EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

SWS Group, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Net income of $7.2 Million

DALLAS, February 5, 2007 – SWS Group, Inc. (NYSE: SWS) today reported net income of $7.2 million, or diluted earnings per share (EPS) of 26 cents, on net revenues of $72.8 million for the company’s second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007. Net revenue is defined as total revenue less interest expense.

Net income, EPS and net revenues declined from the prior year’s second quarter when SWS earned $12.9 million, or diluted EPS of 48 cents, on net revenues of $74.3 million.

In the first six months of fiscal 2008, SWS recorded net revenues of $139.8 million, net income of $15 million and diluted EPS of 54 cents, compared with net revenues of $144.6 million, net income of $23 million and diluted EPS of 85 cents in the first half of the prior fiscal year.

SWS President and CEO Donald W. Hultgren said financial and credit market disruptions and higher recruiting and hiring expenses resulted in lower quarterly results.

“There are many positive developments underway at SWS Group that position us for future profitable growth,” Mr. Hultgren said. He noted the recently announced agreement to purchase California broker-dealer, M. L. Stern, and its asset management subsidiary, Tower Asset Management, from Pacific Life Insurance. The transaction is expected to double the size of the company’s private client advisor network and re-establish SWS in the asset management business.

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SWS Group Announces Second Quarter Results / 2

 

“While turmoil in the financial and credit markets had a negative impact, it also provided opportunities,” Mr. Hultgren said. “For example, our bank has substantially increased mortgage warehouse lending, and attractive mortgage rates should provide continued opportunities for growth in this business on a national basis. I would emphasize that we do not have significant exposure to the sub-prime market, which accounted for less than 1 percent of fundings.”

Second quarter net revenues declined $1.5 million from year-ago levels as a result of a $3.1 million decrease in net gains on principal transactions and a $3.1 million decrease in other revenues. These declines were partially offset by increased commissions of $1.7 million and an increase in net interest of $1.6 million. Net gains on principal transactions declined primarily because a $2.3 million gain on the valuation of NYX stock was recorded in last year’s December quarter. The stock’s ownership was transferred from Southwest Securities to SWS Group in fiscal 2008 resulting in the gain being included in other comprehensive income. The prior year’s second quarter included $2.3 million in tax-free proceeds from a company-owned life insurance contract, which primarily accounted for the decrease in other revenues. Higher volumes and client activity in the Retail and Institutional business segments resulted in increased commissions. Improved spreads in the stock loan business largely accounted for the increase in net interest.

Six-month net revenues declined $4.9 million. Net gains on principal transactions decreased $10 million and other revenues $2.3 million. These declines were partially offset by an increase in commissions of $5 million. Transfer of ownership of the NYX stock to SWS Group accounted for $3.1 million of the decline in net gains on principal transactions. In addition, the prior year’s period included a $2.7 million gain on the restructuring of a commercial mortgage backed security. The current period had reduced trading profits

 

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SWS Group Announces Second Quarter Results / 3

 

as a result of carrying lower inventories; this was offset by increased commissions in the taxable fixed income business as a result of an improved environment and the recruitment and hiring of new fixed income advisors.

Operating expenses increased $6 million for the second quarter compared with results for the second quarter a year ago. The largest increases were in commissions and other employee compensation, $2.4 million, and other expenses, $2.2 million. The latter category included a $1.7 million charge to earnings in order to add to the allowance for loan losses. The company also had an increase in fees for professional services. Operating expenses for the six-month period increased $5.4 million compared with those of the first half of fiscal 2007. The largest increases were in occupancy, equipment and computer services, $2.1 million, and employee compensation, $1.8 million.

At the broker-dealer, volatility in the credit and mortgage markets had the most significant impact on the company’s fixed income trading business. “Investing in sub prime is not a primary business for us, and we have no collateralized debt obligations, proprietary structured products or off-balance sheet risk related to any of these types of transactions,” Mr. Hultgren said. “We do trade mortgage and asset backed securities on a regular basis, and we monitor our trading limits daily to maintain levels we consider prudent under current market conditions.”

At the company’s community bank, there continues to be strong loan demand in the commercial real estate, commercial and SBA categories, Mr. Hultgren said. “Mortgage industry problems have not had a negative effect on these lines, and we anticipate solid growth to continue unless there is a prolonged mortgage market downturn.” Mr. Hultgren said more stringent mortgage qualification standards have eliminated a large group of buyers from the new home market and resulted in an oversupply of finished housing units.

 

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SWS Group Announces Second Quarter Results / 4

 

As a result, the bank’s single family residential construction loan portfolio has deteriorated. “We experienced the first losses in the December quarter and anticipate some additional deterioration over the next few quarters.”

In the Clearing segment, Southwest Securities processed 15,308,621 securities transactions year-to-date, compared with 8,231,010 transactions processed in the first half of the prior fiscal year. Clearing posted a 7 percent increase in net revenues. However, much of the additional transaction volume was from high-volume trading customers who use fewer services and thus pay lower fees per transaction than general securities correspondents. The correspondent count at the end of the second quarter was 202, down from 215 a year earlier. The decrease was primarily due to correspondents that SWS terminated and correspondents that left the brokerage business.

SWS Group, Inc. is a Dallas-based holding company offering a broad range of investment and financial services through its subsidiaries. The company’s common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWS. SWS Group’s principal broker-dealer, Southwest Securities, Inc., which celebrated 35 years of service to investors in 2007, is ranked as one of the top five clearing firms in the nation. SWS subsidiaries also include Southwest Securities, FSB, one of the largest community banks in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and SWS Financial Services, Inc., a broker-dealer serving independent securities brokers and their clients.

This release contains forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that any forward-looking statements, including those predicting or forecasting future events or results, which depend on future events for their accuracy, embody projections or assumptions, or express the intent, belief or current expectations of the company or management, are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially as a result of various factors, some of which are beyond our control, including, but not limited to, volume of trading in securities, volatility of securities prices and interest rates, customer margin loan activity, creditworthiness of our correspondents and customers, demand for housing, loss of correspondents to self-clearing or as the result of consolidations or otherwise, and those factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other reports filed with and available from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Tables and Financial Statements Follow

 

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SWS Group Announces Second Quarter Results / 5

 

Non-GAAP Reconciliation

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     2nd Qtr FY’08    2nd Qtr FY’07  

Income from continuing operations

   $ 7,248    $ 12,905  

Impact of NYX

     —        (1,500 )

Insurance proceeds

     —        (2,276 )
               

Adjusted income from continuing operations

   $ 7,248    $ 9,129  
               

EPS from continuing operations – diluted – GAAP

   $ 0.26    $ 0.48  

Impact from NYX

     —        (0.06 )

Insurance proceeds

     —        (0.08 )
               

EPS from continuing operations – diluted – adjusted

   $ 0.26    $ 0.34  
               

SWS has included the presentation of income from continuing operations and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, excluding the impact of the gain realized with our investment in NYX common stock and the proceeds from company-owned life insurance. SWS believes this presentation is useful to investors because it is more indicative of SWS’ income from ongoing operations and diluted earnings per share from ongoing operations. Management has provided this information to assist the reader in understanding the impact of our investment in the NYX for fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2008 and the gain recognized on company-owned life insurance in fiscal 2007. While management believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating SWS, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for or superior to the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Second Quarter Segment Results

(In thousands)

 

     2nd Quarter FY’08     2nd Quarter FY’07  
     Net Revenue     Pretax     Net Revenue    Pretax  

Clearing

   $ 10,019     $ 2,681     $ 9,897    $ 5,233  

Retail

     21,924       4,118       19,700      3,638  

Institutional

     28,259       10,322       26,766      8,128  

Bank

     12,870       3,715       12,973      6,752  

Other Consolidated Entities

     (248 )     (8,989 )     4,971      (4,424 )
                               

Total

   $ 72,824     $ 11,847     $ 74,307    $ 19,327  
                               

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

 

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SWS Group Announces Second Quarter Results / 6

 

SWS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

December 31, 2007 and June 29, 2007

(In thousands, except par values and share amounts)

 

     December 31,
2007

(Unaudited)
    June 29, 2007  

Assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 68,898     $ 128,760  

Assets segregated for regulatory purposes

     302,565       319,265  

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

     2,842,621       3,117,766  

Receivable from clients, net of allowances

     363,473       344,125  

Loans held for sale

     319,305       148,013  

Loans, net

     806,327       756,037  

Securities owned, at market value

     90,898       119,621  

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     14,098       42,486  

Goodwill

     7,552       7,552  

Marketable equity securities available for sale

     10,488       3,793  

Other assets

     89,539       87,167  
                

Total assets

   $ 4,915,764     $ 5,074,585  
                

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Short-term borrowings

   $ —       $ 4,000  

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

     2,778,376       3,051,956  

Payable to clients

     592,044       581,118  

Deposits

     976,092       897,150  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     3,673       17,829  

Securities sold, not yet purchased, at market value

     41,554       63,470  

Drafts payable

     27,143       25,718  

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

     128,881       66,989  

Other liabilities

     50,189       59,482  
                

Total liabilities

     4,597,952       4,767,712  

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     50       426  

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock of $1.00 par value. Authorized 100,000 shares; none issued

     —         —    

Common stock of $.10 par value. Authorized 60,000,000 shares, issued 28,213,971 and outstanding 27,617,777 shares at December 31, 2007; issued 28,197,278 and outstanding 27,491,528 shares at June 29, 2007

     2,821       2,819  

Additional paid-in capital

     268,675       268,575  

Retained earnings

     50,014       39,729  

Accumulated other comprehensive income – unrealized holding gain, net of tax

     1,085       1,417  

Deferred compensation, net

     1,975       1,644  

Treasury stock (596,194 shares at December 31, 2007 and 705,750 shares at June 29, 2007, at cost)

     (6,808 )     (7,737 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     317,762       306,447  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 4,915,764     $ 5,074,585  
                

 

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SWS Group Announces Second Quarter Results / 7

 

SWS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

For the three and six-months ended December 31, 2007 and December 29, 2006

(In thousands, except per share and share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2007
    Three Months
Ended
December 29,
2006
    Six Months
Ended
December 31,
2007
    Six Months
Ended
December 29,
2006
 

Revenues:

        

Net revenues from clearing operations

   $ 3,737     $ 3,056     $ 7,088     $ 6,127  

Commissions

     26,101       24,360       48,273       43,299  

Interest

     69,649       74,877       138,854       144,782  

Investment banking, advisory and administrative fees

     8,819       8,050       18,860       18,425  

Net gains on principal transactions

     2,534       5,655       3,877       13,853  

Other

     6,003       9,111       12,431       14,769  
                                

Total revenue

     116,843       125,109       229,383       241,255  

Interest expense

     44,019       50,802       89,613       96,607  
                                

Net revenues

     72,824       74,307       139,770       144,648  
                                

Non-Interest Expenses:

        

Commissions and other employee compensation

     43,285       40,837       83,509       81,681  

Occupancy, equipment and computer service costs

     6,375       5,489       12,898       10,829  

Communications

     2,484       2,103       4,710       4,289  

Floor brokerage and clearing organization charges

     889       1,106       2,016       2,276  

Advertising and promotional

     922       604       1,515       1,059  

Other

     7,022       4,841       11,329       10,467  
                                

Total non-interest expenses

     60,977       54,980       115,977       110,601  
                                

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense

     11,847       19,327       23,793       34,047  

Income tax expense

     4,599       6,422       8,841       11,059  
                                

Income from continuing operations

     7,248       12,905       14,952       22,988  

Discontinued operations:

        

Income from discontinued operations

     —         45       29       86  

Income tax expense

     —         (14 )     (9 )     (27 )

Minority interest

     —         (5 )     (3 )     (9 )
                                

Income from discontinued operations

     —         26       17       50  
                                

Net income

     7,248       12,931       14,969       23,038  

Net income (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income

     (107 )     456       (332 )     431  
                                

Comprehensive income

   $ 7,141     $ 13,387     $ 14,637     $ 23,469  
                                

Earnings per share – basic

        

Income from continuing operations

   $ 0.26     $ 0.48     $ 0.55     $ 0.86  

Income from discontinued operations

     —         —         —         —    
                                

Net income

   $ 0.26     $ 0.48     $ 0.55     $ 0.86  
                                

Weighted average shares outstanding – basic

     27,465,601       26,836,303       27,437,367       26,654,553  
                                

Earnings per share – diluted

        

Income from continuing operations

   $ 0.26     $ 0.48     $ 0.54     $ 0.85  

Income from discontinued operations

     —         —         —         —    
                                

Net income

   $ 0.26     $ 0.48     $ 0.54     $ 0.85  
                                

Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted

     27,584,415       27,147,549       27,599,738       26,950,075  
                                


SWS Group Announces Second Quarter Results / 8

 

CONTACT:   

Jim Bowman,

Vice President

Corporate Communications

1201 Elm Street

Suite 3500

Dallas, Texas 75270

(214) 859-9335

jbowman@swst.com

 

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