Federated Investors released its latest quarterly earnings report last night, which showed money fund asset declines and continued fee waivers. The announcement says Federated "today reported earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $0.38 for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 compared to $0.34 for the same quarter last year.... Net income was $42.0 million for Q1 2010 compared to $35.1 million for Q1 2009."
It continues, "Federated's total managed assets were nearly $350 billion at March 31, 2010, down $59.3 billion or 14 percent from $409.2 billion at March 31, 2009 and down $39.4 billion or 10 percent from $389.3 billion reported at Dec. 31, 2009.... As the equity and fixed income markets contracted in 2007 and 2008, Federated's money market assets increased by $182 billion and as markets recovered in 2009 and Q1 2010, $88 billion flowed out of money market products. Industry money market assets flowed in a similar manner as investors gained more confidence in broader market conditions leading to, among other things, increased interest in bond products."
Federated's Q1 release says, "Money market assets in both funds and separate accounts were $272.3 billion at March 31, 2010, down $87.8 billion or 24 percent from $360.1 billion at March 31, 2009 and down $41.0 billion or 13 percent from $313.3 billion at Dec. 31, 2009. Money market mutual fund assets were $240.2 billion at March 31, 2010, down $88.6 billion or 27 percent from $328.8 billion at March 31, 2009 and down $41.4 billion or 15 percent from $281.6 billion at Dec. 31, 2009."
It continues, "For Q1 2010, revenue decreased by $77.6 million or 25 percent from the same quarter last year. The decrease in revenue primarily reflects a $59.8 million increase (to $69.5 million from $9.7 million for Q1 2009) in voluntary fee waivers related to certain money market funds in order to maintain positive or zero net yields. This increase in fee waivers was largely offset by a related decrease in distribution expenses of $47.1 million (to $51.7 million from $4.6 million) such that the net impact on operating income was a decrease of $12.7 million (to $17.8 million from $5.1 million). In addition, revenue decreased due to lower average money market managed assets, partially offset by the impact of increased average equity and fixed-income managed assets. In Q1 2010, Federated derived 50 percent of its revenue from money market assets."
The release says, "Compared to the prior quarter, revenue decreased by $31.8 million or 12 percent. The decrease in revenue primarily reflects a $12.0 million increase (to $69.5 million from $57.5 million for Q4 2009) in voluntary fee waivers on certain money market funds in order to maintain positive or zero net yields. This increase in fee waivers was largely offset by a related decrease in distribution expenses of $9.1 million (to $51.7 million from $42.6 million) such that the net impact on operating income was a decrease of $2.9 million (to $17.8 million from $14.9 million) compared to the prior quarter. In addition, revenue decreased due to lower average money market managed assets."
Federated adds, "Fee waivers to produce positive or zero net yields in Q2 2010 are expected to begin to decrease, but could vary significantly based on market conditions. The amount of these waivers will be determined by a variety of factors including available yields on instruments held by the money market funds, changes in assets within money market funds, actions by the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, changes in the mix of money market customer assets, changes in expenses of the money market funds and Federated's willingness to continue these waivers."
Finally, it says, "Federated will host an earnings conference call at 9 a.m. Eastern on Friday, April 23, 2010. Investors are invited to listen to Federated's earnings teleconference by calling 877-407-0782 (domestic) or 201-689-8567 (international) prior to the 9 a.m. start time. The call may also be accessed in real time on the Internet via the About Us section of FederatedInvestors.com. A replay will be available after 12:30 p.m. and until April 30, 2010 by calling 877-660-6853 (domestic) or 201-612-7415 (international) and entering codes 286 and 348713."
