LPL Financial Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Results


Fourth Quarter 2018 Key Performance Indicators

  • Earnings per share ("EPS") increased 97% year-over-year to $1.36.
    • Net Income increased 88% year-over-year to $120 million.
  • EPS prior to Amortization of Intangible Assets** increased 96% year-over-year to $1.49.
  • Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets increased 2% year-over-year to $628 billion.
  • Total Net New Assets were an inflow of $5.9 billion, translating to a 3.5% annualized growth rate.
    • Net new advisory assets were an inflow of $5.0 billion, translating to a 6.5% annualized growth rate.
    • Net new brokerage assets were an inflow of $0.9 billion, translating to a 1.0% annualized rate.
    • Recruited Assets(1) were $8.6 billion in Q4, and $27.3 billion for the year, up 9% from the prior year.
    • Advisor count was 16,109 and production retention rate for the year was 96%.
  • Total client cash sweep balances increased 24% sequentially to $34.9 billion.
    • Total client cash sweep balances as a percent of total assets was 5.6%, up from 4.1% in the prior quarter.
  • Gross Profit** increased 26% year-over-year to $508 million.
  • EBITDA** increased 67% year-over-year to $232 million.
    • EBITDA** as a percentage of Gross Profit** was 46%, up from 35% a year ago.
    • Core G&A** increased 11% year-over-year to $216 million, up 3% sequentially, including $2 million of expenses related to the acquisition of AdvisoryWorld.
  • Shareholder capital returns were $139 million, translating to $1.58 per share.
    • Share repurchases were $118 million for 1.9 million shares at an average purchase price of $61.19.
    • Weighted average fully diluted share count was 88.2 million, down 2% sequentially and down 5% year-over-year.
    • Dividends were $22 million.
  • Cash available for corporate use was $339 million.
  • Credit Agreement Net Leverage Ratio(2) was 2.15x, down 0.09x from the prior quarter.

Full Year 2018 Key Performance Indicators

  • EPS increased 87% year-over-year to $4.85.
    • Net Income increased 84% year-over-year to $439 million. 
  • EPS prior to Amortization of Intangible Assets** increased 88% year-over-year to $5.33.
  • Gross Profit** increased 25% year-over-year to $1,948 million.
  • EBITDA** increased 40% year-over-year to $866 million.
    • EBITDA** as a percentage of Gross Profit** was 44%, up from 40% a year ago.
    • Core G&A** was $819 million, including $2 million of expenses related to the acquisition of AdvisoryWorld.
  • Shareholder capital returns were $506 million, translating to $5.59 per share.
    • Share repurchases were $418 million for 6.5 million shares at an average purchase price of $63.96.
    • Dividends were $88 million.
Key Updates
  • Increased fixed ICA balances to ~35% of total ICA portfolio, up from ~10% in Q3.
  • Updated 2019 Core G&A** Outlook range to $850 to $875 million to include ~$5 million of costs related to AdvisoryWorld.
  • Provided capital plan updates in 8-K filed on December 4, 2018:
    • Lowered target credit agreement net leverage ratio to a range of 2.00x to 2.75x, from 3.25x to 3.5x.
    • Increased share repurchase authorization to $1 billion as of December 31, 2018.

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: LPLA) (the “Company”) today announced results for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018, reporting net income of $120 million, or $1.36 per share. This compares with $64 million, or $0.69 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2017 and $107 million, or $1.19 per share, in the prior quarter.

"Over the past year, we delivered solid business and financial results as we increased organic growth and completed our acquisition of NPH," said Dan Arnold, President and CEO.  "As we look forward, we remain focused on serving our advisors and helping them differentiate and win in the marketplace.  Our efforts include delivering best-in-class digital capabilities and tools, including our acquisition of AdvisoryWorld. We believe our strategy positions us to continue driving long-term growth and shareholder value.”

“In 2018, we grew assets and gross profit, remained disciplined on expenses while increasing our investments in organic growth, and returned capital to shareholders," said Matt Audette, CFO. “As a result, we grew earnings per share over 80 percent for the year. In Q4, we continued to enhance our financial strength and stability by increasing the duration of our ICA portfolio and lowering our target leverage, while also establishing a new share repurchase authorization. Looking forward, we believe our business results and financial strength position us well to continue creating long-term shareholder value.”

Dividend Declaration
The Company's Board of Directors declared a $0.25 per share dividend to be paid on March 29, 2019 to all stockholders of record as of March 15, 2019.

Conference Call and Additional Information
The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its results at 5:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, January 31.  To listen, call 877-677-9122 (domestic) or 708-290-1401 (international); passcode 4798087, 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 February 7 and February 21, respectively.  For telephonic replay, call 855-859-2056 (domestic) or 404-537-3406 (international); passcode 4798087.

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 their 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 $1,317 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018, less commission and advisory expenses and brokerage, clearing, and exchange fees, which were $793 million and $16 million, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 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 $1,123 million for the three months ended December 31, 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 2019 Core G&A** outlook), enhanced capabilities and tools, long-term growth and shareholder value, 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 January 31, 2019. 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 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 move their respective assets to new accounts at the Company; the effect of current, pending and future legislation, regulation and regulatory actions, including disciplinary actions imposed by federal and state securities regulators and self-regulatory organizations; the costs of settling and remediating issues related to regulatory matters or legal proceedings, including actual costs of repurchasing securities from investors in excess of our estimates; 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 2018 Annual Report on Form 8-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or other 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  December 31,   Years Ended  December 31,  
 2018 2017 %  Change 2018 2017 %  Change
REVENUES           
Commission$469,923  $425,943  10% $1,919,694  $1,670,824  15%
Advisory474,102  375,928  26% 1,793,493  1,409,247  27%
Asset-based265,681  193,707  37% 972,515  708,333  37%
Transaction and fee119,254  103,145  16% 471,299  424,667  11%
Interest income, net of interest expense11,784  6,542  80% 40,210  24,473  64%
Other(23,702) 11,177  n/m (8,811) 43,937  n/m
Total net revenues1,317,042  1,116,442  18% 5,188,400  4,281,481  21%
EXPENSES           
Commission and advisory793,310  697,725  14% 3,177,576  2,669,599  19%
Compensation and benefits132,766  119,748  11% 506,650  456,918  11%
Promotional45,141  60,066  (25%) 208,603  171,661  22%
Depreciation and amortization21,897  20,138  9% 87,656  84,071  4%
Amortization of intangible assets15,672  9,997  57% 60,252  38,293  57%
Occupancy and equipment30,750  26,343  17% 115,598  97,332  19%
Professional services24,428  20,675  18% 85,651  71,407  20%
Brokerage, clearing and exchange16,000  15,480  3% 63,154  57,047  11%
Communications and data processing11,776  12,416  (5%) 46,322  44,941  3%
Other31,103  25,070  24% 119,278  96,210  24%
Total operating expenses1,122,843  1,007,658  11% 4,470,740  3,787,479  18%
Non-operating interest expense31,756  28,894  10% 125,023  107,025  17%
Loss on extinguishment of debt    n/m   22,407  n/m
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES162,443  79,890  103% 592,637  364,570  63%
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES42,145  15,792  167% 153,178  125,707  22%
NET INCOME$120,298  $64,098  88% $439,459  $238,863  84%
EARNINGS PER SHARE           
Earnings per share, basic$1.40  $0.71  97% $4.99  $2.65  88%
Earnings per share, diluted$1.36  $0.69  97% $4.85  $2.59  87%
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic 85,976   89,921  (4%)  88,119   90,002  (2%)
Weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted 88,163   92,386  (5%)  90,619   92,115  (2%)
            


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

 Quarterly Results
 Q4 2018 Q3 2018 Q2 2018
REVENUES     
Commission$469,923  $486,875  $488,085 
Advisory474,102  458,087  438,917 
Asset-based265,681  248,895  238,603 
Transaction and fee119,254  118,941  116,455 
Interest income, net of interest expense11,784  10,512  10,133 
Other(23,702) 7,687  6,611 
Total net revenues1,317,042  1,330,997  1,298,804 
EXPENSES     
Commission and advisory793,310  821,950  800,619 
Compensation and benefits132,766  128,007  122,360 
Promotional45,141  52,628  43,407 
Depreciation and amortization21,897  22,838  22,220 
Amortization of intangible assets15,672  15,676  15,682 
Occupancy and equipment30,750  30,308  26,904 
Professional services24,428  23,129  15,922 
Brokerage, clearing and exchange expense16,000  15,844  15,433 
Communications and data processing11,776  12,334  11,038 
Other31,103  29,219  30,370 
Total operating expenses1,122,843  1,151,933  1,103,955 
Non-operating interest expense31,756  31,705  31,940 
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES162,443  147,359  162,909 
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES42,145  40,494  44,143 
NET INCOME$120,298  $106,865  $118,766 
EARNINGS PER SHARE     
Earnings per share, basic$1.40  $1.22  $1.33 
Earnings per share, diluted$1.36  $1.19  $1.30 
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic 85,976   87,426   89,128 
Weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted 88,163   89,878   91,684 
            


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

  December 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $511,096  $811,136 
Cash segregated under federal and other regulations 985,195  763,831 
Restricted cash 65,828  50,688 
Receivables from:    
Clients, net of allowance of $640 at December 31, 2018 and $466 at December 31, 2017 412,944  344,230 
Product sponsors, broker-dealers, and clearing organizations 166,793  196,207 
Advisor loans, net of allowance of $5,080 at December 31, 2018 and $3,264 at December 31, 2017 298,821  219,157 
Others, net of allowance of $8,099 at December 31, 2018 and $6,115 at December 31, 2017 248,711  228,986 
Securities owned:    
Trading — at fair value 29,267  17,879 
Held-to-maturity — at amortized cost 13,001  11,833 
Securities borrowed 4,829  12,489 
Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $308,155 at December 31, 2018 and $427,344 at December 31, 2017 461,418  412,684 
Goodwill 1,490,247  1,427,769 
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $479,319 at December 31, 2018 and $419,066 at December 31, 2017 484,171  414,093 
National Planning Holdings acquisition   162,500 
Other assets 305,147  285,269 
Total assets $5,477,468  $5,358,751 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
LIABILITIES:    
Drafts payable $225,034  $185,929 
Payables to clients 950,946  962,891 
Payables to broker-dealers and clearing organizations 76,180  54,262 
Accrued commission and advisory expenses payable 164,211  147,095 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 478,644  461,149 
Income taxes payable 32,990  469 
Unearned revenue 80,524  72,222 
Securities sold, but not yet purchased — at fair value 169  1,182 
Long-term borrowing, net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $19,525 at December 31, 2018 and $22,812 at December 31, 2017 2,371,808  2,385,022 
Leasehold financing and capital lease obligations 104,564  107,518 
Deferred income taxes, net 18,325  16,004 
Total liabilities 4,503,395  4,393,743 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:    
Common stock, $.001 par value; 600,000,000 shares authorized; 124,909,796 shares issued at December 31, 2018 and 123,030,383 shares issued at December 31, 2017 125  123 
Additional paid-in capital 1,634,337  1,556,117 
Treasury stock, at cost — 39,820,646 shares at December 31, 2018 and 33,262,115 shares at December 31, 2017 (1,730,535) (1,309,568)
Retained earnings 1,070,146  718,336 
Total stockholders’ equity 974,073  965,008 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $5,477,468  $5,358,751 
         


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

Certain 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 3 of this release. 

 

 Quarterly Results
 Q4 2018 Q3 2018 %  Change Q4 2017 %  Change
Gross Profit(3)           
Sales-based commissions$199,468  $193,545  3% $174,052  15%
Trailing commissions270,455  293,330  (8%) 251,891  7%
Advisory474,102  458,087  3% 375,928  26%
Commission and advisory fees944,025  944,962  % 801,871  18%
Commission and advisory expense(793,310) (821,950) (3%) (697,725) 14%
Commission and advisory fees, net of payout150,715  123,012  23% 104,146  45%
Cash sweep147,774  127,174  16% 88,333  67%
Other asset-based(4)117,907  121,721  (3%) 105,374  12%
Transaction and fee119,254  118,941  % 103,145  16%
Interest income and other(11,918) 18,199  n/m  17,719  n/m 
Total net commission and advisory fees and attachment revenue523,732  509,047  3% 418,717  25%
Brokerage, clearing, and exchange expense(16,000) (15,844) 1% (15,480) 3%
Gross Profit(3)507,732  493,203  3% 403,237  26%
            
G&A Expense           
Core G&A(5)216,185  209,244  3% 194,607  11%
Regulatory charges9,593  7,421  n/m  5,433  n/m 
Promotional45,141  52,628  (14%) 60,066  (25%)
Employee share-based compensation5,045  6,332  (20%) 4,212  20%
Total G&A275,964  275,625  % 264,318  4%
EBITDA(3)231,768  217,578  7% 138,919  67%
Depreciation and amortization21,897  22,838  (4%) 20,138  9%
Amortization of intangible assets15,672  15,676  % 9,997  57%
Non-operating interest expense31,756  31,705  % 28,894  10%
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES162,443  147,359  10% 79,890  103%
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES42,145  40,494  4% 15,792  167%
NET INCOME$120,298  $106,865  13% $64,098  88%
Earnings per share, diluted$1.36  $1.19  14% $0.69  97%
Weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted 88,163  89,878  (2%)  92,386  (5%)
EPS Prior to Amortization of Intangible Assets$1.49  $1.32  13% $0.76  96%
                  


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

 

 Quarterly Results
 Q4 2018 Q3 2018 Q2 2018
Gross Profit(3)     
Sales-based commissions$199,468  $193,545  $196,530 
Trailing commissions270,455  293,330  291,555 
Advisory474,102  458,087  438,917 
Commission and advisory fees944,025  944,962  927,002 
Commission and advisory expense(793,310) (821,950) (800,619)
Commission and advisory fees, net of payout150,715  123,012  126,383 
Cash sweep147,774  127,174  121,386 
Other asset-based(4)117,907  121,721  117,217 
Transaction and fee119,254  118,941  116,455 
Interest income and other(11,918) 18,199  16,744 
Total net commission and advisory fees and attachment revenue523,732  509,047  498,185 
Brokerage, clearing, and exchange expense(16,000) (15,844) (15,433)
Gross Profit(3)507,732  493,203  482,752 
      
G&A Expense     
Core G&A(5)216,185  209,244  192,148 
Regulatory charges9,593  7,421  8,321 
Promotional45,141  52,628  43,407 
Employee share-based compensation5,045  6,332  6,125 
Total G&A275,964  275,625  250,001 
EBITDA(3)231,768  217,578  232,751 
Depreciation and amortization21,897  22,838  22,220 
Amortization of intangible assets15,672  15,676  15,682 
Non-operating interest expense31,756  31,705  31,940 
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES162,443  147,359  162,909 
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES42,145  40,494  44,143 
NET INCOME$120,298  $106,865  $118,766 
Earnings per share, diluted$1.36  $1.19  $1.30 
Weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted 88,163   89,878   91,684 
EPS Prior to Amortization of Intangible Assets$1.49  $1.32  $1.42 
            


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

 Q4 2018 Q3 2018 Change Q4 2017 Change
Market Drivers         
S&P 500 Index (end of period)2,507  2,914  (14%) 2,674  (6%)
Fed Funds Daily Effective Rate (FFER) (average bps)222  192  30bps 120  102bps
          
Assets         
Advisory Assets(6)$282.0  $306.1  (8%) $273.0  3%
Brokerage Assets(7)346.0  374.9  (8%) 342.1  1%
Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets$628.1  $681.0  (8%) $615.1  2%
Advisory % of Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets44.9% 44.9% —bps 44.4% 50bps
          
Assets by Platform         
Corporate Platform Advisory Assets(8)$172.3  $184.8  (7%) $160.0  8%
Hybrid Platform Advisory Assets(9)109.7  121.3  (10%) 113.0  (3%)
Brokerage Assets346.0  374.9  (8%) 342.1  1%
Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets$628.1  $681.0  (8%) $615.1  2%
          
Centrally Managed Assets         
Centrally Managed Assets(10)$38.5  $40.8  (6%) $32.9  17%
Centrally Managed % of Total Advisory Assets13.7% 13.3% 40bps 12.1% 160bps
             


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

 Q4 2018 Q3 2018 Change Q4 2017 Change
Net New Assets (NNA)         
Net New Advisory Assets(11)$5.0  $5.1  n/m $14.0  n/m
Net New Brokerage Assets(12)0.9  (0.8) n/m 23.5  n/m
Total Net New Assets$5.9  $4.4  n/m $37.5  n/m
          
Net Brokerage to Advisory Conversions(13)$1.4  $1.7  n/m $2.1  n/m
Advisory NNA Annualized Growth(14)6% 7% n/m 22% n/m
Total NNA Annualized Growth(14)3% 3% n/m 27% n/m
          
Net New Advisory Assets         
Corporate Platform Net New Advisory Assets(15)$5.1  $5.9  n/m $11.1  n/m
Hybrid Platform Net New Advisory Assets(16)(0.2) (0.8) n/m 2.9  n/m
Total Net New Advisory Assets$5.0  $5.1  n/m $14.0  n/m
Centrally Managed Net New Advisory Assets(17)$1.4  $1.8  n/m $2.5  n/m
          
Cash Sweep Balances         
Insured Cash Account Balances$24.8  $21.0  18% $22.9  8%
Deposit Cash Account Balances5.1  3.9  31% 4.2  21%
Money Market Account Cash Balances4.9  3.3  48% 2.7  81%
Total Cash Sweep Balances$34.9  $28.2  24% $29.8  17%
Cash Sweep % of Total Assets5.6% 4.1% 150bps 4.8% 80bps
          
Cash Sweep Average Fees         
Insured Cash Account Average Fee - bps(18)215  189  26  132  83 
Deposit Cash Account Fee Average Fee - bps(18)207  198  9  113  94 
Money Market Account Average Fee - bps(18)75  75    69  6 
Total Cash Sweep Average Fee - bps(18)196  178  18  124  72 
          
Net Buy (Sell) Activity(19)$2.3  $9.2  (75%) $7.3  (68%)
                  


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

  December 2018 November 2018 Nov to Dec Change October 2018 September 2018
Assets Served          
Advisory Assets(6) $282.0  $297.0  (5.1%) $291.7  $306.1 
Brokerage Assets(7) 346.0  362.7  (4.6%) 357.5  374.9 
Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets $628.1  $659.7  (4.8%) $649.3  $681.0 
           
Net New Assets          
Net New Advisory Assets(11) $0.9  $2.0  n/m $2.1  $2.2 
Net New Brokerage Assets(12) (0.1) 0.9  n/m 0.1  0.5 
Total Net New Assets $0.8  $2.9  n/m $2.2  $2.7 
Net Brokerage to Advisory Conversions(13) $0.3  $0.5  n/m $0.6  $0.5 
           
Cash Sweep Balances          
Insured Cash Account Balances $24.8  $21.8  13.8% $21.4  $21.0 
Deposit Cash Account Balances 5.1  4.3  18.6% 4.2  3.9 
Money Market Account Cash Balances 4.9  3.9  25.6% 3.5  3.3 
Total Client Cash Sweep Balances $34.9  $29.9  16.7% $29.1  $28.2 
           
Market Indices          
S&P 500 Index (end of period) 2,507  2,760  (9.2%) 2,712  2,914 
Fed Funds Effective Rate (average bps) 227  220  7bps 219  195 
               


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

 Q4 2018 Q3 2018 % Change Q4 2017 % Change
Commission Revenue by Product         
Variable annuities$188,439  $201,075  (6%) $174,209  8%
Mutual funds145,780  155,579  (6%) 137,316  6%
Alternative investments5,414  6,331  (14%) 6,547  (17%)
Fixed annuities50,807  47,117  8% 32,054  59%
Equities22,752  19,082  19% 20,659  10%
Fixed income29,201  32,144  (9%) 26,373  11%
Insurance19,232  16,155  19% 19,998  (4%)
Group annuities7,966  9,064  (12%) 8,638  (8%)
Other332  328  1% 149  123%
Total commission revenue$469,923  $486,875  (3%) $425,943  10%
          
Commission Revenue by Sales-based and Trailing Commission      
Sales-based commissions         
Variable annuities$54,744  $57,491  (5%) $51,523  6%
Mutual funds33,687  33,319  1% 32,318  4%
Alternative investments2,049  1,822  12% 2,940  (30%)
Fixed annuities43,744  40,040  9% 26,767  63%
Equities22,752  19,082  19% 20,659  10%
Fixed income23,504  25,757  (9%) 20,548  14%
Insurance17,703  14,433  23% 18,512  (4%)
Group annuities953  1,273  (25%) 636  50%
Other332  328  1% 149  123%
Total sales-based commissions$199,468  $193,545  3% $174,052  15%
Trailing commissions         
Variable annuities$133,695  $143,584  (7%) $122,686  9%
Mutual funds112,093  122,260  (8%) 104,998  7%
Alternative investments3,365  4,509  (25%) 3,607  (7%)
Fixed annuities7,063  7,077  % 5,287  34%
Fixed income5,697  6,387  (11%) 5,825  (2%)
Insurance1,529  1,722  (11%) 1,486  3%
Group annuities7,013  7,791  (10%) 8,002  (12%)
Total trailing commissions$270,455  $293,330  (8%) $251,891  7%
Total commission revenue$469,923  $486,875  (3%) $425,943  10%
                  


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

 Q4 2018 Q3 2018 Change Q4 2017 Change
Payout Rate         
Base Payout Rate82.75% 83.02% (27bps) 82.56% 19bps
Production Based Bonuses3.88% 3.36% 52bps 3.28% 60bps
GDC Sensitive Payout86.63% 86.38% 25bps 85.84% 79bps
Non-GDC Sensitive Payout(2.60)% 0.60% (320bps) 1.17% (377bps)
Total Payout Ratio84.03% 86.98% (295bps) 87.01% (298bps)
Production Based Bonuses Ratio (Trailing Twelve Months)3.03% 2.88% 15bps 2.65% 38bps
             


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

 Q4 2018 Q3 2018
Credit Agreement EBITDA Trailing Twelve Months(3)(20)   
Net income$439,459  $383,259 
Non-operating interest expense125,023  122,161 
Provision for income taxes153,178  126,825 
Depreciation and amortization87,656  85,897 
Amortization of intangible assets60,252  54,577 
EBITDA(3)$865,568  $772,719 
Credit Agreement Adjustments:   
Employee share-based compensation expense$23,108  $22,274 
Advisor share-based compensation expense6,054  7,886 
NPH run-rate EBITDA accretion(21)92,000  92,000 
Realized NPH EBITDA Offset(22)(75,500) (50,500)
NPH onboarding costs41,789  70,132 
Other(23)16,269  17,294 
Credit Agreement EBITDA Trailing Twelve Months(3)(20)$969,288  $931,805 
    
Cash Available for Corporate Use(24)   
Cash at Parent$272,450  $276,657 
Excess Cash at Broker-Dealer subsidiary per Credit Agreement56,248  105,578 
Other Available Cash10,302  9,373 
Total Cash Available for Corporate Use$339,000  $391,608 
    
Credit Agreement Net Leverage   
Total Debt (does not include unamortized premium)$2,381,250  $2,385,000 
Cash Available (up to $300 million)300,000  300,000 
Credit Agreement Net Debt$2,081,250  $2,085,000 
Credit Agreement EBITDA Trailing Twelve Months(20)$969,288  $931,805 
Credit Agreement Net Leverage Ratio2.15x 2.24x
      


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+125bps(b)   % 9/21/2022
Senior Secured Term Loan B 1,481,250  LIBOR+225 bps(b)   4.73% 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 $2,381,250      5.12%  
  1. The Revolving Credit Facility has a borrowing capacity of $500 million.
  2. The LIBOR rate option is one-month LIBOR rate and subject to an interest rate floor of 0 basis points.
  3. 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.
  4. Does not include unamortized premium of approximately $10.1 million as of December 31, 2018.


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

 Q4 2018 Q3 2018 Change Q4 2017 Change
Advisors         
Advisors16,109 16,174 % 15,210 6%
Net New Advisors(65) 125  n/m  957  n/m 
Annualized commission and advisory fees per Advisor(25)$234  $235  % $218  7%
Average Total Assets per Advisor ($ in millions)(26)$39.0  $42.1  (7%) $40.4  (3%)
Transition assistance loan amortization($ in millions)(27)$21.3  $19.2  11% $14.5  47%
Total client accounts (in millions)5.4  5.4  % 4.8  13%
          
Employees - period end4,229 4,101 3% 3,736 13%
          
Productivity Metrics         
Annualized Advisory Revenue as a percentage of Corporate Advisory Assets1.03% 1.05% (2bps) 1.04% (1bps)
Gross Profit ROA(28)31.5bps 29.2bps 2.3bps 27.5bps 4.0bps
OPEX ROA(29)19.4bps 18.6bps 0.8bps 20.1bps (0.7bps)
EBIT ROA(30)12.1bps 10.6bps 1.5bps 7.4bps 4.7bps
Production Retention Rate (YTD annualized)(31)95.9% 96.1% (20bps) 95.0% 90bps
Recurring Gross Profit Rate (trailing twelve months) (32)86.7% 85.0% 170bps 82.6% 410bps
EBITDA as a percentage of Gross Profit45.6% 44.1% 150bps 34.5% 1,110bps
          
Capital Expenditure ($ in millions)$47.5  $36.4  30% $26.3  81%
          
Share Repurchases$117.8  $122.5  (4%) $30.0  293%
Dividends21.5  21.9  (2%) 22.5  (4%)
Total Capital Allocated$139.3  $144.4  (4%) $52.5  165%
Weighted-average Share Count, Diluted88.2  89.9  (2%) 92.4  (5%)
Total Capital Allocated per Share(33)$1.58  $1.61  (2%) $0.57  177%
                  


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. Certain 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 3.
  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 3 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:
 Q4 2018 Q3 2018 Q2 2018 Q4 2017
Operating Expense Reconciliation (in thousands)       
Core G&A$216,185  $209,244  $192,148  $194,607 
Regulatory charges9,593  7,421  8,321  5,433 
Promotional45,141  52,628  43,407  60,066 
Employee share-based compensation5,045  6,332  6,125  4,212 
Total G&A275,964  275,625  250,001  264,318 
Commissions and advisory793,310  821,950  800,619  697,725 
Depreciation & amortization21,897  22,838  22,220  20,138 
Amortization of intangible assets15,672  15,676  15,682  9,997 
Brokerage, clearing and exchange16,000  15,844  15,433  15,480 
Total operating expense$1,122,843  $1,151,933  $1,103,955  $1,007,658 

 

  1. Consists of total advisory assets under custody at LPL Financial.
  2. Consists of brokerage assets serviced by advisors licensed with LPL Financial.
  3. Consists of total assets on LPL Financial's corporate advisory platform serviced by investment advisor representatives of LPL Financial.
  4. 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.
  5. Represents those Advisory Assets in LPL Financial’s Model Wealth Portfolios, Optimum Market Portfolios, Personal Wealth Portfolios, and Guided Wealth Portfolios platforms.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Consists of existing custodied assets that converted from brokerage to advisory, less existing custodied assets that converted from advisory to brokerage.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. Consists of total client deposits into Centrally Managed Assets accounts (FN 10) less total client withdrawals from Centrally Managed Assets accounts.
  13. Calculated by dividing revenue for the period by the average balance during the period.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. Consists of cash unrestricted by the Credit Agreement and other regulations available for operating, investing, and financing uses.
  20. Calculated based on the average advisor count from the current period and prior period.
  21. Calculated based on the end of period Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets divided by end of period Advisor count.
  22. Represents the amortization expense amount of forgivable loans for transition assistance to advisors and financial institutions.
  23. Represents annualized Gross Profit (FN 3) for the period, divided by average month-end Total Brokerage and Advisory Assets for the period.
  24. 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.
  25. EBIT ROA is calculated as Gross Profit ROA less OPEX ROA.
  26. 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.
  27. 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.
  28. Capital Allocation per Share equals the amount of capital allocated for share repurchases and cash dividends divided by the diluted weighted-average shares outstanding.
  29. 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 3 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)Q4 2018
EPS$1.36 
Amortization of Intangible Assets15,672 
Tax Benefit(4,388)
  Amortization of Intangible Assets Net of Tax Benefit$11,284 
Diluted Share Count88,163 
EPS Impact$0.13 
EPS Prior to Amortization of Intangible Assets$1.49 
    


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