<ARTICLE>                     7
<LEGEND>

                    STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION



THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AS OF  SEPTEMBER  30, 1999 AND THE RELATED  STATEMENT  OF EARNINGS FOR THE
NINE  MONTHS  ENDED  SEPTEMBER  30,  1999 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                  1000

                                       

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                     Year

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999

<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999

<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           243,631
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                           0
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 302,392  <F1>
<CASH>                                          41,205
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 523,763
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                179,519
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 19,101
<COMMON>                                        14,633
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     272,296
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   523,763
<PREMIUMS>                                     749,293
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             15,186
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  50
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  45,823
<BENEFITS>                                      31,123
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 44,382
<INCOME-TAX>                                    16,958
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             27,424
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,424
<EPS-BASIC>                                     1.90
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.88
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 171,763
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                             28,750  <F2>
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                2,923
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                              (5,864)
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                               (18,053)
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                179,519
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0

<FN>
<F1>  Includes short-term investments.
<F2>  Includes  reserve  balance  increase  of $550 from the  acquisition  of an
      existing underwriter.
</FN>