Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2020 increased 4.4% to $220.2 million, compared to $210.8 million for the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by a 3.5% increase in cost of services and a 5.9% increase in selling, general and administrative expense. Cost of services as a percent of total revenues decreased 100 basis points to 64.2% compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the mix in closed deals by seniority/experience level of our investment sales and financing professionals.
Selling, general and administrative expense for the fourth quarter of 2020 increased 5.9% to $56.4 million, compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to higher costs associated with (i) compensation related costs, including salaries and related benefits and variable employee incentive compensation; (ii) business development, marketing and other support related to the long-term retention of our sales and financing professionals, as well as recent additions of experienced professionals; and (iii) our acquisition activities. These increases were partially offset by reductions in (i) legal costs and (ii) net other expense categories, including events, travel and other related expenses.
Net income for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $23.6 million, or $0.59 per common share, basic and diluted, compared to $20.7 million, or $0.53 per common share, basic and $0.52 per common share, diluted, for the same period in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $36.9 million, compared to $32.5 million for the same period in the prior year.
Full Year 2020 Results Compared to Full Year 2019
Total revenues for 2020 were $716.9 million, compared to $806.4 million for the same period in the prior year, a decrease of $89.5 million, or 11.1%. Total operating expenses for 2020 decreased by 6.6% to $663.3 million compared to $710.0 million for the same period in the prior year. Cost of services as a percent of total revenues increased to 62.5%, up 60 basis points compared to the same period in the prior year reflecting a higher proportion of transactions completed by our more senior investment sales and financing professionals in a challenging environment. The Company reported net income for 2020 of $42.8 million, or $1.08 per common share, basic and diluted, compared with net income of $76.9 million, or $1.95 per common share, basic and diluted for the same period in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for 2020 decreased by 34.5% to $75.7 million, from $115.6 million for the same period in the prior year. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had 2,097 investment sales and financing professionals, a net gain of 76 over the prior year.
Impact of COVID-19
Since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-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 clients, employees, and agents. The Company quickly implemented work from home protocols for all offices and has been conducting business using its extensive technology platform. To mitigate the impact of COVID-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 shelter-in-place orders, widespread travel restrictions and disruptions to the financial markets in response to the economic uncertainty introduced by the pandemic had an adverse impact on the real estate investment sales market. The slower transaction market in the first half of 2020, impacted the Company’s business, resulting in a reduction in sales volume, revenues, Adjusted EBITDA and earnings per share. The duration of the disruptive nature of the pandemic on the Company’s business as well as the financial impact is unknown but has been diminishing since the onset of the pandemic. During the fourth quarter of 2020, we continued to see a recovery in transaction activity and availability of capital from the initial shock of COVID-19.
Business Outlook
Notwithstanding the impact of the COVID-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.
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