BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

THIRD QUARTER 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

• Total revenues of $247.0 million, up 16% from Q3'19
• Total transaction volume of $8.4 billion, down 6% from Q3'19
• Net income of $53.2 million, up 21% from Q3'19 and diluted earnings per share of $1.66, up 19% from Q3'19
• Servicing portfolio of $103.4 billion at September 30, 2020, up 13% from Q3'19
• Declared dividend of $0.36 per share for the quarter

YEAR-TO-DATE 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

• Total revenues of $734.0 million, up 22% from 2019
• Total transaction volume of $26.9 billion, up 21% from 2019
• Net income of $163.1 million and diluted earnings per share of $5.11, up 25% and 24% respectively from 2019

Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE: WD) reported third quarter 2020 total revenues of $247.0 million, an increase of 16% over the third quarter of 2019. Net income for the third quarter of 2020 was $53.2 million, or $1.66 per diluted share, up 21% and 19%, respectively, from the third quarter of last year. Third quarter 2020 adjusted EBITDA1 was $45.2 million, down 17% over the same period in 2019. Third quarter total transaction volume decreased 6% from the prior-year quarter to $8.4 billion, with Agency lending up 36%, offset by a 45% decrease in brokered volume and a 32% decrease in property sales volume. The Company ended the third quarter with $294.9 million of cash on the balance sheet.

Willy Walker, Chairman and CEO commented, "Walker & Dunlop's fantastic financial performance in Q3 was due to the combination of our exceptional people, brand, and technology. We continue to grow market share, with 69% of our quarterly loan refinancing activity done on loans new to Walker & Dunlop, and 25% of our $7.3 billion in debt financing done with new clients. This expanding client base and market share translated into significant year-over-year growth in revenues and earnings. Our team has found ways to continue growing and delivering exceptional financial results in the midst of the pandemic due to our best-in-class corporate culture that has once again been recognized by Fortune Magazine as a "Great Place to Work in 2020."

Mr. Walker continued, "In 2015, we established Vision 2020, a five-year strategic growth plan to double Walker & Dunlop's revenues, loan servicing portfolio, and annual loan origination volumes. We have accomplished Vision 2020, taking our servicing portfolio from $50 billion in 2015 to over $100 billion today, taking annual loan originations from $16 billion to over $30 billion, and taking total revenues from under $500 million to just under $1 billion by the end of 2020. This is an incredible accomplishment -- even for a team and company that has demonstrated market-leading growth since we went public in 2010. But what is even more exciting is where we go from here. We have the people, brand, technology and scale to take Walker & Dunlop to a new level and accomplish our long-standing mission to be the premier commercial real estate finance company in the United States over the next five years."

Discussion of Results:

• Our third quarter Agency volumes grew by 36% during the quarter, reflecting an active multifamily financing market due to tight spreads and a low interest rate environment. The overall demand for our Agency loan products remained high despite the macroeconomic disruption caused by COVID-19. The Agencies are continuing to lend to the multifamily industry during this period of market disruption, just as they did during the great financial crisis of 2007-2010.
• Brokered volume was down in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019 but has increased from the second quarter of 2020. Capital providers besides the Agencies continue to be cautious as a result of uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, financing on asset classes other than industrial and multifamily remained limited across the industry.
• The decrease in principal lending and investing volume, which includes interim loan volume, originations for Walker & Dunlop Investment Partners, Inc. ("WDIP") separate accounts, and joint venture bridge lending, was primarily due to a year-over-year decrease in interim loans originated for our bridge lending joint venture and WDIP separate accounts as a result of uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the quarter, we began accepting applications for our interim loan program after a pause during the second quarter of 2020 and originated one short-term interim loan that paid off prior to September 30, 2020.
• Property sales volume began to pick up in the third quarter but declined year over year as the overall commercial real estate acquisition market remained slower than 2019 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discussion of Results:

• Our servicing portfolio continues to experience steady growth due to our significant Agency debt financing volumes and relatively few maturities and prepayments over the past year.
• During the third quarter of 2020, we added $3.4 billion of net loans to our servicing portfolio, and over the past 12 months, we added $11.6 billion of net loans to our servicing portfolio, 87% of which were Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.
• Only $4.7 billion of Agency loans in our servicing portfolio, with a weighted-average servicing fee of 22.7 basis points, are scheduled to mature over the next two years.
• The slight increase in the weighted-average servicing fee was due primarily to an increase in Fannie Mae loans as a percentage of the overall servicing portfolio year over year.
• We added net mortgage servicing rights ("MSRs") from originations of $27.4 million in the quarter and $108.3 million over the past 12 months.
• The MSRs associated with our servicing portfolio had a fair value of $975.0 million as of September 30, 2020, compared to $884.4 million as of September 30, 2019.
• Assets under management (AUM) as of September 30, 2020 primarily consisted of $1.3 billion of loans and funds managed by WDIP and $0.6 billion of loans in our interim lending joint venture. The year-over-year increase in AUM is principally related to WDIP's fundraising activity over the past 12 months.
• For most of the loans we service under the Fannie Mae DUS program and for loans under Ginnie Mae's program, should a borrower fail to make debt service payments, we are obligated to advance the principal and interest and guaranty fees, and we will be reimbursed by either Fannie Mae or Ginnie Mae. At the end of the third quarter of 2020, we had $4.9 million of outstanding advances under our Fannie Mae and HUD servicing agreements, compared to $4.8 million and $2.9 million at the end of June and March, respectively. We have a warehouse facility in place to fund 90% of any advances of principal and interest related to our Fannie Mae portfolio. We had no borrowings outstanding under this facility as of September 30, 2020. We are not obligated to make advances for any of the other loan types that we service.

Discussion of Results:

• Overall debt financing volume was flat year over year, while a change in the mix of debt financing volume to more Agency originations led to the increase in the origination fee rate and the increase in loan origination and debt brokerage fees.
• A substantial increase in the weighted-average servicing fee on Fannie Mae loans was the primary driver of the increase in MSR Income.
• The increase in the volume of Agency loans as a percentage of overall debt financing volume led to the increase in MSR Income as a percentage of debt financing volume.
• The increase in the weighted-average servicing fee on Fannie Mae loans was the primary driver of the increase in MSR Income from Agency loans as a percentage of debt financing volume, partially offset by an increase in the percentage of overall debt financing volume coming from Freddie Mac loans.
• The $11.6 billion net increase in the servicing portfolio over the past 12 months was the principal driver of the growth in servicing fees year over year, coupled with the slight increase in the servicing portfolio's weighted-average servicing fee.
• The increase in net warehouse interest income from loans held for sale ("LHFS") was due to a 55% increase in the average balance of LHFS outstanding and an increase in the net spread from 30 basis points in the prior year to 106 basis points in the current year as the rate on mortgage loans from which we receive interest income declined at a slower rate than the short term interest rates we pay for our warehouse borrowings.
• The decrease in net warehouse interest income from loans held for investment ("LHFI") was due to a smaller average balance of loans outstanding and a substantial decrease in the net spread. During the prior year, the Company held a large loan that was fully funded with corporate cash, resulting in an overall high net spread. During the current year, a much smaller balance of loans was fully funded with corporate cash.
• Escrow earnings and other interest income decreased due to a substantial year-over-year decrease in short-term interest rates, upon which our earnings rates are based, partially offset by a slight increase in the average escrow balance.
• The decrease in property sales broker fees was directly a result of the decrease in property sales volume year over year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discussion of Results:

• The increase in personnel expenses was largely the result of (i) a 15% increase in average headcount and associated salaries, benefits, and annual bonus as we continue to scale our business through strategic acquisitions and organic hiring, (ii) an increase in commissions expense driven by the year to date increase in loan origination and debt brokerage fees, and (iii) an increase in the annual Company bonus due to our improved financial performance year over year.
• Amortization and depreciation increased primarily due to the growth in the average balance of MSRs outstanding year over year.
• The increase in provision for credit losses for the third quarter was partially related to the manner in which we were required to calculate our allowances for credit losses. During the prior year, these allowances were calculated based on an incurred loss methodology. During the current year, as a result of the implementation of the current expected credit loss ("CECL") accounting standard, the allowances were calculated based on an expected lifetime credit losses methodology, resulting in higher allowance balances in spite of continued strong credit performance of our at risk and balance sheet portfolios. Additionally, in the third quarter of 2020, we recorded a $2.4 million provision for loan losses related to a previously defaulted loan from Q1 2019 as our efforts to work out the loan with the sponsors were ultimately not successful. We have not experienced a significant deterioration in the overall credit quality of the at risk servicing or balance sheet portfolios due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The decrease in the interest expense on corporate debt is related to the decrease in the average 30-day LIBOR upon which our long-term debt interest is based and the repricing of the debt in the fourth quarter of 2019.

• The decrease in other operating expenses stemmed primarily from a sustained decrease in travel and entertainment costs in the third quarter, a direct impact of COVID-19 pandemic-related limitations and travel restrictions.

Discussion of Results:

• The increase in net income was the result of a 17% increase in income from operations, as the growth in total revenues outpaced the growth in total expenses during the third quarter. Additionally, income tax expense for the third quarter of 2020 benefitted from excess tax benefits of $3.0 million from employee stock option exercises with substantially less activity in the prior year.
• The decrease in adjusted EBITDA was primarily driven by the increase in personnel expense and decreases in escrow earnings, interest income from LHFI, and property sales broker fees, partially offset by increases in loan origination and debt brokerage fees, servicing fees, and interest income from LHFS and a decrease in other operating expenses.

Discussion of Results:

• Our at risk servicing portfolio, which is comprised of loans subject to a defined risk-sharing formula, increased due to the significant level of Fannie Mae volume during the past 12 months. As of September 30, 2020, there were two defaulted loans that were provisioned for during the first and fourth quarters of 2019. Both properties have been foreclosed on and final settlement of any losses will occur in the future upon disposition of the assets by Fannie Mae.
• Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Fannie Mae instituted a mortgage forbearance program in April in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Under the terms of the forbearance program, borrowers impacted by COVID-19 can request that debt service payments be deferred for a period of up to three months, after which the deferred payments must be repaid over a 12-month period. As of September 30, 2020, we had granted COVID-19-related forbearance on 11 loans in our at risk servicing portfolio with only one loan with a $5.8 million unpaid principal balance still in forbearance at the end of the quarter.
• The allowance for risk-sharing as a percentage of the at risk portfolio increased due to the implementation of CECL during the current year and due to our forecast of an increase in short-term future losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, we have not experienced a significant deterioration in the overall credit quality of the at risk servicing portfolio due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The on-balance sheet interim loan portfolio, which is comprised of loans for which the Company has full risk of loss, was $273.8 million at September 30, 2020 compared to $387.5 million at September 30, 2019. There was one defaulted loan in our interim loan portfolio at September 30, 2020, which defaulted and was partially provisioned for during 2019. The Company increased the specific reserve on that loan during the third quarter of 2020. All other loans in the on-balance sheet interim loan portfolio are current and performing as of September 30, 2020. The interim loan joint venture holds $566.1 million of loans as of September 30, 2020, for which the Company indirectly shares in a small portion of the risk of loss. All loans in the interim loan joint venture are current and performing as of September 30, 2020.

YEAR-TO-DATE 2020 OPERATING RESULTS

Total transaction volume for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $26.9 billion, a 21% increase from the same period last year.

Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were $734.0 million compared to $600.0 million for the same period last year, a 22% increase. The change in total revenues was largely driven by (i) a 26% increase in loan origination and debt brokerage fees, which was largely related to an increase in debt financing volume (ii) a 78% increase in MSR Income, which was attributable to the overall increase in debt financing volume, an increase in Agency volume as a percentage of total debt financing volume, and a substantial increase in the weighted-average service fee on Fannie Mae loan volume, (iii) an 8% increase in servicing fees related to growth in our servicing portfolio, and (iv) a 15% increase in net warehouse interest income as a result of a substantially larger average balance of loans held for sale and a sharp increase in the spread on these loans. Partially offsetting these increases was a 64% decline in escrow earnings and other interest income due to a substantial decline in short-term interest rates and a 12% drop in other revenues largely as a result of decreased prepayment fees.

Total expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were $521.1 million and $427.7 million, respectively. The 22% increase in total expenses was primarily driven by an increase in personnel expense of 25% due to increases in (i) salaries and benefits expenses resulting from a rise in average headcount due to the continued growth of our business, (ii) commissions expense resulting from higher loan origination and debt brokerage fees due to growth in debt financing volume, (iii) bonus expense resulting from improved Company financial performance year over year, and (iv) retention costs due to the Company's banker and broker hiring efforts over the past year. Personnel expenses as a percentage of total revenues remained consistent at 42% year over year despite the increased expenses. Amortization and depreciation costs increased 10% due to an increase in the average balance of MSRs outstanding and an increase in write offs due to prepayments year over year. Provision for credit losses increased substantially year over year. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company recorded a provision expense of $23.6 million as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its expected impacts on future losses in the at risk servicing portfolio under the new CECL accounting standard. The Company has recorded additional provision expense of $8.4 million during the subsequent quarters in 2020, primarily related to the increase in the Company at risk servicing portfolio balance and for a defaulted interim loan for which we recorded additional expense in the third quarter of 2020. Interest expense on corporate debt decreased 39% as a result of a decrease in short-term interest rates year over year and the repricing of the debt in the fourth quarter of 2019. Other operating expenses decreased 8% primarily due to decreases in travel and entertainment expenses as a direct result of COVID-19 impacts.

Operating margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was 29%. The consistency in operating margin was due to a 22% increase in both total revenues and total expenses year over year.

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $163.1 million compared to net income of $130.5 million for the same period last year, a 25% increase. The increase in net income was primarily a result of a 24% increase in income from operations. Additionally, income tax expense in 2020 benefitted from an increase in excess tax benefits from employee stock option exercises compared to the prior year.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, adjusted EBITDA was $157.7 million and $183.8 million, respectively. The 14% decrease was largely driven by the increase in personnel expense and the decrease in escrow earnings, partially offset by increases in loan origination and debt brokerage fees and servicing fees.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, return on equity was 21% and 19%, respectively.

DIVIDENDS AND SHARE REPURCHASES

On October 28, 2020, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.36 per share for the fourth quarter of 2020. The dividend will be paid November 30, 2020 to all holders of record of our restricted and unrestricted common stock as of November 13, 2020.

During the first quarter of 2020, the Company's Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program that permits the repurchase of up to $50.0 million of the Company's common stock over a 12-month period beginning on February 11, 2020. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company repurchased 415 thousand shares of its common stock under the share repurchase program at a weighted-average price of $57.17 per share. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had $26.3 million of authorized share repurchase capacity remaining under the 2020 share repurchase program.

Any future purchases made pursuant to the share repurchase program will be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time as permitted by federal securities laws and other legal requirements. The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases will be determined by the Company in its discretion and will be subject to economic and market conditions, stock price, applicable legal requirements and other factors. The repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate finance companies in the United States. The Company provides a comprehensive range of capital solutions for all commercial real estate asset classes, as well as investment sales brokerage services to owners of multifamily properties. Walker & Dunlop is included on the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and was ranked as one of FORTUNE Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Walker & Dunlop's 900+ professionals in 40 offices across the nation have an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction.