Moelis & Company's Q3 Earnings Top as Revenues Rise & Expenses Fall

Moelis & Company’s MC third-quarter 2024 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 22 cents surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 20 cents. The bottom line improved from a loss of 15 cents per share in the prior-year quarter.Stay up-to-date with all quarterly releases: See Zacks Earnings Calendar.Results benefited from a rise in revenues and other income alongside lower operating expenses. Also, the company had a solid liquidity position in the quarter.Net income (GAAP basis) was $19.2 million against a loss of $11.4 million in the prior year quarter.MC’s Revenues Rise, Expenses DeclineTotal revenues (GAAP basis) grew marginally year over year to $273.8 million. This was driven by a rise in mergers & acquisition (M&A) revenues, partially offset by a modest dip in non-M&A revenues. Moreover, the top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $269.6 million.Total operating expenses (GAAP basis) were $258.2 million, down 11.6%. The decline was due to a decrease in both compensation and benefits costs and non-compensation expenses. Our estimates for total operating expenses were $245.6 million.Other income (GAAP basis) was $11.1 million in the reported quarter, up 11.6% from the prior-year quarter.As of Sept. 30, 2024, the company had cash and liquid investments of $297.7 million, with no debt or goodwill.Our View on Moelis & CompanyMoelis & Company’s global expansion initiatives and diverse operations across sectors and industries bode well. However, heightened geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties alongside rising expenses will continue to adversely impact the company’s financials.Moelis & Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Moelis & Company price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Moelis & Company QuoteCurrently, Moelis & Company has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Performance of Other Investment BanksMorgan Stanley’s MS third-quarter 2024 earnings of $1.88 per share handily outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.57. The bottom line also compared favorably with $1.38 in the prior-year quarter.Its investment banking (IB) business performance was solid. Advisory fees and underwriting fees witnessed solid momentum in the quarter. Specifically, equity underwriting income and fixed income underwriting income increased. Further, wealth management business performance was solid. Lower provisions were another tailwind for MS. Yet, higher non-interest expenses were an undermining factor.The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.’s GS third-quarter 2024 adjusted EPS of $8.40 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.85. This compares favorably with EPS of $5.47 reported in the year-ago quarter.Goldman’s results benefited from a strong performance in its IB business and a solid Asset & Wealth Management division. A decline in expenses was another positive. However, a rise in provisions and a weak capital position remain concerns.5 Stocks Set to DoubleEach was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2024. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +143.0%, +175.9%, +498.3% and +673.0%.Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS): Free Stock Analysis Report Morgan Stanley (MS): Free Stock Analysis Report Moelis & Company (MC): Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks