Evercore Reports First Quarter 2024 Results; Increases Quarterly Dividend to $0.80 Per Share

Evercore Inc. (NYSE:EVR):

Evercore Inc. (NYSE:EVR) today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

LEADERSHIP COMMENTARY

John S. Weinberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, "We begin 2024 on a strong note, having advised on some of the largest announced transactions year-to-date and we expect our activities to continue to build through the year. We are experiencing momentum in our businesses, and believe we are well-positioned to serve our clients as the environment continues to improve."

Roger C. Altman, Founder and Senior Chairman, "Evercore ended the first quarter ranked #4, among all firms, in the global league tables. That is one of the best starts we have ever had. And this market position reflects the steady expansion of the Firm and further broadening of our platform."

Evercore's quarterly results may fluctuate significantly due to the timing and amount of transaction fees earned, as well as other factors. Accordingly, financial results in any particular quarter may not be representative of future results over a longer period of time.

Business Segments:

Evercore's business results are categorized into two segments: Investment Banking & Equities and Investment Management. Investment Banking & Equities includes providing advice to clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and other strategic corporate transactions, as well as services related to securities underwriting, private placement services and commissions for agency-based equity trading services and equity research. Investment Management includes Wealth Management and interests in private equity funds which are not managed by the Company, as well as advising third-party investors through affiliates. See pages A-2 to A-7 for further information and reconciliations of these segment results to our U.S. GAAP consolidated results.

Non-GAAP Measures:

Throughout this release certain information is presented on an adjusted basis, which is a non-GAAP measure. Adjusted results begin with information prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"), and then those results are adjusted to exclude certain items and reflect the conversion of certain Evercore LP Units into Class A shares. Evercore believes that the disclosed adjusted measures and any adjustments thereto, when presented in conjunction with comparable U.S. GAAP measures, are useful to investors to compare Evercore's results across several periods and facilitate an understanding of Evercore's operating results. Evercore uses these measures to evaluate its operating performance, as well as the performance of individual employees. These measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Evercore's Adjusted Diluted Shares Outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were higher than U.S. GAAP as a result of the inclusion of certain Evercore LP Units and Unvested Restricted Stock Units.

Further details of these adjustments, as well as an explanation of similar amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are included in pages A-2 to A-7.

Selected Financial Data – U.S. GAAP Results

The following is a discussion of Evercore's consolidated results on a U.S. GAAP basis. See pages A-4 to A-6 for our business segment results.

Net Revenues

Advisory Fees – First quarter Advisory Fees decreased $32.7 million, or 7%, year-over-year, reflecting a decline in revenue earned from large transactions during the first quarter of 2024.

Underwriting Fees – First quarter Underwriting Fees increased $32.7 million, or 143%, year-over-year, reflecting an increase in the number of transactions we participated in during the first quarter of 2024.

Commissions and Related Revenue – First quarter Commissions and Related Revenue increased $0.2 million year-over-year, primarily reflecting higher subscription fees, partially offset by lower trading commissions.

Asset Management and Administration Fees – First quarter Asset Management and Administration Fees increased $2.7 million, or 17%, year-over-year, driven by an increase in fees from Wealth Management clients, as associated AUM increased 18%, primarily from market appreciation.

Other Revenue – First quarter Other Revenue, net, increased $5.8 million, or 26%, year-over-year, primarily reflecting higher performance of our investment funds portfolio due to overall market appreciation, as well as higher returns on our fixed income investment portfolios, which primarily consist of U.S. treasury bills. The investment funds portfolio is used as an economic hedge against our deferred cash compensation program.

Expenses

Employee Compensation and Benefits – First quarter Employee Compensation and Benefits increased $20.8 million, or 6%, year-over-year, reflecting a compensation ratio of 66.8% for the first quarter of 2024 versus 64.1% for the prior year period. The increase in Employee Compensation and Benefits compared to the prior year period principally reflects higher base salaries, higher compensation expense related to senior new hires and higher amortization of prior period deferred compensation awards. See "Deferred Compensation" for more information.

Non-Compensation Costs – First quarter Non-Compensation Costs increased $13.5 million, or 14%, year-over-year, primarily driven by increases in professional fees and travel and related expenses, as well as communications and information services, principally reflecting higher license fees and research services in the first quarter of 2024. This was partially offset by a decrease in bad debt expense. The first quarter Non-Compensation ratio of 18.8% increased from 16.7% for the prior year period.

Special Charges, Including Business Realignment Costs – First quarter 2023 Special Charges, Including Business Realignment Costs, relate to the write-off of non-recoverable assets in connection with the wind-down of the Company's operations in Mexico.

Effective Tax Rate

The first quarter effective tax rate was (7.7%) versus 14.9% for the prior year period. The effective tax rate is principally impacted by the deduction associated with the appreciation in the Firm's share price upon vesting of employee share-based awards above the original grant price. The first quarter provision for income taxes for 2024 reflects an additional tax benefit of $29.5 million versus $13.7 million for the prior year period, due to the net impact associated with the appreciation in our share price upon vesting of employee share-based awards above the original grant price.

Selected Financial Data – Adjusted Results

The following is a discussion of Evercore's consolidated results on an Adjusted basis. See pages 3 and A-2 to A-7 for further information and reconciliations of these metrics to our U.S. GAAP results. See pages A-4 to A-6 for our business segment results.

Adjusted Net Revenues

See page 4 for additional business metrics.

Advisory Fees – First quarter adjusted Advisory Fees decreased $32.1 million, or 7%, year-over-year, reflecting a decline in revenue earned from large transactions during the first quarter of 2024.

Underwriting Fees – First quarter Underwriting Fees increased $32.7 million, or 143%, year-over-year, reflecting an increase in the number of transactions we participated in during the first quarter of 2024.

Commissions and Related Revenue – First quarter Commissions and Related Revenue increased $0.2 million year-over-year, primarily reflecting higher subscription fees, partially offset by lower trading commissions.

Asset Management and Administration Fees – First quarter adjusted Asset Management and Administration Fees increased $3.0 million, or 17%, year-over-year, primarily driven by an increase in fees from Wealth Management clients, as associated AUM increased 18%, primarily from market appreciation. The increase was also driven by a 17% increase in equity in earnings of affiliates.

Other Revenue – First quarter adjusted Other Revenue, net, increased $5.8 million, or 22%, year-over-year, primarily reflecting higher performance of our investment funds portfolio due to overall market appreciation, as well as higher returns on our fixed income investment portfolios, which primarily consist of U.S. treasury bills. The investment funds portfolio is used as an economic hedge against our deferred cash compensation program.

Adjusted Expenses

Employee Compensation and Benefits – First quarter adjusted Employee Compensation and Benefits increased $20.8 million, or 6%, year-over-year, reflecting an adjusted compensation ratio of 66.0% for the first quarter of 2024 versus 63.5% for the prior year period. The increase in adjusted Employee Compensation and Benefits compared to the prior year period principally reflects higher base salaries, higher compensation expense related to senior new hires and higher amortization of prior period deferred compensation awards. See "Deferred Compensation" for more information.

Non-Compensation Costs – First quarter adjusted Non-Compensation Costs increased $13.5 million, or 14%, year-over-year, primarily driven by increases in professional fees and travel and related expenses, as well as communications and information services, principally reflecting higher license fees and research services in the first quarter of 2024. This was partially offset by a decrease in bad debt expense. The first quarter adjusted Non-Compensation ratio of 18.6% increased from 16.5% for the prior year period.

Adjusted Effective Tax Rate

The first quarter adjusted effective tax rate was (9.3%) versus 15.2% for the prior year period. The adjusted effective tax rate is principally impacted by the deduction associated with the appreciation in the Firm's share price upon vesting of employee share-based awards above the original grant price. The first quarter adjusted provision for income taxes for 2024 reflects an additional tax benefit of $31.7 million versus $14.6 million for the prior year period, due to the net impact associated with the appreciation in our share price upon vesting of employee share-based awards above the original grant price.

Liquidity

The Company continues to maintain a strong balance sheet. As of March 31, 2024, cash and cash equivalents were $569.8 million, investment securities and certificates of deposit were $865.3 million and current assets exceeded current liabilities by $1.5 billion. Amounts due related to the Notes Payable were $373.8 million at March 31, 2024.

Headcount

As of March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company employed approximately 2,225 and 2,135 people, respectively, worldwide.

As of March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company employed 183⁽¹⁾ and 178⁽²⁾ total Senior Managing Directors, respectively, in its Investment Banking & Equities segment, of which 142⁽¹⁾ and 138⁽²⁾, respectively, were Investment Banking Senior Managing Directors.

Deferred Compensation

During the first quarter of 2024, the Company granted to certain employees 1.6 million unvested restricted stock units ("RSUs") (which were primarily granted in conjunction with the 2023 bonus awards) with a grant date fair value of $300.5 million.

In addition, during the first quarter of 2024, the Company granted $143.2 million of deferred cash awards to certain employees, related to our deferred cash compensation program, principally pursuant to 2023 bonus awards.

The Company recognized compensation expense related to RSUs and our deferred cash compensation program of $118.0 million and $106.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had 5.3 million unvested RSUs with an aggregate grant date fair value of $764.2 million. RSUs are expensed over the service period of the award, subject to retirement eligibility, and generally vest over four years.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company expects to pay an aggregate of $375.4 million related to our deferred cash compensation program at various dates through 2028, subject to certain vesting events. Amounts due pursuant to this program are expensed over the service period of the award, subject to retirement eligibility, and are reflected in Accrued Compensation and Benefits, a component of current liabilities.

Capital Return Transactions

On April 23, 2024, the Board of Directors of Evercore declared a quarterly dividend of $0.80 per share to be paid on June 14, 2024 to common stockholders of record on May 31, 2024.

During the first quarter, the Company repurchased 0.9 million shares from employees for the net settlement of stock-based compensation awards at an average price per share of $176.35, and 0.6 million shares at an average price per share of $178.21 in open market transactions pursuant to the Company's share repurchase program. The aggregate 1.5 million shares were acquired at an average price per share of $177.04.

Conference Call

Evercore will host a related conference call beginning at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, accessible via telephone and webcast. Investors and analysts may participate in the live conference call by dialing (800) 225-9448 (toll-free domestic) or (203) 518-9708 (international); passcode: EVRQ124. Please register at least 10 minutes before the conference call begins.

A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of Evercore's website at www.evercore.com. The webcast will be archived on Evercore's website for 30 days.

About Evercore

Evercore (NYSE:EVR) is a premier global independent investment banking advisory firm. We are dedicated to helping our clients achieve superior results through trusted independent and innovative advice on matters of strategic significance to boards of directors, management teams and shareholders, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic shareholder advisory, restructurings, and capital structure. Evercore also assists clients in raising public and private capital and delivers equity research and equity sales and agency trading execution, in addition to providing wealth and investment management services to high net worth and institutional investors. Founded in 1995, the Firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices and affiliate offices in major financial centers in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. For more information, please visit www.evercore.com.

Basis of Alternative Financial Statement Presentation

Our Adjusted results are a non-GAAP measure. As discussed further under "Non-GAAP Measures", Evercore believes that the disclosed Adjusted measures and any adjustments thereto, when presented in conjunction with comparable U.S. GAAP measures, are useful to investors to compare Evercore's results across several periods and better reflects how management views its operating results. These measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of our U.S. GAAP results to Adjusted results is presented in the tables included in the following pages.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, Evercore's operations and financial performance. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "backlog," "believes," "expects," "potential," "probable," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements and are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in Evercore's business. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. Evercore believes these factors include, but are not limited to, those described under "Risk Factors" discussed in Evercore's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and Registration Statements. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release. In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Evercore to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can Evercore assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and Evercore does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Evercore undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Adjusted Results

Throughout the discussion of Evercore's business and elsewhere in this release, information is presented on an Adjusted basis, which is a non-generally accepted accounting principles ("non-GAAP") measure. Adjusted results begin with information prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"), adjusted to exclude certain items and reflect the conversion of certain Evercore LP Units, as well as Unvested Restricted Stock Units, into Class A shares. Evercore believes that the disclosed Adjusted measures and any adjustments thereto, when presented in conjunction with comparable U.S. GAAP measures, are useful to investors to compare Evercore's results across several periods and facilitate an understanding of Evercore's operating results. The Company uses these measures to evaluate its operating performance, as well as the performance of individual employees. These measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These Adjusted amounts are allocated to the Company's two business segments: Investment Banking & Equities and Investment Management. The differences between the Adjusted and U.S. GAAP results are as follows:

1. Assumed Exchange of Evercore LP Units into Class A Shares. The Adjusted results assume substantially all Evercore LP Units have been exchanged for Class A shares. Accordingly, the noncontrolling interest related to these units is converted to a controlling interest. The Company's management believes that it is useful to provide the per-share effect associated with the assumed conversion of substantially all of these previously granted equity interests and IPO related restricted stock units, and thus the Adjusted results reflect their exchange into Class A shares.
2. Special Charges, Including Business Realignment Costs. Expenses during 2023 that are excluded from the Adjusted presentation relate to the write-off of non-recoverable assets in connection with the wind-down of the Company's operations in Mexico.
3. Income Taxes. Evercore is organized as a series of Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, C-Corporations and a Public Corporation in the U.S. as the ultimate parent. Certain of the subsidiaries, particularly Evercore LP, have noncontrolling interests held by management or former members of management. As a result, not all of the Company's income is subject to corporate level taxes and certain other state and local taxes are levied. The assumption in the Adjusted earnings presentation is that substantially all of the noncontrolling interest is eliminated through the exchange of Evercore LP units into Class A common stock of the ultimate parent. As a result, the Adjusted earnings presentation assumes that the allocation of earnings to Evercore LP's noncontrolling interest holders is substantially eliminated and is therefore subject to statutory tax rates of a C-Corporation under a conventional tax structure in the U.S. and that certain state and local taxes are reduced accordingly.
4. Presentation of Interest Expense. The Adjusted results present Adjusted Investment Banking & Equities Operating Income before interest expense on debt, which is included in interest expense on a U.S. GAAP basis.
5. Presentation of Income from Equity Method Investments. The Adjusted results present Income from Equity Method Investments within Revenue as the Company's Management believes it is a useful presentation.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Adjusted Financial Data

For further information on these adjustments, see page A-2.

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