Nelnet Reports Third Quarter 2015 Results

Nov 05, 2015

- GAAP net income $1.09 per share, $1.43 per share excluding adjustments
- 15 percent increase in Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce revenue
- Purchased $1.8 billion of student loans
- Board increased quarterly dividend to $0.12 per share

LINCOLN, Neb., Nov. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Nelnet (NYSE: NNI) today reported GAAP net income of $49.0 million, or $1.09 per share, for the third quarter of 2015, compared with GAAP net income of $85.2 million, or $1.84 per share, for the same period a year ago.

Excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net income was $64.3 million, or $1.43 per share, for the third quarter of 2015, compared with $67.2 million, or $1.45 per share, for the same period in 2014.  The company reported expense from derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments of $15.4 million after tax, or $0.34 per share, for the third quarter of 2015, compared with income of $18.0 million after tax, or $0.39 per share, for the third quarter of 2014.

"During the third quarter, we delivered a strong performance generating significant cash flow from our student loan portfolio and operating segments," said Jeff Noordhoek, chief executive officer of Nelnet.  "We continue to look for additional strategic investments inside and outside our existing businesses that will generate significant cash flow and value over time. A good investment fit for Nelnet leverages our long-term focus with our financial strength and liquidity, infrastructure, and customer service capabilities in a growing operating business with recurring revenue and strong management."

Nelnet operates three primary business segments, earning interest income on student loans in its Asset Generation and Management segment, and fee-based revenue in its Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing and Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce segments.

Net income decreased for the third quarter of 2015, compared with the same period a year ago, due primarily to a decrease in earnings from the company's Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) student loan portfolio, partially offset by increases in earnings from the company's Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing and Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce operating segments.

Asset Generation and Management

As of September 30, 2015, Nelnet's student loan portfolio was $29.0 billion.  Historically low interest rates continue to provide the opportunity for the company to generate substantial cash flow from its student loan portfolio.  For the third quarter of 2015, Nelnet reported net interest income of $112.0 million, compared with $117.5 million for the same period a year ago.  Net interest income included $48.2 million and $49.2 million of fixed rate floor income in the third quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively.  During the third quarter of 2015, the company purchased $1.8 billion in FFELP loans, including $1.5 billion from the purchase of the residual interests in two securitized student loan trusts.  The company intends to continue to use its strong liquidity position to acquire legacy FFELP loans and private education loans.

Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing

Revenue from the Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing segment was $61.5 million for the third quarter of 2015, compared with $52.7 million for the same period in 2014.

The company was servicing $146.7 billion of loans for 5.9 million borrowers on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education as of September 30, 2015, compared with $130.8 billion of loans for 5.8 million borrowers as of September 30, 2014. Revenue from this contract increased 6 percent to $33.2 million for the third quarter of 2015, up from $31.2 million for the same period a year ago.

A significant amount of the company's guaranty servicing revenue came from a single guaranty servicing client.  The contract with this client expired on October 31, 2015.

Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce

For the third quarter of 2015, revenue from the Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce segment was $30.4 million, an increase of $4.0 million, or 15 percent, from the same period in 2014.  The increase in revenue was primarily driven by the growth in managed tuition payment plans, campus commerce transaction volume, and new school customers.

Other Income

Other income was $6.5 million for the third quarter of 2015, compared with $7.7 million for the same period in 2014.  The decrease was due primarily to the expected decrease in investment advisory fees.  Due to improvements in the capital markets, the opportunities to earn investment advisory performance fees on the sale of student loan asset-backed securities are becoming increasingly limited.

Stock Repurchases

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the company repurchased a total of 1,530,592 shares of Class A common stock for $66.6 million, including 356,584 shares for $15.6 million during the third quarter.

Board of Directors Approves Dividend

The Nelnet Board of Directors declared a fourth quarter cash dividend on the company's outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock of $0.12 per share. The dividend will be paid on Tuesday, December 15, 2015, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Tuesday, December 1, 2015.

Unsecured Line of Credit

On October 30, 2015, the company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement for its $350.0 million line of credit.  Under the amended terms, the maturity date of the credit agreement was extended from June 30, 2019 to October 30, 2020.  In addition, certain covenants were revised to give the company additional flexibility regarding permitted business acquisitions and investments.

Non-GAAP Performance Measures

The company provides additional non-GAAP financial information related to specific items management believes to be important in the evaluation of its operating results, including specifically, the impact of unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair values of derivative instruments which do not qualify for "hedge treatment" under GAAP and foreign currency transaction gains or losses resulting from the re-measurement of the company's Euro-denominated bonds to U.S. dollars.  The company believes these point in time estimates of asset and liability values related to financial instruments that are subject to interest and currency rate fluctuations, and items whose timing and/or amount cannot be reasonably estimated in advance, affect the period to period comparability of the results of the company's fundamental business operations on a recurring basis.  Accordingly, the company provides operating results excluding these items for comparability purposes.

Forward-looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws.  These statements are based on management's current expectations as of the date of this release and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks include, among others, risks related to the company's student loan portfolio such as interest rate basis and repricing risk, the use of derivatives to manage exposure to interest rate fluctuations, and the uncertain nature of expected benefits from recent FFELP and private education loan purchases and initiatives to purchase additional FFELP and private education loans; financing and liquidity risks, including risks of changes in the securitization and other financing markets for student loans; risks related to the company's ability to maintain and increase volumes under the company's loan servicing contract with the Department of Education to service federally owned student loans; changes in the educational credit and services marketplace resulting from changes in applicable laws, regulations, and government programs and budgets; risks related to the recent reduction in government payments to guaranty agencies to rehabilitate defaulted FFELP loans and services in support of those activities, including potential adverse effects on the Company's guaranty servicing contracts; risks related to initiatives to pursue additional strategic investments; and changes in general economic and credit market conditions. For more information, see the "Risk Factors" sections and other cautionary discussions of risks and uncertainties included in documents filed or furnished by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the cautionary information about forward-looking statements contained in the company's supplemental financial information for the third quarter ended September 30, 2015.  All forward-looking statements in this release are as of the date of this release. Although the company may from time to time voluntarily update or revise its forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the company's expectations, the company disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by securities laws.

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)






Three months ended


Nine months ended


September 30,
2015


June 30,
2015


September 30,
2014


September 30,
2015


September 30,
2014

Interest income:










 Loan interest

$

187,701



175,835



187,862



535,480



520,224


 Investment interest

1,456



1,887



1,562



5,548



5,023


   Total interest income

189,157



177,722



189,424



541,028



525,247


Interest expense:










 Interest on bonds and notes payable

77,164



72,626



71,937



221,344



201,176


   Net interest income

111,993



105,096



117,487



319,684



324,071


Less provision for loan losses

3,000



2,150



2,000



7,150



6,000


   Net interest income after provision for loan losses

108,993



102,946



115,487



312,534



318,071


Other income (expense):










 Loan and guaranty servicing revenue

61,520



63,833



52,659



183,164



183,876


 Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue

30,439



27,686



26,399



92,805



73,468


 Enrollment services revenue

19,500



17,161



22,936



54,524



65,092


 Other income

6,523



7,504



7,650



20,945



41,096


 Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases, net

597



1,515





4,987



57


 Derivative settlements, net

(5,878)



(5,442)



(4,834)



(16,535)



(17,277)


 Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net

(24,780)



11,944



29,037



(10,699)



38,785


   Total other income

87,921



124,201



133,847



329,191



385,097


Operating expenses:










 Salaries and benefits

63,215



58,787



61,098



183,052



167,470


 Cost to provide enrollment services

12,534



11,162



14,178



35,398



41,964


 Loan servicing fees

7,793



7,420



7,077



22,829



19,798


 Depreciation and amortization

6,977



6,501



5,493



19,140



15,490


 Other

30,419



31,958



29,599



91,575



92,882


  Total operating expenses

120,938



115,828



117,445



351,994



337,604


  Income before income taxes

75,976



111,319



131,889



289,731



365,564


Income tax expense

26,999



40,356



46,513



104,985



130,202


Net income

48,977



70,963



85,376



184,746



235,362


  Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

22



54



157



117



1,363


Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.

$

48,955



70,909



85,219



184,629



233,999


Earnings per common share:










 Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. shareholders - basic and diluted

$

1.09



1.54



1.84



4.03



5.03


 Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted

45,047,777



45,946,415



46,432,680



45,763,443



46,496,309


 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)








As of


As of


As of


September 30, 2015


December 31, 2014


September 30, 2014

Assets:






 Student loans receivable, net

$

28,954,280



28,005,195



28,701,344


 Cash, cash equivalents, investments, and notes receivable

350,508



366,190



283,683


 Restricted cash and investments

995,360



968,928



940,343


 Goodwill and intangible assets, net

161,586



168,782



169,076


 Other assets

583,661



589,048



604,203


   Total assets

$

31,045,395



30,098,143



30,698,649


Liabilities:






 Bonds and notes payable

$

28,827,603



28,027,350



28,737,456


 Other liabilities

382,393



345,115



303,636


   Total liabilities

29,209,996



28,372,465



29,041,092


Equity:






 Total Nelnet, Inc. shareholders' equity

1,835,153



1,725,448



1,657,289


 Noncontrolling interest

246



230



268


   Total equity

1,835,399



1,725,678



1,657,557


   Total liabilities and equity

$

31,045,395



30,098,143



30,698,649


(code #: nnif)

 

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SOURCE Nelnet

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