Walker & Dunlop Reports First Quarter 2012 Results

BETHESDA, Md., May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

FIRST QUARTER 2012 HIGHLIGHTS

• Origination volume of $674.5 million, up 33% over first  quarter 2011
• Origination related fees of $10.3 million, up 40% over first quarter 2011
• Total revenues of $34.4 million, up 19% over first quarter 2011
• Servicing fees of $9.4 million, up 22% over first quarter 2011
• Closed first interim loan financing in February 2012
• Continued strong credit performance in at risk servicing portfolio

/PRNewswire/ -- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE: WD) (the "Company") announced today first quarter 2012 total revenues of $34.4 million, an increase of 19% over first quarter 2011 total revenues of $29.0 million. First quarter net income was $5.8 million, or $0.27 per share, a decrease of 12% over the first quarter of 2011 net income of $6.6 million, or $0.31 per share. 

"The first quarter of 2012 was characterized by significant growth in origination volumes and revenues coupled with continued progress on our stated strategic initiatives," said Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Willy Walker.  "The 33% increase in loan originations and 19% increase in total revenues were impacted by the significant hiring and footprint expansion the Company has undertaken. First quarter 2012 net earnings were down 12% due to an expected increase in personnel costs, the write-off of a mortgage servicing right (MSR) due to the prepayment of a large portfolio of loans, and an increase in the provision for risk-sharing obligations to a level in line with what we have seen over the last year," added Mr. Walker.

"The first quarter included almost 200% growth in our Capital Markets originations to $209 million.  This growth demonstrates execution of our strategic objective to grow our Capital Markets business.  In April, we opened a new office in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida with highly talented professionals that expands our Capital Markets business outside of the Mid-Atlantic region for the first time in our Company's history," continued Mr. Walker.

"We closed our first interim financing deal in the first quarter and our second financing just last week, showing further progress on this strategic initiative.  In addition, our alliance with Cushman & Wakefield has gained traction, and developed a solid pipeline of financing opportunities. We expect to see some of those deals rate lock during the second quarter," said Mr. Walker.

"The economic conditions for our business remain positive with the economy in a slow, sustained recovery, coupled with very low interest rates.  As we continue to expand our platform and execute on our strategic initiatives, we expect originations to grow and thus are establishing loan origination guidance of $1.1 billion to $1.4 billion for the second quarter of 2012," concluded Mr. Walker.

OPERATING RESULTS

LOAN ORIGINATIONS were $674.5 million for the first quarter 2012 compared to $507.5 million for the first quarter 2011, a 33% increase.

TOTAL REVENUES were $34.4 million for the first quarter 2012 compared to $29.0 million for the first quarter 2011, a 19% increase, driven by our increased loan origination volume and growth in servicing fee income.  Other revenues for the first quarter of 2012 increased 11% due to the growth in our business and $2.5 million associated with the amendment to a fee arrangement between the Company and a correspondent for sharing of revenues on a portfolio of loans financed by the Company. It should be noted that there was a comparable $2.5 million fee recognized in the first quarter of 2011.

GAINS FROM MORTGAGE BANKING ACTIVITIES were $19.8 million for the first quarter 2012 compared to $16.8 million for the first quarter 2011, an 18% increase.  Gains from mortgage banking activities are the revenues recognized through the loan origination and sale process and are comprised of two components: loan origination fees and gains attributable to mortgage servicing rights. LOAN ORIGINATION FEES were $10.3 million for the first quarter 2012 compared to $7.4 million for the first quarter 2011, a 40% increase.  GAINS ATTRIBUTABLE TO MORTGAGE SERVICING RIGHTS ("MSRs") were flat at $9.5 million for each period. Gains from mortgage banking activities as a percentage of loan origination volumes were 293 basis points for the first quarter 2012, compared to 332 basis points in the first quarter 2011, an 11% decrease, due to a higher percentage of Capital Markets originations on which we do not record MSRs.

TOTAL EXPENSES were $24.9 million for the first quarter 2012 compared to $18.1 million for the first quarter 2011, a 37% increase.  The increase in expenses was driven by greater personnel and administrative costs, amortization and depreciation, and provision for risk-sharing obligations. The increase in personnel and administrative costs was due to adding origination talent, support staff, and infrastructure to continue growing our business. Personnel expense, our largest expense item, was 34% of total revenues for the first quarter 2012 compared to 32% for the first quarter 2011. The increase in amortization and depreciation expense was driven by a combination of continued growth in our aggregate servicing portfolio which naturally increases amortization expense, as well as the prepayment of a large portfolio of loans resulting in a corresponding write-off of a $636 thousand MSR.  Finally, the provision for risk-sharing obligations increased from $0.7 million in the first quarter 2011 to $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2012.  Provision for risk-sharing obligations have averaged close to $1.2 million per quarter over the past year, well within our expectations for a portfolio of this scale.

OPERATING MARGIN was 28% for the first quarter 2012 compared to 37% in the first quarter 2011. Operating margin in the first quarter 2012 was impacted by increased personnel costs, MSR write-offs, and an increase in the provision for risk-sharing obligations. 

SERVICING PORTFOLIO

SERVICING FEES were $9.4 million for the first quarter 2012 compared to $7.7 million for the first quarter 2011, a 22% increase.  The increase in servicing fees was due to the growth of the servicing portfolio, coupled with an increase in the weighted average servicing fee.

The SERVICING PORTFOLIO totaled $16.9 billion at March 31, 2012, a 13% increase from $14.9 billion at March 31, 2011.  The Company retains servicing rights on most of the loans it originates and generates revenues from the fees it receives for servicing the loans.

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SERVICING FEE was 23 basis points at March 31, 2012, compared to 21 basis points at March 31, 2011, a 10% increase.

CREDIT QUALITY AND RISK-SHARING OBLIGATIONS

The Company's AT RISK SERVICING PORTFOLIO, which is the balance of Fannie Mae DUS loans that are subject to a defined risk-sharing formula, was $7.9 billion at March 31, 2012, compared to $6.8 billion at March 31, 2011, a 16% increase.  Credit quality within the Company's at risk servicing portfolio remains very strong. 

60+ DAY DELINQUENCIES were $6.3 million, or 0.08% of the at risk servicing portfolio, at March 31, 2012, compared to $32.5 million, or 0.48%, at March 31, 2011, an 81% decrease.  60+ day delinquencies at December 31, 2011 were $19.0 million, or 0.25% of the at risk servicing portfolio.

PROVISION FOR RISK-SHARING OBLIGATIONS was $1.2 million, or two basis points of the at risk servicing portfolio, at March 31, 2012, compared to $0.7 million, or one basis point of the at risk portfolio, at March 31, 2011.

NET WRITE-OFFS for the first quarter 2012 were $1.6 million, or two basis points of the at risk servicing portfolio at March 31, 2012.  There were no net write-offs in the first quarter of 2011.  Write-offs represent the cash settlement of losses recognized in prior periods.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its quarterly results on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Analysts and investors interested in participating are invited to call (800) 894-5910 from within the United States or (785) 424-1052 from outside the United States and are asked to reference the Conference ID: WDQ112. A simultaneous webcast of the call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Walker & Dunlop website at http://www.walkerdunlop.com. Presentation materials, related to the conference call, will be posted to the Investor Relations section of the Company's website prior to the call.

A telephonic replay of the call will also be available from approximately 11:00 a.m. EDT May 9, 2012 through May 23, 2012. Please call (800) 677-7085 from the United States or (402) 220-0665 from outside the United States.  An audio replay will also be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, along with the presentation materials.

About Walker & Dunlop

Through its subsidiary Walker & Dunlop, LLC, Walker & Dunlop, Inc. is one of the leading commercial real estate finance companies in the United States, with a primary focus on multifamily lending. As a Fannie Mae DUS™, Freddie Mac Program Plus® and MAP- and LEAN-approved FHA lender, the Multifamily and FHA Finance groups are focused on lending to property owners, investors, and developers of multifamily properties across the country. Walker & Dunlop's proprietary Interim Loan Program provides financing for multifamily properties that do not currently qualify for permanent financing. The Capital Markets group specializes in financing commercial real estate for owners and investors across the United States, securing capital from large institutions such as life insurance companies, commercial banks, CMBS lenders, pension funds, and specialty finance companies. The Principal Investments group provides institutional advisory, asset management, and investment management services with respect to debt, structured debt and equity.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, projections, plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ''may,'' ''will,'' ''should,'' ''expects,'' ''intends,'' ''plans,'' ''anticipates,'' ''believes,'' ''estimates,'' ''predicts,'' or ''potential'' or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or contemplated in any forward-looking statement.

While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith projections, assumptions and expectations, they are not guarantees of future results. Furthermore, we disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, data or methods, future events or other changes, except as required by applicable law. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or contemplated in any forward-looking statements, see the section entitled ''Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our subsequent SEC filings.

(1)     At risk servicing portfolio is defined as the balance of Fannie Mae DUS loans subject to the risk-sharing formula described below. Use of the at risk portfolio provides for comparability of the full risk-sharing and modified risk-sharing loans because the provision and allowance for risk-sharing obligations are based on the at risk balances of the associated loans. Accordingly, we have presented the key statistics as a percentage of the at risk portfolio.

For example, a $15 million loan with 50% DUS risk-sharing has the same potential risk exposure as a $7.5 million loan with full DUS risk-sharing. Accordingly, if the $15 million loan with 50% DUS risk-sharing was to default, the Company would view the overall loss as a percentage of the at risk balance, or $7.5 million, to ensure comparability between all risk-sharing obligations. To date, all of the Company's risk-sharing obligations that we have settled have been from full risk-sharing loans.

(2)     There are loans within our servicing portfolio which are greater than 60 days delinquent, for which no allowance has been recorded. We do not anticipate recognizing a loss for these loans upon settlement of our risk-sharing obligation with Fannie Mae because our estimate of the value of the underlying collateral is greater than the unpaid principal balance of the associated loan.

SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc.