StoneX(SNEX) - 2024 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics - Interest and fee income increased by 1% to $104.2 million due to higher interest rates [1] - Segment operating revenues increased by 15% and segment income increased by 14% YoY [2] - Retail segment operating revenues increased by 30%, leading to a$ 28.4 million increase in segment income to $33.2 million [3] - Trailing 12-month operating revenues increased by 74% with a 32% CAGR, and adjusted net income increased by 63% with a 28% CAGR [5] - Adjusted ROE remained above the 15% target despite a 53% increase in capital [5] - Operating revenues increased by 10% sequentially, with segment income up 16% [15] - Net income for the quarter was$ 53.1 million, a 27% increase YoY [61] Business Line Performance - Commercial segment income decreased by 17% due to a 9% decrease in operating revenues [2] - Retail segment income increased by 592% YoY, driven by a 30% increase in operating revenues and a $6.7 million decline in fixed expenses [15] - Payments segment operating revenues declined by 1%, but segment income increased by 55% due to a$ 10.3 million decline in fixed compensation [16] - Institutional segment operating revenues increased by 28%, translating to a 10% increase in segment income [94] Market Performance - FX and CFD revenues increased by $20.2 million due to an 82% increase in rate per million, offsetting a 24% decline in average daily volume [23] - Securities operating revenues increased by 37%, driven by a 30% increase in average daily volume and higher interest rates [67] - OTC derivatives operating revenues declined by 8%, primarily due to lower agricultural volatility [89] Strategy and Industry Competition - The company focuses on building a global financial ecosystem to connect clients to markets, leveraging its broad product set and capabilities [28] - The company has completed over 30 acquisitions in the last 15 years, focusing on integrating smaller businesses into its ecosystem [29] - The company sees opportunities in the withdrawal of large banks from the market, which has created space for smaller firms to grow [27] - The company is investing in technology to digitize offerings, enhance client engagement, and improve operational leverage [44][71] Management Commentary on Market Conditions and Outlook - The company expects volatility to remain a key driver of revenue capture, with current low volatility levels likely to increase in the future [52] - The company is cautious about entering the market for new hedges due to the current Fed cycle and inverted yield curve [115] - The company believes that valuations for potential acquisitions are becoming more reasonable, increasing the likelihood of future deals [106] Other Important Information - The company issued$ 550 million in new seven-year secured notes to extend its debt maturity profile and bolster liquidity [24] - The company has $7.1 billion in client funds supported by$ 1.5 billion in permanent equity capital and $550 million in term debt [47] - The company has over 54,000 institutional and commercial clients, 400,000 retail clients, and deals with over 600 financial institutions [74] Q&A Session Question: Trends in Commercial and Institutional Segments - The company noted that revenue capture tends to expand with higher market volatility and narrow with lower volatility [79] - Institutional segment volumes have increased, particularly in lower-margin products, but revenue capture has stabilized [81] Question: Retail Segment Fee per Million Sustainability - The company expects retail fee per million to normalize around 90-100, down from the current unsustainable level of 120 [82] Question: Expense Run Rates and Operational Leverage - The company expects expenses to trend down by$ 4-6 million due to seasonal adjustments and office consolidations [112] - The company is focusing on hiring in lower-cost jurisdictions to improve operational efficiency [113] Question: M&A Environment and Valuation Trends - The company sees more reasonably priced acquisition opportunities compared to the past two years, increasing the likelihood of future deals [106] Question: Interest Rate Sensitivity and Hedges - The company has seen a 50 basis point pickup in gross yield and a 75 basis point pickup in net yield as some hedges rolled off [115]