LPL Financial Announces Third Quarter 2018 Results


 Key Performance Indicators


•      Earnings per share ("EPS") increased 89% year-over-year to $1.19.

  • Net Income increased 84% year-over-year to $107 million.

•      EPS prior to Amortization of Intangible Assets** increased 90% year-over-year to $1.32.

•      Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets increased 22% year-over-year to $681 billion, up 3% sequentially.

•      Total Net New Assets were an inflow of $4.4 billion, translating to a 2.7% annualized growth rate.

  • Net new advisory assets were an inflow of $5.1 billion, translating to a 7.0% annualized growth rate.
  • Net new brokerage assets were an outflow of $0.8 billion, translating to a (0.8)% annualized rate.
  • Recruited Assets(1) were $9.1 billion in Q3, and $18.8 billion year-to-date.
  • Advisor count was 16,174 , up 125 sequentially, and production retention rate year-to-date was 96%.

•      Gross Profit** increased 27% year-over-year to $493 million.

•      EBITDA** increased 40% year-over-year to $218 million.

  • EBITDA as a percentage of Gross Profit was 44%, up from 40% a year ago.
  • Core G&A** increased 17% year-over-year to $209 million, up 9% sequentially.

      Shareholder capital returns were $144 million, translating to $1.61 per share.

  • Share repurchases were $122 million for 1.8 million shares at an average purchase price of $66.24.
  • Dividends were $22 million.

•         Cash available for corporate use was $392 million.

•         Credit Agreement Net Leverage Ratio(2) was 2.24x, down 0.10x from the prior quarter.


Key Updates

•         Tightened 2018 Core G&A** outlook range from $805 to $825 million to $810 to $820 million.

•         Announced next Investor and Analyst Day will be held on May 22, 2019 in New York City.


SAN DIEGO, Oct. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:LPLA) (the “Company”) today announced results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2018, reporting net income of $107 million, or $1.19 per share. This compares with $58 million, or $0.63 per share, in the third quarter of 2017 and $119 million, or $1.30 per share, in the prior quarter.

“We had another quarter of business and earnings growth,” said Dan Arnold, President and CEO.  “Organic growth was solid, and momentum continued to build, driven by increased advisor recruiting, productivity, and retention. Looking forward, we remain focused on helping advisors win in the marketplace by enhancing capabilities, making it easier for advisors to do business with us, and investing in technology.”

“Earnings continued to grow in the third quarter as we grew assets and generated operating leverage,” said Matt Audette, CFO. “We also increased our investments to drive organic growth, and we returned capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Looking ahead to 2019, we see opportunities to deploy more capital into organic growth, while taking advantage of M&A opportunities when appropriate, and returning capital to shareholders.”

Dividend Declaration

The Company's Board of Directors declared a $0.25 per share dividend to be paid on November 26, 2018 to all stockholders of record as of November 8, 2018.

Conference Call and Additional Information

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its results at 5:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, October 25.  To listen, call 877-677-9122 (domestic) or 708-290-1401 (international); passcode 2257459, or visit investor.lpl.com (webcast).  Replays will be available by phone and on investor.lpl.com beginning two hours after the call and until November 1 and November 15, respectively.  For telephonic replay, call 855-859-2056 (domestic) or 404-537-3406 (international); passcode 2257459.

About LPL Financial

LPL Financial is a leader in the retail financial advice market and the nation’s largest independent broker/dealer*. We serve independent financial advisors and financial institutions, providing them with the technology, research, clearing and compliance services, and practice management programs they need to create and grow thriving practices.  LPL enables them to provide objective guidance to millions of American families seeking wealth management, retirement planning, financial planning and asset management solutions.  LPL.com

*based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine June 1996-2018.

Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial. A Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.

**Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management believes that presenting certain non-GAAP financial measures by excluding or including certain items can be helpful to investors and analysts who may wish to use this information to analyze the Company’s current performance, prospects, and valuation. Management uses this non-GAAP information internally to evaluate operating performance and in formulating the budget for future periods. Management believes that the non-GAAP financial measures and metrics discussed below are appropriate for evaluating the performance of the Company.

EPS Prior to Amortization of Intangible Assets is defined as GAAP EPS plus the per share impact of Amortization of Intangible Assets. The per share impact is calculated as Amortization of Intangible Assets expense, net of applicable tax benefit, divided by the number of shares outstanding for the applicable period. The Company presents EPS Prior to Amortization of Intangible Assets because management believes that the metric can provide investors with useful insight into the Company’s core operating performance by excluding non-cash items that management does not believe impact the Company’s ongoing operations. EPS Prior to Amortization of Intangible Assets is not a measure of the Company's financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP EPS or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. For a reconciliation of EPS Prior to Amortization of Intangible Assets to GAAP EPS, please see footnote 34 on page 20 of this release.

Gross Profit is calculated as net revenues, which were $1,331 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, less commission and advisory expenses and brokerage, clearing, and exchange fees, which were $822 million and $16 million, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2018. All other expense categories, including depreciation and amortization of fixed assets and amortization of intangible assets, are considered general and administrative in nature. Because the Company’s gross profit amounts do not include any depreciation and amortization expense, the Company considers its gross profit amounts to be non-GAAP financial measures that may not be comparable to those of others in its industry. Management believes that Gross Profit can provide investors with useful insight into the Company’s core operating performance before indirect costs that are general and administrative in nature.

Core G&A consists of total operating expenses, which were $1,152 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, excluding the following expenses: commission and advisory, regulatory charges, promotional, employee share-based compensation, depreciation and amortization, amortization of intangible assets, and brokerage, clearing, and exchange. Management presents Core G&A because it believes Core G&A reflects the corporate operating expense categories over which management can generally exercise a measure of control, compared with expense items over which management either cannot exercise control, such as commission and advisory expenses, or which management views as promotional expense necessary to support advisor growth and retention including conferences and transition assistance. Core G&A is not a measure of the Company’s total operating expenses as calculated in accordance with GAAP. For a reconciliation of Core G&A against the Company’s total operating expenses, please see footnote 5 on page 18 of this release. The Company does not provide an outlook for its total operating expenses because it contains expense components, such as commission and advisory expenses, that are market-driven and over which the Company cannot exercise control. Accordingly a reconciliation of the Company’s outlook for Core G&A to an outlook for total operating expenses cannot be made available without unreasonable effort.

EBITDA is defined as net income plus interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation, amortization and loss on extinguishment of debt. The Company presents EBITDA because management believes that it can be a useful financial metric in understanding the Company’s earnings from operations. EBITDA is not a measure of the Company's financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of profitability or liquidity. In addition, the Company’s EBITDA can differ significantly from EBITDA calculated by other companies, depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which companies operate, and capital investments.

Credit Agreement EBITDA is defined in, and calculated by management in accordance with, the Company's credit agreement (“Credit Agreement”) as “Consolidated EBITDA,” which is Consolidated Net Income (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus interest expense, tax expense, depreciation and amortization and further adjusted to exclude certain non-cash charges and other adjustments, including unusual or non-recurring charges and gains, and to include future expected cost savings, operating expense reductions or other synergies from certain transactions, including the Company's acquisition of the broker/dealer network of National Planning Holdings, Inc. ("NPH"). The Company presents Credit Agreement EBITDA because management believes that it can be a useful financial metric in understanding the Company’s debt capacity and covenant compliance under its Credit Agreement. Credit Agreement EBITDA is not a measure of the Company's financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of profitability or liquidity. In addition, the Company’s Credit Agreement-defined EBITDA can differ significantly from adjusted EBITDA calculated by other companies, depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which companies operate, capital investments, and types of adjustments made by such companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release regarding the Company's future financial and operating results, growth, priorities and business strategies, including forecasts and statements relating to future expenses (including 2018 Core G&A** outlook), enhanced capabilities, investments and capital deployment, as well as any other statements that are not related to present facts or current conditions or that are not purely historical, constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's historical performance and its plans, estimates, and expectations as of October 25, 2018. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees that the future results, plans, intentions, or expectations expressed or implied will be achieved. Matters subject to forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including economic, legislative, regulatory, competitive, and other factors, which may cause actual financial or operating results, levels of activity, or the timing of events, to be materially different than those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include: changes in general economic and financial market conditions, including retail investor sentiment; changes in interest rates and fees payable by banks participating in the Company's cash sweep program, the Company's strategy and success in managing cash sweep program fees; changes in the growth and profitability of the Company's fee-based business; fluctuations in the value and levels of advisory and brokerage assets and the related impact on revenue; effects of competition in the financial services industry and the success of the Company in attracting and retaining financial advisors and institutions; whether the retail investors served by newly-recruited advisors choose to open accounts and/or move their respective assets to new accounts at the Company; the effect of current, pending and future legislation, regulation and regulatory actions, including changes in retail retirement savings regulations and disciplinary actions imposed by federal and state securities regulators and self-regulatory organizations; the costs of settling and remediating issues related to pending or future regulatory matters or legal proceedings; changes made to the Company’s offerings, services, and pricing, and the effect that such changes may have on the Company’s gross profit streams and costs; execution of the Company's plans and its success in realizing the synergies, expense savings, service improvements, and/or efficiencies expected to result from its initiatives and programs, and the other factors set forth in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company's 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as may be amended or updated in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or subsequent filings with the SEC. Except as required by law, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this earnings release, even if its estimates change, and you should not rely on statements contained herein as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

 Three Months Ended  September 30,   Nine Months Ended  September 30,  
 2018 2017 %  Change 2018 2017 %  Change
REVENUES           
Commission$486,875  $403,011  21% $1,449,771  $1,244,881  16%
Advisory458,087  356,945  28% 1,319,391  1,033,319  28%
Asset-based248,895  183,953  35% 706,834  514,626  37%
Transaction and fee118,941  103,999  14% 352,045  321,522  9%
Interest income, net of interest expense10,512  6,162  71% 28,426  17,931  59%
Other7,687  10,038  (23%) 14,891  32,760  (55%)
Total net revenues1,330,997  1,064,108  25% 3,871,358  3,165,039  22%
EXPENSES           
Commission and advisory821,950  663,765  24% 2,384,266  1,971,874  21%
Compensation and benefits128,007  113,659  13% 373,884  337,170  11%
Promotional52,628  42,935  23% 163,462  111,595  46%
Depreciation and amortization22,838  21,996  4% 65,759  63,933  3%
Amortization of intangible assets15,676  9,352  68% 44,580  28,296  58%
Occupancy and equipment30,308  22,803  33% 84,848  70,989  20%
Professional services23,129  16,438  41% 61,223  50,732  21%
Brokerage, clearing and exchange15,844  13,491  17% 47,154  41,567  13%
Communications and data processing12,334  10,866  14% 34,546  32,525  6%
Other29,219  24,376  20% 88,175  71,140  24%
Total operating expenses1,151,933  939,681  23% 3,347,897  2,779,821  20%
Non-operating interest expense31,705  26,519  20% 93,267  78,131  19%
Loss on extinguishment of debt  1,268  n/m   22,407  n/m
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES147,359  96,640  52% 430,194  284,680  51%
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES40,494  38,498  5% 111,033  109,915  1%
NET INCOME$106,865  $58,142  84% $319,161  $174,765  83%
EARNINGS PER SHARE           
Earnings per share, basic$1.22  $0.65  88% $3.59  $1.94  85%
Earnings per share, diluted$1.19  $0.63  89% $3.49  $1.90  84%
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic87,426 89,967 (3%) 88,841 90,029 (1%)
Weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted89,878 92,042 (2%) 91,447 92,027 (1%)


LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income Trend
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

 Quarterly Results
 
 Q3 2018 Q2 2018 Q1 2018
REVENUES
     
Commission$486,875  $488,085  $474,811 
Advisory458,087  438,917  422,387 
Asset-based248,895  238,603  219,336 
Transaction and fee118,941  116,455  116,649 
Interest income, net of interest expense10,512  10,133  7,781 
Other7,687  6,611  593 
Total net revenues1,330,997  1,298,804  1,241,557 
EXPENSES     
Commission and advisory821,950  800,619  761,697 
Compensation and benefits128,007  122,360  123,517 
Promotional52,628  43,407  67,427 
Depreciation and amortization22,838  22,220  20,701 
Amortization of intangible assets15,676  15,682  13,222 
Occupancy and equipment30,308  26,904  27,636 
Professional services23,129  15,922  22,172 
Brokerage, clearing and exchange expense15,844  15,433  15,877 
Communications and data processing12,334  11,038  11,174 
Other29,219  30,370  28,586 
Total operating expenses1,151,933  1,103,955  1,092,009 
Non-operating interest expense31,705  31,940  29,622 
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES147,359  162,909  119,926 
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES40,494  44,143  26,396 
NET INCOME$106,865  $118,766  $93,530 
EARNINGS PER SHARE     
Earnings per share, basic$1.22  $1.33  $1.04 
Earnings per share, diluted$1.19  $1.30  $1.01 
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic87,426 89,128 89,997
Weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted89,878 91,684 92,784


LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
(Dollars in thousands, except par value)
(Unaudited)

  September 30,
2018
 December 31, 2017
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $768,546  $811,136 
Cash segregated under federal and other regulations 566,128  763,831 
Restricted cash 58,754  50,688 
Receivables from:    
Clients, net of allowance of $621 at September 30, 2018 and $466 at December 31, 2017 435,133  344,230 
Product sponsors, broker-dealers, and clearing organizations 213,887  196,207 
Advisor loans, net of allowance of $3,539 at September 30, 2018 and $3,264 at December 31, 2017 261,214  219,157 
Others, net of allowance of $8,997 at September 30, 2018 and $6,115 at December 31, 2017 236,480  228,986 
Securities owned:    
Trading — at fair value 32,455  17,879 
Held-to-maturity — at amortized cost 13,005  11,833 
Securities borrowed 6,274  12,489 
Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $489,209 at September 30, 2018 and $427,344 at December 31, 2017 441,072  412,684 
Goodwill 1,476,775  1,427,769 
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $463,646 at September 30, 2018 and $419,066 at December 31, 2017 482,234  414,093 
National Planning Holdings acquisition   162,500 
Other assets 297,856  285,269 
Total assets $5,289,813  $5,358,751 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
LIABILITIES:    
Drafts payable $195,343  $185,929 
Payables to clients 804,797  962,891 
Payables to broker-dealers and clearing organizations 54,360  54,262 
Accrued commission and advisory expenses payable 168,176  147,095 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 486,573  461,149 
Income taxes payable 22,531  469 
Unearned revenue 82,546  72,222 
Securities sold, but not yet purchased — at fair value 333  1,182 
Long-term borrowing, net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $20,345 at September 30, 2018 and $22,812 at December 31, 2017 2,375,113  2,385,022 
Leasehold financing and capital lease obligations 105,057  107,518 
Deferred income taxes, net 15,517  16,004 
Total liabilities 4,310,346  4,393,743 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:    
Common stock, $.001 par value; 600,000,000 shares authorized; 124,611,205 shares issued at September 30, 2018 and 123,030,383 shares issued at December 31, 2017 124  123 
Additional paid-in capital 1,621,020  1,556,117 
Treasury stock, at cost — 37,901,990 shares at September 30, 2018 and 33,262,115 shares at December 31, 2017 (1,612,847) (1,309,568)
Retained earnings 971,170  718,336 
Total stockholders’ equity 979,467  965,008 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $5,289,813  $5,358,751 


LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Management's Statements of Operations(3)
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

The information presented on pages 8-17 of this release is presented as reviewed by the Company’s management and includes information derived from the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, non-GAAP financial measures, and operational and performance metrics. For information on non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section titled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" that begins on page 2 of this release. 

 Quarterly Results
 
 Q3 2018 Q2 2018 %  Change Q3 2017 %  Change
Gross Profit(3)         
Sales-based commissions$193,545  $196,530  (2%) $160,098  21%
Trailing commissions293,330  291,555  1% 242,913  21%
Advisory458,087  438,917  4% 356,945  28%
Commission and advisory fees944,962  927,002  2% 759,956  24%
Commission and advisory expense(821,950) (800,619) 3% (663,765) 24%
Commission and advisory fees, net of payout123,012  126,383  (3%) 96,191  28%
Cash sweep127,174  121,386  5% 81,617  56%
Other asset-based(4)121,721  117,217  4% 102,336  19%
Transaction and fee118,941  116,455  2% 103,999  14%
Interest income and other18,199  16,744  9% 16,200  12%
Total net commission and advisory fees and attachment revenue509,047  498,185  2% 400,343  27%
Brokerage, clearing, and exchange expense(15,844) (15,433) 3% (13,491) 17%
Gross Profit(3)493,203  482,752  2% 386,852  27%
          
G&A Expense         
Core G&A(5)209,244  192,148  9% 178,769  17%
Regulatory charges7,421  8,321  n/m 4,433  n/m
Promotional52,628  43,407  21% 42,935  23%
Employee share-based compensation6,332  6,125  3% 4,940  28%
Total G&A275,625  250,001  10% 231,077  19%
EBITDA(3)217,578  232,751  (7%) 155,775  40%
Depreciation and amortization22,838  22,220  3% 21,996  4%
Amortization of intangible assets15,676  15,682  % 9,352  68%
Non-operating interest expense31,705  31,940  (1%) 26,519  20%
Loss on extinguishment of debt    n/m 1,268  n/m
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES147,359  162,909  (10%) 96,640  52%
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES40,494  44,143  (8%) 38,498  5%
NET INCOME$106,865  $118,766  (10%) $58,142  84%
Earnings per share, diluted$1.19  $1.30  (8%) $0.63  89%
Weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted89,878 91,684  (2%) 92,042 (2%)


LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Management's Statements of Operations Trend (3)
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

 Quarterly Results
 
 Q3 2018 Q2 2018 Q1 2018
Gross Profit(3)     
Sales-based commissions$193,545  $196,530  $187,233 
Trailing commissions293,330  291,555  287,578 
Advisory458,087  438,917  422,387 
Commission and advisory fees944,962  927,002  897,198 
Commission and advisory expense(821,950) (800,619) (761,697)
Commission and advisory fees, net of payout123,012  126,383  135,501 
Cash sweep127,174  121,386  104,084 
Other asset-based(4)121,721  117,217  115,252 
Transaction and fee118,941  116,455  116,649 
Interest income and other18,199  16,744  8,374 
Total net commission and advisory fees and attachment revenue509,047  498,185  479,860 
Brokerage, clearing, and exchange expense(15,844) (15,433) (15,877)
Gross Profit(3)493,203  482,752  463,983 
      
G&A Expense     
Core G&A(5)209,244  192,148  201,039 
Regulatory charges7,421  8,321  6,440 
Promotional52,628  43,407  67,427 
Employee share-based compensation6,332  6,125  5,606 
Total G&A275,625  250,001  280,512 
EBITDA(3)217,578  232,751  183,471 
Depreciation and amortization22,838  22,220  20,701 
Amortization of intangible assets15,676  15,682  13,222 
Non-operating interest expense31,705  31,940  29,622 
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES147,359  162,909  119,926 
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES40,494  44,143  26,396 
NET INCOME$106,865  $118,766  $93,530 
Earnings per share, diluted$1.19  $1.30  $1.01 
Weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted89,878 91,684  92,784


LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Operating Measures(3)
(Dollars in billions, except where noted) (Unaudited)

 Q3 2018 Q2 2018 Change Q3 2017 Change
Market Drivers         
S&P 500 Index (end of period)2,914  2,718  7% 2,519  16%
Fed Funds Daily Effective Rate (FFER) (average bps)192  174  18bps 116  76bps
          
Assets         
Advisory Assets(6)$306.1  $291.5  5% $250.2  22%
Brokerage Assets(7)374.9  367.5  2% 309.8  21%
Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets$681.0  $659.1  3% $560.0  22%
Advisory % of Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets44.9% 44.2% 70bps 44.7% 20bps
          
Assets by Platform         
Corporate Platform Advisory Assets(8)$184.8  $173.9  6% $145.0  27%
Hybrid Platform Advisory Assets(9)121.3  117.7  3% 105.2  15%
Brokerage Assets374.9  367.5  2% 309.8  21%
Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets$681.0  $659.1  3% $560.0  22%
          
Centrally Managed Assets         
Centrally Managed Assets(10)$40.8  $37.9  8% $29.3  39%
Centrally Managed  % of Total Advisory Assets13.3% 13.0% 30bps 11.7% 160bps

LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Operating Measures(3)
(Dollars in billions, except where noted) (Unaudited)

 Q3 2018 Q2 2018 Change Q3 2017 Change
Net New Assets (NNA)         
Net New Advisory Assets(11)$5.1  $4.3  n/m $6.9  n/m
Net New Brokerage Assets(12)(0.8) (1.9) n/m (4.0) n/m
Total Net New Assets$4.4  $2.5  n/m $2.9  n/m
          
Net Brokerage to Advisory Conversions(13)$1.7  $1.8  n/m $1.9  n/m
Advisory NNA Annualized Growth(14)7% 6% n/m 12% n/m
Total NNA Annualized Growth(14)3% 2% n/m 2% n/m
          
Net New Advisory Assets         
Corporate Platform Net New Advisory Assets(15)$5.9  $3.8  n/m $4.0  n/m
Hybrid Platform Net New Advisory Assets(16)(0.8) 0.6  n/m 2.9  n/m
Total Net New Advisory Assets$5.1  $4.3  n/m $6.9  n/m
Centrally Managed Net New Advisory Assets(17)$1.8  $1.7  n/m $1.5  n/m
          
Cash Sweep Balances         
Insured Cash Account Balances$21.0  $21.7  (3%) $21.9  (4%)
Deposit Cash Account Balances3.9  4.0  (3%) 4.1  (5%)
Money Market Account Cash Balances3.3  2.9  14% 2.3  43%
Total Cash Sweep Balances$28.2  $28.6  (1%) $28.3  %
Cash Sweep % of Total Assets4.1% 4.3% (20bps) 5.1% (100bps)
          
Cash Sweep Average Fees         
Insured Cash Account Average Fee - bps(18)189  179  10  124  65 
Deposit Cash Account Fee Average Fee - bps(18)198  175  23  100  98 
Money Market Account Average Fee - bps(18)75  72  3  67  8 
Total Cash Sweep Average Fee - bps(18)178  168  10  116  62 
          
Net Buy (Sell) Activity(19)$9.2  $8.5  8% $6.9  33%


LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Monthly Metrics(3)
(Dollars in billions, except where noted)
(Unaudited)

  September 2018 August
2018
 Aug to Sep Change July
2018
 June
2018
Assets Served
          
Advisory Assets(6) $306.1  $304.4  0.6% $298.5  $291.5 
Brokerage Assets(7) 374.9  374.4  0.1% 370.4  367.5 
Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets $681.0  $678.7  0.3% $668.9  $659.1 
           
Net New Assets          
Net New Advisory Assets(11) $2.2  $1.5  n/m $1.5  $1.3 
Net New Brokerage Assets(12) 0.5  (0.2) n/m (1.1) (1.2)
Total Net New Assets $2.7  $1.3  n/m $0.4  $0.1 
Net Brokerage to Advisory Conversions(13) $0.5  $0.6  n/m $0.5  $0.5 
           
Cash Sweep Balances          
Insured Cash Account Balances $21.0  $21.1  (0.5%) $21.4  $21.7 
Deposit Cash Account Balances 3.9  3.9  —% 3.8  4.0 
Money Market Account Cash Balances 3.3  3.1  6.5% 2.9  2.9 
Total Client Cash Sweep Balances $28.2  $28.1  0.4% $28.2  $28.6 
           
Market Indices          
S&P 500 Index (end of period) 2,914  2,902  0.4% 2,816  2,718 
Fed Funds Effective Rate (average bps) 195  191  4bps 191  182 


LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Financial Measures
(Dollars in thousands, except where noted)
(Unaudited)

 Q3 2018 Q2 2018 % Change Q3 2017 % Change
Commission Revenue by Product         
Variable annuities$201,075  $196,496  2% $163,778  23%
Mutual funds155,579  161,340  (4%) 131,339  18%
Alternative investments6,331  6,704  (6%) 6,676  (5%)
Fixed annuities47,117  46,116  2% 32,764  44%
Equities19,082  19,388  (2%) 17,748  8%
Fixed income32,144  30,898  4% 23,912  34%
Insurance16,155  17,344  (7%) 17,338  (7%)
Group annuities9,064  9,619  (6%) 9,319  (3%)
Other328  180  82% 137  139%
Total commission revenue$486,875  $488,085  % $403,011  21%
          
Commission Revenue by Sales-based and Trailing Commission      
Sales-based commissions         
Variable annuities$57,491  $57,095  1% $46,148  25%
Mutual funds33,319  37,533  (11%) 30,638  9%
Alternative investments1,822  1,805  1% 2,550  (29%)
Fixed annuities40,040  39,333  2% 27,906  43%
Equities19,082  19,388  (2%) 17,748  8%
Fixed income25,757  24,474  5% 17,967  43%
Insurance14,433  15,578  (7%) 15,906  (9%)
Group annuities1,273  1,144  11% 1,098  16%
Other328  180  82% 137  139%
Total sales-based commissions$193,545  $196,530  (2%) $160,098  21%
Trailing commissions         
Variable annuities$143,584  $139,401  3% $117,630  22%
Mutual funds122,260  123,807  (1%) 100,701  21%
Alternative investments4,509  4,899  (8%) 4,126  9%
Fixed annuities7,077  6,783  4% 4,858  46%
Fixed income6,387  6,424  (1%) 5,945  7%
Insurance1,722  1,766  (2%) 1,432  20%
Group annuities7,791  8,475  (8%) 8,221  (5%)
Total trailing commissions$293,330  $291,555  1% $242,913  21%
Total commission revenue$486,875  $488,085  % $403,011  21%

LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Financial Measures(3)
(Dollars in thousands, except where noted)
(Unaudited)

 Q3 2018 Q2 2018 Change Q3 2017 Change
Payout Rate         
Base Payout Rate83.02% 82.98% 4bps 83.01% 1bps
Production Based Bonuses3.36% 2.81% 55bps 3.04% 32bps
GDC Sensitive Payout86.38% 85.79% 59bps 86.05% 33bps
Non-GDC Sensitive Payout0.60% 0.58% 2bps 1.29% (69bps)
Total Payout Ratio86.98% 86.37% 61bps 87.34% (36bps)
Production Based Bonuses Ratio (Trailing Twelve Months)2.88% 2.80% 8bps 2.68% 20bps


LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Capital Management Measures(3)
(Dollars in thousands, except where noted)
(Unaudited)

 Q3 2018 Q2 2018
Credit Agreement EBITDA Trailing Twelve Months(3)(20)
   
Net income$383,259  $334,536 
Non-operating interest expense122,161  116,975 
Provision for income taxes126,825  124,829 
Loss on extinguishment of debt  1,268 
Depreciation and amortization85,897  85,055 
Amortization of intangible assets54,577  48,253 
EBITDA(3)$772,719  $710,916 
Credit Agreement Adjustments:   
Employee share-based compensation expense$22,274  $20,882 
Advisor share-based compensation expense7,886  10,046 
NPH run-rate EBITDA accretion(21)92,000  92,000 
Realized NPH EBITDA Offset(22)(50,500) (27,500)
NPH onboarding costs70,132  71,639 
Other(23)17,294  15,644 
Credit Agreement EBITDA Trailing Twelve Months(3)(20)$931,805  $893,627 
    
Cash Available for Corporate Use(24)   
Cash at Parent$276,657  $360,475 
Excess Cash at Broker-Dealer subsidiary per Credit Agreement105,578  76,941 
Other Available Cash9,373  8,958 
Total Cash Available for Corporate Use$391,608  $446,374 
    
Credit Agreement Net Leverage   
Total Debt (does not include unamortized premium)$2,385,000  $2,388,750 
Cash Available (up to $300 million)300,000  300,000 
Credit Agreement Net Debt$2,085,000  $2,088,750 
Credit Agreement EBITDA Trailing Twelve Months(20)$931,805  $893,627 
Credit Agreement Net Leverage Ratio2.24x 2.34x


LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Debt Schedule
(Dollars in thousands, except where noted)
(Unaudited)

Total Debt Outstanding
(end of period)
 Current Applicable
Margin
 Yield At
Issuance
 Interest Rate
(end of period)
 Maturity
Revolving Credit Facility(a) $  LIBOR+125 bps(b)   % 9/21/2022
Senior Secured Term Loan B 1,485,000  LIBOR+225 bps(b)   4.42% 9/21/2024
Senior Unsecured Notes(c) 500,000  5.75% Fixed 5.750% 5.75% 9/15/2025
Senior Unsecured Notes(c) 400,000 (d)5.75% Fixed 5.115% 5.75% 9/15/2025
Total / Weighted Average $2,385,000      4.92%  


(a)The Revolving Credit Facility has a borrowing capacity of $500 million.
(b)The LIBOR rate option is one-, two-, three- or six-month LIBOR rate and subject to an interest rate floor of 0 basis points.
(c)The Senior Unsecured Notes were issued in two separate transactions; $500 million in notes were issued in March 2017 at par; the remaining $400 million were issued in September 2017 and priced at 103% of the aggregate principal amount.
(d)Does not include unamortized premium of approximately $10.5 million as of September 30, 2018.


LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

Key Business and Financial Metrics(3)
(Dollars in thousands, except where noted)
(Unaudited)

 Q3 2018 Q2 2018 Change Q3 2017 Change
Advisors         
Advisors16,174  16,049  1% 14,253  13%
Net New Advisors125  (18) n/m (3) n/m
Annualized commission and advisory fees per Advisor(25)$235  $231  2% $213  10%
Average Total Assets per Advisor ($ in millions)(26)$42.1  $41.1  2% $39.3  7%
Transition assistance loan amortization($ in millions)(27)$19.2  $18.1  6% $13.9  38%
Total client accounts (in millions)5.4  5.4  % 4.7  15%
          
Employees - period end4,101  4,005  2% 3,564  15%
          
Productivity Metrics         
Annualized Advisory Revenue as a percentage of Corporate Advisory Assets1.05% 1.05% bps 1.04% 1bps
Gross Profit ROA(28)29.2bps 29.4bps (0.2bps) 27.9bps 1.3bps
OPEX ROA(29)18.6bps 17.5bps 1.1bps 19.0bps (0.4bps)
EBIT ROA(30)10.6bps 11.9bps (1.3bps) 8.9bps 1.7bps
Production Retention Rate (YTD annualized)(31)96.1% 96.0% 10bps 94.6% 150bps
Recurring Gross Profit Rate (trailing twelve months) (32)85.0% 84.7% 30bps 82.2% 280bps
EBITDA as a percentage of Gross Profit44.1% 48.2% (410bps) 40.3% 380bps
          
Capital Expenditure ($ in millions)$36.4  $25.8  41% $26.7  36%
          
Share Repurchases$122.5  $116.8  5% $25.0  390%
Dividends21.9  22.3  (2%) 22.5  (3%)
Total Capital Allocated$144.4  $139.1  4% $47.5  204%
Weighted-average Share Count, Diluted89.9  91.7  (2%) 92.0  (2%)
Total Capital Allocated per Share(33)$1.61  $1.52  6% $0.52  210%


Endnote Disclosures

(1)Represents the estimated total brokerage and advisory assets expected to transition to the Company's broker-dealer subsidiary, LPL Financial LLC ("LPL Financial"), associated with advisors who transferred their licenses to LPL Financial during the period. The estimate is based on prior business reported by the advisors, which has not been independently and fully verified by LPL Financial. The actual transition of assets to LPL Financial generally occurs over several quarters including the initial quarter of the transition, and the actual amount transitioned may vary from the estimate.
(2)Compliance with the Credit Agreement Leverage Ratio is only required under the revolving credit facility.
(3)The information presented on pages 8-17 includes non-GAAP financial measures and operational and performance metrics. For more information on non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section titled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” on page 2.
(4)Consists of revenues from the Company's sponsorship programs with financial product manufacturers and omnibus processing and networking services, but does not include fees from cash sweep programs. Other asset-based revenues are a component of asset-based revenues and are derived from the Company's Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
(5)Core G&A is a non-GAAP financial measure. Please see a description of Core G&A under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” on page 2 of this release for additional information. Below is a reconciliation of Core G&A against the Company’s total operating expense for the periods presented:


 Q3 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2017
Operating Expense Reconciliation (in thousands)
     
Core G&A$209,244  $192,148  $178,769 
Regulatory charges7,421  8,321  4,433 
Promotional52,628  43,407  42,935 
Employee share-based compensation6,332  6,125  4,940 
Total G&A275,625  250,001  231,077 
Commissions and advisory821,950  800,619  663,765 
Depreciation & amortization22,838  22,220  21,996 
Amortization of intangible assets15,676  15,682  9,352 
Brokerage, clearing and exchange15,844  15,433  13,491 
Total operating expense$1,151,933  $1,103,955  $939,681 


(6)Consists of total advisory assets under custody at LPL Financial.
(7) Consists of brokerage assets serviced by advisors licensed with LPL Financial.
(8)Consists of total assets on LPL Financial's corporate advisory platform serviced by investment advisor representatives of LPL Financial.
(9)Consists of total assets on LPL Financial's independent advisory platform serviced by investment advisor representatives of separate investment advisor firms ("Hybrid RIAs"), rather than of LPL Financial.
(10)Represents those Advisory Assets in LPL Financial’s Model Wealth Portfolios, Optimum Market Portfolios, Personal Wealth Portfolios, and Guided Wealth Portfolios platforms.
(11)Consists of total client deposits into advisory accounts less total client withdrawals from advisory accounts. The Company considers conversions from and to brokerage accounts as deposits and withdrawals respectively.
(12)Consists of total client deposits into brokerage accounts less total client withdrawals from brokerage accounts. The Company considers conversions from and to advisory accounts as deposits and withdrawals respectively.
(13)Consists of existing custodied assets that converted from brokerage to advisory, less existing custodied assets that converted from advisory to brokerage.
(14)Calculated as annualized current period net new assets divided by preceding period assets in their respective categories of advisory assets or total brokerage and advisory assets.
(15)Consists of total client deposits into advisory accounts on LPL Financial's corporate advisory platform (FN 8) less total client withdrawals from advisory accounts on its corporate advisory platform.
(16)Consists of total client deposits into advisory accounts on LPL Financial's independent advisory platform (FN 9) less total client withdrawals from advisory accounts on its independent advisory platform.
(17)Consists of total client deposits into Centrally Managed Assets accounts (FN 10) less total client withdrawals from Centrally Managed Assets accounts.
(18) Calculated by dividing revenue for the period by the average balance during the period.
(19)Represents the amount of securities purchased less the amount of securities sold in client accounts custodied with LPL Financial. Reported activity does not include any other cash activity, such as deposits, withdrawals, dividends received, or fees paid.
(20)Under the Credit Agreement, management calculates Credit Agreement EBITDA for a trailing twelve month period at the end of each fiscal quarter, and in doing so may make further adjustments to prior quarters.
(21)Represents estimated potential future cost savings, operating expense reductions or other synergies included in Credit Agreement EBITDA in accordance with the Credit Agreement relating to the acquisition of NPH.  Such amounts do not represent actual performance and there can be no assurance that any such cost savings, operating expense reductions or other synergies will be realized.
(22)Represents the portion of Credit Agreement EBITDA that management estimates to be attributable to the NPH acquisition, which is added back to offset NPH run-rate EBITDA accretion, in accordance with the Credit Agreement.
(23)Represents items that are adjustable in accordance with the Credit Agreement to calculate Credit Agreement EBITDA, including employee severance costs, employee signing costs, employee retention or completion bonuses, and other non-recurring costs.
(24)Consists of cash unrestricted by the Credit Agreement and other regulations available for operating, investing, and financing uses.
(25)Calculated based on the average advisor count from the current period and prior period.
(26)Calculated based on the end of period Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets divided by end of period Advisor count.
(27)Represents the amortization expense amount of forgivable loans for transition assistance to advisors and financial institutions.
(28)Represents annualized Gross Profit (FN 3) for the period, divided by average month-end Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets for the period. Prior to Q4 2017, Management calculated Gross Profit ROA by dividing annualized Gross Profit for the period by Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets at the end of the period. Amounts in this release reflect the new methodology.
(29)Represents annualized operating expenses for the period, excluding production-related expense, divided by average month-end Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets for the period. Production-related expense includes commissions and advisory expense and brokerage, clearing and exchange expense. For purposes of this metric, operating expenses includes Core G&A (FN 5), Regulatory, Promotional, Employee Share Based Compensation, Depreciation & Amortization, and Amortization of Intangible Assets. Prior to Q4 2017, Management calculated OPEX ROA by dividing annualized operating expenses for the period by Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets at the end of the period. Amounts in this release reflect the new methodology.
(30)EBIT ROA is calculated as Gross Profit ROA less OPEX ROA.
(31)Reflects retention of commission and advisory revenues, calculated by deducting the prior year production of the annualized year-to-date attrition rate, over the prior year total production.
(32)Recurring Gross Profit Rate refers to the percentage of the Company’s gross profit, a non-GAAP financial measure, that was recurring for the trailing twelve month period. Management tracks recurring gross profit, a characterization of gross profit and a statistical measure, which is defined to include the Company’s revenues from asset-based fees, advisory fees, trailing commissions, cash sweep programs, and certain other fees that are based upon client accounts and advisors, less the expenses associated with such revenues and certain other recurring expenses not specifically associated with a revenue line. Management allocates such other recurring expenses, such as non-GDC sensitive production expenses, on a pro-rata basis against specific revenue lines at its discretion.
(33)Capital Allocation per Share equals the amount of capital allocated for share repurchases and cash dividends divided by the diluted weighted-average shares outstanding.
(34)EPS prior to amortization of intangible assets is a non-GAAP financial measure. Please see a description of EPS prior to amortization of intangible assets under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” on page 2 of this release for additional information. Below is a reconciliation of EPS prior to amortization of intangible assets to the Company’s GAAP EPS for the periods presented:


EPS Reconciliation (in thousands, except per share data)Q3 2018
   EPS$ 1.19
Amortization of Intangible Assets$15,676 
Tax Benefit(4,389)
  Amortization of Intangible Assets Net of Tax Benefit$11,287 
Diluted Share Count89,878 
EPS Impact$0.13 
EPS Prior to Amortization of Intangible Assets$1.32 


Investor Relations - Chris Koegel, (617) 897-4574
Media Relations - Jeff Mochal, (704) 733-3589
investor.lpl.com/contactus.cfm