EX-99.1 2 d353353dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

WisdomTree Announces First Quarter 2022 Results

Diluted Loss Per Share of ($0.08) (Earnings Per Share of $0.09, as adjusted)

New York, NY – (GlobeNewswire) – April 29, 2022 – WisdomTree Investments, Inc. (NASDAQ: WETF) today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2022.

($10.3) million net loss ($14.1(1) million net income, as adjusted), see “Non-GAAP Financial Measurements” for additional information.

$17.0 million non-cash charge associated with the revaluation of deferred consideration – gold payments.

$79.4 billion of ending AUM, an increase of 2.5% arising from net inflows and market appreciation.

$1.3 billion of net inflows, primarily driven by inflows into our fixed income and U.S. equity products, partly offset by outflows from our commodity products.

0.40% average advisory fee, unchanged from the previous quarter.

$78.4 million of operating revenues, a decrease of 1.0% due to two fewer revenue days in the quarter, partly offset by higher average AUM.

80.2% gross margin(1), essentially unchanged from the previous quarter.

22.6% operating income margin (25.7%(1) as adjusted), a 5.9 point decrease (2.8 point decrease, as adjusted(1)) primarily due to higher operating expenses. Our unadjusted operating income margin is impacted by $2.4 million of expenses incurred in responding to the activist campaign by ETFS Capital Limited and Lion Point Capital, LP (collectively, the “Investor Group”), as evidenced by their Schedule 13D, initially filed January 24, 2022, and thereafter amended (the “activist campaign”).

$0.03 quarterly dividend declared, payable on May 25, 2022 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 11, 2022.

Update from Jonathan Steinberg, WisdomTree CEO

“This quarter marked WisdomTree’s sixth consecutive quarter of organic growth, strong earnings results and record assets under management. It is important to note that the robust organic growth and sustainable momentum we are experiencing today did not happen overnight, but rather has been the result of executing on the vision and strategy we laid out over the course of many years of diversifying the business, developing world class tools for advisors and launching a solutions platform into the key driver of growth it is today. Just as our strong execution has yielded today’s robust business with $3 billion of net inflows year-to-date, our strong execution on future opportunities with large addressable markets such as managed models and digital assets will further accelerate WisdomTree’s growth in the years to come.”

Update from Jarrett Lilien, WisdomTree COO and President

“Managed model portfolios have grown into a WisdomTree success story, with platform AUM at over $2 billion in only two years, and roughly 12% of US ETF inflows from managed model strategies, up from 10% in the second half of last year. Model flows are recurring in nature and stackable on top of our current inflow profile. We are excited about the trajectory of our models franchise and anticipate a long, lucrative growth runway ahead.

For WisdomTree, I see another major success story on the horizon: being a first mover in digital assets. The mission is simple: first, bring crypto exposures into the mainstream financial ecosystem through ETPs and separate accounts; and second, bring mainstream financial assets into the digital world through blockchain-enabled funds and tokenized assets. Viewed this way, digital assets are a natural extension of what we do – delivering our investors best structured access to various asset classes. We have the vision, we have the products, we have the new D2C channel with WisdomTree Prime, and we are excited to execute on this massive opportunity.”

 

1


OPERATING AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

     Three Months Ended  
     Mar. 31,
2022
    Dec. 31,
2021
    Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
 

Consolidated Operating Highlights ($ in billions):

          

AUM

   $ 79.4     $ 77.5     $ 72.8     $ 73.9     $ 69.5  

Net inflows

   $ 1.3     $ 1.9     $ 0.5     $ 0.9     $ 1.3  

Average AUM

   $ 77.8     $ 76.0     $ 74.5     $ 73.6     $ 69.6  

Average advisory fee

     0.40     0.40     0.41     0.40     0.41

Consolidated Financial Highlights ($ in millions, except per share amounts):

          

Operating revenues

   $ 78.4     $ 79.2     $ 78.1     $ 75.8     $ 71.3  

Net (loss)/income

   $ (10.3   $ 11.2     $ 5.8     $ 17.6     $ 15.1  

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share

   $ (0.08   $ 0.07     $ 0.04     $ 0.11     $ 0.09  

Operating income margin

     22.6     28.5     31.0     31.3     26.1

As Adjusted (Non-GAAP(1)):

          

Gross margin

     80.2     80.5     80.6     81.0     80.4

Net income, as adjusted

   $ 14.1     $ 15.7     $ 16.3     $ 16.8     $ 12.5  

Diluted earnings per share, as adjusted

   $ 0.09     $ 0.10     $ 0.10     $ 0.10     $ 0.08  

Operating income margin, as adjusted

     25.7     28.5     31.0     31.3     26.1

RECENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

Company News

 

   

In February 2022, our Board of Directors authorized an increase and extension to our existing stock repurchase program.

 

   

In March 2022, our Board of Directors adopted a limited duration stockholder rights plan.

 

   

Also in March 2022, we promoted Ben Wallach and Heather Reisner to strengthen our ESG focus with customer-focused product innovation in the U.S.; and we won three ETF Express European Awards 2022: Best Leveraged & Inverse ETF Issuer (Including ETNs), Best Thematic ETF Issuer ($100M+) and Best European Equity ETF Issuer ($100M-$1BN).

Product News

 

   

In February 2022, we launched the WisdomTree Battery Value Chain and Innovation Fund (WBAT) on the CBOE; we launched the WisdomTree New Economy Real Estate UCITS ETF (WTRE) on the London Stock Exchange, Börse Xetra and Borsa Italiana; and we cross-listed the WisdomTree Crypto Market ETP (BLOC) and the WisdomTree Crypto Altcoins ETP (WALT) on Euronext exchanges in Paris, France and Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

 

   

In March 2022, we executed a 1:2 reverse share split on the WisdomTree Floating Rate Treasury fund (USFR); we launched the WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fund (GDE) on the CBOE; we launched the WisdomTree S&P 500 (WSPX), the WisdomTree EURO STOXX 50 (WS5X) and the WisdomTree FTSE MIB (WMIB) on Borsa Italiana and the WisdomTree STOXX Europe Travel & Leisure 2x Daily Leveraged (2TRV), the WisdomTree STOXX Europe Travel & Leisure 2x Daily Short (2STR), the WisdomTree STOXX Europe Automobiles 2x Daily Leveraged (2CAR) and the WisdomTree STOXX Europe Oil & Gas 2x Daily Short (2OIG) on the London Stock Exchange, Börse Xetra and Borsa Italiana; we listed Swiss Franc (CHF) trading lines for the WisdomTree Bitcoin ETP (BTCW) and the WisdomTree Ethereum ETP (ETHW) listed on SIX; we launched the WisdomTree Solana ETP (SOLW), the WisdomTree Cardano ETP (ADAW) and the WisdomTree Polkadot ETP (DOTW) on Börse Xetra, SIX and Euronext in Paris, France and Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and the WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-State Owned Enterprises ESG Screened UCITS ETF (XSOE) won in the ‘Innovative Newcomer ETF’ category at the XENIX ETF awards 2022.

 

   

In April 2022, the WisdomTree New Economy Real Estate Fund (WTRE) was restructured from the WisdomTree Global ex-U.S. Real Estate Fund (DRW); we launched our Portfolio and Growth Solutions to address the needs of RIAs and IBDs to help scale and grow their businesses; we launched a pair of thematic metals ETPs: the WisdomTree Battery Metals ETP (WATT) and the WisdomTree Energy Transition Metals ETP (WENT) on the London Stock Exchange, Börse Xetra and Borsa Italiana; we cross-listed the WisdomTree AT1 CoCo Bond UCITS ETF (COCB) and the WisdomTree Cybersecurity UCITS ETF (WCBR) in Mexico; we cross-listed the WisdomTree USD Floating Rate Treasury Bond UCITS ETF (TFRN) on Borsa Italiana; we cross-listed the WisdomTree Global Quality Dividend Growth UCITS ETF (GGRW) on Börse Xetra; and we launched the WisdomTree Recycling Decarbonisation UCITS ETF (WRCY) on the London Stock Exchange, Börse Xetra and Borsa Italiana.

 

2


WISDOMTREE INVESTMENTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended  
     Mar. 31,
2022
    Dec. 31,
2021
    Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
 

Operating Revenues:

          

Advisory fees

   $ 76,517     $ 77,441     $ 76,400     $ 74,169     $ 70,042  

Other income

     1,851       1,734       1,712       1,606       1,214  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     78,368       79,175       78,112       75,775       71,256  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

          

Compensation and benefits

     24,787       23,178       22,027       20,331       22,627  

Fund management and administration

     15,494       15,417       15,181       14,367       13,947  

Marketing and advertising

     4,023       4,565       2,925       3,594       3,006  

Sales and business development

     2,609       2,668       2,935       2,159       2,145  

Contractual gold payments

     4,450       4,262       4,250       4,314       4,270  

Professional fees

     4,459       2,099       1,583       1,921       2,013  

Occupancy, communications and equipment

     753       725       1,163       1,266       1,475  

Depreciation and amortization

     47       45       185       256       252  

Third-party distribution fees

     2,212       1,830       1,873       2,130       1,343  

Other

     1,845       1,823       1,787       1,752       1,571  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     60,679       56,612       53,909       52,090       52,649  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     17,689       22,563       24,203       23,685       18,607  

Other Income/(Expenses):

          

Interest expense

     (3,732     (3,740     (3,729     (2,567     (2,296

(Loss)/gain on revaluation of deferred consideration – gold payments

     (17,018     (3,048     1,737       497       2,832  

Interest income

     794       864       689       225       231  

Impairments

     —         —         (15,853     —         (303

Other losses and gains, net

     (24,707     (1,368     (714     49       (5,893
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss)/income before income taxes

     (26,974     15,271       6,333       21,889       13,178  

Income tax (benefit)/expense

     (16,713     4,084       500       4,259       (1,969
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss)/income

   $ (10,261   $ 11,187     $ 5,833     $ 17,630     $ 15,147  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss)/earnings per share – basic

   $ (0.08 )(2)    $ 0.07 (2)    $ 0.04     $ 0.11 (2)      $0.09 (2) 

(Loss)/earnings per share – diluted

   $ (0.08 )(2)    $ 0.07     $ 0.04     $ 0.11       $0.09  

Weighted average common shares – basic

     142,782       142,070       142,070       145,542       145,649  

Weighted average common shares – diluted

     142,782       159,826       159,213       164,855       161,831  

As Adjusted (Non-GAAP(1))

          

Total operating expenses

   $ 58,244     $ 56,612     $ 53,909     $ 52,090     $ 52,649  

Operating income

   $ 20,124     $ 22,563     $ 24,203     $ 23,685     $ 18,607  

Income before income taxes

   $ 17,674     $ 19,968     $ 20,991     $ 21,253     $ 15,583  

Income tax expense

   $ 3,888     $ 4,232     $ 4,674     $ 4,458     $ 3,079  

Net income

   $ 14,063     $ 15,736     $ 16,317     $ 16,795     $ 12,504  

Earnings per share – diluted

   $ 0.09     $ 0.10     $ 0.10     $ 0.10     $ 0.08  

 

3


QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS

Operating Revenues

 

   

Operating revenues decreased 1.0% from the fourth quarter of 2021 due to two fewer revenue days in the quarter, partly offset by higher average AUM.

 

   

Operating revenues increased 10.0% from the first quarter of 2021 due to higher average AUM, partly offset by a lower average advisory fee.

 

   

Our average advisory fee was 0.40%, 0.40% and 0.41% during the first quarter of 2022, the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2021, respectively.

Operating Expenses

 

   

Operating expenses increased 7.2% from the fourth quarter of 2021 primarily due to $2.4 million of professional fees incurred in response to the activist campaign, higher compensation expense arising from seasonal payroll taxes and higher third-party distribution fees. These increases were partly offset by lower marketing expenses.

 

   

Operating expenses increased 15.3% from the first quarter of 2021 primarily due to $2.4 million of professional fees incurred in response to the activist campaign, higher compensation arising from increased headcount, higher fund management and administration costs, as well as higher marketing expenses, third-party distribution fees and sales and business development expenses. These increases were partly offset by lower occupancy expenses.

Other Income/(Expenses)

 

   

Interest expense was essentially unchanged from the fourth quarter of 2021. This expense increased 62.5% from the first quarter of 2021 due to a higher level of debt outstanding, partly offset by a lower effective interest rate.

 

   

We recognized a non-cash loss on revaluation of deferred consideration of $17.0 million during the first quarter of 2022. The loss was due to higher forward-looking gold prices. The magnitude of any gain or loss recognized is highly correlated to the magnitude of the change in the forward-looking price of gold.

 

   

Interest income decreased 8.1% from the fourth quarter of 2021 and increased 243.7% from first quarter of 2021 due to a change in our securities owned.

 

   

Other net losses were $24.7 million for the first quarter of 2022. The quarter includes a non-cash charge of $19.9 million upon the release of tax-related indemnification assets arising from a favorable resolution of certain tax audits as well as the expiration of the statute of limitations (an equal and offsetting benefit was recognized in income tax expense). This quarter also includes losses on our securities owned of $5.1 million. Gains and losses also generally arise from the sale of gold earned from management fees paid by our physically-backed gold ETPs, foreign exchange fluctuations and other miscellaneous items.

Income Taxes

 

   

Our effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2022 was 62.0% resulting in an income tax benefit of $16.7 million. Our tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to a reduction in unrecognized tax benefits associated with the release of the tax-related indemnification asset described above, a lower tax rate on foreign earnings and tax windfalls associated with the vesting of stock-based compensation awards. These items were partly offset by a non-taxable loss on revaluation of deferred consideration and an increase in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance on losses recognized on securities owned.

 

   

Our adjusted effective income tax rate was 20.4%(1).

CONFERENCE CALL

WisdomTree will discuss its results and operational highlights during a conference call on Friday, April 29, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. ET. The call-in number is (877) 303-7209. Anyone outside the U.S. or Canada should call (970) 315-0420. The slides used during the presentation will be available at http://ir.wisdomtree.com. For those unable to join the conference call at the scheduled time, an audio replay will be available on http://ir.wisdomtree.com.

ABOUT WISDOMTREE

WisdomTree Investments, Inc., through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Europe (collectively, “WisdomTree”), is an ETF and ETP sponsor and asset manager headquartered in New York. WisdomTree offers products covering equity, commodity, fixed income, leveraged and inverse, currency, cryptocurrency and alternative strategies. WisdomTree currently has over $77.8 billion in assets under management globally.

 

4


WisdomTree® is the marketing name for WisdomTree Investments, Inc. and its subsidiaries worldwide.

 

(1)

See “Non-GAAP Financial Measurements.”

(2)

Earnings/(loss) per share (“EPS”) is calculated pursuant to the two-class method as it results in a lower EPS amount as compared to the treasury stock method.

(3)

Cash flows from purchasing securities owned, at fair value of ($1,657) and selling securities owned, at fair value of $1,232 during the three months ended March 31, 2021 that were not acquired specifically for resale or associated with our business activities have been reclassified from operating activities to investing activities to conform to our current presentation in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Contact Information:

 

Investor Relations

  

Media Relations

Jeremy Campbell

  

Jessica Zaloom

+1.646.522.2602

  

+1.917.267.3735

Jeremy.campbell@wisdomtree.com

  

jzaloom@wisdomtree.com

 

5


WisdomTree Investments, Inc.

Key Operating Statistics (Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended  
     Mar. 31,
2022
    Dec. 31,
2021
    Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
 

GLOBAL ETPs ($ in millions)

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 77,471     $ 72,774     $ 73,935     $ 69,527     $ 67,383  

Inflows/(outflows)

     1,314       1,908       547       932       1,268  

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     618       2,804       (1,708     3,480       876  

Fund closures

     —         (15     —         (4     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 79,403     $ 77,471     $ 72,774     $ 73,935     $ 69,527  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 77,813     $ 75,986     $ 74,544     $ 73,615     $ 69,570  

Average advisory fee during the period

     0.40     0.40     0.41     0.40     0.41

Revenue days

     90       92       92       91       90  

Number of ETFs – end of the period

     341       329       322       318       313  

U.S. LISTED ETFs ($ in millions)

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 48,210     $ 44,742     $ 45,129     $ 42,163     $ 38,517  

Inflows/(outflows)

     2,250       1,865       612       1,130       1,343  

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (1,838     1,618       (999     1,836       2,303  

Fund closures

     —         (15     —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 48,622     $ 48,210     $ 44,742     $ 45,129     $ 42,163  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 47,506     $ 46,944     $ 45,506     $ 44,183     $ 40,706  

Number of ETFs – end of the period

     77       75       73       73       68  

EUROPEAN LISTED ETPs ($ in millions)

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 29,261     $ 28,032     $ 28,806     $ 27,364     $ 28,866  

Inflows/(outflows)

     (936     43       (65     (198     (75

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     2,456       1,186       (709     1,644       (1,427

Fund closures

     —         —         —         (4     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 30,781     $ 29,261     $ 28,032     $ 28,806     $ 27,364  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 30,307     $ 29,042     $ 29,038     $ 29,432     $ 28,864  

Number of ETPs – end of the period

     264       254       249       245       245  

PRODUCT CATEGORIES ($ in millions)

          

Commodity & Currency

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 24,598     $ 23,825     $ 24,772     $ 23,656     $ 25,880  

Inflows/(outflows)

     (1,058     (246     (249     (318     (672

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     2,761       1,019       (698     1,434       (1,552
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 26,301     $ 24,598     $ 23,825     $ 24,772     $ 23,656  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 25,893     $ 24,423     $ 24,850     $ 25,550     $ 25,290  

U.S. Equity

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 23,860     $ 21,383     $ 21,285     $ 20,019     $ 18,367  

Inflows/(outflows)

     779       784       351       191       218  

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (901     1,693       (253     1,075       1,434  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 23,738     $ 23,860     $ 21,383     $ 21,285     $ 20,019  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 23,141     $ 22,964     $ 21,791     $ 20,982     $ 19,320  

International Developed Market Equity

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 11,888     $ 11,174     $ 10,785     $ 9,984     $ 9,406  

Inflows/(outflows)

     97       440       403       399       17  

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (566     274       (14     402       561  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 11,419     $ 11,888     $ 11,174     $ 10,785     $ 9,984  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 11,539     $ 11,518     $ 11,140     $ 10,520     $ 9,786  

 

6


     Three Months Ended  
       Mar. 31,  
2022
        Dec. 31,  
2021
    Sept. 30,  
2021
      June 30,  
2021
      Mar. 31,  
2021
 

Emerging Market Equity

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 10,375     $ 10,666     $ 11,519     $ 10,477     $ 8,539  

Inflows/(outflows)

     189       (3     (149     530       1,663  

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (573     (288     (704     512       275  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 9,991     $ 10,375     $ 10,666     $ 11,519     $ 10,477  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 10,116     $ 10,550     $ 11,038     $ 11,012     $ 9,875  

Fixed Income

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 4,354     $ 3,528     $ 3,439     $ 3,244     $ 3,308  

Inflows/(outflows)

     1,242       837       115       168       10  

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (178     (11     (26     27       (74
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 5,418     $ 4,354     $ 3,528     $ 3,439     $ 3,244  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 4,690     $ 4,117     $ 3,500     $ 3,335     $ 3,234  

Leveraged & Inverse

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 1,775     $ 1,663     $ 1,691     $ 1,519     $ 1,477  

Inflows/(outflows)

     (2     11       41       (2     (4

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     83       101       (69     174       46  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 1,856     $ 1,775     $ 1,663     $ 1,691     $ 1,519  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 1,830     $ 1,761     $ 1,715     $ 1,664     $ 1,554  

Cryptocurrency

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 357     $ 295     $ 229     $ 377     $ 167  

Inflows/(outflows)

     37       28       12       8       36  

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (11     34       54       (156     174  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 383     $ 357     $ 295     $ 229     $ 377  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 324     $ 406     $ 277     $ 300     $ 264  

Alternatives

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 261     $ 222     $ 198     $ 227     $ 215  

Inflows/(outflows)

     29       56       22       (39     —    

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     3       (17     2       10       12  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 293     $ 261     $ 222     $ 198     $ 227  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 275     $ 229     $ 214     $ 231     $ 223  

Closed ETPs

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 3     $ 18     $ 17     $ 24     $ 24  

Inflows/(outflows)

     1       1       1       (5     —    

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     —         (1     —         2       —    

Fund closures

     —         (15     —         (4     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 4     $ 3     $ 18     $ 17     $ 24  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $         5     $         18     $         19     $         21     $ 24  

Headcount

     253       241       235       227       227  

Note: Previously issued statistics may be restated due to fund closures and trade adjustments

Source: WisdomTree

 

7


WISDOMTREE INVESTMENTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Mar. 31,
2022
    Dec. 31,
2021
 
     (Unaudited)        

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 110,395     $ 140,709  

Securities owned, at fair value

     133,846       127,166  

Accounts receivable

     35,191       31,864  

Prepaid expenses

     6,177       3,952  

Income taxes receivable

     244       —    

Other current assets

     327       276  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     286,180       303,967  

Fixed assets, net

     559       557  

Indemnification receivable

     1,452       21,925  

Securities held-to-maturity

     290       308  

Deferred tax assets, net

     3,734       8,881  

Investments

     20,938       14,238  

Right of use assets – operating leases

     424       520  

Goodwill

     85,856       85,856  

Intangible assets

     601,247       601,247  

Other noncurrent assets

     357       361  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,001,037     $ 1,037,860  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

LIABILITIES

    

Current liabilities:

    

Fund management and administration payable

   $ 23,795     $ 20,661  

Compensation and benefits payable

     8,986       32,782  

Deferred consideration – gold payments

     17,882       16,739  

Operating lease liabilities

     244       209  

Income taxes payable

     —         3,979  

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     15,979       9,297  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     66,886       83,667  

Convertible notes

     319,269       318,624  

Deferred consideration – gold payments

     227,295       211,323  

Operating lease liabilities

     189       328  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     1,452       21,925  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     615,091       635,867  

Preferred stock – Series A Non-Voting Convertible, par value $0.01; 14.750 shares authorized, issued and outstanding

     132,569       132,569  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Common stock, par value $0.01; 250,000 shares authorized:

    

Issued and outstanding: 146,560 and 145,107 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively

     1,466       1,451  

Additional paid-in capital

     284,421       289,736  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     196       682  

Accumulated deficit

     (32,706     (22,445
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     253,377       269,424  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,001,037     $ 1,037,860  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

8


WISDOMTREE INVESTMENTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended  
     Mar. 31,
2022
    Mar. 31,
2021(3)
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net (loss)/income

   $ (10,261   $ 15,147  

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities:

    

Loss/(gain) on revaluation of deferred consideration – gold payments

     17,018       (2,832

Advisory and license fees paid in gold, other precious metals and cryptocurrency

     (16,052     (19,757

Deferred income taxes

     5,273       2,904  

Losses on securities owned, at fair value

     5,142       549  

Contractual gold payments

     4,450       4,270  

Stock-based compensation

     2,936       3,143  

Amortization of issuance costs – convertible notes

     645       429  

Amortization of right of use asset

     89       697  

Depreciation and amortization

     47       252  

Impairments

     —         303  

Other

     163       (235

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (3,710     290  

Prepaid expenses

     (2,264     (362

Gold and other precious metals

     11,959       14,166  

Other assets

     (52     5  

Fund management and administration payable

     3,199       (1,470

Compensation and benefits payable

     (23,690     (14,245

Income taxes receivable/payable

     (4,228     (1,028

Operating lease liabilities

     (97     (918

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     6,741       982  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities

     (2,692     2,290  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchase of securities owned, at fair value

     (25,461     (1,657

Purchase of investments

     (6,863     (5,500

Purchase of fixed assets

     (54     (103

Proceeds from the sale of securities owned, at fair value

     13,639       1,232  

Proceeds from held-to-maturity securities maturing or called prior to maturity

     18       38  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (18,721     (5,990
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Dividends paid

     (4,842     (4,937

Shares repurchased

     (3,394     (2,630

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     —         379  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (8,236     (7,188
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in cash flow due to changes in foreign exchange rate

     (665     (235
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (30,314     (11,123

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period

     140,709       73,425  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period

   $ 110,395     $ 62,302  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

Cash paid for taxes

   $ 2,123     $ 1,278  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

   $ —       $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

9


Non-GAAP Financial Measurements

In an effort to provide additional information regarding our results as determined by GAAP, we also disclose certain non-GAAP information which we believe provides useful and meaningful information. Our management reviews these non-GAAP financial measurements when evaluating our financial performance and results of operations; therefore, we believe it is useful to provide information with respect to these non-GAAP measurements so as to share this perspective of management. Non-GAAP measurements do not have any standardized meaning, do not replace nor are superior to GAAP financial measurements and are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. These non-GAAP financial measurements should be considered in the context with our GAAP results. The non-GAAP financial measurements contained in this press release include:

Adjusted Operating Income, Operating Expenses, Income Before Income Taxes, Income Tax Expense, Net Income and Diluted Earnings per Share

We disclose adjusted operating income, operating expenses, income before income taxes, income tax expense, net income and diluted earnings per share as non-GAAP financial measurements in order to report our results exclusive of items that are non-recurring or not core to our operating business. We believe presenting these non-GAAP financial measurements provides investors with a consistent way to analyze our performance. These non-GAAP financial measurements exclude the following:

Unrealized gains or losses on the revaluation of deferred consideration: Deferred consideration is an obligation we assumed in connection with the ETFS acquisition that is carried at fair value. This item represents the present value of an obligation to pay fixed ounces of gold into perpetuity and is measured using forward-looking gold prices. Changes in the forward-looking price of gold and changes in the discount rate used to compute the present value of the annual payment obligations may have a material impact on the carrying value of the deferred consideration and our reported financial results. We exclude this item when calculating our non-GAAP financial measurements as it is not core to our operating business. The item is not adjusted for income taxes as the obligation was assumed by a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours that is based in Jersey, a jurisdiction where we are subject to a zero percent tax rate.

Gains or losses on securities owned: We account for our securities owned as trading securities which requires these instruments to be measured at fair value with gains and losses reported in net income. In the third quarter of 2021, we began excluding these items when calculating our non-GAAP financial measurements as these securities have become a more meaningful percentage of total assets and the gains and losses introduce volatility in earnings and are not core to our operating business.

Tax windfalls and shortfalls upon vesting and exercise of stock-based compensation awards: GAAP requires the recognition of tax windfalls and shortfalls within income tax expense. These items arise upon the vesting and exercise of stock-based compensation awards and the magnitude is directly correlated to the number of awards vesting/exercised as well as the difference between the price of our stock on the date the award was granted and the date the award vested or was exercised. We exclude these items when calculating our non-GAAP financial measurements as they introduce volatility in earnings and are not core to our operating business.

Other items: Unrealized gains and losses recognized on our investments, changes in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance on securities owned, expenses incurred in response to the activist campaign, impairment charges and the remeasurement of contingent consideration payable to us from the sale of our Canadian ETF business.

Adjusted Effective Income Tax Rate

We disclose our adjusted effective income tax rate as a non-GAAP financial measurement in order to report our effective income tax rate exclusive of items that are non-recurring or not core to our operating business. We believe reporting our adjusted effective income tax rate provides investors with a consistent way to analyze our income taxes. Our adjusted effective income tax rate is calculated by dividing adjusted income tax expense by adjusted income before income taxes. See above for information regarding the items that are excluded.

Gross Margin and Gross Margin Percentage

We disclose our gross margin and gross margin percentage as non-GAAP financial measurements because we believe they provide investors with a consistent way to analyze the amount we retain after paying third-party service providers to operate our ETPs. These measures also assist us in analyzing the profitability of our products. We define gross margin as total operating revenues less fund management and administration expenses. Gross margin percentage is calculated as gross margin divided by total operating revenues.

 

10


WISDOMTREE INVESTMENTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

GAAP to NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION (CONSOLIDATED)

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended  
Adjusted Net Income and Diluted Earnings per Share:    Mar. 31,
2022
    Dec. 31,
2021
    Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
 

Net (loss)/income, as reported

   $ (10,261   $ 11,187     $ 5,833     $ 17,630     $ 15,147  

Add back/Deduct: Loss/(gain) on revaluation of deferred consideration

     17,018       3,048       (1,737     (497     (2,832

Add back: Increase in deferred tax asset valuation allowance on securities owned

     2,010       —         —         —         —    

Add back: Losses on securities owned, net of income taxes

     3,893       1,501       1,006       —         —    

Add back: Expenses incurred in response to the activist campaign, net of income taxes

     1,844       —         —         —         —    

Deduct/Add back: Tax (windfalls)/shortfalls upon vesting and exercise of stock-based compensation awards

     (565     —         —         (233     123  

Add back/Deduct: Unrealized loss/(gain) recognized on our investments, net of income taxes

     124       —         —         (105     (179

Add back: Impairments, net of income taxes (where applicable)

     —         —         12,002       —         245  

Deduct: Remeasurement of contingent consideration – sale of Canadian ETF business

     —         —         (787     —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted net income

   $ 14,063     $ 15,736     $ 16,317     $ 16,795     $ 12,504  

Weighted average common shares—diluted

     158,335       159,826       159,213       164,855       161,831  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted earnings per share—diluted

   $ 0.09     $ 0.10     $ 0.10     $ 0.10     $ 0.08  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended  
Gross Margin and Gross Margin Percentage:    Mar. 31,
2022
    Dec. 31,
2021
    Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
 

Operating revenues

   $ 78,368     $ 79,175     $ 78,112     $ 75,775     $ 71,256  

Less: Fund management and administration

     (15,494     (15,417     (15,181     (14,367     (13,947
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

   $ 62,874     $ 63,758     $ 62,931     $ 61,408     $ 57,309  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin percentage

     80.2     80.5     80.6     81.0     80.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended  
Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Income Margin:    Mar. 31,
2022
    Dec. 31,
2021
    Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
 

Operating revenues

   $ 78,368     $ 79,175     $ 78,112     $ 75,775     $ 71,256  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

   $ 17,689     $ 22,563     $ 24,203     $ 23,685     $ 18,607  

Add back: Expenses incurred in response to the activist campaign

     2,435       —         —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted operating income

   $ 20,124     $ 22,563     $ 24,203     $ 23,685     $ 18,607  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted operating income margin

     25.7     28.5     31.0     31.3     26.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

11


     Three Months Ended  
Adjusted Total Operating Expenses:    Mar. 31,
2022
    Dec. 31,
2021
    Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
 

Total operating expenses

   $ 60,679     $ 56,612     $ 53,909     $ 52,090     $ 52,649  

Deduct: Expenses incurred in response to the activist campaign

     (2,435     —         —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted total operating expenses

   $ 58,244     $ 56,612     $ 53,909     $ 52,090     $ 52,649  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended  
Adjusted Income Before Income Taxes:    Mar. 31,
2022
    Dec. 31,
2021
    Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
 

(Loss)/income before income taxes

   $ (26,974   $ 15,271     $ 6,333     $ 21,889     $ 13,178  

Add back/ Deduct: Loss/(gain) on revaluation of deferred consideration

     17,018       3,048       (1,737     (497     (2,832

Add back: Loss recognized upon reduction of a tax-related indemnification asset

     19,890       —         —         —         5,171  

Add back: Losses on securities owned

     5,142       1,649       1,329       —         —    

Add back: Expenses incurred in response to the activist campaign

     2,435       —         —         —         —    

Add back/(Deduct): Unrealized loss/(gain) recognized on investments

     163       —         —         (139     (237

Add back: Impairments

     —         —         15,853       —         303  

Deduct: Remeasurement of contingent consideration – sale of Canadian ETF business

     —         —         (787     —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted income before income taxes

   $ 17,674     $ 19,968     $ 20,991     $ 21,253     $ 15,583  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended  
Adjusted Income Tax Expense and Adjusted Effective Income Tax Rate:    Mar. 31,
2022
    Dec. 31,
2021
    Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
 

Adjusted income before income taxes (above)

   $ 17,674     $ 19,968     $ 20,991     $ 21,253     $ 15,583  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax (benefit)/expense

   $ (16,713   $ 4,084     $ 500     $ 4,259     $ (1,969

Add back: Tax benefit arising from reduction of a tax-related indemnification asset

     19,890       —         —         —         5,171  

Deduct: Increase in deferred tax asset valuation allowance on securities owned

     (2,010     —         —         —         —    

Add back: Tax benefit arising from losses on securities owned

     1,249       148       323       —         —    

Add back: Tax benefit arising from expenses incurred in response to the activist campaign

     591       —         —         —         —    

Add back/(Deduct): Tax benefit/(expense) on unrealized losses and gains on investments

     39       —         —         (34     (58

Add back: Tax benefit arising from impairments

     —         —         3,851       —         58  

Add back/(Deduct): Tax windfalls/(shortfalls) upon vesting and exercise of stock-based compensation awards

     565       —         —         233       (123
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted income tax expense

   $ 3,611     $ 4,232     $ 4,674     $ 4,458     $ 3,079  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted effective income tax rate

     20.4     21.2     22.3     21.0     19.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

12


Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements relate to future events or our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could materially affect results. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, the risks described below. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties occur, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance. You should read this press release completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

In particular, forward-looking statements in this press release may include statements about

 

   

the ultimate duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, or the war in Ukraine, and its short-term and long-term impact on our business and the global economy;

 

   

anticipated trends, conditions and investor sentiment in the global markets and ETPs;

 

   

anticipated levels of inflows into and outflows out of our ETPs;

 

   

our ability to deliver favorable rates of return to investors;

 

   

competition in our business;

 

   

whether we will experience future growth;

 

   

our ability to develop new products and services and their success;

 

   

our ability to maintain current vendors or find new vendors to provide services to us at favorable costs;

 

   

our ability to successfully implement our digital assets strategy, including WisdomTree Prime, and achieve its objectives;

 

   

our ability to successfully operate and expand our business in non-U.S. markets; and

 

   

the effect of laws and regulations that apply to our business.

Our business is subject to many risks and uncertainties, including without limitation:

 

   

adverse market developments arising from the COVID-19 pandemic could negatively impact our assets under management, resulting in a decline in our revenues and other potential operational challenges;

 

   

declining prices of securities, gold and other precious metals and other commodities can adversely affect our business by reducing the market value of the assets we manage or causing WisdomTree ETP investors to sell their fund shares and trigger redemptions;

 

   

fluctuations in the amount and mix of our AUM, whether caused by disruptions in the financial markets or otherwise, including but not limited to a pandemic event such as COVID-19, or the war in Ukraine, may negatively impact revenues and operating margins, and may impede our ability to refinance our debt upon maturity or, increase the cost of borrowing upon a refinancing;

 

   

competitive pressures could reduce revenues and profit margins;

 

   

we derive a substantial portion of our revenues from a limited number of products, and as a result, our operating results are particularly exposed to investor sentiment toward investing in the products’ strategies and our ability to maintain the AUM of these products, as well as the performance of these products and market-specific and political and economic risk;

 

   

a significant portion of our AUM is held in products with exposure to U.S. and international developed markets and we therefore have exposure to domestic and foreign market conditions and are subject to currency exchange rate risks;

 

   

withdrawals or broad changes in investments in our ETPs by investors with significant positions may negatively impact revenues and operating margins;

 

   

over the last few years, we have expanded our business internationally. This expansion subjects us to increased operational, regulatory, financial and other risks;

 

   

many of our ETPs have a limited track record, and poor investment performance could cause our revenues to decline;

 

   

we depend on third parties to provide many critical services to operate our business and our ETPs. The failure of key vendors to adequately provide such services could materially affect our operating business and harm WisdomTree ETP investors; and

 

   

actions of activist stockholders, such as the Investor Group, against us have been costly and may be disruptive and cause uncertainty about the strategic direction of our business.

Other factors, such as general economic conditions, including currency exchange rate fluctuations, also may have an effect on the results of our operations. For a more complete description of the risks noted above and other risks that could cause our actual results to differ from our current expectations, see “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments may cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. Therefore, these forward-looking statements do not represent our views as of any date other than the date of this press release.

 

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