Total operating expenses for the second quarter of 2021 increased 102.8% to $243.3 million, compared to $120.0 million for the same period in the prior year. The change was primarily driven by a 142.2% increase in cost of services and a 42.0% increase in selling, general and administrative expense. Cost of services as a percent of total revenues decreased 10 basis points to 62.7% compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a higher proportion of transactions closed by our more senior investment sales and financing professionals at the start of the pandemic during the three months ended June 30, 2020.
Selling, general and administrative expense for the second quarter of 2021 increased by $18.3 million to $61.8 million, compared to the same period in the prior year. The growth was primarily due to increases in (i) compensation related costs, primarily driven by increases in management performance compensation due to a significant year-over-year increase in operating results; (ii) change in value of contingent consideration in connection with our acquisition activities; and (iii) business development, marketing and other support related to the long-term retention of our sales and financing professionals.
Net income for the second quarter of 2021 was $31.5 million, or $0.79 per common share, basic and $0.78 per common share, diluted, compared to $106,000, or $0.00 per common share, basic and diluted, for the same period in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2021 was $48.1 million, compared to $4.2 million for the same period in the prior year.
Six Months 2021 Results Compared to Six Months 2020
Total revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2021, were $468.9 million, compared to $308.1 million for the same period in the prior year, an increase of $160.8 million, or 52.2%. Total operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased by 39.9% to $407.1 million compared to $291.1 million for the same period in the prior year. Cost of services as a percent of total revenues increased to 61.4%, up 50 basis points compared to the first six months of 2020. The Company’s net income for the six months ended June 30, 2021 of $46.5 million, or $1.17 per common share, basic and $1.16 per common share, diluted, compared with net income of $13.2 million, or $0.33 per common share, basic and diluted, for the same period in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased nearly threefold to $73.8 million, from $26.5 million for the same period in the prior year. As of June 30, 2021, the Company had 2,022 investment sales and financing professionals, a net loss of 26 over the prior year.
Business Outlook
Notwithstanding the potential continuing impact of the COVID-19 virus variants on the current business environment, the Company believes it is positioned to achieve long-term growth.
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 through consolidation. This market segment consistently accounts for over 80% of all commercial property sales transactions and over 60% of the commission pool and is highly fragmented. The top 10 brokerage firms led by MMI have an estimated 23% share of this segment by transaction count.
Key factors that may influence the Company’s business during the remainder of 2021 include:
| • | | Volatility in market sales and investor sentiment driven by: |
| • | | Slowdown in market sales of asset types impacted by COVID-19, interest rate fluctuations, increasing bid-ask spread between buyers and sellers and economic trends |
| • | | Changes to investor sentiment and sales activity based on favorable interest rates and economic initiatives which may increase real estate investor demand, for the remainder of 2021 |
| • | | Possible impact to investor sentiment related to regulatory and tax law changes which maybe causing trading acceleration and/or future fluctuations in sales and financing activity |
| • | | Potential higher cost of services resulting from more experienced investment sales and financing professionals closing a larger share of revenue and surpassing revenue thresholds earlier in the year |
| • | | Volatility in each of the Company’s market segments |
| • | | Global geopolitical uncertainty, which may cause investors to refrain from transacting |
| • | | The potential for accretive acquisition activity and subsequent integration |
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