Schwab Reports Monthly Activity Highlights

The Charles Schwab Corporation released its Monthly Activity Report today. Company highlights for the month of February 2015 include:

• Core net new assets (before significant one-time flows) brought to the company by new and existing clients in February 2015 totaled $12.3 billion. Net new assets of $6.8 billion contained the following items:
  • An outflow of $11.6 billion relating to our planned resignation from an Advisor Services cash management relationship.
  • A positive net adjustment of $6.1 billion to reflect the final impact of Schwab’s consolidation of its retirement plan recordkeeping platforms as previously announced in September 2013.
• Total client assets were a record $2.53 trillion as of month-end February, up 10% from February 2014 and up 4% compared to January 2015.
• Client assets receiving ongoing advisory services were also a record $1.25 trillion as of month-end February, up 11% from February 2014 and up 3% compared to January 2015.

CFO Joe Martinetto commented, “The success of our ‘through clients’ eyes’ strategy and ongoing improvement in the broader economic picture are helping to sustain strong growth in our business – client assets reached a record $2.53 trillion at month-end February, up $236.8 billion, or 10%, year-over-year. Thus far in 2015, client trading activity has started out below expectations and equity market returns were in negative territory until early February. At the same time, our expense management is tracking in line with our plans, including a normal seasonal lift in compensation due to payroll tax resets, our annual health savings account contribution, and typical salary adjustments. We also expect a sequential rise in first quarter marketing outlays given the launch of our new Schwab Intelligent Portfolios offering in March. Our first quarter 2015 earnings per share are therefore running approximately $0.01 lower than the company’s year-earlier results. With so much of the year ahead of us and the economy continuing to strengthen, we will monitor the environment and assess our spending in view of our developing revenue picture.”

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to the improving economy; strong business growth; expenses; first quarter marketing outlays; and first quarter 2015 earnings per share. Achievement of these expectations and objectives is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expressed expectations.

Important factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, general market conditions, including the level of interest rates, equity valuations and trading activity; the company’s ability to attract and retain clients and grow client assets/relationships; the level of client assets, including cash balances; the company’s ability to monetize client assets; the impact of changes in market conditions on money fund fee waivers, revenues, expenses and pre-tax margin; client use of the company’s investment advisory services and other products and services; the company’s ability to manage expenses; net interest margin; client trading activity; the effect of adverse developments in litigation or regulatory matters and the extent of any charges associated with legal matters; and other factors set forth in the company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2014.

About Charles Schwab

The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) is a leading provider of financial services, with more than 325 offices and 9.4 million active brokerage accounts, 1.5 million corporate retirement plan participants, 983,000 banking accounts, and $2.53 trillion in client assets as of February 28, 2015. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company provides a full range of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, money management and financial advisory services to individual investors and independent investment advisors. Its broker-dealer subsidiary, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (member SIPC, http://www.sipc.org), and affiliates offer a complete range of investment services and products including an extensive selection of mutual funds; financial planning and investment advice; retirement plan and equity compensation plan services; referrals to independent fee-based investment advisors; and custodial, operational and trading support for independent, fee-based investment advisors through Schwab Advisor Services. Its banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Bank (member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender), provides banking and lending services and products. More information is available at www.schwab.com and www.aboutschwab.com.