positioning and stakeholder confidence.

Dividends
First National Financial Announces March Dividend Details
Positive
Mar 14, 2025

First National Financial Corporation announced its March dividend details, including a monthly dividend of $0.208334 per common share and quarterly dividends for its Class A Series 1 and Series 2 Preference Shares. The dividends will be payable on April 15, 2025, to shareholders of record as of March 31, 2025. The company also set a dividend rate of 4.908% for its Class A Series 2 Preference Shares for the next quarter. These dividends are designated as eligible under Canadian tax legislation, reflecting First National’s continued commitment to providing returns to its investors.

DividendsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
First National Financial Reports Strong Revenue Growth Amid Market Challenges
Positive
Mar 4, 2025

First National Financial Corporation reported a 19% increase in fourth-quarter revenue to $600.1 million, despite a 3% decrease in Pre-FMV Income. The annual revenue rose by 10% to $2.2 billion, although net income declined to $203.4 million. The company achieved a record $153.7 billion in Mortgages Under Administration, highlighting its resilience in a changing market. The CEO emphasized the company’s ability to capitalize on growth opportunities and maintain profitability, as evidenced by a 33% after-tax Pre-FMV return on equity and consistent dividend increases.

Dividends
First National Financial Announces February 2025 Dividend Payment
Positive
Feb 14, 2025

First National Financial Corporation announced a monthly dividend payment of $0.208334 per common share for February 2025. This dividend will be payable on March 14, 2025, to shareholders of record by February 28, 2025, and is considered an eligible dividend for income tax purposes. This announcement reinforces First National’s commitment to providing consistent returns to its investors and highlights its stable position in the financial market.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: May 01, 2025