StoneX(SNEX) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fourth quarter net income reached a record $85.7 million, representing a 12% growth year-over-year, while diluted earnings per share (EPS) grew by only 1% due to an increase in shares outstanding from the acquisition of RJ O'Brien [2][3] - Operating revenues exceeded $1.2 billion, up 31% compared to the previous year and 17% sequentially [3] - Net income for the full fiscal year was a record $305.9 million, up 17%, with an EPS of $5.89 and a return on equity (ROE) of 15.6% [4][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Operating revenues from listed contracts increased by 76% year-over-year, driven by the acquisition of RJO, contributing $89.5 million [5] - OTC derivatives revenues grew by 27% year-over-year but declined by 1% sequentially [5] - Payments revenues increased by 8% year-over-year but decreased by 3% sequentially, primarily due to a decline in rate per million [5] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average client equity increased by 71% year-over-year, with the acquisition of RJO contributing significantly to this growth [5] - FXCFD revenues declined by 34% year-over-year, attributed to low volatility in FX markets [5] - The institutional segment saw record net operating revenues and segment income growth of 67% and 73%, respectively, largely due to the RJO acquisition [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has been active in M&A, completing six transactions in 2025, including the transformational acquisition of RJ O'Brien, which positions the company as the largest non-bank FCM in the U.S. [8][11] - The strategy focuses on being opportunistic in acquisitions while ensuring they are accretive to the company's ecosystem and shareholder value [9][10] - The integration of RJO is expected to yield significant cost and capital synergies, with a target of $50 million in annual run rate cost synergies [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term growth potential stemming from the RJO acquisition and the overall market dynamics, including the withdrawal of banks and consolidation of smaller firms [8][22] - The company anticipates that the integration of RJO will enhance its product offerings and client base, driving future revenue growth [17][21] - Management remains focused on executing with discipline and precision, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between leadership teams [21][22] Other Important Information - The company recorded pre-tax acquisition-related charges of approximately $9.3 million in the current quarter, impacting diluted EPS by about $0.13 [2][4] - The company has made significant enhancements to its product offerings, including the build-out of a metals vault and improvements in digital asset services [13][14] Q&A Session Summary Question: How are early cross-selling efforts with RJO clients going? - Management indicated that early cross-selling efforts are progressing well, with significant interest from RJO clients in new products, although tracking revenue synergies remains challenging [25][26] Question: Did precious metals trading improve after gold was exempted from tariffs? - Management noted that while the precious metals business faced challenges due to market dislocation, conditions have improved, and they expect a positive trend moving forward [28][29] Question: What drove the increase in RPC for listed derivatives? - The increase in RPC was attributed to the introduction of the RJO business, which had higher average rates per contract compared to the company's previous offerings [30][31]