Walker & Dunlop Announces Record 2015 Results and Share Buyback

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

FOURTH QUARTER 2015 HIGHLIGHTS

• Net income of $20.4 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, up 26% from Q4 '14
• Total transaction volume of $4.7 billion, up 10% from Q4 '14
• Total revenues of $121.4 million, up 8% from Q4 '14
• Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $29.0 million, up 24% from Q4 '14
• Servicing portfolio of $50.2 billion at December 31, 2015, up 14% from Q4'14

FULL YEAR 2015 HIGHLIGHTS

• Net income of $82.1 million or $2.65 per diluted share, up 60% over 2014
• Total transaction volume of $17.8 billion, up 56% over 2014
• Total revenues of $468.2 million, up 30% over 2014
• Adjusted EBITDA of $124.3 million, up 47% over 2014

Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE: WD) (the "Company") reported today fourth quarter and full year 2015 results and that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $75 million in stock over the next year. Net income increased 26% from the fourth quarter 2014 to $20.4 million or $0.67 per diluted share. Total revenues were $121.4 million for the fourth quarter 2015, an 8% increase over the fourth quarter 2014.  Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter 2015 was $29.0 million compared to $23.4 million for the fourth quarter 2014, a 24% increase. Net income for 2015 increased 60% to $82.1 million, or $2.65 per diluted share, from $51.4 million, or $1.58 per diluted share for 2014.  Total revenues for 2015 were $468.2 million, a 30% increase from 2014.  Adjusted EBITDA for 2015 was $124.3 million compared to $84.8 million in 2014, a 47% increase.

"Walker & Dunlop went public in 2010 to raise capital and build a scaled, national real estate finance platform in anticipation of the 2015 through 2017 refinancing wave.  Our record 2015 results reflect the tremendous success we have achieved in acquiring companies, hiring exceptional professionals, exceeding our clients' expectations, and establishing one of the strongest brands in the industry," commented Willy Walker, Walker & Dunlop's Chairman and CEO. "The current turmoil in the equity and debt capital markets presents opportunities for our company. Our core GSE lending business, which represented 70% of our 2015 loan originations, will remain the go-to source of financing for owners of multifamily real estate. Our brokerage business, where we have grown originations at a 49% compound annual growth rate over the past four years, will continue to expand as hundreds of billions of dollars of commercial mortgages come up for refinancing. And our loan servicing portfolio, which grew to $50 billion at the end of 2015 and is comprised of predominantly low-leverage, multifamily loans, will continue to kick-off increasing volumes of high-margin revenues." Walker commented further, "We believe continued investment in commercial real estate, low interest rates, and a swell of maturing loans will propel our business forward in the coming years. There is a great deal of excitement within our company, and I am deeply grateful to the entire W&D team for all our success in 2015."  

FOURTH QUARTER 2015 OPERATING RESULTS

TOTAL REVENUES were $121.4 million for the fourth quarter 2015 compared to $112.6 million for the fourth quarter 2014, an 8% increase. The increase was driven by a 13% increase in mortgage servicing rights, which was a result of increased fixed rate lending with Fannie Mae during the fourth quarter 2015, and the 17% increase in servicing fees, which totaled $30.5 million for the fourth quarter 2015. Other revenues decreased 11% to $6.4 million due primarily to a $1.7 million decrease in prepayment fee income.

GAINS FROM MORTGAGE BANKING ACTIVITIES for the fourth quarter 2015 were $77.0 million compared to $71.9 million for the fourth quarter 2014, a 7% increase.   The increase was primarily driven by the growth in loan originations coupled with an increase in the weighted average servicing fee on Fannie Mae loans originated during the quarter. LOAN ORIGINATION FEES were $40.9 million for the fourth quarter 2015 compared to $39.9 million for the fourth quarter 2014, a 3% increase. GAINS ATTRIBUTABLE TO MORTGAGE SERVICING RIGHTS ("MSRs") were $36.1 million for the fourth quarter 2015 compared to $32.0 million for the fourth quarter 2014, a 13% increase.

SERVICING FEES were $30.5 million for the fourth quarter 2015 compared to $26.1 million for the fourth quarter 2014, a 17% increase, driven by the growth in the servicing portfolio.

NET WAREHOUSE INTEREST INCOME, which includes net interest earned on loans held for sale and loans held for investment (the Company's on balance sheet interim loan portfolio), was $6.1 million for the fourth quarter 2015, a 3% decrease from $6.3 million for the fourth quarter 2014, as the impact of growth in the average balance of loans held for investment was offset by a decline in the average spread earned on loans held for sale.

TOTAL EXPENSES were $87.5 million for the fourth quarter 2015 compared to $86.0 million for the fourth quarter 2014, a 2% increase.  Personnel costs increased slightly due to increased salaries from higher average headcount, which was partially offset by lower variable compensation costs. As a result, personnel expense for the fourth quarter 2015 increased just 1% to $49.2 million and, as a percentage of total revenues, decreased to 41% from 43% during the fourth quarter 2014.

PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES was $1.1 million for the fourth quarter 2015 compared to $0.6 million for the fourth quarter 2014. The increase was related to the growth in the at risk servicing portfolio and the correlating increase to general reserves, partially offset by a decline in the portfolio of loans held for investment and the general reserves associated with it.  This net increase was not due to any specific credit event.

OPERATING MARGIN was 28% for the fourth quarter 2015 up from 24% for the fourth quarter 2014. Increased scale in the business provided the lift in operating margin, as revenues grew at a faster pace than expenses.

ADJUSTED EBITDA was $29.0 million for the fourth quarter 2015 compared to $23.4 million for the fourth quarter 2014, a 24% increase. The increase was driven by significant growth in cash earnings such as servicing fees and investment sales revenues, partially offset by the increase in personnel expenses.

ANNUALIZED RETURN ON EQUITY was 17% for the fourth quarter 2015 up from 15% for the fourth quarter 2014, driven by the year-over-year increase in net income.

TOTAL TRANSACTION VOLUME for the fourth quarter 2015 was $4.7 billion, up 10% from $4.3 billion for the fourth quarter 2014.  Total transaction volume includes loan origination and investment sales volumes.  LOAN ORIGINATION VOLUME was up 1% from the fourth quarter 2014 to $4.3 billion. Loan originations with Freddie Mac were $1.9 billion, representing an increase of 24% from the fourth quarter 2014. Loan originations with Fannie Mae were $1.3 billion, a decrease of 12% from the fourth quarter 2014. Brokered loan originations totaled $914.3 million, a 13% decrease from the fourth quarter 2014. HUD loan originations totaled $175.1 million, a 38% increase from the fourth quarter 2014. Interim loan originations totaled $40.1 million, a 63% decrease from the fourth quarter 2014. Originations for the Company's CMBS partnership were $29.5 million for the fourth quarter 2015, a 26% decrease from the fourth quarter 2014. INVESTMENT SALES VOLUME was $376.3 million for the fourth quarter 2015.

2015 OPERATING RESULTS

TOTAL REVENUES were $468.2 million for 2015 compared to $360.8 million for the prior year, a 30% increase. The increase was driven by a 31% increase in gains from mortgage banking activities and a 17% increase in servicing fees.  Other revenues increased 88% to $34.5 million largely due to fees received by investment sales of $9.3 million and year-over-year increases in prepayment fees and assumption fee income.

GAINS FROM MORTGAGE BANKING ACTIVITIES increased 31% to $290.5 million for 2015 compared to $222.0 million for the prior year, as both the level of lending activity and the profitability of those originations increased.  LOAN ORIGINATION FEES were $156.8 million for 2015 compared to $125.5 million for the prior year, a 25% increase.  MSRs were $133.6 million for 2015 compared to $96.5 million for the prior year, a 38% increase.  

SERVICING FEES were $114.8 million, up 17% from $98.4 million from 2014, as a result of the 14% growth in the servicing portfolio.

NET WAREHOUSE INTEREST INCOME for 2015 was $24.0 million, up 37% from $17.5 million due to the increase in the average balances of loans held for sale and loans held for investment.

TOTAL EXPENSES for 2015 were $332.8 million, a 20% increase from $276.9 million in 2014 due to the overall growth of the platform. Personnel expenses as a percentage of total revenues for 2015 were 39% compared to 41% last year.

PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES was $1.6 million in 2015 compared to $2.2 million in 2014.

OPERATING MARGIN for 2015 was 29% compared to an operating margin for 2014 of 23%.   Increased scale in the business year-over-year provided a lift to operating margin, as revenues grew at a faster pace than expenses.

ADJUSTED EBITDA was $124.3 million for 2015 compared to $84.8 million for 2014, a 47% increase.  The increase was driven by significant growth in cash earnings such as servicing fees, investment sales revenues, prepayment fee income, loan assumption fees and net interest income, partially offset by the increase in personnel expenses.

RETURN ON EQUITY was 19% for 2015 up from 13% for 2014, driven by the year-over-year increase in net income.

TOTAL TRANSACTION VOLUME for 2015 was $17.8 billion, up 56% from $11.4 billion for 2014. LOAN ORIGINATION VOLUME for 2015 was $16.2 billion, up 43% from $11.4 billion in 2014.  The $4.9 billion increase in loan origination volume was driven primarily by a 74% increase in lending with Freddie Mac, a 51% increase in loans brokered through Capital Markets and a 25% increase in lending with Fannie Mae. In the first eight and a half months of investment sales operations on our platform, we achieved INVESTMENT SALES VOLUME of $1.5 billion. 

STOCK BUYBACK PROGRAM

On February 9, 2016 the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $75.0 million of its outstanding common stock over a 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. During 2014 and 2015 the Company repurchased over 5 million shares of stock in two private transactions that were not part of a stock buyback program. At January 31, 2016 the Company had 30.9 million shares outstanding.

SERVICING PORTFOLIO

The SERVICING PORTFOLIO totaled $50.2 billion at December 31, 2015, a 14% increase from $44.0 billion at December 31, 2014. During 2015, $6.2 billion in net loans were added to the servicing portfolio, the majority of which were Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. The portfolio maintained a weighted average remaining term of 10 years while the WEIGHTED AVERAGE SERVICING FEE increased to 25 basis points from 24 basis points.

CREDIT QUALITY

The Company's AT RISK SERVICING PORTFOLIO, which is comprised of loans subject to a defined risk-sharing formula, was $19.5 billion at December 31, 2015 compared to $17.4 billion at December 31, 2014.  There were no 60+ DAY DELINQUENCIES in the Company's at risk servicing portfolio at December 31, 2015 compared to $16.6 million at December 31, 2014. Our at risk servicing portfolio does not contain any significant exposure to the energy sector, with the top 10 oil-dependent markets² making up only 1% of the portfolio. 

There were no NET WRITE-OFFS for the fourth quarter 2015 compared to $0.5 million for the fourth quarter 2014.  For 2015, NET WRITE-OFFS totaled $0.8 million compared to $5.2 million in 2014.

The on-balance sheet INTERIM LOAN PORTFOLIO, which is comprised of loans for which we have full risk of loss, was $233.4 million at December 31, 2015 compared to $225.3 million at December 31, 2014.  All of our interim loans are current and performing at December 31, 2015.

PLATFORM GROWTH

Walker & Dunlop entered the multifamily investment sales business through an acquisition in April 2015. The new investment sales platform contributed $1.5 billion in sales volume during 2015. In addition to our investment in Engler Financial Group, we have continued to build out Walker & Dunlop Investment Sales (WDIS).  We added one new team of investment sales professionals to the platform in Washington, DC during the fourth quarter, and we continue to actively pursue a number of other teams to expand the platform across the country.

At the beginning of 2016, the Company assumed 100% ownership of its CMBS lending platform, Walker & Dunlop Commercial Property Funding, LLC (WDCPF), that had operated as a joint venture with an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC. WDCPF closed $309.5 million in CMBS loans during 2015, substantially all of which were contributed to three securitizations.

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 The top 10 oil-dependent markets as defined in the Fannie Mae Economics & Market Analysis, Multifamily Market Commentary, April 2015­: Odessa-Midland, TX, Lafayette, LA, Houma, LA, Greeley, CO, Corpus Christi, TX, Shreveport, LA, Bakersfield, CA, Abilene, TX, Anchorage, AK and Oklahoma City, OK

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its quarterly results on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. Analysts and investors interested in participating are invited to call (877) 876-9177 from within the United States or (785) 424-1666 from outside the United States and are asked to reference the Conference ID: WDQ415. 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. Eastern time February 10, 2016 through February 24, 2016. Please call (800) 753-9197 from the United States or (402) 220-0689 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

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate 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, has over 500 professionals in 25 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 for credit losses net of write-offs, stock-based incentive compensation charges, and non-cash revenues such as gains attributable to MSRs. 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, as it may be updated or supplemented by our Quarterly Reports 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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