GAMCO Investors, Inc. Reports Results for the Fourth Quarter 2020 and Year Ended December 31, 2020

Rhea-AI Summary

GAMCO Investors, Inc. (NYSE: GBL) reported fourth quarter 2020 revenues of $71.3 million, up from $61.3 million in Q3 2020, driven by $8.5 million in incentive fees. Operating income for Q4 2020 was $23.7 million, down from $31.8 million in the previous quarter, primarily due to waivers in CEO compensation. Yearly revenues dropped to $259.7 million in 2020 from $312.4 million in 2019. The company also launched its first actively managed non-transparent ETF on February 1, 2021, and paid a total of $25.2 million in dividends during the quarter.

Positive

• Fourth quarter revenues increased sequentially to $71.3 million.
• Incentive fees of $8.5 million contributed to revenue growth.
• Launched the first actively managed non-transparent ETF, LOPP, on February 1, 2021.
• Paid total dividends of $25.2 million during the quarter.

Negative

• Operating income decreased to $23.7 million from $31.8 million in Q3 2020.
• Yearly revenues declined to $259.7 million in 2020 from $312.4 million in 2019.
• Mark-to-market investment losses increased to $15.9 million in 2020, up from $9.3 million in 2019.

GAMCO Investors, Inc. (“GAMCO”) (NYSE: GBL) today reported its operating results for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.

Fourth Quarter Results

Financial Highlights (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended									Year Ended
(In thousands, except per share data)		December 31, 2020			September 30, 2020			December 31, 2019			December 31, 2020			December 31, 2019
U.S. GAAP Basis
Revenues		$	71,348		$	61,252		$	86,280		$	259,726		$	312,368
Operating income			23,684			31,842			33,043			99,609			117,984
Net income			19,723			16,435			24,382			58,693			81,917
Diluted earnings per common share		$	0.74		$	0.62		$	0.91		$	2.20		$	2.98
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding			26,680			26,613			26,892			26,680			27,479
Shares outstanding			27,503			27,485			27,380			27,503			27,380
Assets Under Management
AUM - end of period (in millions)		$	32,561		$	29,692		$	36,475		$	32,561		$	36,475
AUM - average (in millions)			30,928			30,326			35,940			30,992			36,443

Giving Back to Society – (Y)our “S” in ESG

The Board of Directors approved in August 2020 a $0.25 per share shareholder designated charitable contribution (“SDCC”), a 25% increase from the prior year’s $0.20 per share designation under the program. We estimate this will total approximately $5.4 million. Since the inception of GAMCO’s SDCC program in 2013, and counting this current amount, shareholders will have designated charitable gifts of close to $37 million to more than 280 501(c)(3) institutions. When combined with our other charitable donations, this boosts our total contributions to approximately $62 million since our initial public offering in February 1999.

SHAREHOLDERS HAVE UNTIL THE RECORD DATE OF FEBRUARY 28, 2021 TO REGISTER THEIR SHARES WITH OUR TRANSFER AGENT IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CURRENT SDCC.

This charitable program underscores our giving back to society as part of our commitment to managing socially responsible portfolios since 1987, which has evolved to include integrating ESG (environmental, social, and governance) factors.

Actively managed non-transparent ETFs

On February 1, 2021, we launched our first actively managed non-transparent ETF, the Love our Planet & People (LOPP) ETF. In an effort to encourage investment, and to acknowledge our appreciation for our private wealth and mutual fund clients, we will offer a loyalty program under which the first $100 million invested in LOPP will incur no fees or expenses for at least one year. The advisor is absorbing these costs underscoring our emphasis on the environment, and to incentivize our clients’ investment in the future of planet and our people.

Revenues – Sequential Growth

- Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2020 were $71.3 million compared with $61.3 million in the third quarter of 2020. This increase includes incentive fees of $8.5 million in the fourth quarter and none in the third quarter.

- Investment advisory fees were $65.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 versus $54.9 million in the third quarter of 2020:

- Gabelli Funds’ revenues were $40.3 million compared to $38.9 million in the third quarter of 2020.

- Institutional and Private Wealth Management revenues, which are generally billed on portfolio values at the beginning of the quarter, were $15.0 million compared to $14.8 million in the third quarter of 2020.

- SICAV revenues were $1.2 million for each quarter.

- Distribution fees from our equity mutual funds and other income were $6.4 million for both quarters.

Operating Income

For the fourth quarter of 2020, operating income was $23.7 million versus $31.8 million in the third quarter. Waivers of CEO compensation bolstered operating income in the fourth quarter of 2020 by $4.7 million and by $10.0 million in the third quarter of 2020.

Non-Operating Income

Mark-to-market investment gains were $3.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 versus losses of $3.1 million in the third quarter of 2020. Interest expense was $0.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 and $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2020.

Income Taxes

GAMCO’s effective tax rate for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 was 28.4% versus 27.4% for the quarter ended September 30, 2020.

Year over Year

Total revenues for 2020 were $259.7 million compared with $312.4 million in 2019.

For 2020, operating income of $99.6 million was bolstered by a $14.7 million benefit from CEO compensation waivers. Operating income for 2019 was $118.0 million, enhanced by the $27.2 million benefit from CEO compensation waivers but reduced by $19.3 million of deferred compensation amortization, a non-cash charge which includes the impact of the change in GBL share price.

For the year, mark-to-market investment losses were $6.6 million higher at $15.9 million in 2020 versus losses of $9.3 million in 2019. Interest expense was unchanged at $2.6 million for the full years 2020 and 2019.

GAMCO’s effective tax rate for 2020 was 29.9% versus 24.6% for 2019. This increase is primarily as a result of non-deductibility of certain expenses as a result of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Business Highlights

- The COVID-19 pandemic has had no material impact on our operations, including our financial reporting systems, internal controls over financial reporting, and disclosure controls and procedures. From July 1^st to December 31^st, GAMCO paid the premiums for all teammates enrolled in our healthcare plans.

- On November 2^nd and 3^rd, Gabelli Funds hosted the 44^th Annual Auto Symposium with virtual presentations from leading automotive companies with a particular focus on the EV ecosystem.

- On November 13^th, Gabelli Funds and the Columbia Business School hosted the 2^nd Annual Healthcare Symposium which included panels that discussed vaccines and therapeutics to treat COVID-19, health policy and reimbursement trends, and healthcare delivery in a virtual world.

- On January 4^th, GAMCO International SICAV launched GAMCO Convertible Securities. The fund, managed by our Dinsmore team, leverages the firm’s history of investing in dedicated convertible security portfolios since 1979. Multiple share classes were available at launch and are tailored for global institutional investors as well as select non-U.S. retail investors.

- On January 7^th, we received regulatory approval for our actively managed non-transparent ETFs. We launched the first fund, Love our Planet & People, on February 1, 2021, and the second one, Gabelli Growth Innovators, is expected to launch later in February.

Balance Sheet

GAMCO ended the year with cash and investments of $124.2 million and short-term debt of $24.2 million. Also of note was the reduction in payables of over $36 million.

Return to Shareholders

During the quarter, GAMCO paid an extra $0.90 per share dividend in addition to the regular $0.02 per share for a total of $25.2 million. The Company purchased 42,116 shares for $0.5 million, at an average price of $12.98 per share.

On February 2, 2021, GAMCO’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.02 per share, which is payable on March 30, 2021 to class A and class B shareholders of record on March 16, 2021.

About GAMCO Investors, Inc.

GAMCO is known for its research-driven approach to equity investing. GAMCO conducts its investment advisory business principally through two subsidiaries: GAMCO Asset Management Inc. (approximately 1,500 institutional and private wealth separate accounts, principally in the U.S.) and Gabelli Funds, LLC (24 open-end funds, a SICAV, and 16 closed-end funds). GAMCO serves a broad client base including institutions, intermediaries, offshore investors, private wealth, and direct retail investors.

GAMCO offers a wide range of solutions for clients across Value and Growth Equity, ESG, Convertibles, sector-focused strategies including Gold and Utilities, Merger Arbitrage, and Fixed Income. In 1977, GAMCO launched its flagship All Cap Value strategy, Gabelli Value, and in 1986 launched its mutual fund business.

Table I: Assets Under Management and Fund Flows - 4th Quarter 2020 (in millions)
														Fund
											Market			distributions,
		September 30,			Client			Client			appreciation/			net of			December 31,
		2020			Inflows			Outflows			(depreciation)			reinvestments			2020
Equities:
Mutual Funds		$	8,855		$	305		$	(726)		$	1,147		$	(40)		$	9,541
Closed-end Funds			7,017			40			(57)			900			(127)			7,773
Institutional & PWM (a)			10,539			155			(544)			2,221			-			12,371
SICAV			437			90			(91)			38			-			474
Total Equities			26,848			590			(1,418)			4,306			(167)			30,159
100% U.S. Treasury Fund			2,822			700			(1,153)			1			-			2,370
Institutional & PWM Fixed Income			22			10			-			-			-			32
Total Treasuries & Fixed Income			2,844			710			(1,153)			1			-			2,402
Total Assets Under Management		$	29,692		$	1,300		$	(2,571)		$	4,307		$	(167)		$	32,561
(a) Includes $196 and $166 of 100% U.S. Treasury Fund AUM at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

Table II
GAMCO INVESTORS, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
		Three Months Ended						Twelve Months Ended
		December 31						December 31
		2020			2019			2020			2019
Investment advisory and incentive fees		$	64,991		$	78,197		$	233,628		$	279,090
Distribution fees and other income			6,357			8,083			26,098			33,278
Total revenues			71,348			86,280			259,726			312,368
Compensation costs (a)			29,859			33,165			102,347			123,528
Management fee expense (a)			1,651			1,661			5,376			9,963
Distribution costs			7,216			8,680			28,474			34,226
Other operating expenses			8,938			9,731			23,920			26,667
Total expenses			47,664			53,237			160,117			194,384
Operating income			23,684			33,043			99,609			117,984
Investment gain/(loss)			4,492			(1,307)			(7,869)			(2,217)
Interest expense			(635)			(647)			(2,620)			(2,609)
Shareholder-designated contribution			-			-			(5,436)			(4,500)
Non-operating loss			3,857			(1,954)			(15,925)			(9,326)
Income before income taxes			27,541			31,089			83,684			108,658
Provision for income taxes			7,818			6,707			24,991			26,741
Net income		$	19,723		$	24,382		$	58,693		$	81,917
Net income:
Basic		$	0.75		$	0.91		$	2.21		$	2.99
Diluted		$	0.74		$	0.91		$	2.20		$	2.98
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic			26,439			26,801			26,571			27,407
Diluted			26,680			26,892			26,680			27,479
Actual shares outstanding (b)			27,503			27,380			27,503			27,380

(a)	The CEO waiver reduced compensation costs by $3,821, $7,154, $12,367, and $23,010, respectively and management fee expense by $885, $1,928, $2,293, and $4,219, respectively.
(b)	Includes 1,080 RSA shares at December 31, 2020 and 661 RSA shares at December 31, 2019.

Table III
GAMCO INVESTORS, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(In thousands, except per share data)
		December 31,			December 31,
		2020			2019
ASSETS
Cash, cash equivalents, and U.S. Treasury Bills		$	98,313		$	86,136
Investments in securities			25,845			34,273
Receivable from brokers			5,833			989
Other receivables			32,524			41,557
Deferred tax asset and income tax receivable			9,462			16,389
Other assets			11,896			10,542
Total assets		$	183,873		$	189,886
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Payable to brokers		$	1		$	-
Securities sold, not yet purchased			799			-
Income taxes payable and deferred tax liabilities			2,381			757
Compensation payable			21,543			64,279
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			48,023			45,942
Sub-total			72,747			110,978
5.875% Senior Notes (due June 1, 2021)			24,215			24,191
Total liabilities			96,962			135,169
Stockholders' equity (a)			86,911			54,717
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	183,873		$	189,886
(a) Shares outstanding of 27,503, and 27,380, respectively.

Non-GAAP information and reconciliation:

Management believes the use of non-GAAP measures provides relevant information to allow investors to view operating trends, perform analytical comparisons and benchmark performance between periods for its core operating results. Management uses non-GAAP measures in its financial, investing and operational decision-making process, for internal reporting and as part of its forecasting and budgeting processes. GAMCO’s calculation of non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to other companies due to potential differences between companies in the method of calculation. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for related U.S. GAAP measures.

The following table reconciles the U.S. GAAP basis amounts, as reported, to the non-GAAP measures:

		Three Months Ended						Year Ended
(Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data)		December 31, 2020			December 31, 2019			December 31, 2020			December 31, 2019
Net income, U.S. GAAP basis		$	19,723		$	24,382		$	58,693		$	81,917
Impact of DCCAs on expenses and taxes (a):
Compensation costs			-			1,660			(1,409)			14,791
Management fee expense			-			1,030			-			4,538
Provision for income taxes			-			(646)			349			(4,639)
Total impact of DCCAs on expenses and taxes			-			2,044			(1,060)			14,690
Net income, as adjusted		$	19,723		$	26,426		$	57,633		$	96,607
Per fully diluted share:
Net income, U.S. GAAP basis		$	0.74		$	0.91		$	2.20		$	2.98
Impact of DCCAs		$	-		$	0.08		$	(0.04)		$	0.54
Net income, as adjusted		$	0.74		$	0.99		$	2.16		$	3.52
(a) The non-GAAP adjustments relate to multiple deferred cash compensation agreements ("DCCAs").

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Our disclosure and analysis in this press release, which do not present historical information, contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements convey our current expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements because they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” and other words and terms of similar meaning. They also appear in any discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, future performance of our products, expenses, the outcome of any legal proceedings, and financial results. Although we believe that we are basing our expectations and beliefs on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of what we currently know about our business and operations, the economy, the effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and other conditions, there can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially from what we expect or believe. Therefore, you should proceed with caution in relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance.

Forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors, some of which are listed below, that are difficult to predict and could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from any future results or outcomes expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may cause our actual results to differ from our expectations include risks associated with the duration and scope of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic resulting in volatile market conditions, a decline in the securities markets that adversely affect our assets under management, negative performance of our products, the failure to perform as required under our investment management agreements, a general downturn in the economy that negatively impacts our operations, and the ongoing impacts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act with respect to tax rates and the non-deductibility of certain portions of named executive officer compensation. We also direct your attention to the more specific discussions of these and other risks, uncertainties and other important factors contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other public filings. Other factors that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We do not undertake to update publicly any forward-looking statements if we subsequently learn that we are unlikely to achieve our expectations whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Gabelli Funds, LLC is a registered investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is a wholly owned subsidiary of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (NYSE: GBL).

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund before investing. The prospectus, which contains more complete information about this and other matters, should be read carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, please call 800 GABELLI or visit www.gabelli.com

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FAQ

What were GAMCO Investors' fourth quarter 2020 financial results?

GAMCO reported fourth quarter 2020 revenues of $71.3 million and net income of $19.7 million.

How did GAMCO's revenues for 2020 compare to 2019?

GAMCO's total revenues for 2020 were $259.7 million, down from $312.4 million in 2019.

What is the significance of the LOPP ETF launched by GAMCO?

The Love our Planet & People ETF is GAMCO's first actively managed non-transparent ETF, launched on February 1, 2021.

What dividend did GAMCO declare for the first quarter of 2021?

GAMCO declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.02 per share, payable on March 30, 2021.

How did GAMCO's operating income change in the fourth quarter of 2020?

Operating income for Q4 2020 decreased to $23.7 million from $31.8 million in Q3 2020.