WDR Waddell and Reed Financial

Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (NYSE: WDR) today reported first quarter 2018 net income1 of $46.3 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, compared to net income of $29.8 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, during the prior quarter and net income of $33.9 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, during the first quarter of 2017.

Revenues of $297.6 million during the quarter increased 1% sequentially and 4% compared to the first quarter of 2017. Operating expenses of $237.7 million during the quarter increased 2% sequentially and 2% compared to the same quarter in 2017. The operating margin was 20.1% during the current quarter, compared to 21.0% and 18.5% during the fourth and first quarters of 2017, respectively.

Assets under management ended the quarter at $80.2 billion, declining 1% compared to the prior quarter and 1% compared to the first quarter of 2017. Gross sales increased 40% compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 and 30% compared to the first quarter of 2017, while redemptions improved. Net outflows were $1.5 billion during the current quarter, compared to net outflows of $2.7 billion during the prior quarter and net outflows of $3.4 billion during the comparable quarter in 2017.

Broker-dealer assets under administration ended the quarter at $56.3 billion, declining less than 1% compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 and increasing 5% compared to the same quarter in 2017. Average trailing twelve-month productivity increased to $285 thousand per advisor during the first quarter of 2018 compared to $256 thousand and $230 thousand during the fourth and first quarters of 2017, respectively.

“Over the last 18 months, we have made solid progress in transitioning our business model to one that better positions us for the future,” said Philip J. Sanders, Chief Executive Officer of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. “We have made headway on a number of corporate initiatives, including improving investment performance, which we know is key to our long-term success.”

Effective January 1, 2018, we elected to change our accounting policy on how we report indirect underwriting and distribution expenses in the underwriting and distribution caption and certain expenses historically reported as general and administrative. The change in presentation of certain line items in our consolidated statements of income is intended to improve the transparency of our financial statements. Separately, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-07, “Compensation Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost”, which reclassifies net periodic pension costs, other than historical service costs, from compensation and benefits to investment and other income (loss). All reclassifications were applied retrospectively and did not affect net income.

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1 Net income represents net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.

Revenues Analysis

Investment management fee revenues decreased $2.7 million, or 2%, sequentially as an increase in average assets under management was offset by two fewer days during the current quarter and a decrease in the effective management fee rate. Compared to the first quarter of 2017, fees increased $3.3 million, or 2%, due to higher average assets under management and an increase in the effective management fee rate. During the current quarter, the effective management fee rate was 65.8 basis points, compared to 66.5 basis points during the fourth quarter of 2017 and 65.0 basis points during the first quarter of 2017. Average assets under management were $82.4 billion during the current quarter, compared to $81.3 billion and $81.4 billion during the fourth and first quarters of 2017, respectively.

Underwriting and distribution fees increased $5.8 million, or 4%, sequentially. The increase was largely due to payments received from independent financial advisors for office space, compliance oversight and affiliation fees. Prior to 2018, the cost of these services was embedded in commissions. An increase in advisory fee revenues also contributed to the sequential increase in underwriting and distribution fees. Compared to the first quarter of 2017, revenues increased $9.2 million, or 7%, due to growth in advisory fee revenue and new revenues from independent financial advisors for office space, compliance oversight and affiliation fees, which were partly offset by lower distribution fees to third-party distributors.

Operating Expenses Analysis

Distribution expenses increased $6.6 million, or 6%, sequentially due primarily to higher payout rates to independent financial advisors under the new commission structure that became effective on January 1, 2018. Compared to the same quarter in 2017, costs increased $6.0 million, or 6%, due to higher commission rates for advisors, which were partly offset by lower commissions to third-party distributors.

Compensation and benefits expenses declined $0.5 million, or less than 1%, sequentially due to a discretionary 401(k) contribution in the fourth quarter and partially offset by higher payroll taxes during the first quarter. Compared to the first quarter of 2017, expenses increased $1.8 million, or 3%, primarily due to annual merit increases, which were partly offset by lower pension costs due to the prior year plan freeze.

General and administrative expenses declined $0.5 million, or 3%, sequentially due to lower business meeting and travel costs and lower usage of contractors and consultants due to the completion of various projects. Compared to the first quarter of 2017, expenses declined $2.7 million, or 12%, primarily due to a combination of lower usage of contractors and consultants, and lower business meeting and travel costs.

Technology expenses increased $1.4 million, or 9%, sequentially due to higher data service costs related to fund mergers and cost of service increases, as well as higher technology consulting costs. Compared to the first quarter of 2017, expenses declined $0.3 million, or 2%.

Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate during the current quarter was 24.6% and was lower compared to prior periods as a result of the Tax Reform Act, which lowered the statutory rate from 35% to 21%. We expect our effective tax rate to range from 23% to 25%, exclusive of the effects of share-based payments, state tax incentives, unanticipated state tax legislative changes and unanticipated fluctuations in earnings.

                Assets Under Management Three Months Ended (in millions) Mar. 31,     Jun. 30, Sep. 30, Dec. 31, Mar. 31,   2017 2018 Unaffiliated 1 Beginning assets $ 30,295 $ 30,182 $ 30,307 $ 31,062 $ 31,133 Sales 2 1,799 2,080 1,790 1,577 2,245 Redemptions (3,707 ) (2,886 ) (2,486 ) (2,912 ) (2,692 ) Net exchanges   236     235     213         316     247   Net Flows (1,672 ) (571 ) (483 ) (1,019 ) (200 ) Market action   1,559     696     1,238         1,090     122   Ending assets $ 30,182 $ 30,307 $ 31,062 $ 31,133 $ 31,055 Annualized organic growth rate (22.1 )% (7.6 )% (6.4 )% (13.1 )% (2.6 )% Annualized redemption rate 50.5 % 39.2 % 33.0 % 37.9 % 35.8 % Institutional Beginning assets $ 7,904 $ 7,792 $ 7,036 $ 6,365 $ 6,289 Sales 2 142 78 68 66 552 Redemptions (727 ) (1,057 ) (1,139 ) (521 ) (604 ) Net exchanges   -     6     -         -     -   Net Flows (585 ) (973 ) (1,071 ) (455 ) (52 ) Market action   473     217     400         379     212   Ending assets $ 7,792 $ 7,036 $ 6,365 $ 6,289 $ 6,449 Annualized organic growth rate (29.6 )% (49.9 )% (60.9 )% (28.6 )% (3.3 )% Annualized redemption rate 37.2 % 58.7 % 67.3 % 32.2 % 37.8 % Broker-Dealer Beginning assets $ 42,322 $ 43,110 $ 43,084 $ 43,472 $ 43,660 Sales 2 978 1,142 1,024 1,077 1,001 Redemptions (1,871 ) (1,812 ) (2,049 ) (2,026 ) (1,958 ) Net exchanges   (236 )   (241 )   (213 )       (316 )   (247 ) Net Flows (1,129 ) (911 ) (1,238 ) (1,265 ) (1,204 ) Market action   1,917     885     1,626         1,453     251   Ending assets $ 43,110 $ 43,084 $ 43,472 $ 43,660 $ 42,707 Annualized organic growth rate (10.7 )% (8.5 )% (11.5 )% (11.6 )% (11.0 )% Annualized redemption rate 15.1 % 14.7 % 16.4 % 16.1 % 15.1 % Consolidated Total Beginning assets $ 80,521 $ 81,084 $ 80,427 $ 80,899 $ 81,082 Sales 2 2,919 3,300 2,882 2,720 3,798 Redemptions (6,305 ) (5,755 ) (5,674 ) (5,459 ) (5,254 ) Net exchanges   -     -     -         -     -   Net Flows (3,386 ) (2,455 ) (2,792 ) (2,739 ) (1,456 ) Market action   3,949     1,798     3,264         2,922     585   Ending assets $ 81,084 $ 80,427 $ 80,899 $ 81,082 $ 80,211 Annualized organic growth rate (16.8 )% (12.1 )% (13.9 )% (13.5 )% (7.2 )%   Annualized redemption rate       30.5 %       27.9 %       27.1 %       25.7 %       24.8 % 1   Unaffiliated includes National channel (home office and wholesale), Defined Contribution Investment Only "DCIO", Registered Investment Advisor "RIA" and Variable Annuity "VA"   2 Sales is primarily gross sales (net of sales commissions). This amount also includes net reinvested dividends & capital gains and investment income.   Fund Rankings   1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   Lipper Funds ranked in top half 43% 35% 43% Assets ranked in top half 52% 49% 50% MorningStar Funds ranked in top half 38% 35% 41% Assets ranked in top half 44% 38% 48%   MorningStar Ratings Overall 3 Years 5 Years Funds with 4/5 stars 38% 19% 25%   Assets with 4/5 stars   58%   26%   49% Based on class I share, which reflects sales and asset concentrations.   Broker-Dealer   Three Months Ended Mar. 31,   Jun. 30,   Sep. 30,   Dec. 31,   Mar. 31, (in millions) 2017 2018 Assets under administration (AUA) Advisory assets $ 19,071 $ 19,535 $ 20,734 $ 21,613 $ 22,050 Non-advisory assets   34,453       34,373       34,856       35,073     34,216   Total assets under administration 53,524 53,908 55,590 56,686 56,266   Net new advisory assets 1 ($100 ) $ 22 $ 420 $ 129 $ 392 Net new non-advisory assets 1, 2   (868 )     (693 )     (965 )     (1,047 )   (983 ) Total net new AUA 1 (968 ) (671 ) (545 ) (918 ) (591 )   Annualized advisory AUA growth 3 (2.2 )% 0.5 % 8.6 % 2.5 % 7.3 % Annualized AUA growth 3 (7.4 )% (5.0 )% (4.0 )% (6.6 )% (4.2 )%   Advisor headcount 1,662 1,581 1,481 1,367 1,170 Avg. trailing 12-month revenue per advisor 4 (in thousands) $ 230 $ 232 $ 240 $ 256 $ 285 Advisor associates     252       254       262       265       327     1   Net new assets is calculated by taking total client deposits and net transfers less client withdrawals. 2 Excludes activity related to products held outside of our platform. These assets represent less than 10% of total AUA. 3 Annualized growth is calculated by annualizing the quarterly net new assets divided by beginning assets under administration. 4 Production per advisor is calculated as trailing 12- month total underwriting and distribution fees less "other" underwriting and distribution fees divided by the average number of financial advisors. "Other" underwriting and distribution fees predominantly include fees paid by advisors for programs and services.   Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income               (in thousands, except per share data and margin) Three Months Ended Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Mar. 31, Sequential Qtr. Year-over-Year Qtr. 2018 2017 2017 Change   % Change   % Revenues: Investment management fees $ 133,692 $ 136,387 $ 130,436 ($2,695 ) (2.0 )% $ 3,256 2.5 % Underwriting and distribution fees 138,041 132,200 128,831 5,841 4.4 % 9,210 7.1 % Shareholder service fees   25,882     25,889     27,297     (7 ) (0.0 )%   (1,415 ) (5.2 )% Total   297,615     294,476     286,564     3,139   1.1 %   11,051   3.9 % Operating expenses: Distribution 1 114,470 107,889 108,437 6,581 6.1 % 6,033 5.6 % Compensation and benefits 68,785 69,273 67,035 (488 ) (0.7 )% 1,750 2.6 % General and administrative 19,538 20,069 22,195 (531 ) (2.6 )% (2,657 ) (12.0 )% Technology 16,644 15,282 16,977 1,362 8.9 % (333 ) (2.0 )% Occupancy 6,964 7,743 7,785 (779 ) (10.1 )% (821 ) (10.5 )% Marketing and advertising 2,281 3,353 2,611 (1,072 ) (32.0 )% (330 ) (12.6 )% Depreciation 5,302 5,357 5,221 (55 ) (1.0 )% 81 1.6 % Subadvisory fees 3,708 3,717 2,697 (9 ) (0.2 )% 1,011 37.5 % Intangible asset impairment   -     -     600     -   N/M   (600 ) N/M Total   237,692     232,683     233,558     5,009   2.2 %   4,134   1.8 % Operating income 59,923 61,793 53,006 (1,870 ) (3.0 )% 6,917 13.0 % Investment and other income (loss) 2,816 (2,218 ) 3,012 5,034 N/M (196 ) (6.5 )% Interest expense   (1,802 )   (2,909 )   (2,786 )   1,107   38.1 %   984   35.3 % Income before provision for income taxes 60,937 56,666 53,232 4,271 7.5 % 7,705 14.5 % Provision for income taxes   14,966     26,380     18,881     (11,414 ) (43.3 )%   (3,915 ) (20.7 )% Net income   45,971     30,286     34,351     15,685   51.8 %   11,620   33.8 % Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests   (366 )   522     480     (888 ) (170.1 )%   (846 ) (176.3 )% Net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. $ 46,337   $ 29,764   $ 33,871   $ 16,573   55.7 % $ 12,466   36.8 % Net income per share, basic and diluted: $ 0.56 $ 0.36 $ 0.40 Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted   83,111     83,137     84,077   Operating margin 20.1 % 21.0 % 18.5 %  

1 Distribution expense

Unaffiliated 30,354 31,395 33,908 Broker-dealer   84,116     76,494     74,529   $ 114,470   $ 107,889   $ 108,437     Underwriting and distribution fees       (in thousands) Three months ended Mar. 31, 2018 Unaffiliated Broker-Dealer Total Fee-based asset allocation product revenues - $ 65,516 $ 65,516 Rule 12b-1 service and distribution fees 20,976 18,377 39,353 Sales commissions on front-end load mutual funds and variable annuity products 470 14,427 14,897 Sales commissions on other products - 8,422 8,422 Other revenues   185   9,668   9,853 Total underwriting and distribution fees $ 21,631 $ 116,410 $ 138,041   Three months ended Dec. 31, 2017 Unaffiliated Broker-Dealer Total Fee-based asset allocation product revenues $ 63,905 $ 63,905 Rule 12b-1 service and distribution fees 22,123 19,305 41,428 Sales commissions on front-end load mutual funds and variable annuity products 380 13,727 14,107 Sales commissions on other products - 7,615 7,615 Other revenues   186   4,959   5,145 Total underwriting and distribution fees $ 22,689 $ 109,511 $ 132,200   Three months ended Mar. 31, 2017 Unaffiliated Broker-Dealer Total Fee-based asset allocation product revenues - $ 56,756 $ 56,756 Rule 12b-1 service and distribution fees 24,016 18,655 42,671 Sales commissions on front-end load mutual funds and variable annuity products 447 14,326 14,773 Sales commissions on other products - 7,237 7,237 Other revenues   426   6,968   7,394 Total underwriting and distribution fees $ 24,889 $ 103,942 $ 128,831   Unaudited Condensed Balance Sheet         (in thousands) Mar. 31, Dec. 31, 2018 2017 Assets Cash & cash equivalents (unrestricted) $ 177,630 $ 207,829 Investment securities 642,237 700,492 Other assets 228,156 241,305 Property and equipment, net 82,488 87,667 Goodwill and intangible assets   147,069   147,069 Total assets $ 1,277,580 $ 1,384,362 Liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity Short-term notes payable $ - $ 94,996 Long-term debt 94,801 94,783 Other liabilities 275,241 307,190 Redeemable noncontrolling interests 18,570 14,509 Total stockholders' equity   888,968   872,884 Liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity $ 1,277,580 $ 1,384,362 Shares outstanding (in millions) 82.7 82.7   Unaudited Condensed Cash Flow             (in thousands) Three Months Ended Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Mar. 31, Cash (used in) provided by: 2018 2017 2017 Operating activities $ 50,265 $ 70,519 $ 63,565 Investing activities 56,272 (13,415 ) 10,220 Financing activities   (131,948 )   (75,197 )   (49,320 ) Net change during period   ($25,411 )   ($18,093 ) $ 24,465     Three Months Ended Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Mar. 31, (in thousands) 2018 2017 2017 Shares repurchased Number of shares 996,309 937,927 476,882 Total cost $ 20,507 $ 20,133 $ 7,976 Dividend paid Rate per share $ 0.25 $ 0.46 $ 0.46 Total paid $ 20,890 $ 38,351 $ 38,771 Capital returned to stockholders $ 41,397 $ 58,484 $ 46,747  

Earnings Conference Call

Stockholders, members of the investment community and the general public are invited to listen to a live Web cast of our earnings release conference call today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. During this call, Philip J. Sanders, CEO and CIO, will review our quarterly results. Live access to the teleconference will be available on the “Investor Relations” section of our Web site at ir.waddell.com. A Web cast replay will be made available shortly after the conclusion of the call and accessible for seven days.

Web Site Resources

We invite you to visit the Investor Relations section of our Web site at ir.waddell.com. Under the “Investor Information” tab you will find a link to presentations as well as to data tables, which include supplemental information schedules.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please invest carefully.

About the Company

Through its subsidiaries, Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. has provided investment management and financial planning services to clients throughout the United States since 1937. Today, we distribute our investment products through the unaffiliated distribution channel (encompassing broker/dealer, retirement, and registered investment advisors), our broker-dealer channel (through independent financial advisors), and our Institutional channel (including defined benefit plans, pension plans, endowments and subadvisory relationships). For more information, visit ir.waddell.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect the current views and assumptions of management with respect to future events regarding our business and industry in general. These forward-looking statements include all statements, other than statements of historical fact, regarding our financial position, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations, including statements with respect to revenues and earnings, the amount and composition of assets under management, distribution sources, expense levels, redemption rates, stock repurchases and the financial markets and other conditions. These statements are generally identified by the use of such words as “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “outlook,” “will,” “potential” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. Readers are cautioned that any forward-looking information provided by us or on our behalf is not a guarantee of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to those discussed below. If one or more events related to these or other risks, contingencies or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those forecasted or expected. Certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which include, without limitation:

• The loss of existing distribution relationships or inability to access new distribution relationships;
• A reduction in assets under our management on short notice, through increased redemptions in our distribution channels or our Funds, particularly those Funds with a high concentration of assets, or investors terminating their relationship with us or shifting their funds to other types of accounts with different rate structures;
• The adverse ruling or resolution of any litigation, regulatory investigations and proceedings, or securities arbitrations by a federal or state court or regulatory body;
• Changes in our business model, operations and procedures, including our methods of distributing our proprietary products, as a result of evolving fiduciary standards;
• The introduction of legislative or regulatory proposals or judicial rulings that change the independent contractor classification of our financial advisors at the federal or state level for employment tax or other employee benefit purposes;
• A decline in the securities markets or in the relative investment performance of our Funds and other investment portfolios and products as compared to competing funds;
• Our inability to reduce expenses rapidly enough to align with declines in our revenues due to various factors, including fee pressure, the level of our assets under management or our business environment.
• Non-compliance with applicable laws or regulations and changes in current legal, regulatory, accounting, tax or compliance requirements or governmental policies;
• Our inability to attract and retain senior executive management and other key personnel to conduct our broker-dealer, fund management and investment advisory business;
• A failure in, or breach of, our operational or security systems or our technology infrastructure, or those of third parties on which we rely; and
• Our inability to implement new information technology and systems, or our inability to complete such implementation in a timely or cost effective manner.

The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with other cautionary statements included in this and other reports and filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the information in Item 1 “Business” and Item 1A “Risk Factors” of Part I and Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of Part II to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and as updated in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the year ending December 31, 2018. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we undertake no duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

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Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.Investor Contact:Nicole Russell, 913-236-1880VP, Investor Relationsnrussell@waddell.comorMutual Fund Investor Contact:888-WADDELLwww.waddell.comwww.ivyfunds.com