Victory Capital Reports Strong First Quarter Results

SAN ANTONIO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: VCTR) (“Victory Capital” or “the Company”) today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. “We are off to a good start in 2025 with positive momentum in a number of important areas of our business,” said David Brown, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “First-quarter financial results came in strong with year-over-year increases in revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and earnings per share. Gross sales increased more than 41% from the fourth quarter of 2024, reaching the highest level in three years and net long-term flows improved for the second consecutive quarter. “Our operating platform, coupled with excellent execution, lets us effectively manage through volatile market environments while maintaining strong margins. This allows us to remain focused on growth and capitalize on opportunities that arise during periods of market dislocation. “We were pleased to have successfully closed on our multi-faceted transaction with Amundi on April 1. In addition to the increase in size and scale of our business, we have better diversification across numerous areas of our business including asset classes, investment vehicles, and geographies. Furthermore, our US distribution presence has been substantially enhanced allowing us to provide better coverage across both the intermediary and institutional channels. We are also excited about the new client opportunities that the distribution agreement with Amundi will bring us outside the US. Lastly, with an enhanced balance sheet post-closing, we have even more financial flexibility to pursue strategic growth opportunities. “Investment performance remained strong during the first quarter, with 64%, 65%, and 79% of our AUM outperforming benchmarks over the respective 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods, ending March 31. In addition, at quarter end, more than two-thirds of our Mutual Fund and ETF AUM were rated 4- or 5-stars by Morningstar. “Our allocation of capital remains focused on strategic growth and enhancing efficiencies. We will also continue to return excess capital to shareholders via share repurchases and dividends. Yesterday, the Board declared an increase in the quarterly cash dividend to a record high of $0.49 per share, which will be payable on June 25, 2025, to holders of record on June 10. “As always, we continue to focus on serving our clients, which is our top priority.” Total Client Assets includes Total AUM and Other Assets. Total AUM includes both discretionary assets under management and non-discretionary assets under advisement and excludes Other Assets. The Company reports its financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income are not defined by GAAP and should not be regarded as an alternative to any measurement under GAAP. Please refer to the section “Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures” at the end of this press release for an explanation of non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP financial measure. The table below presents total AUM and certain GAAP and non-GAAP (“adjusted”) financial results. Due to rounding, total AUM values and other amounts in this press release may not add up precisely to the totals provided. (in millions except per share amounts or as otherwise noted) AUM, Flows and Investment Performance At March 31, 2025, Victory Capital had total client assets of $171.4 billion, assets under management of $167.5 billion, and other assets of $4.0 billion. Total AUM decreased by $4.5 billion to $167.5 billion at March 31, 2025, compared with $171.9 billion at December 31, 2024. The decrease was due to negative market action of $3.2 billion and net outflows of $1.2 billion. Total gross flows for the first quarter were $9.5 billion, including long-term gross flows of $9.3 billion. As of March 31, 2025, Victory Capital offered 125 investment strategies through its 12 autonomous Investment Franchises and Solutions Platform. The table below presents outperformance against benchmarks by AUM as of March 31, 2025. First Quarter 2025 Compared with Fourth Quarter 2024 Revenue decreased $12.8 million to $219.6 million, in the first quarter, compared with $232.4 million in the fourth quarter, due to a decrease in average total client assets, two less days in the quarter, and a decrease in revenue realization. GAAP operating margin contracted 580 basis points in the first quarter to 42.3%, down from 48.1% in the fourth quarter, due to a $6.6 million increase in acquisition-related costs and a $3.1 million increase in non-cash amounts recorded to the change in fair value of consideration payable for acquisitions. First quarter GAAP net income decreased 19.5% to $62.0 million, down from $76.9 million in the prior quarter. On a per-share basis, GAAP net income decreased 17.9% to $0.96 per diluted share in the first quarter, versus $1.17 per diluted share in the fourth quarter. Adjusted net income with tax benefit decreased 7.4% to $88.1 million, or $1.36 per diluted share, in the first quarter, down from $95.1 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter. Adjusted EBITDA decreased $9.1 million to $116.4 million in the first quarter compared to $125.5 million in the fourth quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 100 basis points in the first quarter of 2025 to 53.0% compared with 54.0% in the prior quarter primarily due to higher seasonal payroll taxes and benefits. First Quarter 2025 Compared with First Quarter 2024 Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2025, increased 1.7% to $219.6 million, compared with $215.9 million in the same quarter of 2024. The increase was due to higher average total client assets, partially offset by one less day in the quarter and a decrease in revenue realization. GAAP operating margin was 42.3% in the first quarter, a 300 basis point expansion from 39.3% in the same quarter of 2024. Operating expenses decreased 3.3% to $126.7 million, compared with $131.0 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to an $8.8 million decrease in amounts recorded to the change in fair value of consideration payable for acquisitions and a $3.3 million decrease in personnel compensation and benefits expense. Partially offsetting the decrease was a $7.7 million increase in acquisition-related costs. GAAP net income increased 11.3% to $62.0 million, or $0.96 per diluted share, in the first quarter compared with $55.7 million, or $0.84 per diluted share, in the same quarter of 2024. Adjusted net income with tax benefit expanded 7.0% to $88.1 million, or $1.36 per diluted share, in the first quarter, compared with $82.3 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, in the same quarter last year. Adjusted EBITDA increased 3.6% to $116.4 million, compared with $112.4 million in the same quarter of 2024. Year-over-year, adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 90 basis points to 53.0% in the first quarter of 2025, compared with 52.1% in the same quarter last year. Balance Sheet / Capital Management The total debt outstanding as of March 31, 2025 was approximately $972 million and consisted of an existing term loan balance of $625 million and the 2021 Incremental Term Loans balance of $347 million. The Company’s Board of Directors approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.49 per share. The dividend is payable on June 25, 2025, to shareholders of record on June 10, 2025. Conference Call, Webcast and Slide Presentation The Company will host a conference call tomorrow morning, May 9, at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results. Analysts and investors may participate in the question-and-answer session. To participate in the conference call, please call 1-800-715-9871 (domestic) or 1-646-307-1963 (international), shortly before 8:00 a.m. ET and reference the Victory Capital Conference Call. A live, listen-only webcast will also be available via the investor relations section of the Company’s website at https://ir.vcm.com. Prior to the call, a supplemental slide presentation that will be used during the conference call will be available on the Events and Presentations page of the Company’s investor relations website. For anyone who is unable to join the live event, an archive of the webcast will be available for replay shortly after the call concludes. About Victory Capital Victory Capital is a diversified global asset management firm with total assets under management of $167.5 billion, and $171.4 billion in total client assets, as of March 31, 2025. The Company employs a next-generation business strategy that combines boutique investment qualities with the benefits of a fully integrated, centralized operating and distribution platform. Victory Capital provides specialized investment strategies to institutions, intermediaries, retirement platforms and individual investors. With 12 autonomous Investment Franchises and a Solutions Business, Victory Capital offers a wide array of investment products and services, including mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, alternative investments, third-party ETF model strategies, collective investment trusts, private funds, a 529 Education Savings Plan, and brokerage services. Victory Capital is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with offices and investment professionals in the U.S. and around the world. To learn more please visit www.vcm.com or follow Victory Capital on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This earnings release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable U.S. federal and non-U.S. securities laws. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “aim,” “intend,” “may,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “budget,” “continue,” “estimate,” “future,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “will,” “can have,” “likely,” “should,” “would,” “could” and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding and the outlook for Victory Capital’s future business and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond Victory Capital’s control and could cause Victory Capital’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the expected results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although it is not possible to identify all such risks and factors, they include, among others, the following: continued geopolitical uncertainty including the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel; risks associated with expected benefits of the Amundi transaction, or impact on our business of the Amundi transaction including our ability to achieve expected synergies; reductions in AUM based on investment performance, client withdrawals, difficult market conditions and other factors such as a pandemic; the nature of the Company’s contracts and investment advisory agreements; the Company’s ability to maintain historical returns and sustain its historical growth; the Company’s dependence on third parties to market its strategies and provide products or services for the operation of its business; the Company’s ability to retain key investment professionals or members of its senior management team; the Company’s reliance on the technology systems supporting its operations; the Company’s ability to successfully acquire and integrate new companies; the concentration of the Company’s investments in long-only small- and mid-cap equity and U.S. clients; risks and uncertainties associated with non-U.S. investments; the Company’s efforts to establish and develop new teams and strategies; the ability of the Company’s investment teams to identify appropriate investment opportunities; the Company’s ability to limit employee misconduct; the Company’s ability to meet the guidelines set by its clients; the Company’s exposure to potential litigation (including administrative or tax proceedings) or regulatory actions; the Company’s ability to implement effective information and cyber security policies, procedures and capabilities; the Company’s substantial indebtedness; the potential impairment of the Company’s goodwill and intangible assets; disruption to the operations of third parties whose functions are integral to the Company’s ETF platform; the Company’s determination that Victory Capital is not required to register as an "investment company" under the 1940 Act; the fluctuation of the Company’s expenses; the Company’s ability to respond to recent trends in the investment management industry; the level of regulation on investment management firms and the Company’s ability to respond to regulatory developments; the competitiveness of the investment management industry; the level of control over the Company retained by Crestview GP; and other risks and factors listed under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company’s filings with the SEC. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Victory Capital’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which it will operate in the future. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, Victory Capital assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures Victory Capital uses non-GAAP financial measures referred to as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income to measure the operating profitability of the Company. These measures eliminate the impact of one-time acquisition, restructuring and integration costs and demonstrate the ongoing operating earnings metrics of the Company. The Company has included these non-GAAP measures to provide investors with the same financial metrics used by management to assess the operating performance of the Company. Adjusted EBITDA Adjustments made to GAAP Net Income to calculate Adjusted EBITDA, as applicable, are: Adding back income tax expense; Adding back interest paid on debt and other financing costs, net of interest income; Adding back depreciation on property and equipment; Adding back other business taxes; Adding back amortization expense on acquisition-related intangible assets; Adding back stock-based compensation expense associated with equity awards issued from pools created in connection with the management-led buyout and various acquisitions and as a result of equity grants related to the IPO; Adding back direct incremental costs of acquisitions, including restructuring costs; Adding back debt issuance cost expense; Adjusting for earnings/losses on equity method investments. Adjusted Net Income Adjustments made to GAAP Net Income to calculate Adjusted Net Income, as applicable, are: Adding back other business taxes; Adding back amortization expense on acquisition-related intangible assets; Adding back stock-based compensation expense associated with equity awards issued from pools created in connection with the management-led buyout and various acquisitions and as a result of any equity grants related to the IPO; Adding back direct incremental costs of acquisitions, including restructuring costs; Adding back debt issuance cost expense; Subtracting an estimate of income tax expense applied to the sum of the adjustments above. Tax Benefit of Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets Due to Victory Capital’s acquisitive nature, tax deductions allowed on acquired intangible assets and goodwill provide it with additional significant supplemental economic benefit. The tax benefit of goodwill and intangible assets represent the tax benefits associated with deductions allowed for intangible assets and goodwill generated from prior acquisitions in which the Company received a step-up in basis for tax purposes. Acquired intangible assets and goodwill may be amortized for tax purposes, generally over a 15-year period. The tax benefit from amortization on these assets is included to show the full economic benefit of deductions for all acquired intangible assets with a step-up in tax basis. More News From Victory Capital Holdings, Inc.

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