Evercore(US:EVR)2022-04-27 15:59Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Evercore reported adjusted net revenues of $728 million, a 9% increase year-over-year, and adjusted advisory revenues of $625 million, up 22% year-over-year, both setting records for the first quarter [9][25] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) reached $3.80, reflecting a 16% increase from the previous year [26] - Adjusted net income for the quarter was $173 million, up 7% compared to the same period last year [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The underwriting business generated $36 million in revenue, down 54% year-over-year, impacted by market volatility [25] - The equities business reported commissions and related fees of $51 million, a decrease of 5% year-over-year [25] - Adjusted asset management and administration fees increased to $19 million, an 8% rise due to higher assets under management (AUM) [26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global and U.S. M&A announced dollar volume decreased by 21% and 19% respectively compared to Q1 2021, with the number of announced deals falling by 17% globally and 20% in the U.S. [11] - For deals above $5 billion, dollar volume declined by 10% and the number of announced deals fell over 30% compared to the previous year [11] - In the $1 billion to $5 billion range, dollar volumes decreased by 40%, while the number of transactions fell by 36% year-over-year [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains optimistic about future M&A activity driven by low interest rates, corporate growth searches, and increased private equity activity, with private equity dry powder exceeding $3.4 trillion [10][12] - Evercore is focused on investing in talent and expanding capabilities, with a successful start to external recruiting efforts in 2022 [12][22] - The firm is committed to returning excess cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, raising its dividend by 6% to $0.72 per share [21][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenging geopolitical backdrop, particularly the war in Ukraine, which has increased global uncertainty and capital market volatility [9] - Despite the current environment, management believes the fundamental themes driving M&A activity remain intact, with strong backlogs and ongoing client engagement [10][30] - The company is monitoring the timing of deal closings due to elevated global uncertainty but remains confident in its positioning for future opportunities [30][34] Other Important Information - The adjusted operating margin for the first quarter was 29.5%, slightly down from 30.1% in the previous year [26] - The company returned $298 million to shareholders during the quarter through dividends and share repurchases [21] - The adjusted tax rate for the quarter was 17.1%, influenced by share price appreciation [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Outlook given backlog and financing market tightening - Management indicated that while uncertainty is high, dialogues with clients remain active and they can see three months out, but longer-term visibility is challenging [37][38] Question: Breakdown of advisory revenue from sponsors - Management confirmed that the range of 30% to 45% of advisory revenue from sponsors remains valid, with ongoing investments in both capital advisory and M&A [40][41] Question: Impact of tech market sell-offs on M&A - Management noted that while seller and buyer expectations may widen, dialogues remain active, and there is still interest in tech deals despite market fluctuations [45][46] Question: Recruiting environment and talent acquisition - Management expressed confidence in recruiting high-quality talent, with ongoing discussions and successful hires in key areas [49][50] Question: Strength of restructuring business and economic conditions - Management highlighted that while traditional restructuring work is slow, they are well-positioned for future opportunities as market conditions change [52][53] Question: Deal appetite from sponsors and corporates - Management stated that sponsors are ready to engage due to significant dry powder, while corporates are still in strategic discussions, waiting for a more stable environment [55][56] Question: Backlog strength compared to previous periods - Management affirmed that their backlog remains strong, although they cannot provide specific comparisons to previous years due to uncertainty [76][77] Question: Sustainable run rate for underwriting business - Management indicated that they are making progress in the underwriting business and aspire to move up in league tables, focusing on value addition and capability enhancement [80]