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Waddell & Reed Financial Inc.’s second-quarter 2020 earnings of 38 cents per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 34 cents. However, the bottom line declined 16% year over year.
The results reflect lower operating expenses. However, a decline in revenues and lower assets under management (AUM) balance owing to substantial outflows were major undermining factors. Perhaps due to these concerns, the company’s shares lost 3.7% following the earnings release.
Net income attributable to Waddell & Reed totaled $24.8 million, down 27% from the prior-year quarter.
Revenues & Expenses Down
Revenues declined 11% year over year to $240 million. A fall in all revenue components was witnessed during the quarter. Further, the figure lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $251.7 million.
Gross sales grew 1% year over year to $2.2 billion. Redemptions were $3.6 billion, down from $4.5 billion in the prior-year quarter.
Operating expenses fell 5% on a year-over-year basis to $216.4 million.
Adjusted operating margin was 9.8%, down from 15.3% in the year-ago quarter.
As of Jun 30, 2020, AUM totaled $65 billion, down 10% year over year. Net outflows of $1.4 billion were recorded in the quarter.
As of Jun 30, 2020, the company’s cash and cash equivalents, and investment securities totaled $775.8 million. Stockholders’ equity was $776.7 million.
Performance of Distribution Channels
At the Unaffiliated channel, gross sales improved 15% year over year to $1.49 billion. Net outflows were $484 million compared with $847 million recorded in the year-ago quarter.
Gross sales at the Institutional channel were $52 million, down 4% from the year-ago quarter. The segment’s net outflows were $128 million compared with $361 million a year ago.
At the Wealth Management channel, gross sales decreased 18% year over year to $649 million. Net outflows totaled $837 million, up 27% from a year ago.
Share Repurchase Update
Waddell & Reed bought back 1.5 billion shares for $18.1 million during the quarter.
Our Take
The company’s focus on strengthening the Wealth Management channel is expected to support profitability over the long term. However, outflows and weak revenue growth are major near-term concerns.
Waddell Reed Financial, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
SEI Investments Co.’s (SEIC - Free Report) second-quarter 2020 earnings of 68 cents per share lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 69 cents. Moreover, the figure reflects a decline of 17.1% from the prior-year quarter.
Cohen & Steers’ (CNS - Free Report) second-quarter 2020 adjusted earnings of 54 cents per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 55 cents. Moreover, the bottom line was 12.9% lower than the year-ago reported figure.
Affiliated Managers Group Inc.’s (AMG - Free Report) second-quarter 2020 economic earnings of $2.74 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.70. However, the bottom line declined 17.7% year over year.
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Waddell & Reed (WDR) Stock Down 3.7% Despite Q2 Earnings Beat
Waddell & Reed Financial Inc.’s second-quarter 2020 earnings of 38 cents per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 34 cents. However, the bottom line declined 16% year over year.
The results reflect lower operating expenses. However, a decline in revenues and lower assets under management (AUM) balance owing to substantial outflows were major undermining factors. Perhaps due to these concerns, the company’s shares lost 3.7% following the earnings release.
Net income attributable to Waddell & Reed totaled $24.8 million, down 27% from the prior-year quarter.
Revenues & Expenses Down
Revenues declined 11% year over year to $240 million. A fall in all revenue components was witnessed during the quarter. Further, the figure lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $251.7 million.
Gross sales grew 1% year over year to $2.2 billion. Redemptions were $3.6 billion, down from $4.5 billion in the prior-year quarter.
Operating expenses fell 5% on a year-over-year basis to $216.4 million.
Adjusted operating margin was 9.8%, down from 15.3% in the year-ago quarter.
As of Jun 30, 2020, AUM totaled $65 billion, down 10% year over year. Net outflows of $1.4 billion were recorded in the quarter.
As of Jun 30, 2020, the company’s cash and cash equivalents, and investment securities totaled $775.8 million. Stockholders’ equity was $776.7 million.
Performance of Distribution Channels
At the Unaffiliated channel, gross sales improved 15% year over year to $1.49 billion. Net outflows were $484 million compared with $847 million recorded in the year-ago quarter.
Gross sales at the Institutional channel were $52 million, down 4% from the year-ago quarter. The segment’s net outflows were $128 million compared with $361 million a year ago.
At the Wealth Management channel, gross sales decreased 18% year over year to $649 million. Net outflows totaled $837 million, up 27% from a year ago.
Share Repurchase Update
Waddell & Reed bought back 1.5 billion shares for $18.1 million during the quarter.
Our Take
The company’s focus on strengthening the Wealth Management channel is expected to support profitability over the long term. However, outflows and weak revenue growth are major near-term concerns.
Waddell Reed Financial, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Waddell Reed Financial, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Waddell Reed Financial, Inc. Quote
Waddell & Reed currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Asset Managers
SEI Investments Co.’s (SEIC - Free Report) second-quarter 2020 earnings of 68 cents per share lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 69 cents. Moreover, the figure reflects a decline of 17.1% from the prior-year quarter.
Cohen & Steers’ (CNS - Free Report) second-quarter 2020 adjusted earnings of 54 cents per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 55 cents. Moreover, the bottom line was 12.9% lower than the year-ago reported figure.
Affiliated Managers Group Inc.’s (AMG - Free Report) second-quarter 2020 economic earnings of $2.74 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.70. However, the bottom line declined 17.7% year over year.
Today's Best Stocks from Zacks
Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2019, while the S&P 500 gained an impressive +53.6%, five of our strategies returned +65.8%, +97.1%, +118.0%, +175.7% and even +186.7%.
This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 – 2019, while the S&P averaged +6.0% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +54.7% per year.
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