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EX-99.2 - Q3 2011 EARNINGS SUPPLEMENT - NELNET INCnni-930x11x10qxsupplement.htm
8-K - FORM 8-K - NELNET INCnniform8-k.htm


Nelnet Reports Third Quarter 2011 Results

Base net income of $1.22 per share for the quarter
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue increased 15 percent
Revenue from government servicing contract increased $4.1 million to $12.8 million
Repurchased 1.1 million shares of common stock in the quarter
Declared fourth quarter dividend of $0.10 per share

LINCOLN, Neb., November 8, 2011 -- Nelnet (NYSE: NNI) today reported base net income of $58.8 million, or $1.22 per share, for the third quarter of 2011, compared with $60.3 million, or $1.23 per share, for the same quarter a year ago. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the company reported base net income of $165.5 million, or $3.43 per share, compared with $175.3 million, or $3.54 per share, for the same period in 2010. Base net income in 2010 excludes litigation settlement and restructuring charges.

Nelnet reported a gain from the repurchase of outstanding debt of $9.9 million before tax, or $0.12 per share after tax, and $28.8 million before tax, or $0.36 per share after tax, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. In the third quarter of 2011, Nelnet had no gains from the repurchase of outstanding debt. For the first nine months of 2011, Nelnet reported a gain of $8.3 million before tax, or $0.11 per share after tax, from the repurchase of outstanding debt.

"In the third quarter of 2011, we continued to report strong results and generate significant cash flow from our operations and our student loan portfolio,” said Mike Dunlap, Nelnet Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We made investments to grow our core businesses and enhance our customers' experience, and also repurchased more than one million shares of common stock. Evaluating opportunities to make investments and deploying capital with a long term focus will continue to be a priority."  

Growing our core and driving diversification

During the third quarter of 2011, revenue from Nelnet's tuition payment processing and campus commerce business increased $2.2 million compared with the third quarter of 2010, or 15 percent, to $16.8 million.

In September 2009, Nelnet began servicing student loans for the Department of Education (Department) under a contract that will increase the company's fee-based revenue as the servicing volume increases. At September 30, 2011, the company was servicing $44.6 billion of loans for 3 million borrowers on behalf of the Department, compared with $21.8 billion of loans for 2.5 million borrowers on September 30, 2010. Revenue from this contract increased to $12.8 million for the third quarter of 2011, up from $8.7 million for the same period a year ago.

The company's enrollment services revenue was $35.5 million in the third quarter of 2011, compared with $36.4 million in the third quarter of 2010. Enrollment services revenue is being affected by the current regulatory uncertainty in the for-profit college industry, which has caused schools to decrease their marketing spending.

Maximizing the value of existing portfolio

In July 2011, the company repurchased the residual interest in $1.9 billion of securitized Federal Family Education Loan Program consolidation loans. Including these loans, at September 30, 2011, net student loan assets were $24.6 billion. The majority of Nelnet's federal student loans are financed for the life of the loan at rates the company believes will generate significant future cash flow in excess of $1.8 billion.

Historically low interest rates are continuing to provide the company opportunities to generate substantial near-term value and cash flow from its student loan portfolio. For the third quarter of 2011, Nelnet reported net interest income of $96.8 million, compared with $92.2 million for the same period a year ago.

Operating with financial discipline

Nelnet reported operating expenses of $104.8 million in the third quarter of 2011, compared with $100.5 million, excluding a $55 million litigation settlement and $4.8 million of restructuring expenses, in the third quarter of 2010. Over time, the company anticipates increasing operating expenses with discipline to support revenue growth in its fee-based businesses.






Repurchasing common stock

During the three-month period ended September 30, 2011, Nelnet repurchased and retired 1,097,441 shares of Class A common stock, under the company's stock repurchase program, for $20.6 million, or an average price of $18.77 per share. Year to date through November 8, 2011, the company has repurchased 1,433,409 shares of Class A common stock for $27.1 million, or an average price of $18.88 per share.

GAAP net income

Nelnet reported GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2011 of $47.5 million, or $0.98 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $0.4 million, or $0.01 loss per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2010. For the first nine months of 2011, the company reported GAAP net income of $139.5 million, or $2.87 per diluted share, compared with $103.9 million, or $2.08 per diluted share for the same period in 2010. The company recognized a $55.0 million litigation settlement charge in the third quarter of 2010.

While base net income is not a substitute for reported results under GAAP, base net income is the primary financial performance measure used by management to develop financial plans, allocate resources, track results, evaluate performance, establish corporate performance targets, and determine incentive compensation. The company utilizes base net income in operating its business because base net income permits management to make meaningful period-to-period comparisons by eliminating the temporary volatility in the company's performance that arises from certain items that are primarily affected by factors beyond the control of management.

A description of base net income and a reconciliation of GAAP net income to base net income can be found in financial information supplemental to this earnings release online at www.nelnetinvestors.com/results.cfm.

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 $0.10 per share. The dividend will be paid on December 15, 2011, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 1, 2011. Nelnet currently has 35.6 million shares of Class A common stock and 11.5 million shares of Class B common stock outstanding.

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 and the use of derivatives to manage exposure to interest rate fluctuations; the company's funding and liquidity requirements to satisfy asset financing needs; the company's ability to maintain and increase volumes under its loan servicing contract with the Department to service federally owned student loans; changes in the student loan and educational credit and services marketplace resulting from the implementation of or changes in applicable laws, regulations, and government programs, including the uncertain nature of the potential impact of the Department's new loan consolidation program; changes in the demand or preferences for educational financing and related services by educational institutions, students, and their families; uncertainties inherent in forecasting future cash flows from student loan assets and related asset-backed securitizations; 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 of 2011.  All information in this release is 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.






Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
2011
 
June 30,
2011
 
September 30,
2010
 
September 30,
2011
 
September 30,
2010
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
Interest Income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan interest
$
158,809

 
146,827

 
171,208

 
452,983

 
490,158

Amortization/accretion of loan premiums and
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
deferred origination costs, net
(1,854
)
 
(7,893
)
 
(11,921
)
 
(19,736
)
 
(40,551
)
Investment interest
672

 
856

 
1,169

 
2,254

 
3,474

Total interest income
157,627

 
139,790

 
160,456

 
435,501

 
453,081

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest on bonds and notes payable
60,866

 
51,054

 
68,243

 
164,227

 
178,345

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income
96,761

 
88,736

 
92,213

 
271,274

 
274,736

Less provision for loan losses
5,250

 
5,250

 
5,500

 
14,250

 
16,700

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
91,511

 
83,486

 
86,713

 
257,024

 
258,036

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other income (expense):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
37,927

 
37,389

 
33,464

 
110,952

 
106,510

Tuition payment processing and campus
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 commerce revenue
16,774

 
14,761

 
14,527

 
50,904

 
44,704

Enrollment services revenue
35,505

 
32,315

 
36,439

 
101,688

 
105,113

Software services revenue
4,622

 
4,346

 
4,624

 
13,745

 
14,467

Other income
3,931

 
6,826

 
9,432

 
17,249

 
25,188

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 
9,885

 
8,307

 
28,821

Derivative market value and foreign currency
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
adjustments
(13,888
)
 
(16,813
)
 
(32,805
)
 
(29,585
)
 
(35,931
)
Derivative settlements, net
257

 
(3,522
)
 
(2,586
)
 
(7,417
)
 
(8,386
)
Total other income
85,128

 
75,302

 
72,980

 
265,843

 
280,486

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and benefits
44,132

 
42,881

 
41,085

 
130,925

 
122,691

Litigation settlement

 

 
55,000

 

 
55,000

Cost to provide enrollment services
23,825

 
22,140

 
23,709

 
68,804

 
69,845

Depreciation and amortization
7,917

 
6,769

 
9,025

 
21,462

 
29,536

Restructure expense

 

 
4,751

 

 
6,020

Other expenses
28,904

 
28,767

 
26,717

 
83,776

 
89,120

Total operating expenses
104,778

 
100,557

 
160,287

 
304,967

 
372,212

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) before income taxes
71,861

 
58,231

 
(594
)
 
217,900

 
166,310

Income tax (expense) benefit
(24,410
)
 
(21,106
)
 
226

 
(78,444
)
 
(62,363
)
Net income (loss)
$
47,451

 
37,125

 
(368
)
 
139,456

 
103,947

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (loss) per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings (loss) - basic
$
0.98

 
0.76

 
(0.01
)
 
2.88

 
2.09

Net earnings (loss) - diluted
$
0.98

 
0.76

 
(0.01
)
 
2.87

 
2.08

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
48,059,747

 
48,302,779

 
48,938,333

 
48,177,539

 
49,460,625

Diluted
48,253,888

 
48,488,046

 
48,938,333

 
48,367,923

 
49,663,505







Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)

 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
September 30, 2010
 
(unaudited)
 
 
 
(unaudited)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Student loans receivable, net
$
24,641,614

 
23,948,014

 
24,436,162

Student loans receivable - held for sale

 
84,987

 
2,109,440

Cash, cash equivalents, and investments (trading securities)
141,928

 
327,037

 
349,443

Restricted cash and investments
653,518

 
757,285

 
747,234

Goodwill
117,118

 
117,118

 
143,717

Intangible assets, net
33,074

 
38,712

 
43,352

Other assets
648,975

 
620,739

 
757,231

Total assets
26,236,227

 
25,893,892

 
28,586,579

 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Bonds and notes payable
24,926,512

 
24,672,472

 
27,391,188

Other liabilities
298,232

 
314,787

 
350,777

Total liabilities
25,224,744

 
24,987,259

 
27,741,965

 
 
 
 
 
 
Shareholders' equity
1,011,483

 
906,633

 
844,614

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$
26,236,227

 
25,893,892

 
28,586,579


Contacts:
Media, Ben Kiser, +1-402-458-3024, or Investors, Phil Morgan, +1-402-458-3038, both of Nelnet, Inc.