BGC Group Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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Provided by Quartr
February 14, 2024

There are 7 speakers on the call.

Operator

Greetings, and welcome to the BGC Group 4th Quarter and Full Year 2023 Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded.

Operator

It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Mr. Jason Kosikis, Head of Investor Relations. Please begin, sir.

Speaker 1

Thank you and good morning. We issued BGC's 4th quarter and full year 2023 financial results press release and the presentation summarizing these results this morning. You can find these at ir.bgcg.com. Please note you can find additional details on our quarterly results in today's press release and investor presentation. Unless otherwise stated, any historical results provided on today's call compare only the Q4 of 2023 with the prior year period.

Speaker 1

Certain revenue figures are provided for the current period as indicated. We will be referring to our results on this call only on an adjusted earnings basis unless otherwise stated. We may also refer to adjusted EBITDA. We may refer to our liquidity, which we define as cash and cash equivalents, reverse repurchase agreements and financial instruments owned at fair value less securities loaned and repurchase agreements. We define total capital as redeemable partnership interest, total stockholders' equity and non controlling interest in subsidiaries.

Speaker 1

Please see today's press release for results under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or GAAP. Please also see the relevant sections in the back of today's press release with complete and updated definitions of any non GAAP terms, reconciliations of these items to the corresponding GAAP results, and how, when and why management uses such terms. Additional information with respect to our GAAP and non GAAP results mentioned on today's call is available on our website at ir.bdcd.com and in our investor presentation. We refer to the company's technology driven business as Fenics. Fenix's offerings include Fenix Markets and Fenix Growth Platforms.

Speaker 1

I also remind you that any information on today's call that is not historical are forward looking statements. These include statements about the company's business, results, financial position, liquidity and outlook. Any forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. And except as required by law, BGC undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements. Any outlook and targets discussed in this call assume no material acquisitions, buybacks, extraordinary transactions or meaningful changes to the company's stock price.

Speaker 1

For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward looking statements, See BGC's SEC filings, including but not limited to the risk factors and special note on forward looking information set forth in these filings Any updates to such risk factors and special note on forward looking information contained in the subsequent reports on Form 10 ks, Form 10 Q and Form 8 ks. I'm now happy to turn the call over to Howard Lutnick, Chairman of the Board and CEO of BTC Group.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Jason. Good morning and welcome to 4th Quarter and Full Year 2023 Conference Call. With me today are our Chief Operating Officer, Svein Windyatt and our Chief Financial Officer, Jason Hoff. BGC had its best 4th quarter with record revenues and adjusted earnings. Our revenues improved over 18% ending a strong year where we delivered accelerating year over year revenue growth each quarter.

Speaker 2

We expect favorable macro trading conditions To continue throughout 2024 with our global scale, we will continue to capitalize on interest rate and energy market volatility to higher fixed income issuance across both government and corporate bonds. We are pleased with the CFTC's recent unanimous approval for FMX to operate in exchange for U. S. Interest rate futures products, which are the largest and most widely traded futures contracts in the world. We intend to launch the FMX Futures Exchange in the summer of 2024 and we plan to discuss our strategic partners and further details on and before our Q1 earnings call.

Speaker 2

I'd now like to turn

Speaker 3

the call over to Sean. Thanks and good day everyone. Our 4th quarter revenues grew by 18.4 percent to $516,800,000 and represented our highest ever 4th quarter revenue performance. This growth was driven by the Americas and EMEA, which improved by 21.9% 20.5%, respectively. Total brokerage revenues grew by 16.1%, driven by strong growth across Energy and Commodities, Rates and Foreign Exchange.

Speaker 3

Revenues from our Energy and Commodities business improved by 42.3%, where we saw strong double digit growth across our energy complex and environmental products, including our new weather derivatives business. Rates revenues increased by 26.1%, reflecting broad based growth across interest rate products. Foreign exchange revenues improved by 7.5% driven by higher volumes across G10 and emerging markets currencies. BDC's credit revenues decreased by 3.6%, primarily due to a strong comparable period a year ago, partially offset by higher volumes across emerging markets, U. S.

Speaker 3

And UK credit products. We expect BDC's credit business to grow in line with our overall business in 2024, benefiting from record new issuance and interest rate volatility. Equities revenues declined by 3.8%, reflecting lower cash equity volumes, partially offset by higher equity derivatives activity. Data, network and post trade revenues improved by 17.9%, driven by Fenics Market Data and LUCERA, our network business. Turning to Fenics in more detail.

Speaker 3

In the Q4, Fenics revenues grew by 20.1% to $130,800,000 These higher margin technology driven businesses accounted for more than 25% BGC's total revenue during the period. For the full year 2023, Fenics generated 521 point $7,000,000 an improvement of 16.1%. Fenics 4th quarter and full year revenue growth was led by our electronic rates, credit and our data network and post trade businesses. This record performance drove FENICS revenue above $500,000,000 for the first time. At this scale, FENICS is now one of the largest electronic platforms across the capital markets.

Speaker 3

Our FENICS Markets businesses generated revenue of $109,600,000 in the 4th quarter, an increase of 16.5%. This growth was driven by higher electronic rates, credit and foreign exchange volumes along with stronger FENICS Market Data subscription revenues. Fenix Market Data signed a new customer contract in the 4th quarter with an aggregate contract value 30% higher compared to the same period last year. I'd like to highlight Fenics Market Data's continued success in its regulatory solutions business, which we expect to enhance our growth. Our Fenics growth platforms generated 4th quarter revenues of $21,200,000 up 43.3%, primarily driven by Fenix UST, Portfolio Match and Capital Lab.

Speaker 3

FENICS UST revenue increased by over 70% on a 38% improvement in average daily volume. Fenix SHFT grew its market share to 26% in the 4th quarter, up from 25% in the Q3 of 202320 percent a year ago. This momentum has carried forward into January, achieving new record ADB that was 44% higher than January last year. Portfolio matches U. S.

Speaker 3

Credit volumes improved more than threefold driven by new accounts and deepening relationships in this fast growing segment of the market.

Operator

We are pleased with

Speaker 3

the success that this platform has seen, which in just 2 years has gained significant share in a market that has historically been dominated by a single incumbent. Capital Lab, our post trade business, generated revenue growth of nearly 90% driven by higher interest rate compression and foreign exchange matching volumes. We expect demand for our Capital Lab post trade products to grow as global banks optimize their balance sheets in an ever evolving regulatory regime. Lucira, our network infrastructure business, saw double digit revenue growth led by new client contracts and broadening product coverage with existing clients. Lucira continues to see strong demand for its Loom Markets offering, a multi asset trading system used by many of the world's largest banks.

Speaker 3

Turning to our outlook. I'm pleased to provide the following guidance for the Q1 of 2024. We expect to generate total revenue of between $560,000,000 $610,000,000 as compared to $532,900,000 in the Q1 of 2023. We anticipate pretax adjusted earnings to be in the range of $126,000,000 to $144,000,000 versus $124,600,000 last year. Our business continues to expand And our guidance reflects investments in several growth areas.

Speaker 3

For example, we have made a substantial investment in our global interest rate derivative product suite. We also recently reentered the Japanese interest rates market. After 20 years of ultra low and even negative interest rates, We expect positive interest rates and related transaction volumes to return to Japanese rates market. Additionally, we continue to invest in our FMX Futures Exchange in preparation for its summer launch. These investments will increase our revenues and expand our margins in the near term.

Speaker 3

And with that, I'd like to turn the call over to Jason.

Speaker 4

Thank you, Sean, and hello, everyone. BGC generated total 4th quarter revenue of $516,800,000 an increase of 18.4% as compared to last year. By geography, Americas revenues increased by 21.9%. Europe, Middle East and Africa revenues increased by 20.5 percent and Asia Pacific revenues increased by 2.8%. Turning to expenses.

Speaker 4

Our compensation and employee benefits under adjusted earnings increased by 21.8%. This increase was primarily driven by higher revenues as well as an increase in newly hired brokers and new business lines, which Sean just highlighted. New brokers are typically less productive in their 1st year, which can temporarily contribute to a higher compensation ratio, all else equal. Non compensation expenses under adjusted earnings increased by 9.7 percent primarily driven by higher interest expense of $6,000,000 Moving on to earnings. We generated strong double digit growth across all metrics.

Speaker 4

Our pre tax adjusted earnings were $110,800,000 a 27.3% improvement with a 149 basis point margin expansion to 21.4%. This was our 13th consecutive quarter year over year margin expansion, which reflects the gearing potential of our business. Our post tax adjusted earnings increased by 29.2% to $101,300,000 or $0.21 per share, a 31.3% improvement. Our adjusted EBITDA was $151,600,000 a 22.3% improvement. Turning to share count.

Speaker 4

Our fully diluted weighted average share count increased by 0.1% sequentially to 490,700,000 shares. As of December 31, our liquidity was $701,400,000 compared to $524,300,000 as of year end 2022. With that, I'd like to turn to Howard for closing remarks.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Jason. In 2023, we are proud we achieved record revenues and earnings and completed our corporate conversion to BGC Group. With the historical manufactured zero interest rate environment behind us, BGC will continue to demonstrate strength of our business and deliver growth far superior than our current trading multiple reflect. With that, operator, we're ready to take the call to questions.

Operator

Thank you. We will now conduct a question and answer session. Our first question comes from Patrick Moly with Piper Sandler. Please proceed.

Speaker 5

Yes, good morning. Thanks for taking my question. I was hoping that we could just start off with FMX and where we sit today. CFTC approval is obviously a big hurdle. But in terms of the strategic partner announcement, it seems like things might be taking a little bit longer than expected.

Speaker 5

So I was just hoping you could maybe provide some color on how those conversations have maybe evolved since the last earnings call, where they sit today And I guess your confidence level, Howard, in your ability to kind of get this announcement made before the Q1 call? Thanks.

Speaker 2

My confidence level remains off the charts. I am positive, excited And looking forward to the opening in the summer, I know that everyone would like me to announce everything today. They have nothing to say tomorrow, the next day, the next day, the next day. Think about it this way. We get CFTC approval in January.

Speaker 2

We're going to open in the summer. Don't you think it would be more fun to talk about the partners in the middle? Kind of like we just finished the Super Bowl, kind of between the 2 goalposts. So we are excited. We are happy.

Speaker 2

There are of course I's to dot and T's to cross and we will be delivering when we announced that our objective would be to deliver not only just a list of the names, but actually the full details of the transaction and how everybody owns it and how it's going to work and all those details. So instead of expecting just a simple call from us of the names, I think you should now start to expect we will be very transparent, very detailed And very explanatory.

Speaker 5

All right. Thanks for that. And then just a follow-up on revenue growth continued to accelerate in the Q4. Q1 guide implies A little bit of a slowdown, but it's still I think it's implying 10% growth and you've said that in 2024, you expect top line growth to be around 10%. So I guess, do you still think that that's achievable this year?

Speaker 5

And then maybe as we look at the overall growth algorithm For the business and we consider some of the investments that Sean mentioned that you're making, do you still think that that kind of 10% revenue growth mid teens earnings growth is kind of a good way to think about things going forward. And I guess overall, like would you think that's sustainable In this higher rate environment? Thanks.

Speaker 2

We do. So I think you've got it just right, which is we guide what we see and we have the numbers and that's what we've guided. But Last quarter, if you look, we started at a certain percentage. We guided around 9%. That's right.

Speaker 2

And we ended up to look at 18% because the business kept accelerating through the balance of the quarter. So when we guide 10, it's because we're a month into the quarter, we're about 10. It's not that exciting. We're sort of Up 10%, my expectation for the year was 10%. I like the market the way it is, right?

Speaker 2

Remember, we don't really worry about whether rates are 5.25% or 4.75% or 5.75% as long as they're not 1% or a quarter of a percent or some other manufactured rate, this interest rate, Global interest rate environment is very attractive and the only place really where it's not yet attractive is Japan, But we feel Japan is coming. And so we've made those investments. So when the Bank of Japan says That rates are now part of their life. PGC will be ready to take advantage of it and we expect Because those expectations are in that market now, there is money to be made now. So we think The back end of this year is when we will see returns on the investments that we've made.

Speaker 2

These are not long term kind of things. These are going to give us returns this year. So we are comfortable with the 10%. We are comfortable with mid Teams earnings growth with that gearing and we are excited about the world that we're in and where we see it going forward. BGC is in a great place.

Speaker 2

As we've said for a long time, we have really, really big sales, okay. And for a lot of years, it just wasn't windy, Okay. It is now windy and you are all going to see the wonderful business that is BGC Group. It's a wonderful business. It will continue to deliver earnings for the long time going forward.

Speaker 2

And I think your staff, We are very comfortable.

Speaker 5

All right. Thanks, Howard. I've heard your success has maybe attracted Some new suitors, so I'm going to hop back in the queue and let somebody else ask a question. Thanks.

Operator

Our next question comes from Owen Au with Oppenheimer. Please proceed.

Speaker 6

Hi, good morning. Thank you for taking my question. So going back to FMX, not sure how much you want to talk about it, but I would try. So you launched the change in the summer. Could you please talk about some of the key milestones before your launch?

Speaker 6

And then on the pricing front, not exactly like going into the number, How competitive you expect to be? Thanks a lot.

Speaker 2

Okay. So we expect to launch in the summer In 2024 with CFTC approval behind us, there is really we do not see barriers to the launch ahead. These are just, we would call them plumbing, meaning we have to connect to all the FCMs. It's really just process now signing up clients. So we would expect after we launch that the 1st year It's really the execution of connecting the world's trading firms to us.

Speaker 2

Now we have a huge advantage because In the rates business, we're already connected to virtually all of the trading firms of the world. So Our network is already connected. The system is already connected. So I don't know that there's ever been a firm with a better advantage in that regard of speed. Now the FCMs, those that clear for clients, that's more new for us.

Speaker 2

So that's a part of the process of connecting them. Now it does positively work out for us That the biggest clients of the world who are our clients also own the biggest FCMs in the world. So all the banks are already connected to us. Fortunately for us also own the biggest FCM. So the technical connection is actually quite simple, But process is process.

Speaker 2

So our view is that the 1st year will be one of robust connectivity. The 2nd year will be transactions, meaning making sure everybody is on, everybody is playing, everybody is in the game. And then we view the 3rd year as fundamental competition to the Chicago Mercantile State. So step 1 is connecting, step 2 is make sure the water is flowing nicely And step 3 is bring it.

Speaker 6

Got it. That's super helpful. And then on the savings side, your competitor just indicated that they have achieved 75 80% saving for the initial clearing members. And I remember, Howard, a couple of quarters ago, you mentioned the margin offsets could be 95% to 97% for FMX. Could you please expand on that point a little bit?

Speaker 6

How can you 95% to 97% offset and it just still hold true for FMX? Thanks a lot.

Speaker 2

It does still hold true. So the concept is one where it's best to understand it by the name of them. 1, What the CME does is called 2 pot and what we will be doing with the LCH is called 1 pot clearing. 2 pot clearing and 1 pot clearing. See with 2 pot clearing, the CME holds lots of margin And the DTCC holds lots of margin.

Speaker 2

And they have a nice working relationship with each other and they trust each other and they compare things to each other And they give each other a discount because the offsetting position is in your friend over there held by them And you can go only so far, right? Whereas if you held both pots, right, you would literally net them and You would say, okay, if you're long cash and you're short futures, I mean, you only have basis risk and that's 3% It's not 75% off, it's 97% off. But you can't go past 75% off when you don't hold both pieces of the puzzle. And so The CME and the DTCC have worked nicely together to create efficiency, but they're kind of at the edge of their efficiency. And it's difficult to actually get to that 75% range.

Speaker 2

Most of our clients are tend to be in the 50% to 60% range. But now you're going to see with the LCH that we're able to get beyond that level. And basically what the right answer to think about that is, This will be the proper first time the CME has ever actually had a real competitor who can provide margin offsets and that type of capital efficiency that they have done. So we will be as good, but obviously we mathematically will be superior, but the fact is it's pure on competition. Yes, Is it better?

Speaker 2

97 is better than 75, but I think you just put us toe to toe in the ring and we're on. And as you can see what FMX's U. S. Treasury business, right, has grown its market share 1 or 2 market share points Sequentially every single quarter for years now going up 26% last quarter is 25%, the quarter before that was 23%, the quarter before that was 21%. And these are points being taken off The Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Speaker 2

So the big heavyweight champ can be hit. You're watching FMX do it And we are coming with futures launching this summer.

Speaker 6

Got it. Thanks a lot.

Operator

Thank you. We have a follow-up from Patrick Moly with Piper Sandler. Please proceed.

Speaker 5

Yes. Howard, I was just wondering hoping you could update us on your capital return plans. I know last quarter you had sort of mentioned that you might look to sell some of those easily separable electronic assets or you'd be open to possibly selling them and using the proceeds to buy back shares. So can you kind of just update us on your thinking there? Thanks.

Speaker 2

We agree that at roughly 9 times our earnings with mid teens growth, the best use of our capital return policy is to buy back shares. I have had for those who On the call who don't know a variety of shareholders have come to us and said, If you have separable technology divisions that you could sell at prices wildly higher on a multiple then your 9 times earnings, wouldn't that be an attractive transaction for our shareholders? And Those who have heard me listen to those questions, they just watch me not read it. That is a thoughtful and reasonable way to think about things. If you followed the company for a while, You would remember that there was lots of people asking me when I was going to sell my insurance business.

Speaker 2

But what I said was, Things take time when you want to get the right price. And it took time longer than some of our shareholders wished it would, but we got the right price and we bought back a shedload of our shares. So I like your question. I like that thinking. You have to find the right buyers and the timing and the right product that are not a key part of our future, but we have assets that are not a key part of our future.

Speaker 2

We have assets that lots of people would like to buy and I think that is a reasonable thing for us to work on in the year 2024. Timing, I can't help you with because it's not up to me. But I think that's a good question. It's a good set of thoughts. The company agrees with that thought.

Speaker 2

And if we can find the right transaction, we will execute it. We will buy back more shares because I think it's in the best interest of our shareholders to do exactly that. So I like the advice when you guys gave it and I want to be clear that I haven't

Speaker 5

Okay, great. And then just another one on the energy brokerage business, been really impressed with the growth there. I think Revenues were up 42% in the 4th quarter. So just as we look forward, I know that last year, I think you acquired Trident in the Q1. How should we think about growth in that business going forward given that we might be lapping some impact from some acquisitions?

Speaker 5

And then just what have you been seeing there? If you could dig into that a little bit, what are the biggest drivers? Where do you see the biggest opportunities? Thanks.

Speaker 3

So Patrick, we still remain, whilst we've grown significantly, we still remain Slightly undersized in that business. If you stripped out our acquisition for Q4, we'd be up 25%. So excluding the Trident acquisition up 25% and we're Still seeing strong growth of 25% in Q4. We bought Trident in March last year, but still opportunities both In the UK and indeed still in the U. S, growth that you've seen has been primarily on the oil side, But you've also got good growth in environmental business and also in our power business.

Speaker 3

So still strong double digit growth and opportunities in commodities.

Operator

Thank you. At this time, I would like to turn the floor back over to Mr. Lutnick for closing comments.

Speaker 2

Well, thank you for joining us today. BGC had an excellent year in 2023 and we look forward to Strong performance going forward. So thanks for spending the day in the morning with us and we look forward to speaking to you next quarter. Thanks everyone.

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Key Takeaways

  • BGC delivered a record Q4 revenue of $516.8 million, up 18.4% year-over-year, driven by strong growth in Energy & Commodities (+42.3%), Rates (+26.1%) and Foreign Exchange (+7.5%).
  • The technology-driven Fenics platform generated Q4 revenues of $130.8 million (up 20.1%) and full-year revenues of $521.7 million (up 16.1%), making it one of the largest electronic capital markets platforms globally.
  • After obtaining unanimous CFTC approval, BGC plans to launch the FMX Futures Exchange for U.S. interest rate futures in summer 2024, leveraging existing broker and FCM connections to offer enhanced margin offsets via one-pot clearing.
  • For Q1 2024, management forecasts revenues of $560 million to $610 million (vs. $532.9 million a year ago) and adjusted pre-tax earnings of $126 million to $144 million, reflecting continued investments in interest rate derivatives, Japanese markets and FMX.
  • BGC reported adjusted pre-tax earnings of $110.8 million in Q4 (up 27.3%) and expanded margins by 149 bps to 21.4%, marking the 13th consecutive quarter of year-over-year margin expansion, while ending the year with $701.4 million in liquidity.
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Earnings Conference Call
BGC Group Q4 2023
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