B. Riley Financial(RILY) - 2024 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q4 2024, the company expects net income available to common shareholders to be between $48 million and $68 million, including approximately $236 million to $247 million from discontinued operations related to the divestiture of Great American businesses [30][31] - Diluted net income per share is projected to be between $1.57 and $2.22, with a net loss from continuing operations estimated at $178 million to $187 million, primarily due to impairment charges and trading losses [31][32] - Operating adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations is expected to be between $12 million and $14 million, with total debt reported at $1.78 billion, a decline of $221 million from the previous quarter [32][33] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company established a joint venture with Oaktree Capital Management, contributing its appraisal and valuation services, which resulted in approximately $203 million in cash and a 44% ownership interest in the new entity [9][10] - The Wealth Management business is expected to manage approximately $15 billion in client assets after the sale of a portion of its traditional W-2 business to Stifel Financial Corp [12][23] - GlassRatner, the advisory services business, had a record year in 2024, indicating strong performance in its core expertise areas [24][42] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong December for its broker-dealer segment, which is positioned as a top provider to the middle market segment, with expectations of substantial operating EBITDA in a normalized environment [20][21] - The telecom business continues to provide steady cash flow and EBITDA, contributing positively to the overall financial health of the company [46] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to focus on its core businesses, including B. Riley Securities, Wealth Management, and advisory services, while monetizing non-core assets to strengthen its balance sheet [17][16] - The strategic partnership with Oaktree is expected to enhance the company's ability to deliver financial products and services, leveraging Oaktree's expertise and scale [10][11] - The company plans to continue exploring strategic opportunities to unlock value within its core business segments [22][42] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about emerging from a period of asset monetization and debt reduction, positioning the company as a more nimble and focused entity [17][66] - The management acknowledged the challenges faced due to principal investments but emphasized the potential for recovery and growth in core operations [27][66] - The company is committed to investing in its business and addressing outstanding debt maturities while limiting dilution for shareholders [36][38] Other Important Information - The company completed the full redemption of its February 2025 senior notes, retiring its only significant maturity for that year [14] - A new $160 million senior secured credit facility was established with Oaktree, providing greater financial flexibility [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the plans for liquidity and balance sheet improvement in the next six months? - Management indicated a focus on investing in core businesses and proactively aligning the balance sheet, with ongoing asset monetization efforts [36][37] Question: Can you provide insights on the core business's EBITDA and cash flow potential? - Management highlighted the historical performance of core businesses and expressed confidence in their ability to generate operating EBITDA, despite recent challenges [38][42] Question: What is the current state of the Wealth Management business after the recent sale? - The remaining Wealth Management group now manages approximately $15 billion in assets, down from $24 billion prior to the sale [58] Question: Will future asset monetization primarily come from the Principal Investment Group? - Management confirmed a careful approach to monetizing non-core assets while focusing on growing core businesses [60][61]