Attached files

file filename
8-K - 8-K - SLM Corpslm101920168k.htm


Exhibit 99.1


sma05.jpg
NEWS RELEASE
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

SALLIE MAE REPORTS THIRD-QUARTER 2016 FINANCIAL RESULTS
Private Education Loan Originations Increase 7 Percent From Year-Ago Quarter to $1.8 Billion
Private Education Loan Portfolio Grows 27 Percent From Year-Ago Quarter to $13.7 Billion
Net Interest Income Increases 27 Percent From Year-Ago Quarter to $223 Million
Diluted Earnings Per Share Up 33 Percent From Year-Ago Quarter to $0.12
NEWARK, Del., Oct. 19, 2016 — Sallie Mae (NASDAQ: SLM), formally SLM Corporation, today released third-quarter 2016 financial results that include marked growth in originations, portfolio size, net interest income, and diluted earnings per share. In the third-quarter 2016, the company’s private education loan originations increased 7 percent to $1.8 billion, private education loan portfolio grew 27 percent to $13.7 billion, and net interest income increased 27 percent to $223 million, as compared to the year-ago quarter. The company earned $0.12 per diluted share in the quarter, up 33 percent from the same period last year.
“We continue to do what we do best, which is to help students and families make college happen, and we’re doing it better than ever, with all indicators moving in the right direction,” said Raymond J. Quinlan, chairman and CEO. “Our investments in people and platforms have improved not only customer satisfaction, but also operating efficiency. Among this quarter’s many positives, I am partial to our consistent credit metrics because, ultimately, credit quality illustrates our customers’ success and their ability to effectively manage their finances.”
For the third-quarter 2016, GAAP net income was $57 million, compared with $46 million in the year-ago quarter. GAAP net income attributable to the company’s common stock was $52 million ($0.12 diluted earnings per share) in the third-quarter 2016, compared with $41 million ($0.09 diluted earnings per share) in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year increase was primarily attributable to a $48-million increase in net interest income and a $13-million increase in total non-interest income, which were offset by a $14-million increase in provisions for credit losses, a $6-million increase in total non-interest expenses, and a $29-million increase in income tax expense.
Third-quarter 2016 results vs. third-quarter 2015 included:
Private education loan originations of $1.8 billion, up 7 percent.
Net interest income of $223 million, up 27 percent.
Net interest margin of 5.58 percent, up 22 basis points.
Average private education loans outstanding of $12.9 billion, up 30 percent.
Average yield on the private education loan portfolio of 8.00 percent, up 13 basis points.
Private education loan provision for loan losses of $41 million, up from $27 million.
Loans in forbearance were 3.04 percent of private education loans in repayment and forbearance, down from 3.09 percent.
Delinquencies as a percentage of private education loans in repayment were 2.04 percent, up from 1.91 percent.
Core earnings for the third-quarter 2016 were $56 million, compared with $47 million in the year-ago quarter. Core earnings attributable to the company’s common stock were $51 million ($0.12 diluted earnings per share) in the third-quarter 2016, compared with $42 million ($0.10 diluted earnings per share) in the year-ago quarter. Third-quarter 2016 GAAP results included $1 million of pre-tax gains from derivative accounting treatment that are excluded from core earnings results, vs. pre-tax losses of $1 million in the year-ago period.
Sallie Mae provides core earnings because it is one of several measures used to evaluate management performance and allocate corporate resources. The difference between core earnings and GAAP net income is driven by mark-to-market unrealized gains

1



and losses on derivative contracts recognized in GAAP, but not in core earnings, results. Management believes its derivatives are effective economic hedges, and, as such, they are a critical element of the company’s interest rate risk management strategy.
Total Non-Interest Expenses
Total non-interest expenses were $100 million in the third-quarter 2016, compared with $94 million in the year-ago quarter (which included $1 million of reorganization expenses). Operating expenses grew 7 percent from the year-ago quarter while the non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio decreased to 40.6 percent in the third-quarter 2016, from 50.3 percent in the year-ago quarter, primarily due to the continued leveraging of our fixed infrastructure as our portfolio grows, combined with operational efficiencies that we are realizing as a result of investments made in 2015.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax increased to $47 million in the third-quarter 2016 from $18 million in the year-ago quarter. The effective income tax rate increased in the third-quarter 2016 to 45.5 percent from 28.2 percent in the year-ago quarter. The prior-year quarter included a benefit resulting from a release of reserves for uncertain tax positions related to a favorable state tax ruling. The effective tax rate in the current quarter was higher because of an additional $9 million recorded related to uncertain tax positions and due to an increase in state taxes. The uncertain tax positions contributing to the increase in our effective tax rate had no impact on earnings per share, as we recorded the matching offset in other income. Managing our uncertain tax positions will add volatility to our reported effective tax rate, but should not impact our expected cash tax liability.
Capital
The regulatory capital ratios of the company’s Sallie Mae Bank subsidiary continue to exceed guidelines for institutions considered “well capitalized.” At Sept. 30, 2016, Sallie Mae Bank’s regulatory capital ratios were as follows:
 
Sept. 30, 2016
"Well Capitalized"
 Regulatory Requirements
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
12.4 percent
6.5 percent
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
12.4 percent
8.0 percent
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
13.4 percent
10.0 percent
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)
11.6 percent
5.0 percent
Deposits
Deposits at the company totaled $12.9 billion ($7.8 billion in brokered deposits and $5.1 billion in retail and other deposits) at Sept. 30, 2016, compared with $10.6 billion ($6.7 billion in brokered deposits and $3.9 billion in retail and other deposits) at Sept. 30, 2015.
Guidance
The company expects 2016 results to be as follows:
Full-year diluted core earnings per share of $0.52.
Full-year private education loan originations of $4.6 billion.
Full-year non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio improvement to exceed 10 percent.

***
Sallie Mae will host an earnings conference call tomorrow, Oct. 20, 2016, at 8 a.m. EDT. Sallie Mae executives will be on hand to discuss various highlights of the quarter and to answer questions related to Sallie Mae’s performance. Individuals interested in participating in the call should dial 877-356-5689 (USA and Canada) or 706-679-0623 (international) and use access code 86005610 starting at 7:45 a.m. EDT. A live audio webcast of the conference call may be accessed at www.SallieMae.com/investors. A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the call’s conclusion and will remain available through Nov. 3, 2016, by dialing 855-859-2056 (USA and Canada) or 404-537-3406 (international) with access code 86005610.
Presentation slides for the conference call may be accessed at www.SallieMae.com/investors under the webcasts tab.

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” and information based on management’s current expectations as of the date of this release. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the company’s beliefs, opinions or expectations and statements that assume or are dependent upon future events, are forward-looking statements.

2



Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those reflected in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the risks and uncertainties set forth in Item 1A “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2015 (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on Feb. 26, 2016) and subsequent filings with the SEC; increases in financing costs; limits on liquidity; increases in costs associated with compliance with laws and regulations; changes in accounting standards and the impact of related changes in significant accounting estimates; any adverse outcomes in any significant litigation to which the company is a party; credit risk associated with the company’s exposure to third parties, including counterparties to the company’s derivative transactions; and changes in the terms of education loans and the educational credit marketplace (including changes resulting from new laws and the implementation of existing laws). The company could also be affected by, among other things: changes in its funding costs and availability; reductions to its credit ratings; failures or breaches of its operating systems or infrastructure, including those of third-party vendors; damage to its reputation; failures to successfully implement cost-cutting and restructuring initiatives and adverse effects of such initiatives on the company's business; risks associated with restructuring initiatives; changes in the demand for educational financing or in financing preferences of lenders, educational institutions, students and their families; changes in law and regulations with respect to the student lending business and financial institutions generally; changes in banking rules and regulations, including increased capital requirements; increased competition from banks and other consumer lenders; the creditworthiness of its customers; changes in the general interest rate environment, including the rate relationships among relevant money-market instruments and those of its earning assets versus its funding arrangements; rates of prepayments on the loans made by the company and its subsidiaries; changes in general economic conditions and the company's ability to successfully effectuate any acquisitions; and other strategic initiatives. The preparation of the company’s consolidated financial statements also requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions, including estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates or assumptions may prove to be incorrect. All forward-looking statements contained in this release are qualified by these cautionary statements and are made only as of the date of this release. The company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to conform such statements to actual results or changes in its expectations.
The company reports financial results on a GAAP basis and also provides certain “Core Earnings” performance measures. The difference between the company’s “Core Earnings” and GAAP results for the periods presented were the unrealized, mark-to-market gains/losses on derivative contracts (excluding current period accruals on the derivative instruments), net of tax. These are recognized in GAAP, but not in “Core Earnings” results. The company provides “Core Earnings” measures because this is what management uses when making management decisions regarding the company’s performance and the allocation of corporate resources. The company’s “Core Earnings” are not defined terms within GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
For additional information, see “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — GAAP Consolidated Earnings Summary -‘Core Earnings’ ” in the company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2016 for a further discussion and the “‘Core Earnings’ to GAAP Reconciliation” table in this press release for a complete reconciliation between GAAP net income and “Core Earnings.”
The company reports a non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio. A GAAP-based operating efficiency ratio would compare total non-interest expenses to net revenue (which consists of net interest income, before provisions for credit losses, plus non-interest income). Our operating efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP measure because we adjust (a) the non-interest expense numerator by deducting restructuring and other reorganization expenses, and (b) the net revenue denominator by deducting gains on sales of loans, net. We believe doing so provides useful information to investors because it is a measure used by our management team to monitor our effectiveness in managing operating expenses. Other companies may use similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures that are calculated differently from the way we calculate our ratio. Accordingly, our non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.
   
***

Sallie Mae (NASDAQ: SLM) is the nation’s saving, planning, and paying for college company. Whether college is a long way off or just around the corner, Sallie Mae offers products that promote responsible personal finance, including private education loans, Upromise rewards, scholarship search, college financial planning tools, and online retail banking. Learn more at SallieMae.com. Commonly known as Sallie Mae, SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.

###
  

3



Contacts:
 
Media:
Martha Holler, 302-451-4900, martha.holler@salliemae.com, Rick Castellano, 302-451-2541, rick.castellano@salliemae.com
Investors:
Brian Cronin, 302-451-0304, brian.cronin@salliemae.com
###

4




Selected Financial Information and Ratios
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
(In thousands, except per share data and percentages) 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock
 
$
51,649

 
$
40,811

 
$
164,387

 
$
169,833

Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation
 
$
0.12

 
$
0.09

 
$
0.38

 
$
0.39

Weighted average shares used to compute diluted earnings per share
 
433,523

 
432,547

 
432,079

 
432,531

Return on assets
 
1.4
%
 
1.3
%
 
1.5
%
 
1.9
%
Non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio(1)
 
40.6
%
 
50.3
%
 
40.8
%
 
48.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Operating Statistics
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ending Private Education Loans, net
 
$
13,725,959

 
$
10,766,511

 
$
13,725,959

 
$
10,766,511

Ending FFELP Loans, net
 
1,034,545

 
1,142,637

 
1,034,545

 
1,142,637

Ending total education loans, net
 
$
14,760,504

 
$
11,909,148

 
$
14,760,504

 
$
11,909,148

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average education loans
 
$
13,931,693

 
$
11,030,313

 
$
13,384,326

 
$
10,759,781

_________
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) A GAAP-based operating efficiency ratio would compare total non-interest expenses to net revenue (which consists of net interest income, before provisions for credit losses, plus non-interest income). Our operating efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP measure because we adjust (a) the non-interest expense numerator by deducting restructuring and other reorganization expenses, and (b) the net revenue denominator by deducting gains on sales of loans, net. We believe doing so provides useful information to investors because it is a measure used by our management team to monitor our effectiveness in managing operating expenses. Other companies may use similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures that are calculated differently from the way we calculate our ratio. Accordingly, our non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.


5



SLM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
Assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,454,938

 
$
2,416,219

Available-for-sale investments at fair value (cost of $209,464 and $196,402, respectively)
 
213,176

 
195,391

Loans held for investment (net of allowance for losses of $164,839 and $112,507, respectively)
 
14,760,504

 
11,630,591

Restricted cash and investments
 
38,256

 
27,980

Other interest-earning assets
 
47,283

 
54,845

Accrued interest receivable
 
805,647

 
564,496

Premises and equipment, net
 
86,721

 
81,273

Tax indemnification receivable
 
276,543

 
186,076

Other assets
 
62,545

 
57,227

Total assets
 
$
17,745,613

 
$
15,214,098

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
Deposits
 
$
12,941,345

 
$
11,487,707

Short-term borrowings
 
350,000

 
500,175

Long-term borrowings
 
1,577,689

 
579,101

Income taxes payable, net
 
199,813

 
166,662

Upromise related liabilities
 
259,290

 
275,384

Other liabilities
 
157,980

 
108,746

Total liabilities
 
15,486,117

 
13,117,775

 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock, par value $0.20 per share, 20 million shares authorized
 
 
 
 
Series A: 3.3 million and 3.3 million shares issued, respectively, at stated value of $50 per share
 
165,000

 
165,000

Series B: 4 million and 4 million shares issued, respectively, at stated value of $100 per share
 
400,000

 
400,000

Common stock, par value $0.20 per share, 1.125 billion shares authorized: 434.4 million and 430.7 million shares issued, respectively
 
86,881

 
86,136

Additional paid-in capital
 
1,157,248

 
1,135,860

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (net of tax benefit of $17,253 and $9,949, respectively)
 
(27,813
)
 
(16,059
)
Retained earnings
 
530,594

 
366,609

Total SLM Corporation stockholders’ equity before treasury stock
 
2,311,910

 
2,137,546

Less: Common stock held in treasury at cost: 6.1 million and 4.4 million shares, respectively
 
(52,414
)
 
(41,223
)
Total equity
 
2,259,496

 
2,096,323

Total liabilities and equity
 
$
17,745,613

 
$
15,214,098




6




SLM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans
 
$
268,341

 
$
205,274

 
$
765,246

 
$
598,417

Investments
 
2,193

 
2,640

 
7,155

 
7,746

Cash and cash equivalents
 
2,003

 
987

 
4,832

 
2,568

Total interest income
 
272,537

 
208,901

 
777,233

 
608,731

Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
 
38,210

 
29,110

 
107,633

 
86,961

Interest expense on short-term borrowings
 
1,604

 
1,951

 
5,827

 
4,719

Interest expense on long-term borrowings
 
9,448

 
2,398

 
17,869

 
2,398

Total interest expense
 
49,262

 
33,459

 
131,329

 
94,078

Net interest income
 
223,275

 
175,442

 
645,904

 
514,653

Less: provisions for credit losses
 
41,784

 
27,497

 
116,179

 
59,673

Net interest income after provisions for credit losses
 
181,491

 
147,945

 
529,725

 
454,980

Non-interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gains on sales of loans, net
 

 

 

 
76,874

Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net
 
1,368

 
(547
)
 
3,156

 
4,347

Other income
 
21,598

 
10,455

 
56,309

 
29,374

Total non-interest income
 
22,966

 
9,908

 
59,465

 
110,595

Non-interest expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
 
43,380

 
39,304

 
138,659

 
119,079

FDIC assessment fees
 
5,095

 
3,801

 
13,548

 
10,230

Other operating expenses
 
51,234

 
49,759

 
135,164

 
134,541

Total operating expenses
 
99,709

 
92,864

 
287,371

 
263,850

Acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization expense
 
226

 
370

 
747

 
1,110

Restructuring and other reorganization expenses
 

 
910

 

 
6,311

Total non-interest expenses
 
99,935

 
94,144

 
288,118

 
271,271

Income before income tax expense
 
104,522

 
63,709

 
301,072

 
294,304

Income tax expense
 
47,557

 
17,985

 
120,987

 
109,865

Net income
 
56,965

 
45,724

 
180,085

 
184,439

Preferred stock dividends
 
5,316

 
4,913

 
15,698

 
14,606

Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock
 
$
51,649

 
$
40,811

 
$
164,387

 
$
169,833

Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation
 
$
0.12

 
$
0.10

 
$
0.38

 
$
0.40

Average common shares outstanding
 
428,077

 
426,019

 
427,711

 
425,384

Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation
 
$
0.12

 
$
0.09

 
$
0.38

 
$
0.39

Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding
 
433,523

 
432,547

 
432,079

 
432,531





7




“Core Earnings” to GAAP Reconciliation

The following table reflects adjustments associated with our derivative activities.
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GAAP net income
 
$
56,965

 
$
45,724

 
$
180,085

 
$
184,439

Preferred stock dividends
 
5,316

 
4,913

 
15,698

 
14,606

GAAP net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock
 
$
51,649

 
$
40,811

 
$
164,387

 
$
169,833

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net impact of derivative accounting(1)
 
(831
)
 
1,400

 
(1,259
)
 
(1,501
)
Net tax effect(2)
 
(320
)
 
529

 
(483
)
 
(587
)
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
 
(511
)
 
871

 
(776
)
 
(914
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
“Core Earnings” attributable to SLM Corporation common stock
 
$
51,138

 
$
41,682

 
$
163,611

 
$
168,919

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GAAP diluted earnings per common share
 
$
0.12

 
$
0.09

 
$
0.38

 
$
0.39

Derivative adjustments, net of tax
 

 
0.01

 

 

“Core Earnings” diluted earnings per common share
 
$
0.12

 
$
0.10

 
$
0.38

 
$
0.39

______
(1) Derivative Accounting: “Core Earnings” exclude periodic unrealized gains and losses caused by the mark-to-market valuations on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under GAAP, as well as the periodic unrealized gains and losses that are a result of ineffectiveness recognized related to effective hedges under GAAP. Under GAAP, for our derivatives held to maturity, the cumulative net unrealized gain or loss over the life of the contract will equal $0.

(2) “Core Earnings” tax rate is based on the effective tax rate at the Bank where the derivative instruments are held.



8