WisdomTree Announces Fourth Quarter 2024 Results

Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.18 ($0.17, as Adjusted)

700 bps of Annual Operating Margin Expansion vs. the Prior Year

WisdomTree, Inc. (NYSE:WT), a global financial innovator, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter of 2024.

$27.3 million of net income ($25.3⁽¹⁾ million of net income, as adjusted). See "Non-GAAP Financial Measurements" for additional information.

$109.8 billion of ending AUM, a decrease of 2.5% from the prior quarter arising from market depreciation and net outflows.

($0.3) billion of net outflows, primarily driven by outflows from our emerging markets, commodity and fixed income products, partly offset by inflows into our U.S. equity and cryptocurrency products.

0.36% average advisory fee, a 1 basis point decrease from the prior quarter.

0.39% adjusted revenue yield⁽²⁾, unchanged from the prior quarter.

$110.7 million of operating revenues, a decrease of 2.2% from the prior quarter due to lower other revenues. The prior quarter included $3.7 million of other revenues related to legal and other expenses expected to be covered by insurance that were incurred in connection with a settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") regarding certain statements about the ESG screening process for three ETFs advised by WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. (the "SEC ESG Settlement").

79.3% gross margin⁽¹⁾, a 1.5 point decrease from the prior quarter due to higher non-recurring costs associated with the migration of custody, fund accounting, fund administration, ETF services and securities lending to Bank of New York Mellon ("BNY") during the quarter (the "BNY Custody Migration").

31.7% operating income margin, a 4.3 point decrease (5.6 point decrease, as adjusted⁽¹⁾) compared to our operating margin of 36.0% (37.3%, as adjusted⁽¹⁾) in the prior quarter primarily due to higher expenses, including those associated with the BNY Custody Migration and seasonally higher discretionary spending. We also recognized approximately $1.0 million of costs remaining under one of our WisdomTree Prime-related contracts as we transition away from this service provider while continuing to expand our internal capabilities to further enhance the platform.

$0.03 quarterly dividend declared, payable on February 26, 2025 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 12, 2025.

Update from Jonathan Steinberg, WisdomTree CEO

Update from Jarrett Lilien, WisdomTree COO and President

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

RECENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS

Operating Revenues

• Operating revenues decreased 2.2% from the third quarter of 2024 due to lower other revenues as the prior quarter included $3.7 million of other revenues related to legal and other expenses incurred in connection with the SEC ESG Settlement that are expected to be covered by insurance. Operating revenues increased 21.9% from the fourth quarter of 2023 due to higher average AUM and higher other revenues attributable to our European listed exchange-traded products ("ETPs").
• Our average advisory fee was 0.36%, 0.37% and 0.36% during the fourth quarter of 2024, the third quarter of 2024 and the fourth quarter of 2023, respectively.

Operating Expenses

• Operating expenses increased 4.5% from the third quarter of 2024 primarily due to seasonally higher discretionary spending, including marketing and sales-related expenses. In addition, higher fund management expenses arose from non-recurring costs related to the BNY Custody Migration and we recognized approximately $1.0 million of costs remaining under one of our WisdomTree Prime-related contracts as we transition away from this service provider while continuing to expand our internal capabilities to further enhance the platform. These increases were partly offset by lower professional fees incurred in the fourth quarter related to the SEC ESG Settlement.
• Operating expenses increased 16.7% from the fourth quarter of 2023 primarily due to higher fund management and administration costs, compensation, professional fees and marketing expenses.

Other Income/(Expenses)

• Interest expense increased 11.7% and 49.4% from the third quarter of 2024 and fourth quarter of 2023, respectively, due to a higher level of debt outstanding, partly offset by a lower average interest rate. The increase from the fourth quarter of 2023 also is due to the recognition of a full quarter of imputed interest on our obligation payable to Gold Bullion Holdings (Jersey) Limited ("GBH"), a subsidiary of the World Gold Council, in connection with our repurchase in November 2023 of our Series C Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock.
• Interest income increased 19.6% and 75.3% from the third quarter of 2024 and the fourth quarter of 2023, respectively, due to a higher level of interest-earning assets.
• Other gains and losses, net was a gain of $2.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. This included net gains of $2.3 million on our financial instruments owned and net losses of $0.5 million on our investments. Gains and losses also generally arise from the sale of gold and crypto earned from management fees paid by our physically-backed gold and crypto ETPs, foreign exchange fluctuations and other miscellaneous items.

Income Taxes

• Our effective income tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 20.1%, resulting in income tax expense of $6.8 million. The effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 21.0% primarily due to a favorable tax adjustment to the non-deductible loss on extinguishment of convertible notes and a lower tax rate on foreign earnings.
• Our adjusted effective income tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 23.5%⁽¹⁾.

ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS

• Operating revenues increased 22.5% as compared to 2023 due to higher average AUM and higher other revenues attributable to our European listed ETPs. In addition, operating revenues include $4.3 million of other revenues related to legal and other related expenses incurred in connection with the SEC ESG Settlement that are expected to be covered by insurance.
• Operating expenses increased 11.1% as compared to 2023 primarily due to higher incentive and stock-based compensation expense and increased headcount, fund management and administration costs, marketing expenses, sales and business development expenses, third-party distribution fees, as well as higher depreciation and amortization. Operating expenses during the year ended December 31, 2024 also include $4.3 million of legal and other related expenses expected to be covered by insurance that were incurred in connection with the SEC ESG Settlement. These increases were partly offset by lower contractual gold payments.
• Significant items reported in other income/(expense) in 2024 include: a loss on extinguishment of convertible notes of $30.6 million arising from the repurchase of $104.2 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.75% convertible senior notes due 2028; a civil money penalty of $4.0 million in connection with the SEC ESG Settlement; an increase in interest expense of 24.1% due to imputed interest on our obligation payable to GBH and higher level of debt outstanding, partly offset by a lower average interest rate; an increase in interest income of 65.4% due to an increase in our interest-earning assets; net gains on our financial instruments owned of $4.9 million; and losses on our investments of $1.1 million. Gains and losses also generally arise from the sale of gold earned on management fees paid by our physically-backed gold ETPs, foreign exchange fluctuations and other miscellaneous items.
• Our effective income tax rate for 2024 was 30.1%, resulting in an income tax expense of $28.7 million. Our tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 21.0% primarily due to a non-deductible loss on extinguishment of convertible notes, a non-deductible civil money penalty of $4.0 million in connection with the SEC ESG Settlement and non-deductible executive compensation. These items were partly offset by a lower tax rate on foreign earnings.

CONFERENCE CALL DIAL-IN AND WEBCAST DETAILS

WisdomTree will discuss its results and operational highlights during a live webcast on Friday, January 31, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. ET, which can be accessed using the following link: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=VyP1taaA.

Participants also can dial in using the following numbers: (877) 407-9210 or (201) 689-8049. Click here to access the participant international toll-free access numbers. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to log in or dial into the conference call 10 minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. All earnings materials and the webcast can be accessed through WisdomTree's investor relations website at https://ir.wisdomtree.com. A replay of the webcast will also be available shortly after the call.

About WisdomTree

WisdomTree is a global financial innovator, offering a well-diversified suite of exchange-traded products (ETPs), models, solutions and products leveraging blockchain technology. We empower investors and consumers to shape their future and support financial professionals to better serve their clients and grow their businesses. WisdomTree is leveraging the latest financial infrastructure to create products that provide access, transparency and an enhanced user experience. Building on our heritage of innovation, we are also developing and have launched next-generation digital products, services and structures, including digital or blockchain-enabled mutual funds and tokenized assets, as well as our blockchain-native digital wallet, WisdomTree Prime^® and institutional platform, WisdomTree Connect™.*

* The WisdomTree Prime digital wallet and digital asset services and WisdomTree Connect institutional platform are made available through WisdomTree Digital Movement, Inc., a federally registered money services business, state-licensed money transmitter and financial technology company (NMLS ID: 2372500) or WisdomTree Digital Trust Company, LLC, in select U.S. jurisdictions and may be limited where prohibited by law. WisdomTree Digital Trust Company, LLC is chartered as a limited purpose trust company by the New York State Department of Financial Services to engage in virtual currency business. Visit https://www.wisdomtreeprime.com, the WisdomTree Prime mobile app or https://wisdomtreeconnect.com for more information.

WisdomTree currently has approximately $113.5 billion in assets under management globally.

For more information about WisdomTree, WisdomTree Connect and WisdomTree Prime, visit: https://www.wisdomtree.com.

Please visit us on X at @WisdomTreeNews.

WisdomTree^® is the marketing name for WisdomTree, Inc. and its subsidiaries worldwide.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE VIA WISDOMTREE PRIME:

NOT FDIC INSURED | NO BANK GUARANTEE | NOT A BANK DEPOSIT | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT SIPC PROTECTED | NOT INSURED BY ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY

The products and services available through the WisdomTree Prime app and WisdomTree Connect are not endorsed, indemnified or guaranteed by any regulatory agency.

Note: Previously issued statistics may be restated due to fund closures and trade adjustments.

Source: WisdomTree

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASUREMENTS

In an effort to provide additional information regarding our results as determined by GAAP, we also disclose certain non-GAAP information which we believe provides useful and meaningful information. Our management reviews these non-GAAP financial measurements when evaluating our financial performance and results of operations; therefore, we believe it is useful to provide information with respect to these non-GAAP measurements so as to share this perspective of management. Non-GAAP measurements do not have any standardized meaning, do not replace nor are they superior to GAAP financial measurements and are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. These non-GAAP financial measurements should be considered in the context with our GAAP results. The non-GAAP financial measurements contained in this press release include:

Adjusted Revenues, Operating Income, Operating Expenses, Income Before Income Taxes, Income Tax Expense, Net Income and Diluted Earnings per Share

We disclose adjusted revenues, operating income, operating expenses, income before income taxes, income tax expense, net income and diluted earnings per share as non-GAAP financial measurements in order to report our results exclusive of items that are non-recurring or not core to our operating business. We believe presenting these non-GAAP financial measurements provides investors with a consistent way to analyze our performance. These non-GAAP financial measurements exclude the following:

Legal and other related expenses expected to be covered by insurance: We have incurred $4.3 million of legal and other related expenses in connection with the SEC ESG Settlement that are expected to be covered by insurance. GAAP requires that such covered expenses be reported gross in the income statement such that revenues are recorded to offset expenses incurred. We offset the revenues and related expenses when calculating our non-GAAP financial measurements as the gross presentation serves to overstate our revenues and expenses recognized in the ordinary course of business.

Gains or losses on financial instruments owned: We account for our financial instruments owned as trading securities, which requires these instruments to be measured at fair value with gains and losses reported in net income. We exclude these items when calculating our non-GAAP financial measurements as the gains and losses introduce volatility in earnings and are not core to our operating business.

Tax windfalls and shortfalls upon vesting of stock-based compensation awards: GAAP requires the recognition of tax windfalls and shortfalls within income tax expense. These items arise upon the vesting of stock-based compensation awards and the magnitude is directly correlated to the number of awards vesting/exercised as well as the difference between the price of our stock on the date the award was granted and the date the award vested or was exercised. We exclude these items when calculating our non-GAAP financial measurements as they introduce volatility in earnings and are not core to our operating business.

Imputed interest on our payable to the Gold Bullion Holdings (Jersey) Limited ("GBH"): During the fourth quarter of 2023, we repurchased our Series C Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock, which was convertible into approximately 13.1 million shares of WisdomTree common stock, from GBH, a subsidiary of the World Gold Council, for aggregate cash consideration of approximately $84.4 million. Under the terms of the transaction, we paid GBH $40.0 million on the closing date, with the remainder of the purchase price payable in equal annual installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the closing date, with no requirement to pay interest. Under US GAAP, the obligation is recorded at its present value utilizing a market rate of interest on the closing date of 7.0% and the corresponding discount is amortized as interest expense pursuant to the effective interest method of accounting over the life of the obligation. We exclude this item when calculating our non-GAAP financial measurements as recognition of interest expense is non-cash and contrary to the stated terms of our obligation.

Other items: Losses on extinguishment of convertible notes, a civil money penalty in connection with the SEC ESG Settlement, gains and losses recognized on our investments, changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowance, expenses incurred in response to an activist campaign and impairments are excluded when calculating our non-GAAP financial measurements.

Adjusted Effective Income Tax Rate

We disclose our adjusted effective income tax rate as a non-GAAP financial measurement in order to report our effective income tax rate exclusive of items that are non-recurring or not core to our operating business. We believe reporting our adjusted effective income tax rate provides investors with a consistent way to analyze our income taxes. Our adjusted effective income tax rate is calculated by dividing adjusted income tax expense by adjusted income before income taxes. See above for information regarding the items that are excluded.

Gross Margin and Gross Margin Percentage

We disclose our gross margin and gross margin percentage as non-GAAP financial measurements because we believe they provide investors with a consistent way to analyze the amount we retain after paying third-party service providers to operate our ETPs. These measures also assist us in analyzing the profitability of our products. We define gross margin as total adjusted operating revenues less fund management and administration expenses. Gross margin percentage is calculated as gross margin divided by total adjusted operating revenues.