WisdomTree Announces Third Quarter 2022 Results - Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.50 ($0.06, as adjusted)


Year-to-date (YTD) annualized inflow rate of 14% across all products
U.S. Equity products inflowing at a YTD annualized rate of 13% (inflows of $1.2 billion in the quarter)
WisdomTree Floating Rate Treasury Fund (USFR) inflows of $2.8 billion in the quarter

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WisdomTree Investments, Inc. (NASDAQ: WETF) today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2022.

$81.2 million net income ($9.3(1) million net income, as adjusted); see “Non-GAAP Financial Measurements” for additional information.

$77.9 million non-cash gain associated with the revaluation of deferred consideration–gold payments due to an increase in the discount rate used to compute the present value of the annual payment obligations.  

$70.9 billion of ending AUM, a decrease of 4.6% arising from market depreciation, partly offset by net inflows.

$1.7 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.

0.38% average advisory fee, a decrease of 1 basis point due to AUM mix shift.

$72.4 million of operating revenues, a decrease of 6.3% due to lower average AUM and a lower average advisory fee.
        
77.5% gross margin(1), a 1.7 point decrease from the previous quarter due to lower revenues.

20.5% operating income margin, a 2.6 point decrease compared to our adjusted operating margin of 23.1%(1) in the prior quarter due to lower revenues.

$0.03 quarterly dividend declared, payable on November 23, 2022 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on
November 9, 2022.

Update from Jonathan Steinberg, WisdomTree CEO

“WisdomTree is in its ninth consecutive quarter of net inflows and we see opportunities for continued organic growth in our ETF franchise based on our broad and deep product lineup, strong performance, solutions offerings and a growing managed models business. Additionally, our vision for digital assets and blockchain-enabled financial services is fast becoming a reality with the recent SEC approval of our first blockchain-enabled fund, the WisdomTree Short-Term Treasury Digital Fund (WTSY) and our blockchain-native digital wallet, WisdomTree Prime™, on track to launch early next year.

WisdomTree has a tremendous and holistic opportunity ahead in both our ETF business and as an early mover in digital assets and blockchain-enabled financial services. On November 7th, we are simplifying our name by dropping ‘Investments’ and expanding our image and broadening our mission by dropping ‘ETF’ from our ticker (new ticker symbol: WT), acknowledging that WisdomTree is more than ETFs and more than investments, with a nod toward our natural evolution and history of innovation.”

Update from Jarrett Lilien, WisdomTree COO and President

“WisdomTree’s broad and growing managed models business continues to gain traction and win new mandates, which should bolster organic growth going forward, as these assets tend to be sticky. As markets normalize, our scalable business model should result in WisdomTree being one of the only asset managers with both a margin improvement story and an inflow story.

Moreover, our approach is to bring crypto mainstream, and to bring mainstream exposures, like fixed income, equities and commodities, into the digital world through blockchain-enabled funds and tokenized exposures. We’re building the foundation that will allow us to lead in the coming evolution of financial services and lay claim to the deepest exposures in the digital wrapper, positioning us, in an even larger opportunity, to expand into blockchain-enabled finance, where spending, saving and investing are merged.”

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 Three Months Ended
 Sept. 30,
2022
June 30,
2022
Mar. 31,
2022
Dec. 31,
2021
Sept. 30,
2021
Consolidated Operating Highlights ($ in billions):     
AUM—end of period        $                70.9 $                74.3 $                79.4 $                77.5 $                72.8 
Net inflows        $                1.7 $                3.9 $                1.3 $                1.9 $                0.5 
Average AUM        $                74.7 $                77.7 $                77.8 $                76.0 $                74.5 
Average advisory fee                         0.38%                 0.39%                 0.40%                 0.40%                 0.41%
      
      
Consolidated Financial Highlights ($ in millions, except per share amounts):     
Operating revenues        $                72.4 $                77.3 $                78.4 $                79.2 $                78.1 
Net income/(loss)        $                81.2 $                8.0 $                (10.3)$                11.2 $                5.8 
Diluted earnings/(loss) per share        $                0.50 $                0.05 $                (0.08)$                0.07 $                0.04 
Operating income margin                         20.5%                 20.5%                 22.6%                 28.5%                     31.0%
As Adjusted (Non-GAAP(1)):     
Gross margin                         77.5%                 79.2%                 80.2%                 80.5%                 80.6%
Net income, as adjusted        $                9.3 $                11.3 $                14.1 $                15.7 $                16.3 
Diluted earnings per share, as adjusted        $                0.06 $                0.07 $                0.09 $                0.10 $                0.10 
Operating income margin, as adjusted                             20.5%                 23.1%                 25.7%                 28.5%                 31.0%
      

RECENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

Company News
  • In September 2022, we appointed Daniela Mielke to the Board of Directors; and WisdomTree Europe was certified as one of the UK’s ‘Great Places to Work’ by Great Place to Work UK.
  • In October 2022, we reported our monthly metrics for September 2022, including AUM and flow data by asset class; we announced our collaboration with Stride Bank and Galileo Financial Technologies as key banking and payments partners for our blockchain-native digital wallet, WisdomTree Prime™; we announced the transfer of our common stock listing to the New York Stock Exchange under the new ticker symbol “WT” and our corporate name change to WisdomTree, Inc., both on November 7, 2022, to align with our natural brand evolution and expansion; and we were named “Best U.S. Fixed Income ETF Issuer ($1B- $5B)” at the ETF Express US Awards 2022.
Product News
  • In September 2022, we launched the WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-China Fund (XC) on the NYSE; we launched the WisdomTree Blockchain UCITS ETF (WBLK) on the London Stock Exchange, Deutsche Börse and Borsa Italiana; and we launched the WisdomTree Global Automotive Innovators UCITS ETF (WCAR) on the London Stock Exchange, Deutsche Börse and Borsa Italiana.
  • In October 2022, we achieved a key milestone toward blockchain-enabled financial products and services with SEC approval of WisdomTree Short-Term Treasury Digital Fund (WTSY); and we filed for nine additional blockchain-enabled funds with the SEC.

WISDOMTREE INVESTMENTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

         
 Three Months Ended
 Nine Months Ended
 Sept. 30,
2022
 June 30,
2022
 Mar. 31,
2022
 Dec. 31,
2021
 Sept. 30,
2021
 Sept. 30,
2022
 Sept. 30,
2021
Operating Revenues:       
Advisory fees        $                70,616  $                75,586  $                76,517  $                77,441  $                76,400  $                222,719  $                220,611 
Other income                         1,798                   1,667                   1,851                   1,734                   1,712                   5,316                   4,532 
        
Total revenues                         72,414                   77,253                   78,368                   79,175                   78,112                   228,035                   225,143 
Operating Expenses:       
Compensation and benefits                         23,714                   24,565                   24,787                   23,178                   22,027                   73,066                   64,985 
Fund management and administration                         16,285                   16,076                   15,494                   15,417                   15,181                   47,855                   43,495 
Marketing and advertising                         3,145                   3,894                   4,023                   4,565                   2,925                   11,062                   9,525 
Sales and business development                         2,724                   3,131                   2,609                   2,668                   2,935                   8,464                   7,239 
Contractual gold payments                         4,105                   4,446                   4,450                   4,262                   4,250                   13,001                   12,834 
Professional fees                         2,367                   4,308                   4,459                   2,099                   1,583                   11,134                   5,517 
Occupancy, communications and equipment                         986                   1,049                   753                   725                   1,163                   2,788                   3,904 
Depreciation and amortization                         58                   53                   47                   45                   185                   158                   693 
Third-party distribution fees                         1,833                   1,818                   2,212                   1,830                   1,873                   5,863                   5,346 
Other                         2,324                   2,109                   1,845                   1,823                   1,787                   6,278                   5,110 
        
Total operating expenses                         57,541                   61,449                   60,679                   56,612                   53,909                   179,669                   158,648 
Operating income                         14,873                   15,804                   17,689                   22,563                   24,203                   48,366                   66,495 
Other Income/(Expenses):       
Interest expense                         (3,734)                  (3,733)                  (3,732)                  (3,740)                  (3,729)                  (11,199)                  (8,592)
Gain/(loss) on revaluation of deferred consideration—gold payments                         77,895                   2,311                   (17,018)                  (3,048)                  1,737                   63,188                   5,066 
Interest income                         811                   770                   794                   864                   689                   2,375                   1,145 
Impairments                         —                   —                   —                   —                   (15,853)                  —                   (16,156)
Other losses, net                         (5,289)                  (4,474)          (24,707)                  (1,368)                  (714)                  (34,470)                  (6,558)
        
Income/(loss) before income taxes                         84,556                   10,678                   (26,974)                  15,271                   6,333                   68,260                   41,400 
Income tax expense/(benefit)                         3,327                   2,673           (16,713)                  4,084                   500                   (10,713)                  2,790 
        
Net income/(loss)        $                81,229  $                8,005  $        (10,261) $                11,187  $                5,833  $                78,973  $                38,610 
Earnings/(loss) per share—basic        $ 0.50(2) $0.05(2) $(0.08)(2) $0.07(2) $                0.04  $0.49(2) $0.24(2)
Earnings/(loss) per share—diluted        $0.50(2) $                0.05  $(0.08)(2) $                0.07  $                0.04  $0.49(2) $                0.24 
Weighted average common shares—basic                         143,120                   143,046                   142,782                   142,070           142,070                   142,984                   144,445 
Weighted average common shares—diluted                         158,953                   158,976                   142,782           159,826           159,213                   158,741                   161,706 
        
As Adjusted (Non-GAAP(1))       
Total operating expenses        $        57,541  $                59,425  $                58,244  $                56,612  $                53,909    
Operating income        $        14,873  $                17,828  $                20,124  $                22,563  $                24,203    
Income before income taxes        $        12,645  $                14,498  $                17,674  $                19,968  $                20,991    
Income tax expense        $        3,323  $                3,241  $                3,611  $                4,232  $                4,674    
Net income        $        9,322  $                11,257  $                14,063  $                15,736  $                16,317    
Earnings per share—diluted        $        0.06  $                0.07  $                0.09  $                0.10  $                0.10    
         

QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS

Operating Revenues

  • Operating revenues decreased 6.3% from the second quarter of 2022 due to lower average AUM and a lower average advisory fee.
  • Operating revenues decreased 7.3% from the third quarter of 2021 due to a lower average advisory fee.
  • Our average advisory fee was 0.38%, 0.39% and 0.41% during the third quarter of 2022, the second quarter of 2022 and the third quarter of 2021, respectively.

Operating Expenses

  • Operating expenses decreased 6.4% from the second quarter of 2022 due to lower professional fees, incentive compensation, marketing expenses, sales and business development expenses and contractual gold payments, partly offset by higher fund management and administration costs and other expenses. The prior quarter included $2.0 million of professional fees incurred in response to an activist campaign.
  • Operating expenses increased 6.7% from the third quarter of 2021 primarily due to higher incentive compensation and headcount, fund management and administration costs, professional fees incurred in connection with our digital assets initiative and other expenses, partly offset by lower sales and business development expenses, occupancy expenses, contractual gold payments and depreciation and amortization expenses.

Other Income/(Expenses)

  • Interest expense was essentially unchanged from the second quarter of 2022 and the third quarter of 2021.
  • We recognized a non-cash gain on revaluation of deferred consideration of $77.9 million during the third quarter of 2022. The gain arose primarily from an increase in the discount rate (from 9.0% to 12.3%) used to compute the present value of the annual payment obligations as well as lower spot gold prices, partly offset by a steepening of the forward-looking gold curve. The magnitude of any gain or loss recognized is highly correlated to changes in the discount rate and the magnitude of the change in the forward-looking price of gold.
  • Interest income was essentially unchanged from the second quarter of 2022. Interest income increased 17.7% from the third quarter of 2021 due to an increase in our securities owned.
  • Other net losses were $5.3 million for the third quarter of 2022 and included losses on our securities owned of $6.3 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 third quarter of 2022 was 3.9%, resulting in income tax expense of $3.3 million. Our tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to a non-taxable gain on revaluation of deferred consideration. This was partly offset by an increase in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance on losses recognized on securities owned.   
  • Our adjusted effective income tax rate was 26.3%(1), or 21.8% excluding prior-period taxes accrued associated with exposure to the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income, or GILTI, provisions of the 2017 U.S. Tax Reform Act and other adjustments identified upon filing our 2021 income tax returns.

NINE MONTH HIGHLIGHTS

  • Operating revenues were essentially unchanged as compared to 2021.
  • Operating expenses increased 13.3% as compared to 2021 primarily due to higher incentive compensation and headcount, professional fees including $4.5 million incurred in response to an activist campaign and professional fees associated with our digital assets initiative, fund management and administration costs, marketing expenses, sales and business development expenses, other expenses and third-party distribution fees. These increases were partly offset by lower occupancy expenses and depreciation and amortization expenses.
  • Significant items reported in other income/(expense) in 2022 include: an increase in interest expense of 30.3% due to a higher level of debt outstanding; a non-cash gain on revaluation of deferred consideration of $63.2 million; an increase in interest income of 107.4% due to an increase in our securities owned; 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); and losses on our securities owned of $15.6 million. Gains and losses also generally arise from the sale of gold earned on management fees paid by our physically-backed gold ETPs, foreign exchange fluctuations and other miscellaneous items.
  • Our effective income tax rate for 2022 was negative 15.7%, resulting in an income tax benefit of $10.7 million. Our tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the reduction in unrecognized tax benefits associated with the release of the tax-related indemnification asset described above, a non-taxable gain on revaluation of deferred consideration and a lower tax rate on foreign earnings. These items were partly offset by an increase in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance on losses recognized on securities owned.

DIAL-IN AND WEBCAST DETAILS

Participants can register for the conference call by clicking the Registration Link and will be provided with a dial-in number and a unique PIN. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call 10 minutes ahead of the scheduled start time.

All earnings materials and the webcast can be accessed through the WisdomTree Investor Relations website at: https://ir.wisdomtree.com. A replay of the webcast will also be available shortly after the call.

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 approximately $74.6 billion in assets under management globally.

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.

Contact Information:

Investor RelationsMedia Relations
Jeremy CampbellJessica Zaloom
+1.646.522.2602 +1.917.267.3735
Jeremy.campbell@wisdomtree.com jzaloom@wisdomtree.com 


WisdomTree Investments, Inc.

Key Operating Statistics (Unaudited)      
 Three Months Ended
 Sept. 30,
2022
 June 30,
2022
 Mar. 31,
2022
 Dec. 31,
2021
 Sept. 30,
2021
GLOBAL ETPs ($ in millions)      
       
Beginning of period assets        $                74,292  $                79,384  $                77,450  $                72,755  $                73,918 
Inflows/(outflows)                         1,747                   3,852                   1,319                   1,902                   548 
Market (depreciation)/appreciation                         (5,162)                  (8,940)                  615                   2,808                   (1,711)
Fund closures                         —                   (4)                  —                   (15)                  — 
       
End of period assets        $                70,877  $                74,292  $                79,384  $                77,450  $                72,755 
       
Average assets during the period        $                74,681  $                77,735  $                77,790  $                75,967  $                74,527 
Average advisory fee during the period                                 0.38%                  0.39%                  0.40%                  0.40%                  0.41%
Revenue days                         92                   91                   90                   92                   92 
Number of ETFs—end of the period                         347                   344                   341                   329                   322 
       
U.S. LISTED ETFs ($ in millions)      
       
Beginning of period assets        $                47,255  $                48,622  $                48,210  $                44,742  $                45,129 
Inflows/(outflows)                         3,812                   4,278                   2,250                   1,865                   612 
Market (depreciation)/appreciation                         (3,024)                  (5,645)                  (1,838)                  1,618                   (999)
Fund closures                         —                   —                   —                   (15)                  — 
       
End of period assets        $                48,043  $                47,255  $                48,622  $                48,210  $                44,742 
       
Average assets during the period        $                49,473  $                48,278  $                47,504  $                46,945  $                45,507 
Number of ETFs—end of the period                         78                   77                   77                   75                   73 
       
EUROPEAN LISTED ETPs ($ in millions)      
       
Beginning of period assets        $                27,037  $                30,762  $                29,240  $                28,013  $                28,789 
(Outflows)/inflows                         (2,065)                  (426)                  (931)                  37                   (64)
Market (depreciation)/appreciation                         (2,138)                  (3,295)                  2,453                   1,190                   (712)
Fund closures                         —                   (4)                  —                   —                   — 
       
End of period assets        $                22,834  $                27,037  $                30,762  $                29,240  $                28,013 
       
Average assets during the period        $                25,208  $                29,457  $                30,286  $                29,022  $                29,020 
Number of ETPs—end of the period                         269                   267                   264                   254                   249 
       
PRODUCT CATEGORIES ($ in millions)      
       
U.S. Equity       
Beginning of period assets        $                21,058  $                23,738  $                23,860  $                21,383  $                21,285 
Inflows/(outflows)                         1,239                   306                   779                   784                   351 
Market (depreciation)/appreciation                         (1,344)                  (2,986)                  (901)                  1,693                   (253)
       
End of period assets        $                20,953  $                21,058  $                23,738  $                23,860  $                21,383 
       
Average assets during the period        $                22,540  $                22,370  $                23,139  $                22,964  $                21,792 
       
Commodity & Currency      
Beginning of period assets        $                23,625  $                26,302  $                24,598  $                23,825  $                24,772 
(Outflows)/inflows                         (2,179)                  (475)                  (1,053)                  (251)                  (249)
Market (depreciation)/appreciation                         (1,885)                  (2,202)                  2,757                   1,024                   (698)
       
End of period assets        $                19,561  $                23,625  $                26,302  $                24,598  $                23,825 
       
Average assets during the period        $                21,628  $                25,771  $                25,892  $                24,424  $                24,850 
       
Fixed Income      
Beginning of period assets        $                9,191  $                5,416  $                4,351  $                3,524  $                3,435 
Inflows/(outflows)                         2,627                   4,038                   1,242                   837                   115 
Market (depreciation)/appreciation                         (124)                  (263)                  (177)                  (10)                  (26)
       
End of period assets        $                11,694  $                9,191  $                5,416  $                4,351  $                3,524 
       
Average assets during the period        $                10,077  $                7,424  $                4,687  $                4,113  $                3,496 


 Three Months Ended
 Sept. 30,
2022
 June 30,
2022
 Mar. 31,
2022
 Dec. 31,
2021
 Sept. 30,
2021
       
International Developed Market Equity      
Beginning of period assets        $                9,958  $                11,401  $                11,870  $                11,159  $                10,772 
(Outflows)/inflows                         (115)                  79                   97                   440                   404 
Market (depreciation)/appreciation                         (661)                  (1,522)                  (566)                  271                   (17)
       
End of period assets        $                9,182  $                9,958  $                11,401  $                11,870  $                11,159 
       
Average assets during the period        $                 10,027  $                 10,682  $                11,522  $                11,502  $                11,126 
       
Emerging Market Equity      
Beginning of period assets        $                8,386  $                9,991  $                10,375  $                10,666  $                11,519 
Inflows/(outflows)                         114                   (223)                  189                   (3)                  (149)
Market (depreciation)/appreciation                         (1,005)                  (1,382)                  (573)                  (288)                  (704)
       
End of period assets        $                7,495  $                8,386  $                9,991  $                10,375  $                10,666 
       
Average assets during the period        $                8,329  $                9,155  $                10,116  $                10,550  $                11,038 
       
Leveraged & Inverse      
Beginning of period assets        $                1,618  $                1,856  $                1,775  $                1,663  $                1,691 
Inflows/(outflows)                         45                   90                   (2)                  10                   41 
Market (depreciation)/appreciation                         (140)                  (328)                  83                   102                   (69)
       
End of period assets        $                1,523  $                1,618  $                1,856  $                1,775  $                1,663 
       
Average assets during the period        $                1,589  $                1,765  $                1,830  $                1,761  $                1,715 
       
Alternatives      
Beginning of period assets        $                305  $                293  $                261  $                222  $                198 
Inflows/(outflows)                         16                   34                   29                   56                   22 
Market (depreciation)/appreciation                         (15)                  (22)                  3                   (17)                  2 
       
End of period assets        $                306  $                305  $                293  $                261  $                222 
       
Average assets during the period        $                313  $                299  $                275  $                229  $                214 
       
Cryptocurrency      
Beginning of period assets        $                151  $                383  $                357  $                295  $                229 
Inflows/(outflows)                         —                   3                   37                   28                   12 
Market appreciation/(depreciation)                         12                   (235)                  (11)                  34                   54 
       
End of period assets        $                163  $                151  $                383  $                357  $                295 
       
Average assets during the period        $                178  $                265  $                324  $                406  $                277 
       
Closed ETPs      
Beginning of period assets        $                —  $                4  $                3  $                18  $                17 
Inflows/(outflows)                         —                   —                   1                   1                   1 
Market depreciation                         —                   —                   —                   (1)                  — 
Fund closures                         —                   (4)                  —                   (15)                  — 
       
End of period assets        $                —  $                —  $                4  $                3  $                18 
       
Average assets during the period        $                —  $                4  $                5  $                18  $                19 
       
Headcount                         274                   264                   253                   241                   235 


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

WISDOMTREE INVESTMENTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

   
 Sept. 30,
2022
 Dec. 31,
2021 
 (Unaudited) 
ASSETS  
Current assets:  
Cash and cash equivalents        $                132,700  $        140,709 
Securities owned, at fair value                         125,110           127,166 
Accounts receivable                         25,306           31,864 
Prepaid expenses                         6,035           3,952 
Other current assets                         332           276 
   
Total current assets                         289,483           303,967 
Fixed assets, net                         575           557 
Indemnification receivable                         1,220           21,925 
Securities held-to-maturity                         267           308 
Deferred tax assets, net                         6,947           8,881 
Investments                         26,339           14,238 
Right of use assets—operating leases                         1,720           520 
Goodwill                         85,856           85,856 
Intangible assets                         603,204           601,247 
Other noncurrent assets                         766           361 
   
Total assets        $                1,016,377  $        1,037,860 
   
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  
LIABILITIES  
Current liabilities:  
Convertible notes—current        $                173,760  $                 — 
Compensation and benefits payable                         26,455           32,782 
Fund management and administration payable                         21,466           20,661 
Deferred consideration—gold payments                         15,162           16,739 
Income taxes payable                         2,094           3,979 
Operating lease liabilities                         1,186           209 
Accounts payable and other liabilities                         13,122           9,297 
   
Total current liabilities                         253,245           83,667 
Convertible notes—long term                         146,805           318,624 
Deferred consideration—gold payments                         149,595           211,323 
Operating lease liabilities                         554           328 
Other noncurrent liabilities                         1,220           21,925 
   
Total liabilities                         551,419           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; 400,000 shares authorized:  
Issued and outstanding: 146,520 and 145,107 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively                         1,465           1,451 
Additional paid-in capital                         289,284           289,736 
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)/income                         (5,209)          682 
Retailed earnings/(accumulated deficit)                         46,849           (22,445)
   
Total stockholders’ equity                         332,389           269,424 
   
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity        $                1,016,377  $        1,037,860 
   

WISDOMTREE INVESTMENTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 Nine Months Ended
 
Sept. 30,
2022
  Sept. 30,
2021 
Cash flows from operating activities:   
Net income        $                78,973  $                38,610 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Gain on revaluation of deferred consideration—gold payments                         (63,188)                  (5,066)
Advisory and license fees paid in gold, other precious metals and cryptocurrency                         (44,886)                  (57,617)
Losses on securities owned, at fair value                         15,633                   2,099 
Contractual gold payments                         13,001                   12,834 
Stock-based compensation                         7,822                   7,661 
Deferred income taxes                         2,233                   1,515 
Amortization of issuance costs—convertible notes                         1,941                   1,542 
Amortization of right of use asset                         648                   1,860 
Depreciation and amortization                         158                   693 
Impairments                         —                   16,156 
Gain on sale—Canadian ETF business, including remeasurement of contingent consideration                         —                   (787)
Other                         (223)                  (369)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:  
Accounts receivable                         4,076                   (1,273)
Prepaid expenses                         (2,356)                  (1,888)
Gold and other precious metals                         33,598                   44,006 
Other assets                         (503)                  (315)
Intangibles—software development                         (1,958)                  — 
Fund management and administration payable                         1,369                   2,868 
Compensation and benefits payable                         (4,990)                  1,756 
Income taxes payable                         (1,822)                  (1,050)
Operating lease liabilities                         (644)                  (15,462)
Accounts payable and other liabilities                         4,231                   2,336 
   
     Net cash provided by operating activities                         43,113                   50,109 
Cash flows from investing activities:  
Purchase of securities owned, at fair value                         (41,240)                  (97,570)
Purchase of investments                         (11,863)                  (5,750)
Purchase of fixed assets                         (211)                  (237)
Proceeds from the sale of securities owned, at fair value                         27,650                   10,976 
Proceeds from held-to-maturity securities maturing or called prior to maturity                         38                   114 
   
     Net cash used in investing activities                         (25,626)                  (92,467)
Cash flows from financing activities:  
Dividends paid                         (14,521)                  (14,662)
Shares repurchased                         (3,418)                  (34,506)
Convertible notes issuance costs                         —                   (4,297)
Proceeds from the issuance of convertible notes                         —                   150,000 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options                         —                   815 
   
     Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities                         (17,939)                  97,350 
   
Decrease in cash flow due to changes in foreign exchange rate                         (7,557)                  (493)
   
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents                         (8,009)                  54,499 
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period                         140,709                   73,425 
   
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period        $                132,700  $                127,924 
   
   
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:      
     Cash paid for income taxes        $                8,769  $        7,332 
     Cash paid for interest        $                6,156  $        3,719 


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 shortfalls and windfalls 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 an 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.

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:

Sept. 30,
2022
 June 30,
2022
 Mar. 31,
2022 
 Dec. 31,
2021
 Sept. 30,
2021


Net income/(loss), as reported        
$                81,229  $                8,005  $                (10,261) $                11,187  $                5,833 
Deduct/add back: (Gain)/loss on revaluation of deferred consideration                         (77,895)                  (2,311)                  17,018                   3,048                   (1,737)
Add back: Losses on securities owned, net of income taxes                         4,778                   3,165                   3,893                   1,501                   1,006 
Add back: Increase in deferred tax asset valuation allowance on securities owned and investments                         1,454                   901                   2,010                   —                   — 
Deduct/add back: Unrealized (gain)/loss recognized on our investments, net of income taxes                         (248)                  (55)                  124                   —                   — 
Add back/deduct: Tax shortfalls/(windfalls) upon vesting and exercise of stock-based compensation awards                         4                   20                   (565)                  —                   — 
Add back: Expenses incurred in response to an activist campaign, net of income taxes                         —                   1,532                   1,844                   —                   — 
Add back: Impairments, net of income taxes (where applicable)                         —                   —                   —                   —                   12,002 
Deduct: Remeasurement of contingent consideration – sale of Canadian ETF business                 —                   —                   —                   —                   (787)
       
Adjusted net income        $                9,322  $                11,257  $                14,063  $                15,736  $                16,317 
Weighted average common shares—diluted                         158,953                   158,976                   158,335                   159,826                   159,213 
       
Adjusted earnings per share—diluted        $                0.06  $                0.07  $                0.09  $                0.10  $                0.10 
       
     
 Three Months Ended
Gross Margin and Gross Margin Percentage:

Sept. 30,
2022
 June 30,
2022
Mar. 31,
2022
Dec. 31,
2021
Sept. 30,
2021


Operating revenues        
$                72,414  $                77,253  $        78,368  $        79,175  $                78,112 
       
Less: Fund management and administration                         (16,285)                  (16,076)                  (15,494)                  (15,417)                  (15,181)
       
Gross margin        $                56,129  $                61,177  $        62,874  $        63,758  $                62,931 
       
Gross margin percentage                         77.5%                  79.2%                  80.2%                  80.5%                  80.6%


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


Operating revenues        
$                72,414  $                77,253  $        78,368  $        79,175  $        78,112 
       
       
Operating income        $                14,873  $                15,804  $        17,689  $22,563  $        24,203 
Add back: Expenses incurred in response to an activist campaign                         —                   2,024           2,435           —           — 
       
Adjusted operating income        $                14,873  $                17,828  $        20,124  $        22,563  $        24,203 
       
Adjusted operating income margin                         20.5%          23.1%  25.7%          28.5%          31.0%


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


Total operating expenses        
$                57,541  $        61,449  $                60,679  $        56,612 $                53,909 
Deduct: Expenses incurred in response to an activist campaign                         —                   (2,024)                  (2,435)                  —                  — 
       
Adjusted total operating expenses        $                57,541  $        59,425  $                58,244  $        56,612 $                53,909 
       
 Three Months Ended
Adjusted Income Before Income Taxes:
Sept. 30,
2022
 June 30,
2022
Mar. 31,
2022
Dec. 31,
2021
Sept. 30,
2021 


Income/(loss) before income taxes        
$                84,556  $        10,678  $                (26,974) $        15,271 $                6,333 
Deduct/add back: (Gain)/loss on revaluation of deferred consideration                         (77,895)                  (2,311)                  17,018                   3,048                  (1,737)
Add back: Losses on securities owned                         6,311                   4,180                   5,142                   1,649                  1,329 
Add back: Expenses incurred in response to an activist campaign                         —                   2,024                   2,435                   —                  — 
Deduct/add back: Unrealized (gain)/loss recognized on investments                         (327)                  (73)                  163                   —                  — 
Add back: Impairments                         —                   —                   —                   —                  15,853 
Add back: Loss recognized upon reduction of a tax-related indemnification asset                         —                   —                   19,890                   —                  — 
Deduct: Remeasurement of contingent consideration—sale of Canadian ETF business                         —                   —                   —                   —                  (787)
       
Adjusted income before income taxes        $                12,645  $        14,498  $                17,674  $        19,968 $                20,991 


 Three Months Ended
Adjusted Income Tax Expense and Adjusted Effective Income Tax Rate:
Sept. 30,
2022
 June 30,
2022
 Mar. 31,
2022 
 Dec. 31,
2021
 Sept. 30,
2021
         
Adjusted income before income taxes (above)        $                12,645  $                14,498  $        17,674  $                19,968  $                20,991 
      
      
Income tax expense/(benefit)        $                3,327  $                2,673  $        (16,713) $                4,084  $                500 
Add back: Tax benefit arising from losses on securities owned                         1,533                   1,015                   1,249                   148                   323 
Deduct: Increase in deferred tax asset valuation allowance on securities owned                         (1,454)                  (901)                  (2,010)                  —                   — 
Add back: Tax benefit arising from expenses incurred in response to an activist campaign                         —                   492                   591                   —                   — 
Deduct/add back: Tax (expense)/benefit on unrealized gains and losses on investments                         (79)                  (18)                  39                   —                   — 
Deduct/add back: Tax (shortfalls)/windfalls upon vesting and exercise of stock-based compensation awards                         (4)                  (20)                  565                   —                   — 
Add back: Tax benefit arising from impairments                         —                   —                   —                   —                   3,851 
Add back: Tax benefit arising from reduction of a tax-related indemnification asset                         —                   —                   19,890                   —                   — 
Adjusted income tax expense        $                3,323  $                3,241  $        3,611  $                4,232  $                4,674 
Adjusted effective income tax rate                         26.3%                  22.4%                  20.4%                  21.2%                  22.3%
      

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 strategy related to digital assets and blockchain-enabled financial services, 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 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, as amended, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.

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.