VCTR - Victory Capital Reports Strong Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2023 Results

Fourth-Quarter 2023 Highlights

• Total Assets Under Management (AUM) of $166.6 billion ¹
• Long-term gross flows of $6.6 billion in the quarter
• Long-term net flows of ($1.1) billion in the quarter
• GAAP operating margin of 41.9%
• Adjusted EBITDA margin of 52.3% in the quarter ²
• GAAP net income of $0.82 per diluted share
• Adjusted net income with tax benefit of $1.15 per diluted share ²
• Board increased regular quarterly cash dividend by 5% to $0.335

Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: VCTR) (“Victory Capital” or “the Company”) today reported financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.

“We made significant progress in our strategic growth initiatives during 2023 and continued to validate the effectiveness and resiliency of our unique operating platform,” said David Brown, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We invested in our business via the launching of several new products, enhancing our investment capabilities in several areas, and expanding our technology resources across the platform. Concurrently, we also expanded our profit margin with adjusted EBITDA margin rising 130 basis points to 50.9% for the year.

“In the final quarter of 2023, both long-term gross and net flows improved to their best levels in more than a year, which is encouraging as we begin 2024.

“Our Franchises continued to deliver excellent investment performance for clients. At year end, the percentage of our AUM outperforming benchmarks over the respective 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods was 62%, 84%, and 79%. In addition, 70% of our AUM in mutual funds and ETFs were rated four or five stars overall by Morningstar.

“During the fourth quarter, we repurchased an additional 1.8 million shares, increasing the capital returned to shareholders from repurchases during the year to $158 million. Combined with cash dividends, we returned $243 million to shareholders in 2023, an increase of 21% over the previous year, and the most we have ever returned to our shareholders in our Company’s history.

“Our M&A diligence activities have progressed, and entering the new year we are optimistic about the prospects for executing on a transaction aligned with our strategic growth objectives.

“As always, we continue to focus on serving our clients, which is our top priority.”

The table below presents AUM, and certain GAAP and non-GAAP (“adjusted”) financial results. Due to rounding, AUM values and other amounts in this press release may not add up precisely to the totals provided.

(in millions except per share amounts or as otherwise noted)

AUM, Flows and Investment Performance

Victory Capital’s total AUM increased by 8.5%, or $13.1 billion, to $166.6 billion at December 31, 2023, compared with $153.5 billion at September 30, 2023. The increase was attributable to $14.3 billion of positive market action partially offset by $1.2 billion in negative net flows.

Total gross flows were $6.7 billion in the fourth quarter and $24.1 billion for the year. Long-term AUM increased by 8.7%, or $13.0 billion, to $163.3 billion at December 31, 2023, compared with $150.3 billion at September 30, 2023. For the fourth quarter, the Company reported long-term gross flows of $6.6 billion and net long-term outflows of $1.1 billion. For the year-to-date period, the Company reported long-term gross flows of $23.3 billion and net long-term outflows of $6.2 billion.

At December 31, 2023, Victory Capital offered 118 investment strategies through its 11 autonomous Investment Franchises and Solutions Platform. The table below presents outperformance against benchmarks by AUM as of December 31, 2023.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Compared with Third Quarter 2023

Revenue decreased 1.9% to $205.8 million, in the fourth quarter, compared with $209.7 million in the third quarter, primarily due to lower average AUM, which decreased 2.7% from $161.1 billion at September 30, 2023 to $156.7 billion at December 31, 2023. GAAP operating margin expanded 370 basis points in the fourth quarter to 41.9%, up from 38.2% in the third quarter. The increase was primarily due to the combination of a non-cash $6.3 million difference in amounts recorded to the change in the fair value of consideration payable for acquisitions and a decrease in depreciation and amortization expense as a result of a write-down of an intangible asset in the third quarter. Reflecting these lower non-cash expenses, fourth-quarter GAAP net income increased 6.2% to $55.2 million, up from $52.0 million in the prior quarter. On a per-share basis, GAAP net income increased 6.5% to $0.82 per diluted share in the fourth quarter, versus $0.77 per diluted share in the third quarter.

Adjusted net income with tax benefit decreased 3.5% to $77.0 million in the fourth quarter, down from $79.8 million in the third quarter. On a per-share basis, adjusted net income with tax benefit decreased 2.5% to $1.15 per diluted share in the fourth quarter, from $1.18 per diluted share in the prior quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $107.6 million in the fourth quarter, compared to $107.2 million in the third quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 120 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 52.3%, compared with 51.1% in the prior quarter.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Compared with Fourth Quarter 2022

Revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2023 increased 2.1% to $205.8 million, compared with $201.5 million in the same quarter of 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher average AUM, which increased 1.4% to $156.7 billion, compared with $154.6 billion in the same quarter last year. Also contributing was a slight increase in revenue realization due to a change in asset mix.

Operating expenses decreased 2.0% to $119.5 million, compared with $121.9 million in last year’s fourth quarter primarily due to a $4.9 million decrease in personnel compensation and benefits and a $3.2 million decrease in depreciation and amortization expense partially offset by a $4.0 million increase in non-cash difference in amounts recorded to the change in the fair value of consideration payable for acquisitions as well as a $3.3 million increase in general and administrative expense due to unwind costs associated with the monetization of the Company’s Swap. GAAP operating margin expanded 240 basis points to 41.9% in the fourth quarter, from 39.5% in the same quarter of 2022. GAAP net income increased 5.6% to $55.2 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter compared with $52.3 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, in the same quarter of 2022.

Adjusted net income with tax benefit increased 3.4% to $77.0 million in the fourth quarter, up from $74.5 million in the same quarter last year. On a per share basis, adjusted net income with tax benefit increased 9.5% to $1.15 per diluted share in the fourth quarter, from $1.05 per diluted share in the same quarter last year. Adjusted EBITDA increased 7.4% to $107.6 million in the fourth quarter, compared with $100.1 million in last year’s same quarter. Year-over-year, adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 260 basis points to 52.3% in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared with 49.7% in the same quarter last year.

Year Ended December 31, 2023 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2022

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023, declined 4.0% to $821.0 million, compared with $854.8 million in the same period of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to lower average AUM.

Operating expenses increased 8.1% to $492.6 million for year ended December 31, 2023, compared with $455.7 million in 2022 due to a non-cash $63.8 million difference in amounts recorded from the change in fair value of consideration payable for acquisitions partially offset by a decrease in variable operating expenses from lower average AUM and earnings. GAAP operating margin was 40.0% for the year ended December 31, 2023, a 670 basis point decrease from the 46.7% recorded in 2022. GAAP net income declined 22.6% to $213.2 million for the year ended 2023 compared with $275.5 million in the prior year. GAAP net earnings per share decreased to $3.12 per diluted share in 2023, down from $3.81 per diluted share in 2022.

Adjusted net income with tax benefit decreased 7.0% to $307.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, down from $331.2 million in 2022. On a per share basis, adjusted net income with tax benefit decreased 1.5% to $4.51 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $4.58 per diluted share in 2022. For the year ended December 31, 2023, adjusted EBITDA declined 1.5% to $418.0 million, compared with $424.2 million in 2022. Year-over-year, adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 130 basis points to 50.9% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with 49.6% in the previous year.

Balance Sheet / Capital Management

The Company ended the year with $124 million of cash on its balance sheet.

Total debt outstanding as of December 31, 2023 was approximately $1,002 million and consisted of an existing term loan balance of $631 million and the 2021 Incremental Term Loans balance of $371 million.

During the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased 1.7 million shares under the 10b-5 plan and net settled 0.1 million shares. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company repurchased 4.2 million shares under the 10b-5 plan and net settled 0.8 million shares.

The Company’s Board of Directors also approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.335 per share. The dividend is payable on March 25, 2024, to shareholders of record on March 11, 2024.

Conference Call, Webcast and Slide Presentation

The Company will host a conference call tomorrow morning, February 9, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results. Analysts and investors may participate in the question-and-answer session. To participate in the conference call, please call 1-888-330-3571 (domestic) or 1-646-960-0657 (international), shortly before 8:00 a.m. ET and reference the Victory Capital Conference Call. A live, listen-only webcast will also be available via the investor relations section of the Company’s website at https://ir.vcm.com . Prior to the call, supplemental materials will be available on the investor relations section of the Company’s website at https://ir.vcm.com before the conference call begins. For anyone who is unable to join the live event, an archive of the webcast will be available for replay shortly after the call concludes.

About Victory Capital

Victory Capital is a diversified global asset management firm with $166.6 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2023. The Company employs a next-generation business strategy that combines boutique investment qualities with the benefits of a fully integrated, centralized operating and distribution platform.

Victory Capital provides specialized investment strategies to institutions, intermediaries, retirement platforms and individual investors. With 11 autonomous Investment Franchises and a Solutions Business, Victory Capital offers a wide array of investment products and services, including mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, alternative investments, third-party ETF model strategies, collective investment trusts, private funds, a 529 Education Savings Plan, and brokerage services.

Victory Capital is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with offices and investment professionals in the U.S. and around the world. To learn more please visit www.vcm.com or follow Victory Capital on Facebook, Twitter , and LinkedIn .

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “aim,” “intend,” “may,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “budget,” “continue,” “estimate,” “future,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “will,” “can have,” “likely,” “should,” “would,” “could” and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond Victory Capital’s control such as continued geopolitical uncertainty including the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel and its effect on our business, operations and financial results going forward, as discussed in Victory Capital’s filings with the SEC, that could cause Victory Capital’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the expected results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Although it is not possible to identify all such risks and factors, they include, among others, the following: reductions in AUM based on investment performance, client withdrawals, difficult market conditions and other factors such as a pandemic; the nature of the Company’s contracts and investment advisory agreements; the Company’s ability to maintain historical returns and sustain its historical growth; the Company’s dependence on third parties to market its strategies and provide products or services for the operation of its business; the Company’s ability to retain key investment professionals or members of its senior management team; the Company’s reliance on the technology systems supporting its operations; the Company’s ability to successfully acquire and integrate new companies; the concentration of the Company’s investments in long-only small- and mid-cap equity and U.S. clients; risks and uncertainties associated with non-U.S. investments; the Company’s efforts to establish and develop new teams and strategies; the ability of the Company’s investment teams to identify appropriate investment opportunities; the Company’s ability to limit employee misconduct; the Company’s ability to meet the guidelines set by its clients; the Company’s exposure to potential litigation (including administrative or tax proceedings) or regulatory actions; the Company’s ability to implement effective information and cyber security policies, procedures and capabilities; the Company’s substantial indebtedness; the potential impairment of the Company’s goodwill and intangible assets; disruption to the operations of third parties whose functions are integral to the Company’s ETF platform; the Company’s determination that Victory Capital is not required to register as an "investment company" under the 1940 Act; the fluctuation of the Company’s expenses; the Company’s ability to respond to recent trends in the investment management industry; the level of regulation on investment management firms and the Company’s ability to respond to regulatory developments; the competitiveness of the investment management industry; the level of control over the Company retained by Crestview GP; and other risks and factors listed under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Victory Capital’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which it will operate in the future. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, Victory Capital assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.