Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

 

WisdomTree Announces Third Quarter 2021 Results – Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.04 ($0.10, as adjusted)

New York, NY – (GlobeNewswire) – October 29, 2021 – WisdomTree Investments, Inc. (NASDAQ: WETF) today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2021.

$5.8 million of net income ($16.31 million net income, as adjusted), see “Non-GAAP Financial Measurements” for additional information.

$72.8 billion of ending AUM, a decrease of 1.6% arising from market depreciation, partly offset by net inflows.

$0.5 billion of net inflows, primarily driven by inflows into our international developed market equity and U.S. equity products.

0.41% average global advisory fee, an increase of 1 basis point due to AUM mix shift.

$78.1 million of operating revenues, an increase of 3.1% due to higher average AUM and a higher average global advisory fee.

80.6% gross margin1, essentially unchanged from the previous quarter.

31.0% operating income margin, essentially unchanged from the previous quarter.

$0.03 quarterly dividend declared, payable on November 24, 2021 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 10, 2021.

Update from Jonathan Steinberg, WisdomTree CEO

 

“WisdomTree’s positive momentum continued through Q3 with another quarter of organic growth and strong execution alongside our longer-term strategic initiatives. The $550 million of net inflows in the third quarter marked our fourth straight quarter of net inflows, and our year-to-date 6.5% pace of annualized organic growth reflects a significant upward change from recent prior years.

“The key takeaway of this quarter – and the past several quarters – is that our success today is being driven by the breadth and depth of our product lineup, unlike in years past. WisdomTree is the recipient of multiple industry awards for our solutions, people and technologies, a testament to the strength and focus of our business model, especially while operating as a remote-first company. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited for where WisdomTree is headed.”

Update from Jarrett Lilien, WisdomTree COO and President

 

“I’m pleased to report that WisdomTree continued its strong execution and organic growth in the third quarter and year-to-date. Our U.S. business is generating organic growth of nearly 13% year-to-date with five straight quarters of inflows, with recent success in equities and fixed income, including our U.S. Efficient Core fund which received a 5-star rating by Morningstar in September. We see runway for continued organic growth as our managed models business –already a meaningful driver of growth – continues to gain traction and our new model wins scale up.

“In Europe, our UCITS ETF franchise also continues to gain traction with twelve consecutive months of positive flows with over $1.2 billion of inflows year to date. In Q3, that success was complemented by the launch of our Carbon ETP in late August which has already grown to over $200 million in assets under management today. The pipeline for new fund launches in both the U.S. and Europe remains robust, and I look forward to sharing additional successes with you next quarter.

 


“In the digital assets space, the WisdomTree Enhanced Commodity Strategy Fund (GCC) was the first ETF in the U.S. to add bitcoin futures as part of the fund mix, and our position in our European crypto ETPs remains strong. Our accomplishments also include launching our +Crypto Model Portfolio for advisers in collaboration with OnRamp Invest which features Gemini integration. We are excited to get this product to market and look forward to implementations with additional partners in the future.

“We are executing well on all fronts, building momentum and are excited to continue to build on our strong results.”

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

      Three Months Ended  
      Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
    Dec. 31,
2020
    Sept. 30,
2020
 

Consolidated Operating Highlights ($ in billions):

            

AUM

   $ 72.8     $ 73.9     $ 69.5     $ 67.4     $ 60.7  

Net inflows/(outflows)

   $ 0.5     $ 0.9     $ 1.3     $ 0.9     $ (0.5

Average AUM

   $ 74.6     $ 73.7     $ 69.6     $ 64.1     $ 61.2  

Average advisory fee2

     0.41     0.40     0.41     0.40     0.41

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

            

Operating revenues2

   $ 78.1     $ 75.8     $ 71.3     $ 65.7     $ 63.7  

Net income/(loss)

   $ 5.8     $ 17.6     $ 15.1     $ (13.5   $ (0.3

Diluted earnings/(loss) per share

   $ 0.04     $ 0.11     $ 0.09     $ (0.10   $ (0.01

Operating income margin

     31.0     31.3     26.1     19.7     23.1

As Adjusted (Non-GAAP1):

            

Gross margin2

     80.6     81.0     80.4     77.2     77.5

Net income, as adjusted

   $ 16.3     $ 16.8     $ 12.5     $ 9.2     $ 11.0  

Diluted earnings per share, as adjusted

   $ 0.10     $ 0.10     $ 0.08     $ 0.06     $ 0.07  

RECENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

 

Company News

 

   

In September 2021, we announced the addition of our Siegel-WisdomTree Longevity & Global Equity Model Portfolios to the Morgan Stanley Select UMA platform; and we were named “Best Mixed-Allocation ETF Issuer ($100M+)” at the ETF Express US Awards 2021.

 

   

In October 2021, we partnered with Federal Life Insurance Company to provide customized model portfolios that combine traditional assets like stocks and bonds with crypto assets like bitcoin and ether, in collaboration with OnRamp Invest; we won a total of three categories at the Mutual Fund Industry and ETF Awards 2021; and we contracted with Say Technologies to better engage with individual shareholders.

Product News

 

   

In August 2021, we listed the WisdomTree ex-State-Owned Enterprises ESG-screened UCITS ETF (XSOE) on the London Stock Exchange, Borsa Italiana and Börse Xetra; we listed the WisdomTree Carbon ETP (CARB) on the London Stock Exchange; and we applied an ESG screen to the WisdomTree Cloud Computing UCITS ETF (WCLD).

 

   

In September 2021, we listed the WisdomTree Carbon ETP (CARB) on the Borsa Italiana and Börse Xetra; and we applied an ESG screen to the WisdomTree Artificial Intelligence UCITS ETF (WTAI) and the WisdomTree AT1 Coco Bond UCITS ETF (CCBO).

 

   

In October 2021, we launched the WisdomTree Target Range Fund (GTR) on the NASDAQ; the WisdomTree Enhanced Commodity Strategy Fund (GCC) became the first ETF to add bitcoin futures exposure; and we listed an unhedged share class of the WisdomTree Enhanced Commodity ex-Agriculture UCITS ETF (WXAG) on the London Stock Exchange and Börse Xetra.

 

2


WISDOMTREE INVESTMENTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
    Dec. 31,
2020
    Sept. 30,
2020
    Sept. 30,
2021
    Sept. 30,
2020
 

Operating Revenues:

              

Advisory fees2

   $ 76,400     $ 74,169     $ 70,042     $ 64,697     $ 63,028     $ 220,611     $ 181,697  

Other income

     1,712       1,606       1,214       954       721       4,532       2,563  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     78,112       75,775       71,256       65,651       63,749       225,143       184,260  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

              

Compensation and benefits

     22,027       20,331       22,627       20,827       19,098       64,985       53,848  

Fund management and administration2

     15,181       14,367       13,947       14,942       14,328       43,495       41,785  

Marketing and advertising

     2,925       3,594       3,006       3,715       2,996       9,525       7,413  

Sales and business development

     2,935       2,159       2,145       2,595       2,386       7,239       7,984  

Contractual gold payments

     4,250       4,314       4,270       4,449       4,539       12,834       12,362  

Professional fees

     1,583       1,921       2,013       1,322       950       5,517       3,580  

Occupancy, communications and equipment

     1,163       1,266       1,475       1,622       1,611       3,904       4,805  

Depreciation and amortization

     185       256       252       261       253       693       760  

Third-party distribution fees

     1,873       2,130       1,343       1,291       1,233       5,346       3,928  

Acquisition and disposition-related costs

     —         —         —         —         —         —         416  

Other

     1,787       1,752       1,571       1,720       1,611       5,110       5,204  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     53,909       52,090       52,649       52,744       49,005       158,648       142,085  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     24,203       23,685       18,607       12,907       14,744       66,495       42,175  

Other Income/(Expenses):

              

Interest expense

     (3,729     (2,567     (2,296     (2,694     (2,511     (8,592     (6,974

Gain/(loss) on revaluation of deferred consideration – gold payments

     1,737       497       2,832       (22,385     (8,870     5,066       (34,436

Interest income

     689       225       231       351       111       1,145       393  

Impairments

     (15,853     —         (303     —         (3,080     (16,156     (22,752

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     —         —         —         —         —         —         (2,387

Other losses and gains, net

     (714     49       (5,893     524       744       (6,558     56  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income/(loss) before income taxes

     6,333       21,889       13,178       (11,297     1,138       41,400       (23,925

Income tax expense/(benefit)

     500       4,259       (1,969     2,200       1,408       2,790       (1,767
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income/(loss)

   $ 5,833     $ 17,630     $ 15,147     $ (13,497   $ (270   $ 38,610     $ (22,158
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings/(loss) per share – basic

   $ 0.04     $ 0.11 3    $ 0.09 3      ($0.10 )3      ($0.01 )3    $ 0.24 3      ($0.16 )3 

Earnings/(loss) per share – diluted

   $ 0.04     $ 0.11     $ 0.09       ($0.10 )3      ($0.01 )3    $ 0.24       ($0.16 )3 

Weighted average common shares – basic

     142,070       145,542       145,649       145,096       145,564       144,445       149,886  

Weighted average common shares – diluted

     159,213       164,855       161,831       145,096       145,564       161,706       149,886  

As Adjusted (Non-GAAP1)

              

Income before income taxes

   $ 20,991     $ 21,253     $ 15,583     $ 11,504     $ 13,242      

Income tax expense

   $ 4,674     $ 4,458     $ 3,079     $ 2,281     $ 2,205      

Net income

   $ 16,317     $ 16,795     $ 12,504     $ 9,223     $ 11,037      

Earnings per share – diluted

   $ 0.10     $ 0.10     $ 0.08     $ 0.06     $ 0.07      

 

3


QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS

Operating Revenues

 

   

Operating revenues increased 3.1% and 22.5% from the second quarter of 2021 and third quarter of 2020, respectively, due to higher average global AUM.

 

   

Our average global advisory fee was 0.41%, 0.40%2 and 0.41%2 during the third quarter of 2021, the second quarter of 2021 and the third quarter of 2020, respectively.

Operating Expenses

 

   

Operating expenses increased 3.5% from the second quarter of 2021 primarily due to higher incentive compensation and headcount, fund management and administration costs and sales and business development expenses, partly offset by lower marketing expenses, professional fees and third-party distribution fees.

 

   

Operating expenses increased 10.0% from the third quarter of 2020 primarily due to higher incentive compensation and headcount, fund management and administration costs, third-party distribution fees, professional fees and sales and business development expenses, partly offset by lower occupancy expenses and contractual gold payments.

Other Income/(Expenses)

 

   

Interest expense increased 45.3% and 48.5% from the second quarter of 2021 and third quarter of 2020, respectively, due to a higher level of debt outstanding, partly offset by a lower effective interest rate.

 

   

We recognized a non-cash gain on revaluation of deferred consideration of $1.7 million during the third quarter of 2021. The gain was due to lower forward-looking gold prices. The magnitude of any gain or loss recognized is highly correlated to the magnitude of the change in the forward-looking price of gold.

 

   

Interest income increased 206.2% and 520.7% from the second quarter of 2021 and third quarter of 2020, respectively, due to an increase in our securities owned.

 

   

During the third quarter of 2021, we recognized an impairment charge of $15.9 million in connection with the termination of our New York office lease. The impairment was inclusive of the write-off of the right-of-use asset, leasehold improvements and fixed assets, broker fees and a reduction in operating lease liabilities.

 

   

Other net losses were $0.7 million for the third quarter of 2021. This quarter includes losses on our securities owned of $1.3 million and a gain of $0.8 million related to the remeasurement of contingent consideration payable to us from the sale of our former Canadian ETF business. 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 2021 of 7.9% resulted in income tax expense of $0.5 million. Our tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to a lower tax rate on foreign earnings and a non-taxable gain on revaluation of deferred consideration, partly offset by higher non-deductible executive compensation.

 

   

Our adjusted effective income tax rate was 22.3%1.

NINE MONTH HIGHLIGHTS

 

   

Operating revenues increased 22.2% as compared to 2020 due to higher average AUM.

 

   

Operating expenses increased 11.7% as compared to 2020 primarily due to higher incentive compensation accruals and headcount, marketing expenses, professional fees, fund management and administration costs, third party distribution fees and contractual gold payments. These increases were partly offset by lower occupancy expenses and sales and business development expenses.

 

   

Significant items reported in other income/(expenses) in 2021 include an increase in interest expense of 23.2% due to a higher level of debt outstanding; a non-cash gain on revaluation of deferred consideration of $5.1 million; an increase in interest income of 191.3% due to an increase in our securities owned; impairment charges of $16.2 million; a non-cash charge of $5.2 million arising from the release of tax-related indemnification assets upon the expiration of the statute of limitations (an equal and offsetting benefit was recognized in income tax expense); losses on our securities owned of $2.2 million, a gain of $0.8 million related to the remeasurement of contingent consideration payable to us from the sale of our former Canadian ETF business; and a gain of $0.4 million recognized on our investment in Securrency, Inc. due to its recent capital raise. 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.

 

4


   

Our effective income tax rate for 2021 of 6.7% resulted in income tax expense of $2.8 million. Our tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to a tax benefit of $5.2 million recognized in connection with the release of the tax-related indemnification asset described above, a lower tax rate on foreign earnings and a non-taxable gain on revaluation of deferred consideration. These items were partly offset by tax shortfalls associated with the vesting and exercise of stock-based compensation awards and non-deductible executive compensation.

CONFERENCE CALL

WisdomTree will discuss its results and operational highlights during a conference call on Friday, October 29, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. ET. The call-in number is (877) 303-7209. Anyone outside the U.S. or Canada should call (970) 315-0420. The slides used during the presentation will be available at http://ir.wisdomtree.com. For those unable to join the conference call at the scheduled time, an audio replay will be available on http://ir.wisdomtree.com.

ABOUT WISDOMTREE

WisdomTree Investments, Inc., through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Europe (collectively, “WisdomTree”), is an ETF and ETP sponsor and asset manager headquartered in New York. WisdomTree offers products covering equity, commodity, fixed income, leveraged and inverse, currency, cryptocurrency and alternative strategies. WisdomTree currently has approximately $76.9 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

Advisory fees and fund management and administration expenses previously reported have been voluntarily revised by us due to an immaterial error correction. These line items have been reduced by $1.8 million, $1.6 million, $1.4 million and $0.9 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2021, March 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020, respectively, and $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 with no impact to net income. The reductions represent the netting of expense reimbursements collected on behalf of a third-party that were previously reported on a gross basis in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Historical gross margin percentages, operating income margins and our average advisory fees also have been revised.

 

3

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.

 

4

Cash flows from purchasing securities owned, at fair value of $34,683 and selling securities owned, at fair value of $18,122 during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 that were not acquired specifically for resale or associated with our business activities have been reclassified from operating activities to investing activities to conform to our current presentation in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Contact Information:

 

Investor Relations    Media Relations
Jeremy Campbell    Jessica Zaloom
+1.646.522.2602    +1.917.267.3735
Jeremy.campbell@wisdomtree.com    jzaloom@wisdomtree.com

 

5


WisdomTree Investments, Inc.

Key Operating Statistics (Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended  
     Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
    Dec. 31,
2020
    Sept. 30,
2020
 

GLOBAL ETPs ($ in millions)

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 73,944     $ 69,534     $ 67,385     $ 60,709     $ 57,618  

Inflows/(outflows)

     548       931       1,279       881       (485

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (1,709     3,483       870       5,795       3,622  

Fund closures

     —         (4     —         —         (46
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 72,783     $ 73,944     $ 69,534     $ 67,385     $ 60,709  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 74,563     $ 73,652     $ 69,583     $ 64,056     $ 61,200  

Average advisory fee during the period2

     0.41     0.40     0.41     0.40     0.41

Revenue days

     92       91       90       92       92  

Number of ETFs – end of the period

     322       318       313       309       305  

U.S. LISTED ETFs ($ in millions)

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 45,129     $ 42,163     $ 38,517     $ 33,310     $ 31,362  

Inflows/(outflows)

     612       1,130       1,343       919       575  

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (999     1,836       2,303       4,288       1,373  

Fund closures

     —         —         —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 44,742     $ 45,129     $ 42,163     $ 38,517     $ 33,310  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 45,508     $ 44,184     $ 40,705     $ 35,925     $ 33,003  

Number of ETFs – end of the period

     73       73       68       67       67  

EUROPEAN LISTED ETPs ($ in millions)

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 28,815     $ 27,371     $ 28,868     $ 27,399     $ 26,256  

Inflows/(outflows)

     (64     (199     (64     (38     (1,060

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (710     1,647       (1,433     1,507       2,249  

Fund closures

     —         (4     —         —         (46
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 28,041     $ 28,815     $ 27,371     $ 28,868     $ 27,399  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 29,055     $ 29,468     $ 28,878     $ 28,131     $ 28,197  

Number of ETPs – end of the period

     249       245       245       242       238  

PRODUCT CATEGORIES ($ in millions)

          

Commodity & Currency

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 24,772     $ 23,657     $ 25,880     $ 25,176     $ 24,246  

Inflows/(outflows)

     (249     (318     (660     (296     (1,112

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (697     1,433       (1,563     1,000       2,042  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 23,826     $ 24,772     $ 23,657     $ 25,880     $ 25,176  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 24,859     $ 25,577     $ 25,296     $ 25,598     $ 25,949  

U.S. Equity

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 21,285     $ 20,018     $ 18,367     $ 15,612     $ 13,997  

Inflows/(outflows)

     351       190       218       395       897  

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (253     1,077       1,433       2,360       718  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 21,383     $ 21,285     $ 20,018     $ 18,367     $ 15,612  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 21,793     $ 20,983     $ 19,320     $ 17,070     $ 15,160  

International Developed Market Equity

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 10,792     $ 9,989     $ 9,408     $ 8,620     $ 8,843  

Inflows/(outflows)

     404       399       17       (191     (586

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (16     404       564       979       363  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 11,180     $ 10,792     $ 9,989     $ 9,408     $ 8,620  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 11,146     $ 10,526     $ 9,791     $ 8,928     $ 8,834  

 

6


     Three Months Ended  
     Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
    Dec. 31,
2020
    Sept. 30,
2020
 

Emerging Market Equity

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 11,519     $ 10,477     $ 8,539     $ 5,979     $ 5,413  

Inflows/(outflows)

     (149     531       1,662       1,399       257  

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (704     511       276       1,161       309  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 10,666     $ 11,519     $ 10,477     $ 8,539     $ 5,979  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 11,038     $ 11,012     $ 9,875     $ 7,249     $ 5,917  

Fixed Income

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 3,441     $ 3,246     $ 3,308     $ 3,606     $ 3,507  

Inflows/(outflows)

     115       168       10       (320     76  

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (26     27       (72     22       23  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 3,530     $ 3,441     $ 3,246     $ 3,308     $ 3,606  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 3,502     $ 3,337     $ 3,236     $ 3,450     $ 3,581  

Leveraged & Inverse

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 1,693     $ 1,521     $ 1,477     $ 1,423     $ 1,344  

Inflows/(outflows)

     42       (2     (5     (125     (10

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     (69     174       49       179       89  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 1,666     $ 1,693     $ 1,521     $ 1,477     $ 1,423  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 1,717     $ 1,666     $ 1,556     $ 1,429     $ 1,476  

Cryptocurrency

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 229     $ 377     $ 167     $ 33     $ 15  

Inflows/(outflows)

     12     8     36       48       15  

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     54       (156     174       86       3  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 295     $ 229     $ 377     $ 167     $ 33  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 277     $ 300     $ 264     $ 79     $ 27  

Alternatives

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 198     $ 227     $ 215     $ 229     $ 225  

Inflows/(outflows)

     22       (39     —         (26     (4

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     2       10       12       12       8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 222     $ 198     $ 227     $ 215     $ 229  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 214     $ 231     $ 223     $ 224     $ 226  

Closed ETPs

          

Beginning of period assets

   $ 15     $ 22     $ 24     $ 31     $ 28  

Inflows/(outflows)

     —         (6     1       (3     (18

Market appreciation/(depreciation)

     —         3       (3     (4     67  

Fund closures

     —         (4     —         —         (46
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period assets

   $ 15     $ 15     $ 22     $ 24     $ 31  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average assets during the period

   $ 17     $ 20     $ 22     $ 29     $ 30  

Headcount

     235       227     $ 227       217       211  

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

Source: WisdomTree

 

7


WISDOMTREE INVESTMENTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Sept. 30,
2021
    Dec. 31,
2020
 
     (Unaudited)        

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 127,924     $ 73,425  

Securities owned, at fair value

     119,390       34,895  

Accounts receivable

     32,092       29,455  

Income taxes receivable

     146       —    

Prepaid expenses

     5,676       3,827  

Other current assets

     407       259  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     285,635       141,861  

Fixed assets, net

     545       7,579  

Securities held-to-maturity

     331       451  

Deferred tax assets, net

     7,636       8,063  

Investments

     14,238       8,112  

Right of use assets – operating leases

     631       16,327  

Goodwill

     85,856       85,856  

Intangible assets

     601,247       601,247  

Other noncurrent assets

     359       180  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 996,478     $ 869,676  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

LIABILITIES

    

Current liabilities:

    

Fund management and administration payable

   $ 22,273     $ 19,564  

Compensation and benefits payable

     24,411       22,803  

Deferred consideration – gold payments

     15,961       17,374  

Operating lease liabilities

     361       3,135  

Income taxes payable

     —         916  

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     12,737       10,207  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     75,743       73,999  

Convertible notes

     317,979       166,646  

Deferred consideration – gold payments

     208,992       212,763  

Operating lease liabilities

     327       17,434  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     603,041       470,842  

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

     132,569       132,569  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

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

    

Issued and outstanding: 145,150 and 148,716 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

     1,451       1,487  

Additional paid-in capital

     287,399       317,075  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     853       1,102  

Accumulated deficit

     (28,835     (53,399
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     260,868       266,265  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 996,478     $ 869,676  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

8


WISDOMTREE INVESTMENTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended  
     Sept. 30,
2021
    Sept. 30,
20204
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income/(loss)

   $ 38,610       (22,158

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

    

Advisory fees received in gold, other precious metals and cryptocurrencies

     (57,617     (46,077

Impairments

     16,156       22,752  

Contractual gold payments

     12,834       12,362  

Stock-based compensation

     7,661       9,003  

(Gain)/loss on revaluation of deferred consideration – gold payments

     (5,066     34,436  

Unrealized losses

     2,183       1,212  

Amortization of right of use asset

     1,860       2,384  

Amortization of issuance costs—convertible notes

     1,542       882  

Deferred income taxes

     1,515       (961

Gain on sale – Canadian ETF business, including remeasurement of contingent consideration

     (787     (2,877

Depreciation and amortization

     693       760  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     —         2,387  

Amortization of issuance costs—former credit facility

     —         1,328  

Other

     (369     (1,173

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Securities owned, at fair value

     (84     94  

Accounts receivable

     (1,273     3,166  

Prepaid expenses

     (1,888     (1,325

Gold, other precious metals and cryptocurrencies

     44,006       32,969  

Other assets

     (315     (341

Fund management and administration payable

     2,868       735  

Compensation and benefits payable

     1,756       (12,349

Income taxes receivable/payable

     (1,050     (3,399

Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value

     —         (582

Operating lease liabilities

     (15,462     (2,778

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     2,336       1,679  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     50,109       32,129  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchase of securities owned, at fair value

     (97,570     (34,683

Purchase of investments

     (5,750     —    

Purchase of fixed assets

     (237     (292

Proceeds from sale of securities owned, at fair value

     10,976       18,122  

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

     114       16,441  

Proceeds from sale of the Company’s financial interests in AdvisorEngine Inc.

     —         9,592  

Proceeds from sale of Canadian ETF business, net

     —         2,774  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities

     (92,467     11,954  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Shares repurchased

     (34,506     (30,979

Dividends paid

     (14,662     (15,207

Convertible notes issuance costs

     (4,297     (5,411

Repayment of debt

     —         (179,000

Proceeds from the issuance of convertible notes

     150,000       175,250  

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     815       240  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

     97,350       (55,107
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in cash flows due to changes in foreign exchange rate

     (493     (387
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     54,499       (11,411

Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of year

     73,425       74,972  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents – end of period

   $ 127,924       63,561  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

    

Cash paid for taxes

   $ 7,332       7,650  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

   $ 3,719       3,390  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

9


Non-GAAP Financial Measurements

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

 

   

Adjusted income before income taxes, income tax expense, net income and diluted earnings per share. We disclose adjusted 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 measures provides investors with a consistent way to analyze our performance. These non-GAAP financial measures 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: Remeasurement of contingent consideration payable to us from the sale of our former Canadian ETF business, unrealized gains recognized on our investment in Securrency, impairment charges, interest expense from the amortization of discount arising from the bifurcation of the conversion option embedded in the convertible notes (prior to January 1, 2021, the effective date of Accounting Standards Update 2020-06, Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options, Cash Conversion), a loss on extinguishment of debt, the release of a deferred tax asset valuation allowance recognized on interest carryforwards arising from our debt previously outstanding in the United Kingdom, a gain arising from an adjustment to the estimated fair value of consideration received from the exit of our investment in AdvisorEngine and disposition-related costs are excluded when calculating our non-GAAP financial measurements.

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

10


WISDOMTREE INVESTMENTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

GAAP to NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION (CONSOLIDATED)

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended  
     Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
    Dec. 31,
2020
    Sept. 30,
2020
 

Adjusted Net Income and Diluted Earnings per Share:

          

Net income/(loss), as reported

   $ 5,833     $ 17,630     $ 15,147     $ (13,497   $ (270

Deduct/Add back: (Gain)/loss on revaluation of deferred consideration

     (1,737     (497     (2,832     22,385       8,870  

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

     12,002       —         245       —         2,326  

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

     1,006       —         —         —         —    

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

     (787     —         —         —         —    

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

     —         (233     123       21       50  

Deduct: Unrealized gain recognized on our investment in Securrency, net of income taxes

     —         (105     (179     —         —    

Add back: Interest expense from the amortization of discount arising from the bifurcation of the conversion option embedded in the convertible notes, net of income taxes

     —         —         —         314       286  

Deduct: Gain arising from an adjustment to the estimated fair value of consideration received from the exit of our investment in AdvisorEngine

     —         —         —         —         (225
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted net income

   $ 16,317     $ 16,795     $ 12,504     $ 9,223     $ 11,037  

Weighted average common shares—diluted

     159,213       164,855       161,831       161,138       160,876  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted earnings per share—diluted

   $ 0.10     $ 0.10     $ 0.08     $ 0.06     $ 0.07  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended  
     Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
    Dec. 31,
2020
    Sept. 30,
2020
 

Gross Margin and Gross Margin Percentage:

          

Operating revenues2

   $ 78,112     $ 75,775     $ 71,256     $ 65,651     $ 63,749  

Less: Fund management and administration2

     (15,181     (14,367     (13,947     (14,942     (14,328
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin2

   $ 62,931     $ 61,408     $ 57,309     $ 50,709     $ 49,421  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin percentage2

     80.6     81.0     80.4     77.2     77.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

11


     Three Months Ended  
     Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar. 31,
2021
    Dec. 31,
2020
    Sept. 30,
2020
 

Adjusted Income Before Income Taxes:

          

Income/(loss) before income taxes

   $ 6,333     $ 21,889     $ 13,178     $ (11,297   $ 1,138  

Deduct/Add back: (Gain)/loss on revaluation of deferred consideration

     (1,737     (497     (2,832     22,385       8,870  

Add back: Impairments, before income taxes

     15,853       —         303       —         3,080  

Add back: Losses on securities owned, before income taxes

     1,329       —         —         —         —    

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

     (787     —         —         —         —    

Deduct: Unrealized gain recognized on our investment in Securrency, before income taxes

     —         (139     (237     —         —    

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

     —         —         5,171       —         —    

Add back: Interest expense from the amortization of discount arising from the bifurcation of the conversion option embedded in the convertible notes, before income taxes

     —         —         —         416       379  

Deduct: Gain arising from an adjustment to the estimated fair value of consideration received from the exit of our investment in AdvisorEngine

     —         —         —         —         (225
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted income before income taxes

   $ 20,991     $ 21,253     $ 15,583     $ 11,504     $  13,242  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended  
     Sept. 30,
2021
    June 30,
2021
    Mar 31,
2021
    Dec. 31,
2020
    Sept. 30,
2020
 

Adjusted Income Tax Expense and Adjusted Effective Income Tax Rate:

          

Adjusted income before income taxes (above)

   $  20,991     $  21,253     $  15,583     $  11,504     $  13,242  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax expense/(benefit)

   $ 500     $ 4,259     $ (1,969   $ 2,200     $ 1,408  

Add back: Tax benefit arising from impairments

     3,851       —         58       —         754  

Add back: Tax benefit arising from losses on securities owned

     323       —         —         —         —    

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

     —         233       (123     (21     (50

Deduct: Tax expense on unrealized gain recognized on our investment in Securrency

     —         (34     (58     —         —    

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

     —         —         5,171       —         —    

Add back: Tax benefit arising from the amortization of discount associated with the bifurcation of the conversion option embedded in the convertible notes

     —         —         —         102       93  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted income tax expense

   $ 4,674     $ 4,458     $ 3,079     $ 2,281     $ 2,205  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted effective income tax rate

     22.3     21.0     19.8     19.8     16.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

12


Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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

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

 

   

the ultimate duration of the COVID-19 pandemic 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;

 

   

our ability to develop new products and services;

 

   

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

 

   

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, 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; and

 

   

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.

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, 2020 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

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

 

13