Walker & Dunlop Reports Q4 Total Revenues of $215 Million on Record Total Transaction Volume of $9.4 billion

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --

FOURTH QUARTER 2018 HIGHLIGHTS

• Record total transaction volume of $9.4 billion
• Record total revenues of $214.9 million
• Strong net income of $45.8 million, or $1.44 per diluted share
• Record adjusted EBITDA¹ of $59.6 million
• Increased dividend to $0.30 per share for the first quarter of 2019

FULL-YEAR 2018 HIGHLIGHTS

• Total transaction volume of $28.0 billion, an increase of 1% from 2017
• Total revenues of $725.2 million, up 2% from 2017
• Net income of $161.4 million, or $5.04 per diluted share, a decrease of 24% from 2017
• Net income in 2017 included a $58.3 million, or $1.80 per diluted share, one-time benefit to income tax expense from tax reform
• Net income in 2018 increased 6% over net income in 2017 without the one-time benefit from tax reform
• Adjusted EBITDA of $220.1 million, an increase of 10% from 2017
• Servicing portfolio of $85.7 billion at December 31, 2018, up 15% from December 31, 2017

Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE: WD) (the "Company") reported fourth quarter 2018 net income of $45.8 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, down 54% from the fourth quarter of 2017. Fourth quarter 2017 net income of $99.0 million, or $3.06 per diluted share, included a $58.3 million, or $1.80 per diluted share, one-time benefit to income tax expense from the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("tax reform"). Without the one-time tax benefit, net income for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $40.7 million, or $1.26 per diluted share. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2018 increased 13% from the fourth quarter of 2017 without the benefit from tax reform. Total revenues were a quarterly record of $214.9 million, an increase of 4%, generating record adjusted EBITDA of $59.6 million, up 9% from the fourth quarter of 2017. The servicing portfolio grew 6% to $85.7 billion during the fourth quarter of 2018.

"Walker & Dunlop closed out 2018 with an exceptional fourth quarter, finishing the year with top-line growth and strong profitability," stated Willy Walker, Chairman and CEO. "The consistent execution of our team for our clients, combined with the strength of our brand, contributed to record total transaction volume of $28.0 billion and record revenues of $725 million. We earned $5.04 per diluted share, up 6% over 2017 excluding the $1.80 per share one-time benefit we recorded last year from tax reform. The profitability of W&D's business model was most apparent in the 10% year-over-year growth in adjusted EBITDA to $220 million. Given the cash generation of our core business, strong balance sheet, and positive market outlook; Walker & Dunlop's Board of Directors increased our quarterly dividend payment by 20% to $0.30 per share."

Mr. Walker continued, "During 2018, we continued adding professionals across the country, including a great group of bankers from iCap Realty Advisors, three investment sales teams in strategic markets, and the fund management team at JCR Capital. The investments we made in the platform last year help move us closer to achieving Vision 2020, which centers around the goal of generating annual revenues of $1 billion by growing loan originations, multifamily property sales, servicing, and our fund management business. The incredibly talented and dedicated team at Walker & Dunlop is focused every day on exceeding our clients' expectations and driving our company towards our Vision 2020 to create the premier commercial real estate finance company in the country."

Discussion of Results:

• We continue to see strong demand for debt financing due to the strength of the commercial real estate and multifamily markets, positive macroeconomic fundamentals, a relatively low interest rate environment, and robust demand for rental properties.

• Overall volumes with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac increased due to continued strength in the multifamily financing market and the growth in the number of mortgage bankers and brokers on our platform.

• HUD loan originations dropped as the market for this product remained challenging during the fourth quarter of 2018.

• The investments we have made in our debt brokerage team over the past several years helped increase our brokered volume 31% to a quarterly record of $2.8 billion.

• Interim loan origination volume during the fourth quarter of 2018 was a quarterly record as we saw more opportunities to meet the financing needs of strong and significant sponsors despite the competitive market for transitional lending. $412.5 million was originated for our balance sheet, including our largest interim loan ever, a $150.0 million short-term loan to a large, experienced institutional multifamily investor. The remaining $177.9 million was originated for our Interim Loan JV.

• Investment sales volume declined as multifamily property sales slowed during the fourth quarter of 2018 due to rising interest rates.

Discussion of Results:

• During the fourth quarter of 2018, we added $5.2 billion of net loans to our servicing portfolio. Approximately half of the additions were Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. We also added $2.4 billion of net loans to our brokered servicing, $2.0 billion of which were added through our acquisition of iCap Realty Advisors. Over the past 12 months, we added $11.4 billion of net loans to our servicing portfolio, 66% of which are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.

• Our servicing portfolio has experienced strong growth over the past year due to our significant loan origination volumes and relatively few maturities and early payoffs. During the past 12 months, we have originated $25.3 billion of loans, $15.8 billion of which were Agency loans.

• The decrease in the weighted-average servicing fee is the result of the net addition of $7.3 billion of Freddie Mac, HUD, and brokered loans serviced compared to a net increase of only $3.9 billion of Fannie Mae loans serviced during the past 12 months. Additionally, the weighted average servicing fee on our Fannie Mae originations has declined over the past 12 months generally due to increased competition for new loans, resulting in tighter credit spreads. Fannie Mae loans have the highest servicing fees of all the loan types we service because we share in the risk of loss.

• Only $4.4 billion of Agency loans in our servicing portfolio with a weighted-average servicing fee of 23.0 basis points are scheduled to mature over the next two years.

• Net mortgage servicing rights ("MSRs") from loan originations during the quarter were $19.5 million. Over the past 12 months, net MSR additions from loan originations were $30.1 million.

• The MSRs associated with the servicing portfolio had a fair value of $858.7 million as of December 31, 2018.

• Assets under management as of December 31, 2018 consisted of $1.0 billion of loans and funds managed by our registered investment adviser and $404.7 million of loans we manage for our interim lending joint venture and for an affiliate of Blackstone Mortgage Trust.

Discussion of Results:

• The decrease in loan origination fees is primarily the result of the substantial decrease in HUD loan origination volume year over year. HUD loan originations have the highest origination fee rate of all our product types.

• The $11.4 billion net increase in the servicing portfolio over the past 12 months was the principal driver of the growth in servicing fees year over year, partially offset by the decline in the servicing portfolio's weighted-average servicing fee.

• The decrease in net warehouse interest income from loans held for sale ("LHFS") was due to a significantly lower net interest margin year over year combined with a decrease in the average balance of loans held for sale. The decrease in the net interest margin is related to a substantial year-over-year increase in the short-term rates at which we borrow with a much smaller increase in the long-term interest rates on the loans we fund through those borrowings, resulting from the flattening of the yield curve and the tightening of credit spreads year over year.

• The increase in net warehouse interest income from loans held for investment ("LHFI") was due to a larger average balance of loans outstanding as the Company's interim loan origination volume was a quarterly record in the fourth quarter of 2018.

• Escrow earnings benefitted from an increase in the average balance of escrow accounts outstanding from the fourth quarter of 2017 to the fourth quarter of 2018. Additionally, the average placement fee on our escrow accounts has increased significantly over the past year as short-term interest rates have increased.

• The decrease in investment sales broker fees is the result of the decrease in investment sales volume year over year.

• The increase in other revenues was principally due to an increase in investment management fees due to the acquisition of JCR Capital in the second quarter of 2018 and a $1.6 million gain in the fourth quarter of 2018 from the sale of the small investment we made in a technology company.

Discussion of Results:

• Personnel expenses were essentially flat year over year as increased salaries and benefits expenses caused by an increase in the average headcount in 2018 were offset by declines in variable compensation.

• Amortization and depreciation costs increased due to the growth of the average balance of MSRs outstanding year over year. Over the past 12 months, we have added $35.4 million of MSRs, net of amortization and write offs due to prepayment.

• The increase in other operating expenses stems primarily from increased office and travel costs due to an increase in our average headcount year over year and the write off of $2.1 million of unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs associated with the refinancing of our long-term debt.

Discussion of Results:

• The decrease in net income is largely attributable to a $52.7 million increase in income tax expense. The increase is largely attributed to the $58.3 million decrease to income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2017 due to tax reform. The Company revalued its net deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 2017 using the new 21% Federal rate, resulting in a $58.3 million decrease in our net deferred tax liabilities with a corresponding decrease in income tax expense. Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2018, we recognized a $2.8 million expense related to a 100% valuation allowance placed on certain deferred tax assets related to certain compensation agreements for our executives, also due to tax reform. Partially offsetting the increase to income tax expense due to the one-time benefit recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017 was a reduction to the statutory Federal income tax rate from 35% in 2017 to 21% in 2018 due to tax reform.

• The increase in adjusted EBITDA was primarily driven by the increases in servicing fees, escrow earnings and other interest income, and other revenues, partially offset by an increase in other operating expenses and decreases in origination fees and investment sales broker fees.

• The decrease in operating margin was primarily driven by the aforementioned increases in amortization and depreciation and other operating expenses.

• The decrease to return on equity is largely related to the decrease in net income, while stockholders' equity increased year over year due primarily to the net income recorded over the past 12 months, partially offset by share repurchases and dividend payments.

• Return on equity for 2017 without the benefit from tax reform was 22%. The decrease in 2018 is largely related to the small increase in net income without the benefit from tax reform, while stockholders' equity increased year over year due primarily to the net income recorded over the past 12 months, partially offset by share repurchases and dividend payments.

Discussion of Results:

• Our at risk servicing portfolio, which is comprised of loans subject to a defined risk-sharing formula, increased due to the significant level of Fannie Mae loan origination volume during the past 12 months. There were two defaulted loans in our at risk servicing portfolio at December 31, 2018 compared to one at December 31, 2017. During the first quarter of 2019, one of the two defaulted loans paid off in full with no loss to the Company.

• The on-balance sheet interim loan portfolio, which is comprised of loans for which the Company has full risk of loss, was $283.5 million at December 31, 2018 compared to $67.0 million at December 31, 2017. All of the Company's interim loans are current and performing at December 31, 2018. The interim loan joint venture holds $334.6 million of loans as of December 31, 2018, for which the Company indirectly shares in a small portion of the risk of loss.

FULL-YEAR 2018 OPERATING RESULTS 

Total transaction volume for 2018 was $28.0 billion, a small increase from 2017.

Total revenues for 2018 were $725.2 million compared to $711.9 million for 2017, a 2% increase. The change in total revenues was largely driven by (i) a 14% increase in servicing fees related to an increase in our average servicing portfolio, (ii) a 111% increase in escrow earnings and other interest income resulting from an increase in escrow balances and the escrow earnings rate, and (iii) a 36% increase in other revenues due principally to investment management fees recorded in 2018 following the acquisition of JCR in the second quarter of 2018 and a $1.6 million gain from the sale of the small investment we made in a technology company in the fourth quarter of 2018. Largely offsetting these increases were a 7% decrease in gains from mortgage banking activities and a 43% decrease in net warehouse interest income. The decrease in gains from mortgage banking activities was primarily the result of an 8% decrease in Agency loan origination volume, which led to an 11% reduction in gains attributable to MSRs and a 4% reduction in origination fees. The decrease in net warehouse interest income was largely the result of a 19% lower average balance of loans held for sale and a 51% lower net interest spread on loans held for sale due to a flattening of the yield curve in 2018.

Total expenses for 2018 and 2017 were $512.4 million and $478.2 million, respectively. The 7% increase in total expenses was due primarily to increases in personnel expense, amortization and depreciation costs, and other operating expenses. Personnel expenses as a percentage of total revenues remained flat year over year at 41%. Personnel expense increased 3% mostly due to an increase in salaries and benefits resulting from a rise in average headcount year over year. Amortization and depreciation costs increased 8% due to an increase in the average balance of MSRs outstanding year over year. Other operating expenses increased 29% largely due to increases in (i) office and travel and entertainment expenses due to the increase in average headcount year over year, (ii) legal costs related to acquisitions, and (iii) the write off of $2.1 million of unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs associated with the refinancing of our long-term debt recorded in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Operating margin for 2018 and 2017 was 29% and 33%, respectively. The decrease in operating margin was due to a 7% increase in total expenses and a 2% increase in total revenues as discussed above.

Net income for 2018 was $161.4 million compared to net income of $211.1 million for 2017, a 24% decrease. The decrease in net income is primarily due to a 138% increase in income tax expense due primarily to (i) a $58.3 million decrease in the benefit from the enactment of tax reform in 2017, (ii) a $2.7 million decrease in excess tax benefits from stock compensation recognized year over year, and (iii) $2.8 million expense recorded in 2018 as a result of tax reform related to a 100% valuation allowance placed on certain deferred tax assets related to certain compensation agreements for our executives, partially offset by a decrease in the Federal statutory income tax rate from 35% for 2017 to 21% for 2018 and a 9% decrease in income from operations. Net income for 2018 increased 6% from net income for 2017 without the benefit from tax reform.

For 2018 and 2017, adjusted EBITDA was $220.1 million and $201.0 million, respectively. The 10% increase was driven by growth in servicing fees, escrow earnings and other interest income, and other revenues, partially offset by an increase in other operating expenses and decreases in net warehouse interest income and origination fees.

For 2018, return on equity was 19% compared to 31% for 2017. The decrease is largely related to the decrease in net income without the benefit from tax reform, while stockholders' equity increased $92.7 million over the past year due primarily to the net income recorded over the past 12 months, partially offset by share repurchases and dividend payments.

Return on equity for 2017 without the benefit from tax reform was 23%. The decrease in 2018 is largely related to the small increase in net income without the benefit from tax reform, while stockholders' equity increased over the past year due primarily to the net income recorded over the past 12 months, partially offset by share repurchases and dividend payments.

DIVIDENDS AND SHARE REPURCHASES

On February 5, 2019, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.30 per share for the first quarter 2019. The dividend will be paid March 7, 2019 to all holders of record of our restricted and unrestricted common stock and restricted stock units as of February 26, 2019.

During the fourth quarter 2018, we repurchased 930 thousand shares of our common stock at a weighted-average price of $44.67 per share under our 2018 share repurchase program for a total cost of $41.5 million. Of the $50.0 million of repurchase capacity approved by our Board of Directors under the 2018 share repurchase program, we had $4.4 million remaining as of December 31, 2018.

During 2018, we repurchased 1.2 million shares of our common stock at a weighted-average price of $45.64 per share under our 2018 and 2017 share repurchase programs for a total cost of $57.0 million.

On February 5, 2019, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $50.0 million of the Company's outstanding common stock over the coming one-year period.

Purchases made pursuant to the program will be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time as permitted by federal securities laws and other legal requirements. The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases will be determined by the Company in its discretion and will be subject to economic and market conditions, stock price, applicable legal requirements and other factors. The repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

¹ Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure the Company presents to help investors better understand our operating performance.  For a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income, refer to the sections of this press release below titled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Adjusted Financial Metric Reconciliation to GAAP." 
² Excludes the income and loan origination volume from interim loans.
³The fair value of the expected net cash flows associated with the servicing of the loan, net of any guaranty obligations retained, as a percentage of Agency volume.
⁴ At risk servicing portfolio is defined as the balance of Fannie Mae DUS loans subject to the risk-sharing formula described below, as well as a small number of Freddie Mac loans on which we share in the risk of loss. 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% 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% risk-sharing were to default, we 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, substantially all of the risk-sharing obligations that we have settled have been from full risk-sharing loans. 
⁵ Represents the maximum loss we would incur under our risk-sharing obligations if all of the loans we service, for which we retain some risk of loss, were to default and all of the collateral underlying these loans was determined to be without value at the time of settlement. The maximum exposure is not representative of the actual loss we would incur.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its quarterly results on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. Analysts and investors interested in participating are invited to call (877) 876-9174 from within the United States or (785) 424-1672 from outside the United States and are asked to reference the Conference ID: WDQ418. 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. 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

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate services and finance companies in the United States providing financing and investment sales to owners of multifamily and commercial properties. Walker & Dunlop, which is included in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, was ranked as one of FORTUNE Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies in 2014, 2017, and 2018, and has over 700 professionals in 29 offices across the nation with an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our financial statements presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the Company uses adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure. The presentation of adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. When analyzing our operating performance, readers should use adjusted EBITDA in addition to, and not as an alternative for, net income. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before income taxes, interest expense on our term loan facility, and amortization and depreciation, adjusted for provision (benefit) for credit losses net of write-offs, stock-based incentive compensation charges, and non-cash revenues such as gains attributable to MSRs. Additionally, adjusted EBITDA further excludes other significant activities that are not part of our ongoing operations. Because not all companies use identical calculations, our presentation of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Furthermore, adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a measure of free cash flow for our management's discretionary use, as it does not reflect certain cash requirements such as tax and debt service payments. The amounts shown for adjusted EBITDA may also differ from the amounts calculated under similarly titled definitions in our debt instruments, which are further adjusted to reflect certain other cash and non-cash charges that are used to determine compliance with financial covenants.

We use adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the operating performance of our business, for comparison with forecasts and strategic plans and for benchmarking performance externally against competitors. We believe that this non-GAAP measure, when read in conjunction with the Company's GAAP financials, provides useful information to investors by offering:

• the ability to make more meaningful period-to-period comparisons of the Company's on-going operating results;
• the ability to better identify trends in the Company's underlying business and perform related trend analyses; and
• a better understanding of how management plans and measures the Company's underlying business.

We believe that adjusted EBITDA has limitations in that it does not reflect all of the amounts associated with the Company's results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP and that adjusted EBITDA should only be used to evaluate the Company's results of operations in conjunction with net income. For more information on adjusted EBITDA, refer to the section of this press release below titled "Adjusted Financial Metric Reconciliation to GAAP."

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. Factors that could cause our results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: (1) general economic conditions and multifamily and commercial real estate market conditions, (2) regulatory and/or legislative changes to Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or HUD, (3) our ability to retain and attract loan originators and other professionals, and (4) changes in federal government fiscal and monetary policies, including any constraints or cuts in federal funds allocated to HUD for loan originations.

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 titled ''Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updates or supplements in our most-recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our other filings with the SEC. Such filings are available publicly on our Investor Relations web page at www.walkerdunlop.com. 

SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc.

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