STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP - Quarter Report: 2017 June (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017

OR

For the transition period from                     to                    

Commission File Number: 001-09305

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

501 N. Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri  63102-2188

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(314) 342-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“the Exchange Act”) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, $0.15 par value per share, as of the close of business on August 1, 2017, was 68,309,855.

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

Form 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (continued)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)

(Unaudited)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 – Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

Nature of Operations

Stifel Financial Corp. (the “Company”), through its wholly owned subsidiaries, is principally engaged in retail brokerage; securities trading; investment banking; investment advisory; retail, consumer, and commercial banking; and related financial services. We have offices throughout the United States and Europe. Our major geographic area of concentration is throughout the United States, with a growing presence in the United Kingdom and Europe. Our company’s principal customers are individual investors, corporations, municipalities, and institutions.

On January 3, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of City Financial Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary, City Securities Corporation (“City Securities”), an independent investment bank focused primarily on offering wealth management and public finance services across the Midwest. The acquisition was funded with cash from operations and common stock.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include Stifel Financial Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, principally Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (“Stifel”), Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., and Stifel Bank & Trust (“Stifel Bank”). All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” or “our company” in this report refer to Stifel Financial Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiaries.

We have prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Pursuant to these rules and regulations, we have omitted certain information and footnote disclosures we normally include in our annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. In management’s opinion, we have made all adjustments (consisting only of normal, recurring adjustments, except as otherwise noted) necessary to fairly present our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Our interim period operating results do not necessarily indicate the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full fiscal year. These financial statements and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 on file with the SEC.

Certain amounts from prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation. During the first quarter of 2017, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. Amounts previously reported for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 have been restated as required upon adoption of the ASU. See Note 2 for further discussion.

There have been no material changes in our significant accounting policies, as compared to the significant accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, with the exception of the new guidance on stock-based compensation.

NOTE 2 – New Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

Share-Based Payments

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” that requires an entity to record all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as an income tax benefit or expense in the income statement. The update no longer requires cash flows related to excess tax benefits to be presented as a financing activity separate from other income tax cash flows. The update also clarifies that all cash payments to taxing authorities made on an employee's behalf for withheld shares should be presented as a financing activity on the statement of cash flows and requires an entity to elect an accounting policy to either estimate the number of forfeitures or account for forfeitures when they occur. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 (January 1, 2017 for our company).

We adopted the guidance in the update on January 1, 2017, and during the six months ended June 30, 2017 recognized an excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation of $17.1 million in the provision for income taxes on the accompanying consolidated

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statements of operations (adopted prospectively). Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation are now classified in operating activities on the accompanying consolidated statement of cash flows instead of being separately stated in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2017 (adopted prospectively). Cash paid to a tax authority by our company when withholding shares from an employee’s award for tax-withholding purposes are now classified as a financing activity in the accompanying consolidated statement of cash flows (adopted retrospectively). We reclassified $38.1 million from operating activities to financing activities in the accompanying consolidated statement of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2016 pertaining to shares withheld from employee awards for tax withholding purposes. Following the adoption of ASU 2016-09, we will continue to estimate forfeitures.

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Goodwill Impairment Testing

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,” which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill and eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the new guidance, the annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test is performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, and an impairment charge should be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. In addition, income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit should be considered when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. The amendments also eliminate the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment and, if it fails that qualitative test, to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. The amendments are to be applied on a prospective basis. The guidance is effective for annual or any interim impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 (January 1, 2020 for our company). Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that the new guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Statement of Cash Flow – Restricted Cash

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, "Statement of Cash Flow - Restricted Cash," which adds or clarifies guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. The ASU is effective for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2017 (January 1, 2018 for our Company). Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that the new guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Financial Instruments – Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” For trade receivables, loans, and held-to-maturity debt securities, the current probable loss recognition methodology is being replaced by an expected credit loss model. For available-for-sale debt securities, the recognition model on credit losses is generally unchanged, except the losses will be presented as an adjustable allowance. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 (January 1, 2020 for our Company), including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We have been closely monitoring FASB activity related to the new standard. During the second half of 2016, we began developing a plan regarding the evaluation of the potential changes from adopting the new standard on our future financial reporting and disclosures. We expect to adopt the requirements of the new standard in the first quarter of 2020.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases” that requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with the exception of short-term leases. For lessees, leases will continue to be classified as either operating or finance leases in the income statement. Lessor accounting is similar to the current model but updated to align with certain changes to the lessee model. Lessors will continue to classify leases as operating, direct financing or sales-type leases. The new standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition and requires application of the new guidance at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (January 1, 2019 for our company). Early adoption is permitted. We have been closely monitoring FASB activity related to the new standard. During the second half of 2016, we began developing a plan regarding the evaluation of the potential changes from adopting the new standard on our future financial reporting and disclosures. We also made progress on our contract reviews and detailed policy drafting. Based on our evaluation, we expect to adopt the requirements of the new standard in the first quarter of 2019 and anticipate using the modified retrospective approach.

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” that will change the income statement impact of equity investments held by an entity, and the recognition of changes in fair value of financial liabilities when the fair value option is elected. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (January 1, 2018 for our company). We are currently evaluating the effect that the new guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

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In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-10, “Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing” that amends the revenue guidance in ASU 2014-09 on identifying performance obligations. The effective date of the new guidance will coincide with ASU 2014-09 during the first quarter 2018.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, “Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)” (“ASU 2016-08”) that amends the principal versus agent guidance in ASU 2014-09. ASU 2016-08 clarifies that the analysis must focus on whether the entity has control of the goods or services before they are transferred to the customer. ASU 2016-08 also provides additional guidance about how to apply the control principle when services are provided and when goods or services are combined with other goods or services. The effective date of the standard for the Company will coincide with ASU 2014-09 during the first quarter 2018.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)," ("ASU 2014-09") that supersedes current revenue recognition guidance, including most industry-specific guidance. ASU 2014-09 requires a company to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The guidance also requires additional disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. The FASB has approved a one year deferral of this standard, and this pronouncement is now effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period and is to be applied using one of two retrospective application methods, with early application not permitted.

We have been closely monitoring FASB activity related to the new standard. Our implementation efforts include the identification of revenue within the scope of the guidance, and the potential impact on its consolidated results of operations and disclosures. The current broker dealer industry treatment of netting deal expenses with investment banking revenues, the timing of performance fee recognition related to consolidated alternative asset management entities, and fees received for equity research may be impacted by the new guidance. We are also evaluating whether certain asset management contract costs can be capitalized on the consolidated statements of financial position. We expect to adopt the requirements of the new standard in the first quarter of 2018 and anticipate using the modified retrospective approach.

NOTE 3 – Receivables From and Payables to Brokers, Dealers, and Clearing Organizations

Amounts receivable from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, included (in thousands):

Amounts payable to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, included (in thousands):

Deposits paid for securities borrowed approximate the market value of the securities. Securities failed to deliver and receive represent the contract value of securities that have not been delivered or received on settlement date.

NOTE 4 – Fair Value Measurements

We measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, including financial instruments owned, available-for-sale securities, investments, financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, and derivatives.

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We generally utilize third-party pricing services to value Level 1 and Level 2 available-for-sale investment securities, as well as certain derivatives designated as cash flow hedges. We review the methodologies and assumptions used by the third-party pricing services and evaluate the values provided, principally by comparison with other available market quotes for similar instruments and/or analysis based on internal models using available third-party market data. We may occasionally adjust certain values provided by the third-party pricing service when we believe, as the result of our review, that the adjusted price most appropriately reflects the fair value of the particular security.

Following are descriptions of the valuation methodologies and key inputs used to measure financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value. The descriptions include an indication of the level of the fair value hierarchy in which the assets or liabilities are classified.

Financial Instruments Owned and Available-For-Sale Securities

When available, the fair value of financial instruments is based on quoted prices in active markets and reported in Level 1. Level 1 financial instruments include highly liquid instruments with quoted prices, such as equity securities listed in active markets, corporate fixed income securities, U.S. government securities, and U.S. government agency securities.

If quoted prices are not available for identical instruments, fair values are obtained from pricing services, broker quotes, or other model-based valuation techniques with observable inputs, such as the present value of estimated cash flows, and reported as Level 2. The nature of these financial instruments include instruments for which quoted prices are available but traded less frequently, instruments whose fair value has been derived using a model where inputs to the model are directly observable in the market, or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data, and instruments that are fair valued using other financial instruments, the parameters of which can be directly observed. Level 2 financial instruments include U.S. government agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, corporate fixed income securities infrequently traded, state and municipal securities, and asset-backed securities, which primarily include collateralized loan obligations.

We have identified Level 3 financial instruments to include certain equity securities with unobservable pricing inputs and certain non-agency mortgage-backed securities. Level 3 financial instruments have little to no pricing observability as of the report date. These financial instruments do not have active two-way markets and are measured using management’s best estimate of fair value, where the inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation.

Investments

Investments carried at fair value primarily include corporate equity securities, auction-rate securities (“ARS”), and private company investments.

Corporate equity securities are valued based on quoted prices in active markets and reported in Level 1.

ARS are valued based upon our expectations of issuer redemptions and using internal discounted cash flow models that utilize unobservable inputs. ARS are reported as Level 3 assets. ARS for which recent market trades were observed that provided transparency into their valuation were classified as Level 2 at June 30, 2017.

Direct investments in private companies, reported as Level 3 assets, may be valued using the market approach and were valued based on an assessment of each underlying investment, incorporating evaluation of additional significant third-party financing, changes in valuations of comparable peer companies, the business environment of the companies, market indices, assumptions relating to appropriate risk adjustments for nonperformance, and legal restrictions on disposition, among other factors. The fair value derived from the methods used are evaluated and weighted, as appropriate, considering the reasonableness of the range of values indicated. Under the market approach, fair value may be determined by reference to multiples of market-comparable companies or transactions, including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) multiples. For securities utilizing the market comparable companies valuation technique, a significant increase (decrease) in the EBITDA multiple in isolation could result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement.

Investments in Funds That Are Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share

The Company’s investments in funds measured at NAV include private company investments, partnership interests, mutual funds, private equity funds, and money market funds. Private equity funds primarily invest in a broad range of industries worldwide in a variety of situations, including leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, growth investments and distressed investments. The private equity funds are primarily closed-end funds in which the Company’s investments are generally not eligible for redemption. Distributions will be received from these funds as the underlying assets are liquidated or distributed.

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The general and limited partnership interests in investment partnerships were primarily valued based upon NAVs received from third-party fund managers. The various partnerships are investment companies, which record their underlying investments at fair value based on fair value policies established by management of the underlying fund. Fair value policies at the underlying fund generally require the funds to utilize pricing/valuation information, including independent appraisals, from third-party sources. However, in some instances, current valuation information for illiquid securities or securities in markets that are not active may not be available from any third-party source or fund management may conclude that the valuations that are available from third-party sources are not reliable. In these instances, fund management may perform model-based analytical valuations that may be used as an input to value these investments.

The tables below present the fair value of our investments in, and unfunded commitments to, funds that are measured at NAV (in thousands):

Financial Instruments Sold, But Not Yet Purchased

Financial instruments sold, but not purchased, recorded at fair value based on quoted prices in active markets and other observable market data include highly liquid instruments with quoted prices, such as U.S. government securities, corporate fixed income securities, and equity securities listed in active markets, which are reported as Level 1.

If quoted prices are not available, fair values are obtained from pricing services, broker quotes, or other model-based valuation techniques with observable inputs, such as the present value of estimated cash flows, and reported as Level 2. The nature of these financial instruments include instruments for which quoted prices are available but traded less frequently, instruments whose fair value has been derived using a model where inputs to the model are directly observable in the market, or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data, and instruments that are fair valued using other financial instruments, the parameters of which can be directly observed. Level 2 financial instruments include U.S. government agency securities, mortgage-backed securities not actively traded, corporate fixed income securities, and state and municipal securities.

Derivatives

Derivatives are valued using quoted market prices for identical instruments when available or pricing models based on the net present value of estimated future cash flows. The valuation models used require market observable inputs, including contractual terms, market prices, yield curves, credit curves, and measures of volatility. We manage credit risk for our derivative positions on a counterparty-by-counterparty basis and calculate credit valuation adjustments, included in the fair value of these instruments, on the basis of our relationships at the counterparty portfolio/master netting agreement level. These credit valuation adjustments are determined by applying a credit spread for the counterparty to the total expected exposure of the derivative after considering collateral and other master netting arrangements. We have classified our interest rate swaps as Level 2.

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Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2017, are presented below (in thousands):

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Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2016, are presented below (in thousands):

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