Selling, general and administrative expense for the first quarter of 2020 increased 12.1% to $54.9 million, compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to higher costs associated with (i) sales operations support and promotional marketing expenses; (ii) legal costs; (iii) facilities expenses due to expansion of existing offices; (iv) net other expense categories primarily related to an increase in certain licensing and professional fees; and (v) stock-based compensation. These increases were partially offset by declines in compensation related costs, primarily driven by decreases in deferred compensation obligation and management performance compensation, partially offset by increases in salaries and related benefits.
Net income for the first quarter of 2020 was $13.1 million, or $0.33 per common share, basic and diluted, compared to $15.6 million, or $0.40 per common share, basic and diluted, for the same period in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2020 was $22.4 million, compared to $23.2 million for the same period in the prior year. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had 1,993 investment sales and financing professionals.
Impact ofCOVID-19
Since the declaration of theCOVID-19 pandemic inmid-March, the Company has implemented recommendations and protocols from the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and federal, state and local authorities where it operates to ensure the safety and well-being of its employees, agents and clients. The Company quickly implemented work from home protocols for all of its offices and has been conducting business using its extensive technology platform. To mitigate the impact ofCOVID-19 on our business, the Company has assessed its cost structure and instituted expense reductions to preserve the Company’s strong balance sheet and financial position.
The impact of theshelter-in-place orders, wide-spread travel restrictions and disruptions to the financial markets in response to the economic uncertainty introduced by the pandemic are all having an adverse impact on the real estate investment sales market. In turn, the slower transaction market will also affect the Company’s business resulting in a reduction in transaction volume, revenues, Adjusted EBITDA and earnings per share until normal business conditions resume, and the Company reestablishes its transaction pipeline. The duration of the disruptive nature of the pandemic on the Company’s business as well as the financial impact is unknown at this time.
Business Outlook
Notwithstanding the current influence of theCOVID-19 pandemic on the current business environment, we believe that the Company is positioned to achieve long-term growth by leveraging a number of factors. These include our leading national brand and market position within the Private Client Market segment, growth opportunities in the Middle Market and Larger Transaction Market segments, significant growth potential in our financing division, Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation, and supplementing our organic growth through incremental strategic acquisitions. The Company’s growth plan also includes further expansion of investment brokerage services in office, industrial and various specialty property types such as hospitality, self-storage and seniors housing.
The Company benefits from its experienced management team, infrastructure investments, industry-leading market research and proprietary technology. The size and fragmentation of the Private Client Market segment continues to offer long-term growth opportunities. This market segment consistently accounts for over 80% of all commercial property sales transactions and nearly 60% of the commission pool and is highly fragmented. The top 10 brokerage firms led by MMI have an estimated 24% share of this segment by transaction count.
Key factors that may influence the Company’s business during the remainder of 2020 include:
| • | | Slower transaction velocity as a result of the impact ofCOVID-19 on the market and the Company’s transaction volume, revenues and earnings per share |
| • | | Volatility in market sales and investor sentiment driven by: |
| • | | Slowdown in market sales in the short- tomid-term in view of a maturing cycle, anticipation of election results, interest rate fluctuations, increasingbid-ask spread gap between buyers and sellers and economic trends |
| • | | Possible boost to investor sentiment and sales activity based on apparent bottoming of interest rate easing cycle and economic initiatives which may increase real estate investor demand |
| • | | Possible impediment of investor sentiment related to regulatory changes at the local, state and national level |
| • | | Experienced agents’ larger share of revenue production in a more challenging market environment, resulting in a higher cost of services |
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