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Legg Mason's (LM) Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Down
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Legg Mason Inc. reported positive earnings surprise of 10.5% in second-quarter fiscal 2020 (ended Sep 30). The company recorded adjusted net income of 95 cents per share, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 86 cents. Further, the reported figure escalated 17.3% year over year.
Higher assets under management (AUM) drove the company’s performance. In addition, controlled expenses were a tailwind. Nonetheless, fall in revenues, resulting from lower investment advisory fees, was a major drag in the quarter.
Including certain one-time items, Legg Mason reported net income of $67.1 million or 74 cents per share compared with the net income of $72.8 million or 82 cents recorded in the year-ago quarter.
Revenues Decline, Expenses Drop
Legg Mason’s total adjusted operating revenues in the reported quarter came in at $617.3 million, slightly down year over year. The fall mainly resulted from decreased distribution and service fees, reduced average fund AUM earning distribution fee revenue and lower advisory fee revenues. These decreases were partially offset by increased non-pass through performance fees. However, the revenue figure outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $732 million.
Investment advisory fees slipped slightly year over year to $675.1 million in the quarter. Distribution and service fees were down 15.2% year over year to $67.1 million. Also, other revenues slumped 45% year over year to $1.1 million.
Operating expenses edged down 1% to $618.3 million on a year-over-year basis. This downside chiefly resulted from lower distribution and other costs, partly offset by higher compensation and benefits.
Non-operating expense was $19.7 million, down 20.6% year over year.
Adjusted operating margin of Legg Mason was 25% in the September-end quarter, up from the 24.5% recorded in the prior-year quarter.
Assets Position
As of Sep 30, 2019, Legg Mason’s AUM was $781.8 billion, up 3.5% year over year from $755.4 billion. Of the total AUM, fixed income constituted 57%, equity 26%, liquidity 8% and alternatives represented 9%.
Also, AUM ascended slightly on a sequential basis from the $780.2 billion as of Jun 30, 2019, driven by an encouraging market performance and other of $8.7 billion. These were partly countered by negative foreign exchange of $3.2 billion, long-term outflows of $0.2 billion, liquidity outflows of $3.5 billion and $0.2 billion in realizations.
Notably, long-term flows included equity outflows of $2.1 billion and fixed income outflows of $0.5 billion, partly offset by alternative inflows of $2.4 billion.
Additionally, average AUM was $779.8 billion compared with the $750.2 billion witnessed in the year-earlier quarter and $765.9 billion in the previous quarter.
Strong Balance Sheet
As of Sep 30, 2019, Legg Mason had $580.9 million in cash. Total debt was $2 billion. Shareholders’ equity came in at $3.7 billion.
The ratio of total debt to total capital (total equity plus total debt excluding consolidated investment vehicles) was 35% compared with the previous quarter’s 38%.
Our Viewpoint
We believe Legg Mason has the potential to outperform its peers over the long run, given the company’s diversified product mix and leverage in the changing market demography. In addition to these, with strategic acquisitions, restructuring initiatives and cost-cutting measures, we anticipate the company’s operating efficiencies to improve.
Though declining revenues is a key concern, prudent expense management and higher AUM remain driving factors.
Legg Mason, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Affiliated Managers Group Inc.’s (AMG - Free Report) third-quarter 2019 economic earnings of $3.16 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.14. However, the figure declined 8.4% year over year.
Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN - Free Report) reported a negative earnings surprise of 6.2% in fourth-quarter fiscal 2019 (ended Sep 30). Earnings of 61 cents per share lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 65 cents. Results also compared unfavorably with the earnings of 96 cents per share recorded in the prior-year quarter.
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW - Free Report) reported a positive earnings surprise of 7.6% in third-quarter 2019. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $2.13, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.98. Results also improved 7% from the year-ago figure of $1.99.
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This pioneering tech ticker had soared to all-time highs and then subsided to a price that is irresistible. Now a pending acquisition could super-charge the company’s drive past competitors in the development of true Artificial Intelligence. The earlier you get in to this stock, the greater your potential gain.
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Legg Mason's (LM) Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Down
Legg Mason Inc. reported positive earnings surprise of 10.5% in second-quarter fiscal 2020 (ended Sep 30). The company recorded adjusted net income of 95 cents per share, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 86 cents. Further, the reported figure escalated 17.3% year over year.
Higher assets under management (AUM) drove the company’s performance. In addition, controlled expenses were a tailwind. Nonetheless, fall in revenues, resulting from lower investment advisory fees, was a major drag in the quarter.
Including certain one-time items, Legg Mason reported net income of $67.1 million or 74 cents per share compared with the net income of $72.8 million or 82 cents recorded in the year-ago quarter.
Revenues Decline, Expenses Drop
Legg Mason’s total adjusted operating revenues in the reported quarter came in at $617.3 million, slightly down year over year. The fall mainly resulted from decreased distribution and service fees, reduced average fund AUM earning distribution fee revenue and lower advisory fee revenues. These decreases were partially offset by increased non-pass through performance fees. However, the revenue figure outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $732 million.
Investment advisory fees slipped slightly year over year to $675.1 million in the quarter. Distribution and service fees were down 15.2% year over year to $67.1 million. Also, other revenues slumped 45% year over year to $1.1 million.
Operating expenses edged down 1% to $618.3 million on a year-over-year basis. This downside chiefly resulted from lower distribution and other costs, partly offset by higher compensation and benefits.
Non-operating expense was $19.7 million, down 20.6% year over year.
Adjusted operating margin of Legg Mason was 25% in the September-end quarter, up from the 24.5% recorded in the prior-year quarter.
Assets Position
As of Sep 30, 2019, Legg Mason’s AUM was $781.8 billion, up 3.5% year over year from $755.4 billion. Of the total AUM, fixed income constituted 57%, equity 26%, liquidity 8% and alternatives represented 9%.
Also, AUM ascended slightly on a sequential basis from the $780.2 billion as of Jun 30, 2019, driven by an encouraging market performance and other of $8.7 billion. These were partly countered by negative foreign exchange of $3.2 billion, long-term outflows of $0.2 billion, liquidity outflows of $3.5 billion and $0.2 billion in realizations.
Notably, long-term flows included equity outflows of $2.1 billion and fixed income outflows of $0.5 billion, partly offset by alternative inflows of $2.4 billion.
Additionally, average AUM was $779.8 billion compared with the $750.2 billion witnessed in the year-earlier quarter and $765.9 billion in the previous quarter.
Strong Balance Sheet
As of Sep 30, 2019, Legg Mason had $580.9 million in cash. Total debt was $2 billion. Shareholders’ equity came in at $3.7 billion.
The ratio of total debt to total capital (total equity plus total debt excluding consolidated investment vehicles) was 35% compared with the previous quarter’s 38%.
Our Viewpoint
We believe Legg Mason has the potential to outperform its peers over the long run, given the company’s diversified product mix and leverage in the changing market demography. In addition to these, with strategic acquisitions, restructuring initiatives and cost-cutting measures, we anticipate the company’s operating efficiencies to improve.
Though declining revenues is a key concern, prudent expense management and higher AUM remain driving factors.
Legg Mason, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Legg Mason, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Legg Mason, Inc. Quote
Legg Mason currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Asset Managers
Affiliated Managers Group Inc.’s (AMG - Free Report) third-quarter 2019 economic earnings of $3.16 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.14. However, the figure declined 8.4% year over year.
Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN - Free Report) reported a negative earnings surprise of 6.2% in fourth-quarter fiscal 2019 (ended Sep 30). Earnings of 61 cents per share lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 65 cents. Results also compared unfavorably with the earnings of 96 cents per share recorded in the prior-year quarter.
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW - Free Report) reported a positive earnings surprise of 7.6% in third-quarter 2019. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $2.13, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.98. Results also improved 7% from the year-ago figure of $1.99.
Free: Zacks’ Single Best Stock Set to Double
Today you are invited to download our just-released Special Report that reveals 5 stocks with the most potential to gain +100% or more in 2020. From those 5, Zacks Director of Research, Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
This pioneering tech ticker had soared to all-time highs and then subsided to a price that is irresistible. Now a pending acquisition could super-charge the company’s drive past competitors in the development of true Artificial Intelligence. The earlier you get in to this stock, the greater your potential gain.
Download Free Report Now >>