Ocwen Falls on Earnings Miss, Revs Up Y/Y - Analyst Blog

Shares of Ocwen Financial Corp OCN declined 7.4% following its first-quarter 2014 adjusted earnings of 69 cents per share, which lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 96 cents. However, the reported figure was higher than 64 cents earned in the year-ago quarter.

Notably, our quantitative model had also projected that Ocwen would miss the Zacks Consensus Estimate, as it did not had the right combination of two key components – a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or higher rank. Though Ocwen had a Zacks Rank #3, its ESP was negative.

Results were adversely impacted by higher-than-expected rise in operating expenses that resulted from increased spending on technology and compliance. However, higher revenues, a strong balance sheet and good liquidity were the tailwinds.

After considering certain non-recurring charges, Ocwen's net income came in at $75.8 million or 54 cents per share, up from $45.1 million or 31 per share in the prior-year quarter.

Performance Details

Total revenue grew 35.7% year over year to $551.3 million in the said quarter. The growth was attributable to rise in servicing and sub-servicing fees as well as higher net gain on loans held for sale, partially offset by lower other income. However, it fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $570.0 million.

Operating expenses were $349.2 million, up 43.9% from the prior-year quarter. The rise was mainly due to increase in all expense components.

Income from operations came in at $202.1 million, increasing 23.5% year over year.

Balance Sheet and Others

As of Mar 31, 2014, Ocwen recorded cash of $242.4 million, up from $178.5 million as of Dec 31, 2013. Further, total assets came in at $8.2 billion, increasing from $7.9 billion as of Dec 31, 2013.

In the reported quarter, Ocwen completed 28,456 loan modifications, with Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) constituting 39% of the completed modifications.

Our Take

We expect the company's new business acquisitions and loan modifications to boost profitability in the coming quarters. However, persistently rising operating expenses, sluggish economic recovery and market volatility with subprime MSR market contraction remain major concerns.

Among other companies, Ellington Financial LLC EFC is slated to report results on May 7, while Walker & Dunlop, Inc. WD and Nationstar Mortgage Holdings Inc. NSM are scheduled to announce results on May 8.