Virtu Announces First Quarter 2016 Results


NEW YORK, May 04, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtu Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIRT) a leading technology-enabled market maker and liquidity provider to the global financial markets, today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016.

First Quarter Selected Results

First Quarter 2016:

  • Net Income of $51.4 million; Adjusted Net Income* of $58.9 million
  • GAAP Basic EPS of $0.27; Diluted EPS of $0.26; Normalized Adjusted EPS* of $0.31
  • Adjusted Net Trading Income* of $117.3 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA* of $81.1 million; Adjusted EBITDA Margin* of 67.9%
  • Quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share payable on June 15, 2016

* Non-GAAP financial measures. Please see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Items" for more information.

The Virtu Financial, Inc. Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share. This dividend is payable on June 15, 2016 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2016.

“Our business delivered impressive results in the first quarter of 2016 as the overall volume and volatility environment across our operations was generally positive,” said Douglas Cifu, Chief Executive Officer of Virtu Financial.

GAAP Financial Results

Total revenues decreased 13.0% to $192.6 million for this quarter, compared to $221.5 million for the same period in 2015. Trading income, net, decreased 12.9% to $186.3 million for this quarter, compared to $213.9 million for the same period in 2015. Net income decreased 33.7% to $51.4 million for this quarter, compared to $77.4 million for the same period in 2015.

GAAP Basic and Diluted EPS for this quarter were $0.27 and $0.26, respectively.

Historical quarterly results from first quarter 2014 to date are available at http://ir.virtu.com.

Business Performance

For the first quarter of 2016, Adjusted Net Trading Income decreased 21.0% to $117.3 million for this quarter, compared to $148.4 million for the same period in 2015. Adjusted Net Income decreased 33.0% to $58.9 million for this quarter, compared to $87.9 million for the same period in 2015. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 23.8% to $81.1 million for this quarter, compared to $106.4 million for the same period in 2015. Assuming all non-controlling interests had been exchanged for common stock, and the Company’s Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes was subject to corporation taxation, Normalized Adjusted EPS would be $0.31 for this quarter.

Since our inception, we have sought to broadly diversify our market making across securities, asset classes and  geographies, and as a result, for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, we achieved a diverse mix of Adjusted Net Trading Income results, with no one category constituting more than 31.8% of our total Adjusted Net Trading Income. Average daily Adjusted Net Trading Income was approximately $1.923 million for this quarter compared to $2.433 million for the same period in the previous year.

As of March 31, 2016, Virtu was connected to more than 230 unique market venues in 35 countries and made markets in over 12,000 financial instruments.

The following tables show our Adjusted Net Trading Income, average daily Adjusted Net Trading Income and percentage of Adjusted Net Trading Income by category for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

          
  Three Months Ended March 31, 
Adjusted Net Trading Income: 2016  % of
Total
  2015  % of
Total
 % Change
              
Category (in thousands, except percentages) 
Americas Equities$  37,278   31.8% $  29,132   19.6%  28.0%
EMEA Equities   13,710   11.7%    17,399   11.7%  -21.2%
APAC Equities   12,180   10.4%    10,923   7.4%  11.5%
Global Commodities   30,347   25.9%    34,654   23.4%  -12.4%
Global Currencies   20,501   17.5%    42,167   28.4%  -51.4%
Options, Fixed Income and Other   8,713   7.4%    9,198   6.2%  -5.3%
Unallocated1   (5,434)  -4.7%    4,935   3.3%  NM 
Total Adjusted Net Trading Income$   117,295   100.0% $   148,408    100.0%  -21.0%
                    
  Three Months Ended March 31, 
Average Daily Adjusted Net Trading Income: 2016  % of
Total
  2015  % of
Total
 % Change
              
Category (in thousands, except percentages) 
Americas Equities$  611   31.8% $  478   19.6%  28.0%
EMEA Equities   225   11.7%    285   11.7%  -21.2%
APAC Equities   200   10.4%    179   7.4%  11.5%
Global Commodities   497   25.9%    568   23.4%  -12.4%
Global Currencies   336   17.5%    691   28.4%  -51.4%
Options, Fixed Income and Other   143   7.4%    151   6.2%  -5.3%
Unallocated1   (89)  -4.7%    81   3.3%  NM 
Total Adjusted Net Trading Income$   1,923    100.0% $   2,433    100.0%  -21.0%
                    
  Three Months Ended March 31, 
Selected Market Metrics: 2016     2015    % Change
US Equities Average Daily Volume, in millions2   8,552       6,916     23.7%
US Equities Average Daily Volume, in $ USD billions2$305.5    $285.6     7.0%
EU Equities Average Daily Volume, in millions2   6,673     6,581     1.4%
EU Equities Average Daily Volume, in € EUR billions253.8  54.7     -1.6%
TSE Equities Average Daily Volume, in millions3   2,911     2,707     7.5%
TSE Equities Average Daily Volume, in ¥ JPY billions3¥2,914  ¥2,807     3.8%
CME Average Daily Energy Contracts4   2,535,521     2,140,644     18.4%
CME Average Daily FX Contracts4   943,974     951,064     -0.7%
OCC Average Daily Volume, in millions5   17.1     16.3     5.0%
VIX (Average)6   20.49     16.57     23.6%
VIX (High)6   27.59     22.39     23.2%
VIX (Low)6   19.34     13.02     48.5%
Trading Days (US)7   61     61     
 
1 Under our methodology for recording ‘‘trading income, net’’ in our condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income, we recognize 
  revenues based on the exit price of assets in accordance with applicable U.S. GAAP rules, and when we calculate Adjusted Net Trading 
  Income for corresponding reporting periods, we start with trading income, net. By contrast, when we calculate Adjusted Net 
  Trading Income by category, we recognize revenues on a daily basis, and as a result prices used in recognizing revenues may differ. 
  Because we provide liquidity on a global basis, across asset classes and time zones, the timing of any particular daily Adjusted Net Trading 
  Income calculation can effectively defer or accelerate revenue from one day to another or one reporting period to another, as the case 
  may be. We do not allocate any resulting differences based on the timing of revenue recognition. 
2 Source: Bats Global Markets 
3 Source: Tokyo Stock Exchange 
4 Source: Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group 
5 Source: Options Clearing Corporation 
6 Source: Chicago Board Options Exchange 
7 Based on NYSE/NASDAQ trading calendar 
  

Financial Condition

As of March 31, 2016, Virtu had $148.5 million in cash and cash equivalents, and total long-term debt outstanding in an aggregate principal amount of $498.5 million.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Items

To supplement our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), we use the following non-GAAP measures of financial performance:

  • "Adjusted Net Trading Income" which is the amount of revenue we generate from our market making activities, or trading income, net, plus interest and dividends income and expense, net, less direct costs associated with those revenues, including brokerage, exchange and clearance fees, net. Management believes that this measurement is useful for comparing general operating performance from period to period. Although we use Adjusted Net Trading Income as a financial measure to assess the performance of our business, the use of Adjusted Net Trading Income is limited because it does not include certain material costs that are necessary to operate our business. Our presentation of Adjusted Net Trading Income should not be construed as an indication that our future results will be unaffected by revenues or expenses that are not directly associated with our market making activities.
  • "Adjusted Net Income," which measures our operating performance by adjusting Net Income to exclude amortization of purchased intangibles and acquired capitalized software, severance, reserve for legal matter, transaction advisory fees and expenses, termination of office leases, equipment write-off, acquisition related retention bonus, share based compensation, charges related to share based compensation at IPO, 2015 Management Incentive Plan, and charges related to share based compensation awards at IPO.
  • "EBITDA," which measures our operating performance by adjusting Net Income to exclude financing interest expense on senior secured credit facility, depreciation and amortization, amortization of purchased intangibles and acquired capitalized software, equipment write-off and income tax expense, and "Adjusted EBITDA," which measures our operating performance by further adjusting EBITDA to exclude severance, reserve for legal matter, transaction advisory fees and expenses, termination of office leases, acquisition related retention bonus, share based compensation, charges related to share based compensation at IPO, 2015 Management Incentive Plan, and charges related to share based compensation at IPO.
  • “Normalized Adjusted Net Income,” “Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes,” “Normalized provision for income taxes,” and “Normalized Adjusted EPS,” which we calculate by adjusting Net Income to exclude certain items including IPO related adjustments and other non-cash items, assuming that all vested and unvested Virtu Financial LLC units have been exchanged for Class A Common Stock, and applying a corporate tax rate of 35.5%.  

Adjusted Net Trading Income, Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes and Normalized Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures used by management in evaluating operating performance and in making strategic decisions. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures or similar non-GAAP measures are used by research analysts, investment bankers and lenders to assess our operating performance. Management believes that the presentation of Adjusted Net Trading Income, Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes and Normalized Adjusted EPS provide useful information to investors regarding our results of operations because it assists both investors and management in analyzing and benchmarking the performance and value of our business. Adjusted Net Trading Income, Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes and Normalized Adjusted EPS provide indicators of general economic performance that are not affected by fluctuations in certain costs or other items. Accordingly, management believes that these measurements are useful for comparing general operating performance from period to period. Furthermore, our credit agreement contains covenants and other tests based on metrics similar to Adjusted EBITDA. Other companies may define Adjusted Net Trading Income, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes and Normalized Adjusted EPS differently, and as a result our measures of Adjusted Net Trading Income, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes and Normalized Adjusted EPS may not be directly comparable to those of other companies. Although we use these non-GAAP financial measures as financial measures to assess the performance of our business, such use is limited because they do not include certain material costs necessary to operate our business.                    

Adjusted Net Trading Income, Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Normalized Adjusted Net Income should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, Net Income in accordance with U.S. GAAP as a measure of performance. Our presentation of Adjusted Net Trading Income, Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes and Normalized Adjusted EPS should not be construed as an indication that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items. Adjusted Net Trading Income, Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes, Normalized Adjusted EPS and our EBITDA-based measures have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

  • they do not reflect every cash expenditure, future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
  • our EBITDA-based measures do not reflect the significant interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payment on our debt;
  • although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced or require improvements in the future, and our EBITDA-based measures do not reflect any cash requirement for such replacements or improvements;
  • they are not adjusted for all non-cash income or expense items that are reflected in our statements of cash flows;
  • they do not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations; and
  • they do not reflect limitations on our costs related to transferring earnings from our subsidiaries to us.

Because of these limitations, Adjusted Net Trading Income, Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Normalized Adjusted Net Income are not intended as alternatives to Net Income as indicators of our operating performance and should not be considered as measures of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business or as measures of cash that will be available to us to meet our obligations. We compensate for these limitations by using Adjusted Net Trading Income, Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Normalized Adjusted Net Income along with other comparative tools, together with U.S. GAAP measurements, to assist in the evaluation of operating performance. These U.S. GAAP measurements include operating income (loss), Net Income (loss), cash flows from operations and cash flow data. See below a reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

 
Virtu Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended March 31, 
  2016   2015 
 
(in thousands, except share and per share data) 
Revenues: 
Trading income, net$  186,289  $  213,930 
Interest and dividends income   4,268     5,182 
Technology services   2,081     2,416 
Total revenues   192,638     221,528 
        
Operating Expenses:       
Brokerage, exchange and clearance fees, net   59,725     61,138 
Communication and data processing   17,722     17,943 
Employee compensation and payroll taxes   22,557     26,900 
Interest and dividends expense   13,537     9,566 
Operations and administrative   4,491     8,491 
Depreciation and amortization   7,727     8,195 
Amortization of purchased intangibles and acquired capitalized software   53     53 
Equipment write-off   428     1,468 
Charges related to share based compensation at IPO   595     -  
Financing interest expense on senior secured credit facility   7,101     7,602 
Total operating expenses   133,936     141,356 
      
Income before income taxes and non-controlling interest   58,702     80,172 
Provision for income taxes   7,346     2,728 
Net income$  51,356  $  77,444 
        
Non-controlling interest   (41,008)  
        
Net income available for common stockholders$  10,348   
        
Earnings per share:       
Basic$  0.27  
Diluted$  0.26  
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding 
Basic 38,210,209  
Diluted 38,489,489  
 
Comprehensive income: 
Net income$  51,356  $  77,444 
Other comprehensive income (loss)       
  Foreign exchange translation adjustment, net of taxes   2,494     (4,633)
        
Comprehensive income$  53,850  $  72,811 
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests   (42,801)    
Comprehensive income available for common stockholders$  11,049   
      


Virtu Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Operating Data (Unaudited)

The following tables reconcile Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income to arrive at Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Trading Income, and selected Operating Margins.

    
 Three Months Ended March 31,
  2016   2015 
      
 (in thousands, except percentages)
Reconciliation of Trading income, net to Adjusted Net Trading Income 
Trading income, net$  186,289  $  213,930 
Interest and dividends income   4,268     5,182 
Brokerage, exchange and clearance fees, net   (59,725)    (61,138)
Interest and dividends expense   (13,537)    (9,566)
Adjusted Net Trading Income$  117,295  $  148,408 
 
Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income 
Net income$  51,356  $  77,444 
Amortization of purchased intangibles and acquired capitalized software   53     53 
Severance   193     303 
Termination of office leases   (319)    2,729 
Equipment write-off   428     1,468 
Share based compensation   5,395     5,853 
Charges related to share based compensation at IPO, 2015 Management Incentive Plan   1,196     -  
Charges related to share based compensation awards at IPO   595     -  
Adjusted Net Income$  58,897  $  87,850 
 
Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA 
Net income$  51,356  $  77,444 
Financing interest expense on senior secured credit facility   7,101     7,602 
Depreciation and amortization   7,727     8,195 
Amortization of purchased intangibles and acquired capitalized software   53     53 
Equipment write-off   428     1,468 
Provision for income taxes   7,346     2,728 
EBITDA$  74,011  $  97,490 
    
Severance   193     303 
Termination of office leases   (319)    2,729 
Share based compensation   5,395     5,853 
Charges related to share based compensation at IPO, 2015 Management Incentive Plan   1,196     -  
Charges related to share based compensation awards at IPO   595     -  
Adjusted EBITDA$  81,071  $  106,375 
 
Selected Operating Margins 
Net Income Margin1 43.0%  51.3%
Adjusted Net Income Margin2 49.3%  58.2%
EBITDA Margin3 62.0%  64.6%
Adjusted EBITDA Margin4 67.9%  70.5%
 
1 Calculated by dividing net income by the sum of Adjusted Net Trading Income and technology services revenue.
2 Calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the sum of Adjusted Net Trading Income and technology services revenue.
3 Calculated by dividing EBITDA by the sum of Adjusted Net Trading Income and technology services revenue.
4 Calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by the sum of Adjusted Net Trading Income and technology services revenue.
 

Virtu Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Operating Data (Unaudited)
(Continued)

The following tables reconcile Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income to arrive at Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes, Normalized Adjusted Net Income and Normalized Adjusted EPS.

 
 Three Months Ended March 31, 
  2016   2015 
 
(in thousands, except share and per share data) 
Reconciliation of Net Income to Normalized Adjusted Net Income 
Net income$  51,356  $  77,444 
Provision for income taxes   7,346     2,728 
Income before income taxes$  58,702  $  80,172 
Amortization of purchased intangibles and acquired capitalized software   53     53 
Severance   193     303 
Termination of office leases   (319)    2,729 
Equipment write-off   428     1,468 
Share based compensation   5,395     5,853 
Charges related to share based compensation at IPO, 2015 Management Incentive Plan   1,196     -  
Charges related to share based compensation awards at IPO   595     -  
Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes$  66,243  $  90,578 
Normalized provision for income taxes1   23,516     32,155 
Normalized Adjusted Net Income$  42,727  $  58,423 
    
Adjusted shares outstanding2   139,891,431     138,447,359 
    
Normalized Adjusted EPS$  0.31  $  0.42 
 
1 Reflects U.S. federal, state, and local income tax rate applicable to corporations of approximately 35.5%.
2 Assumes that (1) holders of all vested and unvested Virtu Financial LLC Units (together with corresponding shares of Class C common stock),
have exercised their right to exchange such Virtu Financial LLC Units for shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis,  (2) holders
of all Virtu Financial LLC Units (together with corresponding shares of Class D common stock), have exercised their right to exchange such 
Virtu Financial LLC Units for shares of Class B common stock on a one-for-one basis, and subsequently exercised their right to convert
the shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis.  
 Includes 279,280 additional shares from dilutive impact of options and restricted stock units outstanding under the 2015 Management Incentive Plan
during the three months ended March 31, 2016. 
  

 

 
Virtu Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Unaudited)
 
 March 31, December 31,
  2016   2015 
    
 (in thousands, except share data)
Assets 
Cash and cash equivalents$  148,514  $  163,235 
Securities borrowed   654,065     453,296 
Securities purchased under agreements to resell   -      14,981 
Receivables from broker-dealers and clearing organizations   626,660     476,536 
Trading assets, at fair value   1,523,674     1,297,214 
Property, equipment and capitalized software, net   33,017     37,501 
Goodwill   715,379     715,379 
Intangibles (net of accumulated amortization)   1,150     1,203 
Deferred taxes   191,238     193,740 
Other assets   38,421     38,845 
Total assets$  3,932,118  $  3,391,930 
 
Liabilities, redeemable interest and equity 
Liabilities 
Short-term borrowings$  32,000  $  45,000 
Securities loaned   690,672     524,603 
Payables to broker-dealers and clearing organizations   435,958     486,604 
Trading liabilities, at fair value   1,408,358     979,090 
Tax receivable agreement obligations   218,399     218,399 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities   89,364     86,775 
Senior secured credit facility, net   492,782     493,589 
Total liabilities$  3,367,533  $  2,834,060 
        
Total equity   564,585     557,870 
        
Total liabilities, redeemable interest and equity$  3,932,118  $  3,391,930 
 
 As of March 31, 2016
Ownership of Virtu Financial LLC Interests:Interests %
 
Virtu Financial, Inc. - Class A Common Stock   39,078,806   28.0%
Non-controlling Interests (Virtu Financial LLC)   100,533,345   72.0%
Total Virtu Financial LLC Interests   139,612,151   100.0%
        

Conference Call Information
Douglas Cifu, Chief Executive Officer, and Joseph Molluso, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call to discuss the Company's financial results and outlook on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the conference call, please dial (855) 645-0552 (U.S.) or (720) 634-9067 (international). The Company will also host a live audio Webcast of the conference call on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://ir.virtu.com/events.cfm. The Webcast will also be archived on http://ir.virtu.com/events.cfm for 90 days following the announcement.

About Virtu Financial, Inc.
Virtu is a leading technology-enabled market maker and liquidity provider to the global financial markets. We stand ready, at any time, to buy or sell a broad range of securities and other financial instruments, and we generate revenue by buying and selling securities and other financial instruments and earning small amounts of money on individual transactions based on the difference between what buyers are willing to pay and what sellers are willing to accept, which we refer to as "bid/ask spreads," across a large volume of transactions. We make markets by providing quotations to buyers and sellers in more than 12,000 securities and other financial instruments on more than 230 unique exchanges, markets and liquidity pools in 35 countries around the world. We believe that our broad diversification, in combination with our proprietary technology platform and low-cost structure, enables us to facilitate risk transfer between global capital markets participants by supplying liquidity and competitive pricing while at the same time earning attractive margins and returns.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The foregoing information contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the company's current views with respect to certain current and future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are and will be, as the case may be, subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to the company's operations and business environment which may cause the company's actual results to be materially different from any future results, expressed or implied, in these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to the company on the date of this release. The company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any statements expressed or implied therein will not be realized. Additional information on risk factors that could potentially affect the company's financial results may be found in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT              

               Investor Relations
               Andrew Smith
               Virtu Financial, Inc.
               (212) 418-0195
               investor_relations@virtu.com

               Media Relations
               media@virtu.com

GlobeNewswire

Recommended Reading