Ocwen Financial Announces Preliminary Operating Results for First Quarter 2017


  • Generated $86 million of Cash from Operating Activities; Ended quarter with $268 million of cash

  • California and New York monitorships ended

  • Helped over 18,000 struggling families through loan modifications

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 03, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocwen Financial Corporation, (NYSE:OCN) (“Ocwen” or the “Company”), a leading financial services holding company, today announced preliminary operating results for the first quarter of 2017.  Ocwen incurred a GAAP net loss of $(32.6) million, or $(0.26) per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to a net loss of $(111.2) million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Ocwen generated revenue of $321.9 million, down 2.7% compared to the first quarter of the prior year, primarily driven by the impact of portfolio run-off offset by mortgage lending growth. Cash Flows from Operating Activities were $85.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $140.9 million during the first quarter of last year.

“I am pleased that our servicing business had its third consecutive profitable quarter and that our origination business returned to profitability this quarter,” commented Ron Faris, President and CEO.

Mr. Faris continued, “One area where we continue to invest is in strengthening our risk and compliance infrastructure.  Numerous external and internal compliance reviews over the past year show the strength of our control structure. For example, each of the last four quarters of testing in 2016 by our independent internal review group confirmed that none of the tested National Mortgage Settlement metrics were out of tolerance.  Despite recent regulatory allegations, which we believe unfairly characterize our progress and current performance, our recent reviews have not identified past or present systematic issues with our foreclosure sale processes, which is always a last resort for us.  I am especially proud of the strong modification results during the quarter which helped over 18,000 struggling families. The financial crisis has not ended for many families in this country, and the Ocwen team continues to provide caring solutions that work.”

First Quarter 2017 Results

Pre-tax loss for the first quarter of 2017 was $(30.5) million, a $71.6 million improvement from the first quarter of 2016. Pre-tax results for the quarter include a number of significant items: $(8.0) million in litigation reserves, $(4.4) million of regulatory monitor costs and $(1.0) million in severance and other items. Excluding these significant items, the Company had an adjusted pre-tax loss of $(17.1) million.

The Servicing segment recorded $3.1 million of pre-tax income, a $68.8 million improvement versus the first quarter of 2016, driven by a $31.8 million improvement in MSR Fair Value, $16.9 million in lower legal fees, the non-repeat of $6.2 million in S&P-downgrade related indemnification payments made in 2016, and other expense savings.

The Lending segment recorded $1.1 million of pre-tax income for the first quarter of 2017, a $1.7 million improvement versus the first quarter of 2016. Total mortgage lending volume grew 13.7% driven by a 127% increase in the forward lending retail channel versus the first quarter of 2016.

Additional Business Highlights

  • Appointed Robert J. Lipstein as an additional independent director to Ocwen’s Board of Directors.
  • Completed 18,395 modifications in the quarter, 49% of which were HAMP modifications.
  • Delinquencies decreased from 11.2% at December 31, 2016 to 10.7% at March 31, 2017, primarily driven by loss mitigation efforts.
  • The constant pre-payment rate (CPR) decreased from 15.1% in the fourth quarter of 2016 to 14.0% in the first quarter of 2017.  In the first quarter of 2017, prime CPR was 17.0%, and non-prime CPR was 12.2%.
  • In the first quarter of 2017, Ocwen originated forward and reverse mortgage loans with unpaid principal balance of $840.5 million and $273.1 million, respectively.
  • Our reverse mortgage portfolio ended the quarter with an estimated $104.3 million in undiscounted future gains from future draws on existing loans. Neither the anticipated future gains nor the future funding liability are included in the Company’s financial statements.
  • Partnered with NID Housing Counseling Agency and NAACP to assist borrowers in California.

Webcast and Conference Call

Ocwen will host a webcast and conference call on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time, to discuss its financial results for the first quarter of 2017. The conference call will be webcast live over the internet from the Company’s website at www.Ocwen.com, click on the “Shareholders” section. A replay of the conference call will be available via the website approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call and will remain available for approximately 30 days.

About Ocwen Financial Corporation

Ocwen Financial Corporation is a financial services holding company which, through its subsidiaries, originates and services loans. We are headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, with offices throughout the United States and in the U.S. Virgin Islands and operations in India and the Philippines. We have been serving our customers since 1988. We may post information that is important to investors on our website (www.Ocwen.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. These forward-looking statements may be identified by a reference to a future period or by the use of forward-looking terminology.

Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Our business has been undergoing substantial change which has magnified such uncertainties.  Readers should bear these factors in mind when considering such statements and should not place undue reliance on such statements.  Forward-looking statements involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.  In the past, actual results have differed from those suggested by forward-looking statements and this may happen again.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: uncertainty related to claims, litigation, cease and desist orders and investigations brought by government agencies and private parties regarding our servicing, foreclosure, modification, origination and other practices, including uncertainty related to past, present or future investigations, litigation, cease and desist orders and settlements with state regulators, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), State Attorneys General, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Justice or the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and actions brought under the False Claims Act by private parties on behalf of the United States of America regarding incentive and other payments made by governmental entities; adverse effects on our business as a result of regulatory investigations, litigation, cease and desist orders or settlements; reactions to the announcement of such investigations, litigation, cease and desist orders or settlements by key counterparties, including lenders; increased regulatory scrutiny and media attention; any adverse developments in existing legal proceedings or the initiation of new legal proceedings; our ability to effectively manage our regulatory and contractual compliance obligations; our ability to contain and reduce our operating costs, including our ability to successfully execute on our cost improvement initiative; the adequacy of our financial resources, including our sources of liquidity and ability to sell, fund and recover advances, repay borrowings and comply with our debt agreements, including the financial and other covenants contained in them; our servicer and credit ratings as well as other actions from various rating agencies, including the impact of prior or future downgrades of our servicer and credit ratings; volatility in our stock price; the characteristics of our servicing portfolio, including prepayment speeds along with delinquency and advance rates; our ability to successfully modify delinquent loans, manage foreclosures and sell foreclosed properties; uncertainty related to legislation, regulations, regulatory agency actions, government programs and policies, industry initiatives and evolving best servicing practices; as well as other risks detailed in Ocwen’s reports and filings with the SEC, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and any current and quarterly reports since such date. Ocwen’s forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, we disclaim any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as our reference to adjusted pre-tax loss. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide a useful supplement to discussions and analysis of our financial condition. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide an alternative way to view certain aspects of our business that is instructive. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, Ocwen's reported results under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Other companies may use non-GAAP financial measures with the same or similar titles that are calculated differently to our non-GAAP financial measures. As a result, comparability may be limited. Further information may be found on Ocwen's website.

Preliminary Results

The financial results and other financial data presented in this press release are preliminary, based upon the Company's estimates and subject to completion of the Company's financial closing procedures and issuance of its financial statements as of and for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.  Moreover, the financial results and other financial data have been prepared on the basis of currently available information.  The Company's final financial results and other financial data could differ materially from its preliminary financial results and other financial data.  The Company’s final financial results will be set forth in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2017.


Residential Servicing Statistics (Preliminary, Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

 
 At or for the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2017
December 31,
2016
September 30,
2016
June 30, 2016March 31,
2016
Total unpaid principal balance of loans and REO serviced$202,369,014 $209,092,130 $216,892,002 $229,276,001 $237,081,036 
      
Non-performing loans and REO serviced as a % of total UPB (1)10.7%11.2%11.4%11.9%13.0%
      
Prepayment speed (average CPR)(2) (3)14.0%15.1%15.0%14.2%12.7%

(1) Performing loans include those loans that are less than 90 days past due and those loans for which borrowers are making scheduled payments under loan modification, forbearance or bankruptcy plans. We consider all other loans to be non-performing.

(2) Average CPR for the prior three months. CPR measures prepayments as a percentage of the current outstanding loan balance expressed as a compound annual rate.

(3) Average CPR for the three months ended March 31, 2017 includes 17.0% for prime loans and 12.2% for non-prime loans.


Segment Results (Preliminary, Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
   
 For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 2017 2016
Servicing   
Revenue$284,019  $307,427 
Expenses216,913  274,317 
Other expense, net(63,975) (98,789)
Income (loss) before income taxes3,131  (65,679)
    
Lending   
Revenue30,746  23,285 
Expenses29,332  24,378 
Other income, net(305) 514 
Income (loss) before income taxes1,109  (579)
    
Corporate Items and Other   
Revenue7,099  45 
Expenses30,138  29,962 
Other expense, net(11,699) (5,950)
Loss before income taxes(34,738) (35,867)
    
    
Consolidated loss before income taxes$(30,498) $(102,125)



OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 
(Preliminary, Unaudited)
 For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 2017 2016
Revenue   
Servicing and subservicing fees$272,502  $297,496 
Gain on loans held for sale, net22,944  15,572 
Other26,418  17,689 
Total revenue321,864  330,757 
    
Expenses   
Compensation and benefits91,801  96,249 
Servicing and origination67,907  95,692 
Professional services41,829  70,907 
Technology and communications27,347  26,869 
Occupancy and equipment17,749  24,745 
Amortization of mortgage servicing rights12,715  12,806 
Other17,035  1,389 
Total expenses276,383  328,657 
    
Other income (expense)   
Interest income3,763  4,190 
Interest expense(84,062) (106,089)
Gain on sale of mortgage servicing rights, net287  1,175 
Other, net4,033  (3,501)
Total other expense, net(75,979) (104,225)
    
Loss before income taxes(30,498) (102,125)
Income tax expense2,125  9,076 
Net loss(32,623) (111,201)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests(101) (130)
Net loss attributable to Ocwen stockholders$(32,724) $(111,331)
    
Loss per share attributable to Ocwen stockholders   
Basic$(0.26) $(0.90)
Diluted$(0.26) $(0.90)
    
Weighted average common shares outstanding   
Basic124,014,928  124,093,339 
Diluted124,014,928  124,093,339 



OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

(Preliminary, Unaudited)
 March 31,
 2017
 December 31,
 2016
Assets   
Cash$268,320  $256,549 
Mortgage servicing rights ($651,987 and $679,256 carried at fair value)1,010,518  1,042,978 
Advances, net234,173  257,882 
Match funded assets (related to variable interest entities (VIEs))1,392,421  1,451,964 
Loans held for sale ($313,558 and $284,632 carried at fair value)339,153  314,006 
Loans held for investment, at fair value3,916,387  3,565,716 
Receivables, net212,781  265,720 
Premises and equipment, net60,774  62,744 
Other assets ($21,066 and $20,007 carried at fair value) ($27,141 and $43,331 related to
VIEs)
428,617  438,104 
Total assets$7,863,144  $7,655,663 
    
Liabilities and Equity   
Liabilities   
Financing liabilities ($4,198,452 and $3,911,488 carried at fair value)$4,295,408  $4,012,812 
Match funded liabilities (related to VIEs)1,215,212  1,280,997 
Other secured borrowings, net738,447  678,543 
Senior notes, net346,929  346,789 
Other liabilities ($3,868 and $1,550 carried at fair value)643,714  681,239 
Total liabilities7,239,710  7,000,380 
    
Equity   
Ocwen Financial Corporation (Ocwen) stockholders’ equity   
Common stock, $.01 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 124,577,169 and
123,988,160 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016,
respectively
1,246  1,240 
Additional paid-in capital527,986  527,001 
Retained earnings93,159  126,167 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes(1,383) (1,450)
Total Ocwen stockholders’ equity621,008  652,958 
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries2,426  2,325 
Total equity623,434  655,283 
Total liabilities and equity$7,863,144  $7,655,663 



OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 
(Dollars in thousands)

(Preliminary, Unaudited)
 For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 2017 2016
Cash flows from operating activities   
Net loss$(32,623) $(111,201)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:   
Amortization of mortgage servicing rights12,715  12,806 
Loss on valuation of mortgage servicing rights, at fair value26,335  29,293 
Impairment of mortgage servicing rights1,401  29,953 
Gain on sale of mortgage servicing rights, net(287) (1,175)
Realized and unrealized (gains) losses on derivative financial instruments(359) 1,496 
Provision for bad debts22,410  11,382 
Depreciation7,081  5,039 
Amortization of debt issuance costs673  3,277 
Equity-based compensation expense2,132  1,416 
Net gain on valuation of mortgage loans held for investment and HMBS-related
borrowings
(5,360) (3,667)
Gain on loans held for sale, net(15,306) (29,584)
Origination and purchase of loans held for sale(1,237,535) (1,211,076)
Proceeds from sale and collections of loans held for sale1,173,912  1,165,503 
Changes in assets and liabilities:   
Decrease in advances and match funded assets105,958  109,076 
Decrease in receivables and other assets, net84,857  84,512 
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities(62,423) 21,473 
Other, net2,089  22,365 
Net cash provided by operating activities85,670  140,888 
    
Cash flows from investing activities   
Origination of loans held for investment(347,080) (304,058)
Principal payments received on loans held for investment80,290  87,237 
Purchase of mortgage servicing rights(1,229) (4,263)
Proceeds from sale of mortgage servicing rights729  15,305 
Proceeds from sale of advances1,115  41,003 
Issuance of automotive dealer financing notes(39,100)  
Collections of automotive dealer financing notes37,129   
Additions to premises and equipment(5,258) (19,800)
Other(1,644) 1,624 
Net cash used in investing activities(275,048) (182,952)
    



OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS — (continued)
(Dollars in thousands)

(Preliminary, Unaudited)
 For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 2017 2016
Cash flows from financing activities   
Repayment of match funded liabilities(65,785) (46,953)
Proceeds from mortgage loan warehouse facilities and other secured borrowings2,224,774  1,902,472 
Repayments of mortgage loan warehouse facilities and other secured borrowings(2,263,685) (2,014,474)
Payment of debt issuance costs(841) (2,242)
Proceeds from sale of reverse mortgages (HECM loans) accounted for as a financing
(HMBS-related borrowings)
306,749  233,174 
Repurchase of common stock  (5,890)
Other(63) (782)
Net cash provided by financing activities201,149  65,305 
    
Net increase in cash11,771  23,241 
Cash at beginning of year256,549  257,272 
Cash at end of period$268,320  $280,513 
    

            

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