Fidelity National Financial, the largest title insurer in the United States, posted its fourth quarter and annual results yesterday, showing quarterly and annual profits that reversed losses of a year ago.

Fidelity showed a profit of $69.3 in the fourth quarter of 2009, or 30 cents per share of its stock, as opposed to a loss of $14.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.  For the year, the company turned a profit of $222.3 million, or 97 cents per share, reversing a loss of $179.0 million in 2008.

Fidelity National Financial's title insurance operation constitutes over 90% of its revenues.  Fidelity National Title Group posted $1.34 billion in revenue in the 4th quarter of 2009, up from $896.2 million in the same quarter of 2008-- a 49% increase.  For the year, title revenues totaled $5.39 billion, up from $3.82 million a year ago, or an increase of 41% from the year. 

Fidelity National Financial is the parent company of Fidelity National Title, Chicago Title, Commonwealth Land Title, Lawyers Title, Ticor Title, Security Union Title and Alamo Title.  Commonwealth Land Title and Lawyers Title are former subsidiaries of LandAmerica, and were acquired by Fidelity National Financial after LandAmerica declared bankruptcy in 2008.  In the process of integrating Lawyers Title and Commonwealth Title into its other business operations, Fidelity National Financial eliminated approximately 2,300 jobs and closed 240 offices at those companies during 2009.