PJT Partners Inc. Reports Record First Quarter 2024 Results
PJT Partners Inc. reported record first-quarter results for 2024, including a 65% revenue increase to $329 million, GAAP pretax income of $54 million, and adjusted pretax income of $55 million. The company also achieved an 82% increase in GAAP diluted EPS to $1.22 and an 81% increase in adjusted EPS to $0.98 from a year ago. Additionally, PJT repurchased 1.5 million share equivalents, held $236 million in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments with no funded debt, and declared a $0.25 per share dividend. The company plans to repurchase more shares and remains confident in its future growth prospects.
PJT Partners Inc. reported record first-quarter revenues of $329 million, a significant 65% increase from the prior year, with strong performance across all businesses.
GAAP pretax income reached $54 million, an 85% increase, while adjusted pretax income saw an 81% increase to $55 million from a year ago.
GAAP diluted EPS rose by 82% to $1.22, and adjusted EPS increased by 81% to $0.98 from the previous year.
The company repurchased 1.5 million share equivalents, achieved a record $236 million in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, and had no funded debt.
PJT Partners declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share of Class A common stock, showcasing financial stability and shareholder value.
Expenses increased significantly, with Compensation and Benefits Expense rising to $229 million from $133 million in the prior year, driven by higher revenues and a higher accrual rate.
Non-Compensation Expense also saw an increase, with GAAP and Adjusted Non-Compensation Expense rising due to higher Other Expenses, Occupancy and Related expenses, and Travel and Related expenses.
The effective tax rate for GAAP Net Income in the first quarter of 2024 was 1.0%, down from 4.1% in the previous year, impacting overall net income and profitability.
Insights
PJT Partners Inc.'s first quarter financials showcase robust growth with a 65% surge in revenues year-over-year. This performance is underpinned by a substantial 72% increase in advisory revenues, an area pivotal to the firm's core operations. The advisory revenue spike is largely due to enhanced activities in restructuring and strategic advisory, sectors that historically tend to be counter-cyclical, potentially indicating a preemptive response to market volatility.
From an expense perspective, the compensation and benefits expense observed an uptick, maintaining pace with the revenue growth, which is a common practice in the industry to retain top talent during periods of expansion. Nevertheless, the compensation accrual rate has increased marginally compared to the previous year, a trend that investors should monitor as it might impact profit margins if it continues to rise.
The capital management strategy employed by PJT Partners is equally noteworthy, with aggressive share repurchases signaling confidence in the company's intrinsic value. With no funded debt and a solid cash position, the company's balance sheet appears robust, potentially cushioning against future economic downturns.
The declaration of a consistent quarterly dividend complements the financial narrative, indicating a balanced approach to capital allocation favoring both reinvestment and shareholder returns. The effective tax rate for adjusted net income also saw a reduction, from 25.3% annually to 22.0%, which can be considered a positive development for net earnings.
Looking at the broader market implications of PJT Partners' results, the firm's performance may be indicative of wider trends within the investment banking sector. The robust growth in advisory services suggests that there's heightened demand for expert financial advice amidst a complex macroeconomic environment. This is a positive signal for the sector's health and its ability to capitalize on market dynamics.
Investors should consider the firm's strategic positioning and brand recognition, as highlighted by their CEO. PJT's investment in recruiting and brand development is important for long-term growth, as a strong brand can command pricing power and attract top-tier clientele.
In the short term, the share repurchase program could provide upward pressure on the stock price due to reduced share supply. However, this must be weighed against the opportunity cost of other potential investments that the company could have pursued with the repurchase funds. The long-term sustainability of the dividend, coupled with stock repurchases, may resonate well with income-seeking investors and those looking for capital appreciation.
First Quarter Overview
-
Record First Quarter Revenues of
$329 million 65% from a year ago -
GAAP Pretax Income of
$54 million $55 million 85% and81% , respectively, from a year ago -
GAAP Diluted EPS of
$1.22 $0.98 82% and81% , respectively, from a year ago
Capital Management and Balance Sheet
- 1.5 million share and share equivalents repurchased with record open market repurchases of 1.1 million shares
-
Record First Quarter cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of
$236 million
Paul J. Taubman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We reported our second highest revenue quarter ever, reflecting strong performance in all of our businesses. In addition to our strong results, we continue to see progress as measured by the success of our recruiting efforts, the maturation of our team, and the growing recognition of our brand. We continue to invest to enhance our franchise and remain highly confident in our future growth prospects.”
Revenues
The following table sets forth revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
% Change |
|||||
|
|
(Dollars in Millions) |
|||||||||
Revenues |
|
|
|||||||||
Advisory |
|
$ |
288.7 |
|
|
$ |
168.1 |
|
|
72 |
% |
Placement |
|
|
34.5 |
|
|
|
27.6 |
|
|
25 |
% |
Interest Income & Other |
|
|
6.2 |
|
|
|
4.3 |
|
|
44 |
% |
Total Revenues |
|
$ |
329.4 |
|
|
$ |
200.0 |
|
|
65 |
% |
Total Revenues of
Advisory Revenues of
Placement Revenues of
Interest Income & Other of
Expenses
The following table sets forth information relating to the Company’s expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||||||||||
|
|
GAAP |
|
|
As Adjusted |
|
|
GAAP |
|
|
As Adjusted |
|
||||
|
|
(Dollars in Millions) |
|
|||||||||||||
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Compensation and Benefits |
|
$ |
228.9 |
|
|
$ |
228.9 |
|
|
$ |
133.0 |
|
|
$ |
133.0 |
|
% of Revenues |
|
|
69.5 |
% |
|
|
69.5 |
% |
|
|
66.5 |
% |
|
|
66.5 |
% |
Non-Compensation |
|
$ |
46.6 |
|
|
$ |
45.2 |
|
|
$ |
37.8 |
|
|
$ |
36.5 |
|
% of Revenues |
|
|
14.1 |
% |
|
|
13.7 |
% |
|
|
18.9 |
% |
|
|
18.2 |
% |
Total Expenses |
|
$ |
275.5 |
|
|
$ |
274.2 |
|
|
$ |
170.8 |
|
|
$ |
169.5 |
|
% of Revenues |
|
|
83.6 |
% |
|
|
83.2 |
% |
|
|
85.4 |
% |
|
|
84.8 |
% |
Pretax Income |
|
$ |
53.9 |
|
|
$ |
55.2 |
|
|
$ |
29.2 |
|
|
$ |
30.4 |
|
% of Revenues |
|
|
16.4 |
% |
|
|
16.8 |
% |
|
|
14.6 |
% |
|
|
15.2 |
% |
Compensation and Benefits Expense
Compensation and Benefits Expense was
Non-Compensation Expense
GAAP Non-Compensation Expense was
The increase in GAAP and Adjusted Non-Compensation Expense for the current quarter compared with the prior year was principally due to increases in Other Expenses, Occupancy and Related and Travel and Related expenses. Other Expenses increased principally due to higher bad debt expense. Occupancy and Related increased principally due to the further expansion and lease term extension of our
Provision for Taxes
As of March 31, 2024, PJT Partners Inc. owned
In calculating Adjusted Net Income, If-Converted, the Company has assumed that all outstanding partnership units in PJT Partners Holdings LP (“Partnership Units”) (excluding partnership units that have yet to satisfy certain market conditions) have been exchanged into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, subjecting all of the Company’s income to corporate-level tax.
The effective tax rate for Adjusted Net Income, If-Converted for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was
Capital Management and Balance Sheet
As of March 31, 2024, the Company held cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of
During the first quarter 2024, the Company repurchased 1.1 million shares of Class A common stock in the open market, exchanged 0.2 million Partnership Units for cash and net share settled 0.3 million shares of Class A common stock to satisfy employee tax obligations. In total during the first quarter 2024, the Company repurchased 1.5 million share equivalents at an average price of
As of March 31, 2024, the Company's remaining repurchase authorization was
The Company intends to repurchase 0.1 million Partnership Units for cash on May 9, 2024 at a price to be determined by the volume-weighted average price per share of the Company’s Class A common stock on May 6, 2024.
Dividend
The Board of Directors of PJT Partners Inc. has declared a quarterly dividend of
Quarterly Investor Call Details
PJT Partners will host a conference call on May 2, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss its first quarter 2024 results. The conference call can be accessed via the internet at www.pjtpartners.com or by dialing +1 (800) 343-5419 (
About PJT Partners
PJT Partners is a premier, global, advisory-focused investment bank that was built from the ground up to be different. Our highly experienced, collaborative teams provide independent advice coupled with old-world, high-touch client service. This ethos has allowed us to attract some of the very best talent in the markets in which we operate. We deliver leading advice to many of the world's most consequential companies, effect some of the most transformative transactions and restructurings and raise billions of dollars of capital around the globe to support startups and more established companies. To learn more about PJT Partners, please visit our website at www.pjtpartners.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain material presented herein contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements include certain information concerning future results of operations, business strategies, acquisitions, financing plans, competitive position, potential growth opportunities, potential operating performance improvements, the effects of competition and the effects of future legislation or regulations. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words “believe,” “expect,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “could” or the negative of these terms or similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict, many of which are outside our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance upon any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: (a) changes in governmental regulations and policies; (b) cyber attacks, security vulnerabilities and internet disruptions, including breaches of data security and privacy leaks, data loss and business interruptions; (c) failures of our computer systems or communication systems, including as a result of a catastrophic event and the use of remote work environments and virtual platforms; (d) the impact of catastrophic events, including business disruptions, pandemics, reductions in employment and an increase in business failures on (1) the
Any of these factors, as well as such other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, could cause the Company’s results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. There may be other risks and uncertainties that the Company is unable to predict at this time or that are not currently expected to have a material adverse effect on its business. Any such risks could cause the Company’s results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The following represent key performance measures that management uses in making resource allocation and/or compensation decisions. These measures should not be considered substitutes for, or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Management believes the following non-GAAP measures, when presented together with comparable GAAP measures, are useful to investors in understanding the Company’s operating results: Adjusted Pretax Income; Adjusted Net Income; Adjusted Net Income, If-Converted, in total and on a per-share basis (referred to as “Adjusted EPS”); Adjusted Non-Compensation Expense. These non-GAAP measures, presented and discussed in this earnings release, remove the significant accounting impact of: (a) intangible asset amortization associated with the acquisition of PJT Capital LP and the acquisition of CamberView; and (b) the net change to the amount the Company has agreed to pay Blackstone related to the net realized cash benefit from certain compensation-related tax deductions. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures and further detail regarding the adjustments are provided in the Appendix.
To help investors understand the effect of the Company’s ownership structure on its Adjusted Net Income, the Company has presented Adjusted Net Income, If-Converted. This measure illustrates the impact of taxes on Adjusted Pretax Income, assuming all Partnership Units (excluding Partnership Units that have yet to satisfy certain market conditions) have been exchanged for shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, resulting in all of the Company’s income becoming subject to corporate-level tax, considering both current and deferred income tax effects. This tax rate excludes a number of adjustments, including the tax benefits of the adjustments for transaction-related amortization expense.
Appendix
GAAP Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)
Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Data (unaudited)
Summary of Shares Outstanding (unaudited)
Footnotes
PJT Partners Inc. GAAP Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) (Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data) |
||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Advisory |
|
$ |
288,681 |
|
|
$ |
168,090 |
|
Placement |
|
|
34,489 |
|
|
|
27,585 |
|
Interest Income and Other |
|
|
6,223 |
|
|
|
4,313 |
|
Total Revenues |
|
|
329,393 |
|
|
|
199,988 |
|
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Compensation and Benefits |
|
|
228,928 |
|
|
|
133,043 |
|
Occupancy and Related |
|
|
12,161 |
|
|
|
10,011 |
|
Travel and Related |
|
|
9,101 |
|
|
|
6,972 |
|
Professional Fees |
|
|
8,349 |
|
|
|
6,927 |
|
Communications and Information Services |
|
|
4,778 |
|
|
|
4,077 |
|
Depreciation and Amortization |
|
|
3,498 |
|
|
|
3,443 |
|
Other Expenses |
|
|
8,675 |
|
|
|
6,322 |
|
Total Expenses |
|
|
275,490 |
|
|
|
170,795 |
|
Income Before Provision for Taxes |
|
|
53,903 |
|
|
|
29,193 |
|
Provision for Taxes |
|
|
531 |
|
|
|
1,207 |
|
Net Income |
|
|
53,372 |
|
|
|
27,986 |
|
Net Income Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests |
|
|
20,749 |
|
|
|
10,650 |
|
Net Income Attributable to PJT Partners Inc. |
|
$ |
32,623 |
|
|
$ |
17,336 |
|
Net Income Per Share of Class A Common Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Basic |
|
$ |
1.27 |
|
|
$ |
0.69 |
|
Diluted |
|
$ |
1.22 |
|
|
$ |
0.67 |
|
Weighted-Average Shares of Class A Common |
||||||||
Stock Outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Basic |
|
|
25,690,530 |
|
|
|
25,231,815 |
|
Diluted |
|
|
28,168,504 |
|
|
|
26,918,511 |
|
PJT Partners Inc. Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Data (unaudited) (Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data) |
||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
GAAP Net Income |
|
$ |
53,372 |
|
|
$ |
27,986 |
|
Less: GAAP Provision for Taxes |
|
|
531 |
|
|
|
1,207 |
|
GAAP Pretax Income |
|
|
53,903 |
|
|
|
29,193 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Adjustments to GAAP Pretax Income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Amortization of Intangible Assets(1) |
|
|
1,230 |
|
|
|
1,230 |
|
Spin-Off-Related Payable Due to Blackstone(2) |
|
|
91 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
Adjusted Pretax Income |
|
|
55,224 |
|
|
|
30,448 |
|
Adjusted Taxes(3) |
|
|
795 |
|
|
|
1,431 |
|
Adjusted Net Income |
|
|
54,429 |
|
|
|
29,017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
If-Converted Adjustments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Less: Adjusted Taxes(3) |
|
|
(795 |
) |
|
|
(1,431 |
) |
Add: If-Converted Taxes(4) |
|
|
12,149 |
|
|
|
7,909 |
|
Adjusted Net Income, If-Converted |
|
$ |
43,075 |
|
|
$ |
22,539 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
GAAP Net Income Per Share of Class A Common Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Basic |
|
$ |
1.27 |
|
|
$ |
0.69 |
|
Diluted |
|
$ |
1.22 |
|
|
$ |
0.67 |
|
GAAP Weighted-Average Shares of Class A |
||||||||
Common Stock Outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Basic |
|
|
25,690,530 |
|
|
|
25,231,815 |
|
Diluted |
|
|
28,168,504 |
|
|
|
26,918,511 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Adjusted Net Income, If-Converted Per Share |
|
$ |
0.98 |
|
|
$ |
0.54 |
|
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding, If-Converted |
|
|
43,737,118 |
|
|
|
41,684,276 |
|
PJT Partners Inc. Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Data – continued (unaudited) (Dollars in Thousands) |
||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Non-Compensation Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Occupancy and Related |
|
$ |
12,161 |
|
|
$ |
10,011 |
|
Travel and Related |
|
|
9,101 |
|
|
|
6,972 |
|
Professional Fees |
|
|
8,349 |
|
|
|
6,927 |
|
Communications and Information Services |
|
|
4,778 |
|
|
|
4,077 |
|
Depreciation and Amortization |
|
|
3,498 |
|
|
|
3,443 |
|
Other Expenses |
|
|
8,675 |
|
|
|
6,322 |
|
GAAP Non-Compensation Expense |
|
|
46,562 |
|
|
|
37,752 |
|
Amortization of Intangible Assets(1) |
|
|
(1,230 |
) |
|
|
(1,230 |
) |
Spin-Off-Related Payable Due to Blackstone(2) |
|
|
(91 |
) |
|
|
(25 |
) |
Adjusted Non-Compensation Expense |
|
$ |
45,241 |
|
|
$ |
36,497 |
|
PJT Partners Inc.
Summary of Shares Outstanding (unaudited)
The following table provides a summary of weighted-average shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 for both basic and diluted shares. The table also provides a reconciliation to If-Converted Shares Outstanding assuming that all Partnership Units and unvested PJT Partners Inc. restricted stock units (“RSUs”) were converted to shares of the Company’s Class A common stock:
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding - GAAP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Basic Shares Outstanding, GAAP |
|
|
25,690,530 |
|
|
|
25,231,815 |
|
Dilutive Impact of Unvested RSUs(5) |
|
|
2,477,974 |
|
|
|
1,686,696 |
|
Diluted Shares Outstanding, GAAP |
|
|
28,168,504 |
|
|
|
26,918,511 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding - If-Converted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Basic Shares Outstanding, GAAP |
|
|
25,690,530 |
|
|
|
25,231,815 |
|
Unvested RSUs(5) |
|
|
2,477,974 |
|
|
|
1,686,696 |
|
Partnership Units(6) |
|
|
15,568,614 |
|
|
|
14,765,765 |
|
If-Converted Shares Outstanding |
|
|
43,737,118 |
|
|
|
41,684,276 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
As of March 31, |
|
|||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Fully-Diluted Shares Outstanding(7) |
|
|
46,597,467 |
|
|
|
44,367,647 |
|
As of March 31, 2024, in relation to awards granted containing both service and market conditions, the Company achieved a dividend adjusted 20-day volume-weighted average share price of the Company's Class A common stock in excess of
Footnotes
| (1) | This adjustment adds back to GAAP Pretax Income amounts for the amortization of intangible assets that are associated with the acquisition of PJT Capital LP on October 1, 2015 and the acquisition of CamberView on October 1, 2018. |
|
| (2) | This adjustment adds back to GAAP Pretax Income the net change to the amount the Company has agreed to pay Blackstone related to the net realized cash benefit from certain compensation-related tax deductions. Such amounts are reflected in Other Expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. |
|
| (3) | Represents taxes on Adjusted Pretax Income, considering both current and deferred income tax effects for the current ownership structure. |
|
| (4) | Represents taxes on Adjusted Pretax Income, assuming all Partnership Units (excluding Partnership Units that have yet to satisfy market conditions) have been exchanged for shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, resulting in all of the Company’s income becoming subject to corporate-level tax, considering both current and deferred income tax effects. This tax rate excludes a number of adjustments, including the tax benefits of the adjustments for amortization expense. |
|
| (5) | Represents the dilutive impact under the treasury method of unvested RSUs that have a remaining service requirement. |
|
| (6) | Represents the number of shares assuming the conversion of all Partnership Units, including Partnership Units that achieved certain market conditions as of the date those conditions were achieved, and excludes Partnership Units that have yet to satisfy certain market conditions. |
|
| (7) | Assumes all Partnership Units and unvested RSUs have been converted to shares of the Company’s Class A common stock. As of March 31, 2024, 1.2 million share equivalents that had yet to satisfy certain market conditions were excluded from any share count calculations. |
|
| Note: Amounts presented in tables above may not add or recalculate due to rounding. | ||
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240501558888/en/
Media Relations: Jon Keehner
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Tel: +1 212.355.4449
PJT-JF@joelefrank.com
Investor Relations: Sharon Pearson
PJT Partners Inc.
Tel: +1 212.364.7120
pearson@pjtpartners.com
Source: PJT Partners Inc.
FAQ
<p>What were PJT Partners Inc.'s first-quarter 2024 revenues?</p>
PJT Partners Inc. reported record first-quarter revenues of $329 million, a 65% increase from the prior year.
<p>Did PJT Partners Inc. repurchase any shares during the first quarter of 2024?</p>
Yes, PJT Partners Inc. repurchased 1.5 million share equivalents during the first quarter of 2024.
<p>What was the dividend declared by PJT Partners Inc. for the first quarter of 2024?</p>
PJT Partners Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share of Class A common stock for the first quarter of 2024.
