WisdomTree(WT) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Assets under management (AUM) reached a record $144.5 billion, up 5% from Q3 and over 30% year-over-year [5] - Adjusted revenues for Q4 were $147.4 million, a 17% increase from Q3 and approximately 33% year-over-year [8] - Adjusted net income for the quarter was $41.2 million, or $0.29 per share [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - European-listed products saw AUM increase from $30.7 billion to $53.3 billion, supported by over $6 billion of net inflows [6] - U.S. AUM increased to a record $88.5 billion, with $1.4 billion of net inflows for the year [7] - Digital assets platform AUM reached approximately $770 million at year-end, reflecting strong inflows into the digital money market fund [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global AUM today stands at $160.8 billion, up $16 billion or 11% from year-end, driven by favorable market conditions and almost $2 billion of net inflows [8] - European inflows were led by $4.3 billion into the UCITS franchise, particularly from the European Defence ETF launch [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to continue delivering differentiated products and has launched over 30 new strategies across various themes [17] - Focus remains on expanding the digital assets platform and private markets, with the Ceres acquisition enhancing revenue streams [19] - The company is positioned to capture growth in metals and thematic investments, reflecting a multi-year growth story [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to achieve financial and business goals despite macroeconomic volatility [3] - The company anticipates continued organic growth and margin expansion, with a focus on maintaining expense discipline [15] - Management highlighted the importance of diversification across asset classes and geographies for resilience and growth [22] Other Important Information - The company expects a compensation to revenue ratio of 26%-28% for 2026, reflecting planned hires and compensation adjustments [10] - Discretionary spending guidance is forecasted to range from $80 million-$86 million, driven by marketing and sales-related expenses [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the biggest opportunities for WisdomTree in 2026 and 2027? - Management highlighted strong growth in thematic investments, particularly in Europe, and the potential for market share gains in commodities [25][26] Question: What are the major categories for discretionary spending? - Discretionary spending is largely driven by marketing and sales-related expenses tied to growth initiatives [32] Question: Can you provide insights on the digital asset strategy and user types? - The digital asset strategy focuses on serving clients already familiar with on-chain operations, including stablecoin issuers and businesses using stablecoins for treasury management [52][63] Question: What lessons have been learned from the Ceres acquisition? - The integration of Ceres has gone smoothly, confirming the strategic fit and potential for synergies in distribution and product offerings [60][62] Question: How does macroeconomic volatility affect WisdomTree's business? - The company is well-positioned to benefit from macroeconomic volatility due to its diversified product offerings across asset classes [48][50]