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Source: MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.

MarketAxess Reports Second Quarter 2014 Record Revenues of $65.0 Million, Pre-Tax Income of $29.1 Million and Diluted EPS of $0.48

Company Announces Increase in Share Repurchase Authorization From $35.0 Million to $100.0 Million

Second Quarter Financial Highlights*

  • Record revenues of $65.0 million, up 2.3%
  • Pre-tax income of $29.1 million, down 7.5% as reported; down 2.5% as adjusted
  • Diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.48, down from $0.51 as reported or $0.49 as adjusted
  • Total trading volume of $186.0 billion, down 0.9%
  • Record trading volume in both emerging markets and high yield bonds

*All comparisons versus second quarter 2013. See the discussion below, as well as the reconciliation from GAAP in the schedule attached to this release, for a description of the adjustments that were made to the consolidated financial results for the second quarter of 2013.

NEW YORK, July 23, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:MKTX), the operator of a leading electronic trading platform for fixed-income securities, and the provider of market data and post-trade services for the global fixed-income markets, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2014.

"We are pleased to report record revenues this quarter despite the soft secondary trading conditions and the ongoing investor focus on new issues. Momentum continues in Open Trading and we are confident we are on the right path to build new and valuable sources of secondary market liquidity for dealers and investors," said Rick McVey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MarketAxess. "It is encouraging to see the growth in our European business with European client volumes up nearly 30% compared to last year."

Second Quarter Results from Continuing Operations

Total revenues for the second quarter of 2014 increased 2.3% to $65.0 million, compared to $63.5 million for the second quarter of 2013. Pre-tax income was $29.1 million, compared to $31.4 million for the second quarter of 2013, a decrease of 7.5%. Pre-tax margin was 44.7%, compared to 49.5% for the second quarter of 2013. Net income totaled $18.2 million, or $0.48 per share on a diluted basis, compared to $19.3 million, or $0.51 per share on a diluted basis, for the second quarter of 2013. 

Commission revenue for the second quarter of 2014 totaled $54.3 million on total trading volume of $186.0 billion, compared to $54.2 million in commission revenue on total trading volume of $187.7 billion for the second quarter of 2013. U.S. high-grade trading volume as a percentage of FINRA's high-grade TRACE trading volume decreased to an estimated 13.6%, compared to an estimated 14.1% for the second quarter of 2013. The Company believes that certain dealers initiated reporting of affiliate back-to-back trades to FINRA in April 2014, and that this double counting of trades inflated the TRACE reported volume by approximately 3% and consequently reduced the Company's estimated market share for the second quarter of 2014 by approximately 0.4%. A discussion of the estimated impact on FINRA high-grade TRACE trading volume and the Company's market share will be provided on the Company's conference call later this morning.

All other revenue, which consists of information and post-trade services, technology products and services, investment income and other revenue, increased 14.4% to $10.6 million, compared to $9.3 million for the second quarter of 2013. The increase was principally due to higher information and post trade service revenue.

Total expenses for the second quarter of 2014 increased 11.9% to $35.9 million, compared to $32.1 million for the second quarter of 2013. The increase in total expenses was principally due to higher employee compensation and benefits costs of $3.7 million. The second quarter 2013 expenses included an out-of-period adjustment related to the capitalization of certain employee costs previously expensed as incurred, which increased net income by $1.0 million and diluted earnings per share by $0.02 per share for the three months ended June 30, 2013. Excluding this out-of-period adjustment, expenses for the second quarter of 2014 increased 6.6% compared to the second quarter of 2013.

The effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2014 was 37.4%, compared to 38.6% for the second quarter of 2013. 

Employee headcount as of June 30, 2014 was 318, compared to 293 as of June 30, 2013. 

Dividend

The Company's board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share of common stock outstanding, to be paid on August 21, 2014 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 7, 2014.

Share Repurchase Program Update

In January 2014, the Company's board of directors approved a $35.0 million share repurchase program.  In July 2014, the size of the share repurchase program was increased to $100 million. A total of 188,787 shares were repurchased in the second quarter of 2014 at a cost of $10.4 million. 

Balance Sheet Data

As of June 30, 2014, total assets were $356.7 million and included $198.9 million in cash, cash equivalents and securities available-for-sale. Total stockholders' equity as of June 30, 2014 was $323.0 million.

Guidance for 2014

The Company is updating its full year 2014 expense guidance and now expects total expenses for 2014 will be in the range of $144.0 million to $148.0 million, down from prior guidance of $150.0 million to $157.0 million. The Company is also updating its full year 2014 capital spending guidance and now expects capital expenditures will be in the range of $15.0 million to $17.0 million, down from prior guidance of $17.0 million to $20.0 million. The Company is reconfirming its full year 2014 tax rate guidance of 37.0% to 40.0%.  

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company's unaudited financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, the Company uses certain non-GAAP measures of financial performance, including EBITDA. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when taken into consideration with the corresponding GAAP financial measures, are important in understanding the Company's operating results. See the attached schedules for reconciliations of GAAP to these non-GAAP financial measures.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Richard M. McVey, chairman and chief executive officer, and Antonio L. DeLise, chief financial officer, will host a conference call to discuss the Company's financial results and outlook on Wednesday, July 23, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. To access the conference call, please dial +1 855 425 4206 (U.S.) or +1 484 756 4249 (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://investor.marketaxess.com. A replay of the call will be made available by dialing +1 855 859 2056 (U.S.) or +1 404 537 3406 (international) for one week after the announcement. The Webcast will also be archived on http://investor.marketaxess.com for 90 days following the announcement.

About MarketAxess

MarketAxess operates a leading electronic trading platform that enables fixed-income market participants to efficiently trade corporate bonds and other types of fixed-income instruments using MarketAxess' patented trading technology.  Over 1,000 institutional investor and broker-dealer firms are active users of the MarketAxess trading platform, accessing global liquidity in U.S. high-grade corporate bonds, emerging markets and high-yield bonds, European bonds, U.S. agency bonds, credit default swaps and other fixed-income securities. MarketAxess SEF Corporation has received temporary registration from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission to operate a swap execution facility. MarketAxess also offers a number of trading-related products and services, including: market data to assist clients with trading decisions; connectivity solutions that facilitate straight-through processing; technology services to optimize trading environments; and execution services for exchange-traded fund managers and other clients. Through its Trax® division, MarketAxess also offers a range of pre- and post-trade services, including trade matching, regulatory transaction reporting and market and reference data, across a range of fixed-income products. Trax is the trading name of Xtrakter Ltd., a MarketAxess group company.

MarketAxess maintains its headquarters in New York and has offices in London, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, São Paulo and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.marketaxess.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements about the outlook and prospects for Company and industry growth, as well as statements about the Company's future financial and operating performance. These and other statements that relate to future results and events are based on MarketAxess' current expectations. The Company's actual results in future periods may differ materially from those currently expected or desired because of a number of risks and uncertainties, including: the volatility of financial services markets generally; the level of trading volume transacted on the MarketAxess platform; the absolute level and direction of interest rates and the corresponding volatility in the corporate fixed-income market; the level and intensity of competition in the fixed-income electronic trading industry and the pricing pressures that may result; the variability of our growth rate; the rapidly evolving nature of the electronic financial services industry; our ability to introduce new fee plans and our clients' response; our exposure to risks resulting from non-performance by counterparties to transactions executed between our clients in which we act as an intermediary in matched principal trades; our dependence on our broker-dealer clients; the loss of any of our significant institutional investor clients; our ability to develop new products and offerings and the market's acceptance of those products; the effect of rapid market or technological changes on us and the users of our technology; our ability to successfully maintain the integrity of our trading platform and our response to system failures, capacity constraints and business interruptions; our vulnerability to cyber security risks; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights or technology and defend against intellectual property infringement or other claims; our ability to enter into strategic alliances and to acquire other businesses and successfully integrate them with our business; our ability to comply with new laws, rules and regulations both domestically and internationally; our ability to maintain effective compliance and risk management methods; the strain of growth initiatives on management and other resources; our future capital needs and our ability to obtain capital when needed; limitations on our operating flexibility contained in our credit agreement; and other factors.    The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More information about these and other factors affecting MarketAxess' business and prospects is contained in MarketAxess' periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and can be accessed at www.marketaxess.com. ;

MarketAxess Holdings Inc. 
Consolidated Statements of Operations
     
  Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
  June 30, June 30,
         
  2014 2013 2014 2013
  (In thousands, except per share data)
  (unaudited)
Revenues        
Commissions  $ 54,315  $ 54,198  $ 106,304  $ 101,384
Information and post-trade services  7,962  7,192  16,041  10,895
Technology products and services  1,987  1,485  4,023  2,718
Investment income  138  44  284  176
Other  562  588  1,710  1,985
Total revenues  64,964  63,507  128,362  117,158
         
Expenses        
Employee compensation and benefits  18,421  14,712  37,030  29,728
Depreciation and amortization  4,351  4,405  8,472  6,691
Technology and communications  4,449  4,045  8,941  7,191
Professional and consulting fees  3,426  4,435  7,398  8,738
Occupancy  1,102  1,170  2,191  1,967
Marketing and advertising  1,800  1,371  3,009  2,306
General and administrative  2,344  1,947  4,542  4,444
Total expenses  35,893  32,085  71,583  61,065
         
Income before taxes  29,071  31,422  56,779  56,093
Provision for income taxes  10,880  12,133  21,113  21,259
Net income from continuing operations  18,191  19,289  35,666  34,834
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes  --   54  --   (165)
Net income  $ 18,191  $ 19,343  $ 35,666  $ 34,669
Per Share Data:        
Basic earnings per common share        
Income from continuing operations  $ 0.49  $ 0.52  $ 0.96  $ 0.94
Income (loss) from discontinued operations  --   --   --   -- 
Net income per common share  $ 0.49  $ 0.52  $ 0.96  $ 0.94
         
Diluted earnings per common share        
Income from continuing operations  $ 0.48  $ 0.51  $ 0.94  $ 0.92
Income (loss) from discontinued operations  --   --   --   -- 
Net income per common share  $ 0.48  $ 0.51  $ 0.94  $ 0.92
         
Cash dividends declared per common share  $ 0.16  $ 0.13  $ 0.32  $ 0.26
         
Weighted-average common shares:        
Basic  37,015  36,868  37,068  36,821
Diluted  37,942  37,819  38,019  37,746
     
 
MarketAxess Holdings Inc. 
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet Data
     
  June 30, 2014 December 31, 2013
  (In thousands)
  (unaudited)
Assets    
Cash and cash equivalents  $ 133,154  $ 132,691
Securities available-for-sale  65,742  67,742
Accounts receivable, net  40,896  34,158
All other assets  116,927  116,987
Total assets  $ 356,719  $ 351,578
     
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity     
Total liabilities  33,740  41,216
Total stockholders' equity  322,979  310,362
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $ 356,719  $ 351,578
   
   
MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted Expenses, Income Before Taxes, Provision for Income Taxes and Net Income
   
  Three Months Ended
  June 30, 2013
  (In thousands, except per share data)
  (unaudited)
   
GAAP revenues  $ 63,507
   
GAAP expenses  32,085
Out-of-period expense adjustment: 1  
Increase in employee compensation and benefits  2,923
Reduction in depreciation and amortization  (1,327)
Non-GAAP expenses  33,681
   
Non-GAAP income before taxes  29,826
   
GAAP provision for income taxes  12,133
Income tax impact on non-GAAP item  (618)
Non-GAAP provision for income taxes  11,515
   
Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations  $ 18,311
   
Non-GAAP diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations  $ 0.49
   
1 Reflects an out-of-period adjustment related to the capitalization of certain employee costs previously expensed as incurred. 
         
         
MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization
         
     
  Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
  June 30, June 30,
         
  2014 2013 2014 2013
  (In thousands)
  (unaudited)
   
   EBITDA 
         
Net income from continuing operations1  $ 18,191  $ 19,289  $ 35,666  $ 34,834
Add back:        
Interest expense  --   4  --   10
Provision for income taxes  10,880  12,133  21,113  21,259
Depreciation and amortization1  4,351  4,405  8,472  6,691
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) from continuing operations1  $ 33,422  $ 35,831  $ 65,251  $ 62,794
         
1 Expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 reflect an out-of-period adjustment related to the capitalization of certain employee costs previously expensed as incurred. The adjustment reduced employee compensation and benefits by $2.9 million and increased depreciation and amortization by $1.3 million. This item increased net income by $1.0 million and EBITDA by $2.9 million for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2013.
         
         
MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
Volume Statistics
     
  Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
  June 30, June 30,
         
  2014 2013 2014 2013
   
   Total Trading Volume 
  (In millions)
  (unaudited)
U.S. high grade - fixed-rate  $ 109,970  $ 112,955  $ 223,098  $ 209,692
U.S. high grade -- floating-rate  6,331  5,308  12,367  9,817
Total U.S. high-grade   116,301  118,263  235,465  219,509
Other credit  55,011  49,674  105,062  91,440
Liquid products   14,725  19,753  32,929  37,102
Total  $ 186,037  $ 187,690  $ 373,456  $ 348,051
   
   Average Daily Volume 
  (In millions)
  (unaudited)
U.S. high-grade  $ 1,846  $ 1,848  $ 1,899  $ 1,770
Other credit  878  779  847  737
Liquid products   234  309  266  300
Total  $ 2,958  $ 2,936  $ 3,012  $ 2,807
         
Number of U.S. Trading Days 1  63  64  124  124
Number of U.K. Trading Days 2  61  62  124  124
   
   Average Variable Transaction Fee Per Million 
  (unaudited)
U.S. high grade - fixed-rate  $ 185  $ 203  $ 179  $ 201
U.S. high grade -- floating-rate  54  24  57  23
Total U.S. high-grade   178  195  173  193
Other credit  308  309  304  304
Liquid products   44  46  44  46
Total  206  210  198  206
         
1 The number of U.S. trading days is based on the SIFMA holiday recommendation calendar.
2 The number of U.K. trading days is based on the U.K. Bank holiday schedule.
         
*Consistent with FINRA TRACE reporting standards, both sides of trades are included in the Company's reported volumes when the Company executes trades on a riskless principal basis between two counterparties.