Second Quarter Financial Highlights*

  • Revenues of $97.3 million, up 0.7%
  • Pre-tax income of $49.6 million, down 1.9%
  • Diluted EPS of $1.00, up 13.6% from $0.88
  • Trading volume of $361.5 billion, up 6.9%

*All comparisons versus second quarter 2016.

NEW YORK, July 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:MKTX), the operator of a leading electronic trading platform for fixed-income securities, and the provider of market data and post-trade services for the global fixed-income markets, today announced results for the quarter ended June 30, 2017.

“We posted our second best quarter ever for trading volume, revenue and diluted EPS in spite of the continued lackluster market environment,” said Richard M. McVey, Chairman and CEO of MarketAxess. “We continue to build upon the strong foundation of our global business which we expect will drive further positive momentum when market activity improves.  Our geographic expansion has been a key driver of revenue and earnings growth, with significant gains in the number of active clients, and emerging market trading activity.  Open TradingTM continues to see increased client adoption and, during the second quarter, reached a new record as a percentage of our total trading volume.”

Second Quarter Results

Total revenues for the second quarter of 2017 increased 0.7% to $97.3 million, compared to $96.6 million for the second quarter of 2016.  Pre-tax income was $49.6 million, compared to $50.6 million for the second quarter of 2016, a decrease of 1.9%.  Pre-tax margin was 50.9%, compared to 52.3% for the second quarter of 2016.  Net income totaled $38.0 million, or $1.00 per share on a diluted basis, compared to $33.1 million, or $0.88 per share, for the second quarter of 2016.

Commission revenue for the second quarter of 2017 increased 0.9% to $87.0 million, compared to $86.2 million for the second quarter of 2016. Variable transaction fees increased 0.4% to $70.6 million on total trading volume of $361.5 billion for the second quarter of 2017, compared to variable transaction fees of $70.3 million on total trading volume of $338.3 billion for the second quarter of 2016. U.S. high-grade trading volume as a percentage of FINRA’s high-grade TRACE trading volume increased to an estimated 17.0% for the second quarter of 2017, compared to an estimated 16.1% for the second quarter of 2016.

All other revenue, which consists of information and post-trade services, technology products and services, investment income and other revenue, decreased to $10.3 million, compared to $10.4 million for the second quarter of 2016.  The decrease in all other revenue was principally due to an unfavorable impact of $0.6 million caused by the stronger U.S. dollar offset by higher data revenue.

Total expenses for the second quarter of 2017 increased 3.6% to $47.7 million, compared to $46.1 million for the second quarter of 2016. The increase in total expenses was largely due to higher marketing and advertising costs of $1.0 million and an increase in general and administrative costs of $0.7 million.

The effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2017 was 23.3%, compared to 34.5% for the second quarter of 2016.  The second quarter 2017 income tax provision includes excess tax benefits of approximately $5.3 million relating to a new standard for share-based compensation accounting adopted effective January 1, 2017.

Employee headcount was 405 as of June 30, 2017, compared to 383 as of December 31, 2016 and 367 as of June 30, 2016.

Dividend

The Company’s board of directors declared a cash dividend to $0.33 per share of common stock outstanding, to be paid on August 24, 2017 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 10, 2017.

Share Repurchases

A total of 65,028 shares were repurchased in the second quarter of 2017 at a cost of $12.4 million.

Balance Sheet Data

As of June 30, 2017, total assets were $547.0 million and included $365.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments.  Total stockholders’ equity as of June 30, 2017 was $501.2 million.

Guidance for 2017

The Company reconfirms its full year 2017 guidance range for total expenses of $192.0 million to $208.0 million, capital spending of $25.0 million to $30.0 million and overall effective tax rate of 26% to 28%.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Items

To supplement the Company’s unaudited financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Company uses certain non-GAAP measures of financial performance, including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and free cash flow.  The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when taken into consideration with the corresponding GAAP financial measures, are important in understanding the Company’s operating results.  See the attached schedule for a reconciliation of GAAP net income to EBITDA and GAAP cash flow from operating activities to free cash flow.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Richard M. McVey, chairman and chief executive officer, and Antonio L. DeLise, chief financial officer, will host a conference call to discuss the Company’s financial results and outlook on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time. To access the conference call, please dial 855-425-4206 (U.S.) or 484-756-4249 (international). The Company will also host a live audio Webcast of the conference call on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at http://investor.marketaxess.com. A replay of the call will be made available by dialing 855-859-2056 (U.S.) or 404-537-3406 (international) for one week after the announcement. The Webcast will also be archived on http://investor.marketaxess.com for 90 days following the announcement.

About MarketAxess

MarketAxess operates a leading electronic trading platform that enables fixed-income market participants to efficiently trade corporate bonds and other types of fixed-income instruments using MarketAxess’ patented trading technology.  Over 1,200 institutional investor and broker-dealer firms are active users of the MarketAxess trading platform, accessing global liquidity in U.S. high-grade corporate bonds, emerging markets and high-yield bonds, European bonds, U.S. agency bonds, municipal bonds, credit default swaps and other fixed-income securities. MarketAxess also offers a number of trading-related products and services, including: market data to assist clients with trading decisions; connectivity solutions that facilitate straight-through processing; technology services to optimize trading environments; and execution services for exchange-traded fund managers and other clients.  Through its Trax® division, MarketAxess also offers a range of pre- and post-trade services, including trade matching, regulatory transaction reporting and market and reference data, across a range of fixed-income products.  Trax is the trading name of Xtrakter Ltd., a MarketAxess group company.

MarketAxess maintains its headquarters in New York and has offices in London, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, São Paulo, Hong Kong and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.marketaxess.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements about the outlook and prospects for Company and industry growth, as well as statements about the Company’s future financial and operating performance.  These and other statements that relate to future results and events are based on MarketAxess’ current expectations.  The Company’s actual results in future periods may differ materially from those currently expected or desired because of a number of risks and uncertainties, including: the volatility of financial services markets generally; the level of trading volume transacted on the MarketAxess platform; the absolute level and direction of interest rates and the corresponding volatility in the corporate fixed-income market; the level and intensity of competition in the fixed-income electronic trading industry and the pricing pressures that may result; the variability of our growth rate; the rapidly evolving nature of the electronic financial services industry; our ability to introduce new fee plans and our clients’ response; our exposure to risks resulting from non-performance by counterparties to transactions executed between our clients in which we act as an intermediary in matched principal trades; our dependence on our broker-dealer clients; the loss of any of our significant institutional investor clients; our ability to develop new products and offerings and the market’s acceptance of those products; the effect of rapid market or technological changes on us and the users of our technology; our ability to successfully maintain the integrity of our trading platform and our response to system failures, capacity constraints and business interruptions; our vulnerability to cyber security risks; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights or technology and defend against intellectual property infringement or other claims; our ability to enter into strategic alliances and to acquire other businesses and successfully integrate them with our business; our ability to comply with new laws, rules and regulations both domestically and internationally; our ability to maintain effective compliance and risk management methods; the strain of growth initiatives on management and other resources; our future capital needs and our ability to obtain capital when needed; limitations on our operating flexibility contained in our credit agreement; and other factors.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  More information about these and other factors affecting MarketAxess’ business and prospects is contained in MarketAxess’ periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and can be accessed at www.marketaxess.com.

MarketAxess Holdings Inc.  
Consolidated Statements of Operations
   
  Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
  June 30,     June 30,  
  2017     2016     2017     2016  
  (In thousands, except per share data)  
  (unaudited)  
                               
Revenues                              
Commissions $ 87,015     $ 86,239     $ 181,037     $ 165,332  
Information and post-trade services   8,272       8,586       16,088       16,365  
Investment income   840       517       1,587       935  
Other   1,187       1,297       2,493       2,580  
Total revenues   97,314       96,639       201,205       185,212  
                               
Expenses                              
Employee compensation and benefits   25,421       25,815       52,822       50,342  
Depreciation and amortization   4,790       4,540       9,483       9,221  
Technology and communications   4,822       4,277       9,407       8,581  
Professional and consulting fees   4,086       4,245       8,365       8,107  
Occupancy   1,422       1,225       2,826       2,386  
Marketing and advertising   2,782       1,824       4,668       3,602  
Clearing costs   1,517       1,953       2,844       3,719  
General and administrative   2,901       2,209       5,610       4,333  
Total expenses   47,741       46,088       96,025       90,291  
                               
Income before income taxes   49,573       50,551       105,180       94,921  
Provision for income taxes   11,550       17,425       24,694       32,832  
Net income $ 38,023     $ 33,126     $ 80,486     $ 62,089  
                               
                               
Per Share Data:                              
Net income per common share                              
Basic $ 1.03     $ 0.90     $ 2.18     $ 1.69  
Diluted $ 1.00     $ 0.88     $ 2.11     $ 1.65  
                               
Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.33     $ 0.26     $ 0.66     $ 0.52  
                               
Weighted-average common shares:                              
Basic   36,853       36,876       36,852       36,826  
Diluted   38,077       37,748       38,095       37,710  

MarketAxess Holdings Inc.  
Commission Revenue Details
   
  Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
  June 30,     June 30,  
  2017     2016     2017     2016  
                               
  Total Commissions Revenue  
  (In thousands)  
  (unaudited)  
                               
Transaction Fees                              
U.S. high-grade $ 32,868     $ 35,771     $ 68,391     $ 67,339  
Other credit 1   37,145       33,826       78,840       64,747  
Liquid products 2   570       678       1,200       1,298  
Total transaction fees   70,583       70,275       148,431       133,384  
                               
Distribution Fees                              
U.S. high-grade   15,930       14,297       31,680       28,521  
Other credit1   384       1,471       664       2,971  
Liquid products2,3   118       196       262       456  
Total distribution fees   16,432       15,964       32,606       31,948  
Total commissions $ 87,015     $ 86,239     $ 181,037     $ 165,332  
                               
                               
  Average Variable Transaction Fee Per Million  
  (unaudited)  
                               
U.S. high-grade – fixed-rate $ 165     $ 194     $ 166     $ 189  
U.S. high-grade – floating-rate   63       36       59       36  
Total U.S. high-grade   162       189       162       183  
Other credit   257       258       259       261  
Liquid products   43       38       42       39  
Total   195       208       196       206  
                               
                               
1 Other credit includes high-yield, emerging markets, Eurobonds and municipal bonds.  
2 Liquid products includes U.S. agencies and European government bonds.  
3 Includes CDS SEF-related revenue.  

MarketAxess Holdings Inc.  
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet Data
   
  As of  
  June 30, 2017     December 31, 2016  
  (In thousands)  
  (unaudited)  
               
Assets              
Cash and cash equivalents $ 128,143     $ 168,243  
Investments, at fair value   237,361       194,404  
Accounts receivable, net   55,215       50,668  
All other assets   126,322       114,727  
Total assets $ 547,041     $ 528,042  
               
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity              
Total liabilities $ 45,813     $ 60,029  
Total stockholders’ equity   501,228       468,013  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 547,041     $ 528,042  

MarketAxess Holdings Inc.  
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
   
  Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
  June 30,     June 30,  
  2017     2016     2017     2016  
                               
  Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization  
  (In thousands)  
  (unaudited)  
Net income $ 38,023     $ 33,126     $ 80,486     $ 62,089  
Add back:                              
Interest expense                      
Provision for income taxes   11,550       17,425       24,694       32,832  
Depreciation and amortization   4,790       4,540       9,483       9,221  
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization $ 54,363     $ 55,091     $ 114,663     $ 104,142  
                               
  Free Cash Flow  
  (In thousands)  
  (unaudited)  
Cash flow from operating activities $ 38,569     $ 28,714     $ 69,118     $ (28,669 )
Add back:                              
Net purchases of corporate debt trading investments   (1,085 )     (839 )     111       72,396  
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation previously recorded under financing activities         3,933             8,573  
Less:                              
Purchases of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements   (1,628 )     (1,252 )     (5,777 )     (3,904 )
Capitalization of software development costs   (3,495 )     (3,107 )     (6,667 )     (6,142 )
Free cash flow $ 32,361     $ 27,449     $ 56,785     $ 42,254  

MarketAxess Holdings Inc.  
Volume Statistics*
   
  Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
  2017     2016     2017     2016  
                               
  Total Trading Volume  
  (In millions)  
  (unaudited)  
U.S. high-grade – fixed-rate $ 195,717     $ 183,107     $ 407,691     $ 353,326  
U.S. high-grade – floating-rate   7,870       6,220       15,290       13,727  
Total U.S. high-grade   203,587       189,327       422,981       367,053  
Other credit   144,574       131,168       304,298       248,142  
Liquid products   13,345       17,781       28,651       33,102  
Total $ 361,506     $ 338,276     $ 755,930     $ 648,297  
                               
  Average Daily Volume  
  (In millions)  
  (unaudited)  
U.S. high-grade $ 3,232     $ 2,958     $ 3,384     $ 2,936  
Other credit   2,311       2,058       2,434       1,985  
Liquid products   212       278       229       265  
Total $ 5,755     $ 5,294     $ 6,047     $ 5,186  
                               
Number of U.S. Trading Days 1   63       64       125       125  
Number of U.K. Trading Days 2   61       63       125       125  
                               
                               
1 The number of U.S. trading days is based on the SIFMA holiday recommendation calendar.  
2 The number of U.K. trading days is based on the U.K. Bank holiday schedule.  
                               
*Consistent with FINRA TRACE reporting standards, both sides of trades are included in the Company’s reported volumes when the Company executes trades on a matched principal basis between two counterparties.  

CONTACT: Media and Investor Relations Contacts:
Tony DeLise
MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
+1-212-813-6017		

Mary Sedarat
MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
+1-212-813-6226

William McBride
RF|Binder
+1-917-239-6726