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SEI Investments (SEIC) Tops Q4 Earnings on Higher AUM

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SEI Investments Co. (SEIC - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2016 earnings per share of 55 cents, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 50 cents. Moreover, the bottom line improved 14.6% from the prior-year quarter.

Higher revenues and income from operations, coupled with improvement in assets under management (AUM), aided the results. However, the quarter witnessed an increase in expenses.

Net income for the quarter came in at $88.6 million, up 8.9% from the year-ago period.

The company reported full-year earnings per share of $2.03, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.99. Moreover, the figure represents an increase of 3.6% from the prior-year quarter. Also, net income for 2016 came in at $333.8 million, up nearly 1% year over year.

Revenues and AUM Grow, Expenses Escalate

Revenues for the quarter grew nearly 10% year over year to $368.8 million. The rise mainly reflected an increase in asset management, administration and distribution fees as well as higher information processing and software servicing fees. Moreover, the figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $359.8 million.

For the full-year, revenues came in at $1.40 billion, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.39 billion. Also, the reported figure was up 5% year over year.

Total expenses amounted to $270.7 million, up 6.9% year over year. Components other than software royalties & other information processing costs, brokerage commissions, stock-based compensation, and facilities, supplies and other costs recorded an upside.

Operating income rose 19.4% year over year to $98.1 million.

As of Dec 31, 2016, AUM rose 7.9% year over year to $283.1 billion. Total client AUM was $468 billion, up 14.7% year over year. Note that client AUM as of Dec 31, 2016 does not include $1.3 billion related to Funds of Funds assets that were reported on Dec 31, 2015.

Share Repurchase

In the reported quarter, SEI Investments bought back 1.4 million shares of its common stock for $66.8 million.

Our Take

SEI Investments’ innovative and diverse global investment products and services makes it well positioned to grow organically. Moreover, robust asset inflows are likely to be accretive to the company’s overall growth. Further, impressive capital deployment activities should enhance shareholder value.

However, elevated expenses, increased reliance on fee-based revenues and regulatory constraints remain primary concerns for the company.

SEI Investments Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
 

SEI Investments Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | SEI Investments Company Quote

Currently, SEI Investments carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Among other Investment managers, Waddell & Reed Financial Inc. is slated to report results on Jan 31. Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (AMP - Free Report) and Legg Mason, Inc. are slated to release their numbers on Feb 1.

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