Driven by impressive top-line growth, Invesco Ltd. (IVZ) reported first-quarter 2014 adjusted earnings of 60 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 55 cents. Additionally, this was up 20.0% from the prior-year quarter figure of 50 cents.
Better-than-expected results were driven by a rise in revenues, partially offset by higher expenses. Further, the company’s balance sheet position remained strong and assets under management (AUM) recorded impressive growth.
On a GAAP basis, net income attributable to common shareholders was $187.8 million or 43 cents per share, down from $222.2 million or 49 cents in the year-ago quarter. The decrease was mainly due to the penalty paid to settle charges for an enforcement proceeding with the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and an expense saving initiative undertaken to improve efficiency.
Performance in Details
Adjusted net revenue was $887.8 million, increasing 12.7% from the prior-year quarter. Growth in all the revenue components except performance fees led to the rise. However, the figure was below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.3 billion.
Adjusted operating expenses increased 8.9% from the prior-year quarter to $524.8 million. This was mainly due to rise in marketing costs, employee compensation expenses as well as general and administrative expenses.
Adjusted operating margin for the quarter was 40.9%, rising from 38.9% in the year-ago quarter.
As of Mar 31, 2014, AUM increased 11.2% year over year to $787.3 billion. The average AUM for the said quarter was $779.6 billion, up 12.7% from $691.2 billion in the prior-year quarter. Further, long-term net inflows fell to $6.5 billion from $14.3 billion on a year-over-year basis.
As of Mar 31, 2014, cash and cash equivalents were $978.7 million, compared with $1,331.2 million as of Dec 31, 2013. Total long-term debt was $1,588.7 million as of Mar 31, 2014, almost unchanged from Dec 31, 2013-level.
Capital Deployment Initiatives
In the reported quarter, Invesco repurchased shares worth $119.6 million at an average price of $33.56 per share.
Along with the earnings release, Invesco announced a 11.1% hike in its quarterly cash dividend to 25 cents per share. The dividend will be paid on Jun 6 to shareholders of record as on May 16, with an ex-dividend date of May 14.
Our Viewpoint
Invesco’s long-term investment performance continues to benefit from improvement in equity markets worldwide, which are expected to drive the company’s operating results as well. The company is well positioned to benefit from increased global investment flows owing to its broad diversification. However, high debt levels and rising expenses remain concerns.
Currently, Invesco carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Performance of Other Asset Managers
Among other investment management firms, The Blackstone Group L.P. (BX), BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) and Ameriprise Financial Inc. (AMP) outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in their latest earnings releases. The results of these companies were driven by improvement in top line, partially offset by higher expenses. Further, all three companies recorded impressive AUM growth.
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