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8-K - LIVE FILING - TRADESTATION GROUP INChtm_38510.htm

Exhibit 99.1

TradeStation Group Recognizes Three Cents Per Share Unrealized Gain Resulting from CBOE
Initial Public Offering

Second Quarter Earnings Revised to Twelve Cents Per Share

Plantation FL, July 29, 2010 – TradeStation Group, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: TRAD) today reported that its second quarter earnings, which were released last week, did not reflect a 3 cent per share unrealized gain that should have been recorded as a result of the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) initial public offering in June 2010. TradeStation Securities, Inc. held one seat at the CBOE, for which it received shares of equity in CBOE Holdings, Inc. at the time of the offering, which resulted in approximately $2.3 million of unrealized “mark-to-market” gain ($1.4 million, or 3 cents per share, after tax) in the 2010 second quarter.

TradeStation Group’s results for the second quarter of 2010, taking into account this gain, were as follows: net revenues were $38.4 million (as opposed to the $36.1 million previously reported), net income was $4.9 million (as opposed to the $3.5 million previously reported), and earnings per share (diluted) were 12 cents (as opposed to the 9 cents previously reported). Included in 2010 second quarter net revenues, in addition to the $2.3 million in unrealized gain from the CBOE initial public offering, and as previously reported, were $1.4 million in “mark-to-market” unrealized gains on TradeStation Securities’ U.S. Treasury portfolio. Excluding the combined $3.7 million of unrealized gains, the company would, as previously reported, have had 2010 second quarter net revenues of $34.7 million, net income of $2.7 million, and earnings per share (diluted) of 7 cents.(1) Management reiterated that excluding the unrealized gains provides investors with a more accurate view of the results of the company’s operations since management does not believe those unrealized gains are important to the company’s core business.

  (1)   The following table reconciles net income, as reported, to net income excluding the effect of unrealized gains on marketable securities for the three months ended June 30, 2010.
                 
         
    Amount   Earnings per
    (in thousands)   Share (diluted)
 
               
Net income, as reported
  $ 4,940     $ 0.12  
 
               
Unrealized gains on marketable securities:
               
 
               
Shares of CBOE
    (2,284 )     (0.06 )
 
               
U.S. Treasury Bills and Notes
    (1,398 )     (0.03 )
 
               
Income tax effect of unrealized gains
    1,437       0.04  
 
               
 
               
Net income, excluding the effect of unrealized gains on marketable securities
  $ 2,695     $ 0.07  
 
               

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Company Provides 2010 Revised Full-year Business Outlook

TradeStation’s 2010 Full-year Business Outlook ranges, incorporating the effect of the additional $2.3 million of unrealized gain from the CBOE initial public offering, are as follows:

2010 REVISED FULL-YEAR BUSINESS OUTLOOK
(In Millions, Except Per Share Data)

                                         
            Full-year 2010        
                   
NET REVENUES
  $ 134.0     to   $ 139.0                      
       
 
                               
       
EARNINGS PER SHARE (Diluted)
  $ 0.25     to   $ 0.31          

The company’s 2010 revised full-year estimated ranges continue to be subject to the “Forward-Looking Statements — Issues, Uncertainties and Risk Factors” set forth in its July 22, 2010 press release, which are incorporated herein by this reference, and are based on numerous assumptions, including: basing the midpoints of the ranges on average daily revenue per account for each asset class (equities, futures, forex) at approximately the same level as average daily revenue per account over the 6-month period ended June 30, 2010 adjusted for seasonality, plus a stub period in July 2010 (the period used and the formula and criteria applied often vary with each Business Outlook based upon management’s judgment each period concerning the best assumptions to use); that approximately 1.5 cents of the total estimated earnings per share (diluted) will be generated in the 2010 third quarter by recording during that quarter expected state tax refunds; U.S. Treasury Bill and Treasury Note yields the company receives remaining constant at current levels throughout the remainder of the 2010 year; no unrealized gain or loss on TradeStation Securities’ shares in the CBOE and its U.S. Treasury portfolio in the 2010 third or fourth quarter; anticipated growth, attrition and trading activity of active trader equities, futures and forex accounts, and the proportions in trading activity among those asset classes (each of which have different profit margin structures); the timing of expenses relating to company growth initiatives as compared to the timing of anticipated benefits from those initiatives; and numerous other assumptions concerning the company’s business and industry, market conditions, and various decisions, acts or failures to act both within and outside of the company’s control. All assumptions, expectations and beliefs relating to the Business Outlook are forward-looking in nature and actual results may differ materially from those estimated, including, but not limited to, as a result of, or as indicated by, the issues, uncertainties and risk factors set forth and/or referenced above and below. In particular, to the extent market volatility and/or market volumes move to significantly higher or lower levels, net account growth increases, slows or decreases, the U.S. Treasury Bill and/or Treasury Note rates of interest are different than what has been assumed, and/or economic or financial market conditions persist or worsen, or improve sooner or to a higher degree than expected, or the company is subject to material mark-to-market adjustments (up or down) on its shares in the CBOE or its treasury securities holdings, the results estimated in the Business Outlook will likely be materially different than actual results.

About TradeStation Group, Inc.

TradeStation Group, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: TRAD), through its principal operating subsidiary, TradeStation Securities, Inc., offers the TradeStation platform to the active trader and certain institutional trader markets. TradeStation is an electronic trading platform that offers state-of-the-art electronic order execution and enables clients to design, test, optimize, monitor and automate their own custom Equities, Options, Futures and Forex trading strategies.

TradeStation Securities, Inc. (Member NYSE, FINRA, SIPC, DTCC, OCC & NFA) is a licensed securities broker-dealer and a registered futures commission merchant, and also a member of the Boston Options Exchange, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Chicago Stock Exchange, International Securities Exchange and NASDAQ OMX. Its TradeStation Prime Services division, based in New York, seeks to provide prime brokerage services to small and mid-sized hedge funds and other firms. The company’s technology subsidiary, TradeStation Technologies, Inc., develops and offers strategy trading software tools and subscription services.  Its London-based subsidiary, TradeStation Europe Limited, an FSA-authorized brokerage firm, introduces UK and other European accounts to TradeStation Securities.

Contact
David H. Fleischman
Chief Financial Officer
TradeStation Group, Inc.
954-652-7000

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TRADESTATION GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30,   June 30,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
REVENUES:
                               
Brokerage commissions and fees
  $ 30,456     $ 31,864     $ 57,404     $ 64,799  
 
                               
Interest income
    2,623       1,341       4,916       2,336  
Brokerage interest expense
                       
 
                               
Net interest income
    2,623       1,341       4,916       2,336  
 
                               
Subscription fees and other
    1,608       1,993       3,236       4,033  
 
                               
Unrealized gains on marketable securities
    3,682             4,903        
 
                               
 
                               
Net revenues
    38,369       35,198       70,459       71,168  
 
                               
 
                               
EXPENSES:
                               
Employee compensation and benefits
    11,461       10,653       22,655       21,152  
Clearing and execution
    8,317       7,814       15,500       16,662  
Data centers and communications
    3,940       2,887       7,443       5,649  
Marketing
    1,747       1,791       3,278       3,593  
Professional services
    739       912       1,436       1,760  
Occupancy and equipment
    807       746       1,559       1,483  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,063       1,115       2,013       2,244  
Other
    1,951       1,685       3,746       3,210  
 
                               
 
                               
Total expenses
    30,025       27,603       57,630       55,753  
 
                               
 
                               
Income before income taxes
    8,344       7,595       12,829       15,415  
 
                               
INCOME TAX PROVISION
    3,404       2,914       5,214       6,054  
 
                               
 
                               
Net income
  $ 4,940     $ 4,681     $ 7,615     $ 9,361  
 
                               
 
                               
EARNINGS PER SHARE:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.12     $ 0.11     $ 0.19     $ 0.22  
 
                               
Diluted
  $ 0.12     $ 0.11     $ 0.19     $ 0.22  
 
                               
 
                               
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
                               
Basic
    40,044       41,658       40,273       41,930  
 
                               
Diluted
    40,508       42,210       40,724       42,385  
 
                               

TRADESTATION GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

                 
    June 30,   December 31,
    2010   2009
    (Unaudited)        
ASSETS:
               
 
               
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash of $717 at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009*
  $ 48,927     $ 57,405  
Cash and investments segregated in compliance with federal regulations
    1,211,881       785,208  
Marketable securities*
    59,474       76,342  
Receivables from brokers, dealers, clearing organizations and clearing agents
    22,485       32,226  
Receivables from brokerage customers, net
    74,709       45,034  
Property and equipment, net
    9,882       7,578  
Deferred income taxes, net
    1,085       1,276  
Deposits with clearing organizations
    38,017       38,521  
Other assets
    4,110       5,606  
 
               
 
               
Total assets
  $ 1,470,570     $ 1,049,196  
 
               
 
               
 
               
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
               
LIABILITIES:
               
 
               
Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
  $ 111     $ 114  
Payables to brokerage customers
    1,286,274       868,741  
Accounts payable
    4,305       2,627  
Accrued expenses
    7,141       7,206  
 
               
Total liabilities
    1,297,831       878,688  
 
               
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
               
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
    172,739       170,508  
 
               
 
               
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 1,470,570     $ 1,049,196  
 
               

*Marketable securities as of June 30, 2010 include $2.2 million that was transferred on July 1, 2010 to cash and investments segregated in compliance with federal regulations. Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2009 include $7.7 million that was transferred on January 4, 2010 to cash and investments segregated in compliance with federal regulations.

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