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Schwab Reports Record First Quarter Earnings Per Share

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The Charles Schwab Corporation reported record net income of $1.5 billion for Q1 2021, up from $1.1 billion in Q4 2020 and $795 million in Q1 2020. Net revenues reached $4.7 billion, an 80% increase year-over-year. Trading revenue surged 42% sequentially, supported by heightened market activity and new accounts. Despite a 2% rise in total expenses to $2.8 billion, the pre-tax profit margin improved to 41.6%. The company ended March with $7.07 trillion in client assets, reflecting a 102% increase from the previous year.

Positive
  • Record net income of $1.5 billion, up 87% YoY.
  • Net revenues grew 80% to $4.7 billion.
  • Trading revenue increased 42% sequentially.
  • Client asset growth reached $7.07 trillion, up 102% YoY.
  • Pre-tax profit margin improved to 41.6%.
Negative
  • Total expenses rose 2% to $2.8 billion.

The Charles Schwab Corporation announced today that its net income for the first quarter of 2021 was a record $1.5 billion, compared with $1.1 billion for the fourth quarter of 2020, and $795 million for the first quarter of 2020. The company’s financial results include TD Ameritrade from closing on October 6, 2020 forward, as well as certain acquisition and integration-related costs and the amortization of acquired intangibles. Together these transaction-related expenses totaled $273 million pre-tax for the first quarter of 2021.

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

%

Financial Highlights

2021

 

2020

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues (in millions)

$

4,715

 

 

$

2,617

 

 

80%

Net income (in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP

$

1,484

 

 

$

795

 

 

87%

Adjusted (1)

$

1,690

 

 

$

827

 

 

104%

Diluted earnings per common share

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP

$

.73

 

 

$

.58

 

 

26%

Adjusted (1)

$

.84

 

 

$

.61

 

 

38%

Pre-tax profit margin

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP

41.6

%

 

40.0

%

 

 

Adjusted (1)

47.4

%

 

41.7

%

 

 

Return on average common

 

 

 

 

 

stockholders’ equity (annualized)

12

%

 

14

%

 

 

Return on tangible

 

 

 

 

 

common equity (annualized) (1)

24

%

 

16

%

 

 

 

Note: All per-share results are rounded to the nearest cent, based on weighted-average diluted common shares outstanding.

(1)

Further details on non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of such measures to GAAP reported results are included on pages 10-11 of this release.

CEO Walt Bettinger said, “The first three months of 2021 have in many ways been both the most successful and the most challenging in our history. As the U.S. economic recovery advanced, supported by expanding COVID-19 vaccine rollouts and government aid packages, the equity markets continued to climb, with the S&P 500® rising 78% between the pandemic-driven low in March 2020 and the end of this year’s first quarter. Interest rates began to lift as well, with the 10-year Treasury yield moving to 1.74% by quarter-end – its highest level since January 2020. This environment contributed to another rise in client engagement and activity beyond the record levels of late last year. As investors turned to Schwab for help in navigating current conditions, they opened 3.2 million new brokerage accounts – a level that exceeds our reported total for all of 2020, excluding the accounts we acquired as part of our recent M&A activity. At the same time, elevated interest in technology and other growth-oriented stocks, as well as heightened market attention to certain names via social media, significantly bolstered trading activity. Daily trades rose to an average of 8.4 million in the first three months of 2021, with a single day peak of 12.3 million. That average is approximately four times higher than the pro forma combined pace for the fourth quarter of 2019 – the onset of the $0 online equity commission era. Amidst this surge in activity, investors entrusted us with $148.2 billion in core net new assets – including $62.6 billion in March alone – up 102% from a year ago, and 24% higher than the record we just set last quarter. This strength in asset gathering enabled us to end March serving a record $7.07 trillion in client assets, up 102% from a year ago, and up 6% in just three months.”

Mr. Bettinger continued, “Early in the first quarter, we were challenged to keep pace with extraordinary activity from both new and existing clients. On the heels of an already strong 2020, retail call volumes accelerated further to 8.3 million across the combined company, up 19% from a year ago and 51% above the busiest quarter in 2019. In addition, mobile and web logins topped 1.1 billion, up 138% year-over-year. This strength in engagement was felt broadly – all of our top 25 market opens occurred during the first quarter, and we have seen multiple days where we handled at least 10 million trades and concurrently accommodated more than 15 million logins across mobile and web. With activity levels running well beyond anything we’ve ever seen, our service quality was impacted at times. As a result, we took multiple steps to better deliver the service experience our clients deserve and rely on, including enhancing online self-service capabilities, streamlining our call-routing processes, and actively ramping up hiring to expand capacity. We’ve increased our team of client service professionals by 10% since month-end December and are developing a pipeline of talent to support ongoing growth. Our efforts were already yielding results by quarter-end, with average speed-to-answer progressing back towards a more normalized range and call handle times declining back to late 2020 levels. Whatever lies ahead for us during the remainder of the year, living up to our ‘no trade-offs’ approach to service is our priority. Our team comes to work each day committed to earning the trust clients place in us to do just that.”

CFO Peter Crawford commented, “Schwab’s strong financial performance in early 2021 reflects the power of our diversified revenue streams. Net interest revenue grew 6% versus the fourth quarter of 2020, largely due to elevated margin utilization and higher overall interest-earning assets stemming from rising client cash balances. These factors more than offset the ongoing impacts of the Fed’s Zero Interest Rate Policy, including elevated prepayments of mortgage-backed securities. Asset management and administration fees increased 3% from the fourth quarter of 2020 as growth in advisory solution balances and strong equity markets more than offset a small increase in money market fund fee waivers. Trading revenue rose dramatically, up 42% sequentially, boosted by early-2021 market events on top of an already busy trading environment. Bank deposit account fee revenue declined 1% as balances ended the first quarter relatively flat to December 31 at $164.2 billion and certain balances repriced to current rates. Altogether, total revenues grew 13% from the prior quarter to a record $4.7 billion. On the expense side, total GAAP spending increased 2% to $2.8 billion for the quarter, including $119 million in acquisition and integration-related costs and $154 million in amortization of acquired intangibles. Exclusive of these items (1), adjusted total expenses were up 9% quarter-over-quarter, reflecting the impact of extraordinary client activity alongside our planned spending. Overall, our ability to maintain disciplined expense management while investing to support current and future growth through this period enabled us to produce a 41.6% pre-tax profit margin – our highest level in four quarters – or 47.4% on an adjusted basis (1).”

Mr. Crawford concluded, “During the first quarter we took advantage of favorable market conditions to help optimize our capital mix. We executed two preferred offerings equal to $2.25 billion and $600 million – which placed outstanding balances at the upper-end of our 25%-30% guideline relative to Total Tier 1 Capital. As previously announced, proceeds from the more recent Series J issuance will be used to redeem our $600 million Series C preferred. Additionally, we moved to enhance our liquidity position ahead of pending debt maturities by issuing 3- and 7- year senior notes totaling $4 billion in March. Our priority for capital management remains centered on maintaining flexibility to support ongoing growth – which will soon include the first Bank Deposit Account transfers, set to begin as early as June 30 – while also helping us move towards our long-term Tier 1 Leverage Ratio operating objective of 6.75%-7.00%. Consolidated balance sheet assets ended the quarter at $563 billion, up 3% from December 31 and our preliminary Tier 1 Leverage Ratio increased to 6.4%. Overall, our healthy financial performance, high-quality balance sheet, and solid capital base enabled us to achieve a 12% return on equity and a 24% ROTCE (1) for the first quarter. Confidence in our all-weather business model, coupled with a focus on balancing near-term profitability and long-term investment, enables us to continue driving scale while endeavoring to meet our clients’ needs.”

(1)

Further details on non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of such measures to GAAP reported results are included on pages 10-11 of this release.

Commentary from the CFO

Periodically, our Chief Financial Officer provides insight and commentary regarding Schwab’s financial picture at: https://www.aboutschwab.com/cfo-commentary. The most recent commentary, which provides perspective on trends in client trading activity, was posted on March 12, 2021.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to actions being taken to expand capacity, enhance service quality and support ongoing growth; maintaining disciplined expense management while investing to support current and future growth, meet client needs, and drive scale and efficiency; guideline percentage of preferred stock relative to Total Tier 1 Capital; Tier 1 Leverage Ratio operating objective; capital management; Bank Deposit Account transfers; and balancing near-term profitability and long-term investment. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s expectations as of the date hereof. Achievement of these expectations and objectives is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expressed expectations.

Important factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the company’s ability to develop and launch new and enhanced products, services, and capabilities, as well as enhance its infrastructure and capacity, in a timely and successful manner; hire talent; support client activity levels; successfully implement integration strategies and plans; manage expenses; attract and retain clients and registered investment advisors and grow those relationships and client assets; and monetize client assets. Other important factors include general market conditions, including equity valuations, trading activity, the level of interest rates – which can impact money market fund fee waivers, and credit spreads; market volatility; client use of the company’s advisory solutions and other products and services; capital and liquidity needs and management; client sensitivity to rates; level of client assets, including cash balances; the transfer of Bank Deposit Account balances; balance sheet cash; the scope and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and actions taken by governmental authorities to contain the spread of the virus and the economic impact; and other factors set forth in the company’s most recent report on Form 10-K.

About Charles Schwab

The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) is a leading provider of financial services, with 31.9 million active brokerage accounts, 2.1 million corporate retirement plan participants, 1.6 million banking accounts, and approximately $7.07 trillion in client assets. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company provides a full range of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services to individual investors and independent investment advisors. Its broker-dealer subsidiaries, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., TD Ameritrade, Inc., and TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc., (members SIPC, https://www.sipc.org), and their affiliates offer a complete range of investment services and products including an extensive selection of mutual funds; financial planning and investment advice; retirement plan and equity compensation plan services; referrals to independent, fee-based investment advisors; and custodial, operational and trading support for independent, fee-based investment advisors through Schwab Advisor Services. Its primary banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Bank, SSB (member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender), provides banking and lending services and products. More information is available at https://www.aboutschwab.com.

TD Ameritrade, Inc. and TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc. are separate but affiliated companies and subsidiaries of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation. TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation. TD Ameritrade is a trademark jointly owned by TD Ameritrade IP Company, Inc. and The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Income

(In millions, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

2021

 

2020

Net Revenues

 

 

 

Interest revenue

$

2,015

 

 

$

1,708

 

Interest expense

(104)

 

 

(136)

 

Net interest revenue

1,911

 

 

1,572

 

Asset management and administration fees (1)

1,016

 

 

827

 

Trading revenue

1,216

 

 

188

 

Bank deposit account fees

351

 

 

—

 

Other

221

 

 

30

 

Total net revenues

4,715

 

 

2,617

 

Expenses Excluding Interest

 

 

 

Compensation and benefits

1,430

 

 

897

 

Professional services

226

 

 

182

 

Occupancy and equipment

237

 

 

142

 

Advertising and market development

116

 

 

67

 

Communications

147

 

 

75

 

Depreciation and amortization (2)

129

 

 

90

 

Amortization of acquired intangible assets (2)

154

 

 

6

 

Regulatory fees and assessments

78

 

 

34

 

Other

238

 

 

77

 

Total expenses excluding interest

2,755

 

 

1,570

 

Income before taxes on income

1,960

 

 

1,047

 

Taxes on income

476

 

 

252

 

Net Income

1,484

 

 

795

 

Preferred stock dividends and other

96

 

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FAQ

What were Charles Schwab's Q1 2021 earnings results?

In Q1 2021, Charles Schwab reported a net income of $1.5 billion, a significant increase from $795 million in Q1 2020.

How did client assets change for SCHW in Q1 2021?

By the end of March 2021, SCHW reported a record $7.07 trillion in client assets, up 102% from the previous year.

What was the trading revenue growth for Charles Schwab in Q1 2021?

Trading revenue for SCHW rose 42% sequentially in Q1 2021.

How many new brokerage accounts were opened by Charles Schwab in Q1 2021?

Charles Schwab opened 3.2 million new brokerage accounts in Q1 2021.

What is the EPS for Charles Schwab in Q1 2021?

The diluted earnings per share (EPS) for SCHW in Q1 2021 was $0.73.

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