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8-K - DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES 8-K - Discover Financial Servicesa6543053.htm
EX-99.2 - EXHIBIT 99.2 - Discover Financial Servicesa6543053ex99_2.htm
Exhibit 99.1
 
 

DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER
NET INCOME OF $350 MILLION OR $0.64 PER DILUTED SHARE


Riverwoods, IL, Dec. 16, 2010 – Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) today reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2010 of $350 million, as compared to net income of $353 million for the fourth quarter of 2009.  The results for the prior year included approximately $285 million (after tax) related to the Visa/MasterCard antitrust litigation settlement.

Full year 2010 net income was $765 million, as compared to $1.3 billion for the full year 2009 which included $1.2 billion (after-tax) related to the Visa/MasterCard antitrust litigation settlement.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

  
Discover card sales volume was $23 billion in the quarter, an increase of 6% from the prior year.

  
Net interest margin of 9.28% improved 12 basis points as compared to the prior quarter, reflecting the sale of lower yielding federal student loans.

  
Credit performance continued to improve, with net charge-offs down $103 million from the prior quarter and a net charge-off rate for the fourth quarter of 6.58%.  The delinquency rate for loans over 30 days past due was 3.89%, with delinquent balances declining $181 million in the quarter.

  
The outlook for continuing improvement in credit performance led to a $414 million release of loan loss reserves.

  
Payment Services processed record transaction volume in the quarter of $40.4 billion with profit before tax up 32% from the prior year.

  
Deposit balances originated through direct-to-consumer and affinity relationships grew $1.5 billion in the quarter to $20.6 billion.

"The sustained and significant improvement in the credit performance of the Discover card portfolio led to another very strong earnings performance this quarter," said David Nelms, chairman and chief executive officer of Discover.  "We continue to invest in marketing and business development in all of our businesses, which contributed to another quarter of growth in Discover Card spending, as well as record transaction volumes in our third-party credit and debit network businesses.  We look forward to capitalizing on the opportunities ahead of us in 2011, including our acquisition of The Student Loan Corporation as we strengthen our competitive position in private student loans."

Segment Results:

Direct Banking

The discussion that follows compares amounts reported for the fourth quarter of 2010 to 2009 on an “as-adjusted” basis1.
 

1 The company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 166 and 167, on Dec. 1, 2009, which amended ASC Section 860 and 810, resulting in the inclusion of its credit card securitization trusts in its consolidated financial results beginning with the first quarter of 2010.  In order to provide more meaningful historical comparisons for analyzing data, schedules have been prepared to reflect the results for 2009 on an “as-adjusted” basis.  The as-adjusted basis assumes that the trusts used in the company’s securitization activities were consolidated into the financial results for 2009.  The as-adjusted basis also excludes from results income received in connection with the company’s settlement of its antitrust litigation with Visa and MasterCard in 2009.  All references to financial information on an “as-adjusted” basis reflect these adjustments.  For more information, and a detailed reconciliation, see the schedule titled “Reconciliation of GAAP to As Adjusted Data” attached to this press release.
 
 
1

 
 
 
The table below reconciles the 2009 as-adjusted amounts with the relevant measure on an as reported basis where appropriate, and shows the comparable 2010 U.S. GAAP results.


 
Quarter Ended
     
Quarter Ended
   
Quarter Ended
 
November 30, 2009
     
November 30, 2009
   
November 30, 2010
 
 Managed - As Reported
 
 Adjustments
 
 As Adjusted
   
 GAAP
                 
Credit Card Interest Yield
12.75%
 
0.01%
 
12.76%
   
12.68%
Net Interest Margin
9.37%
 
0.01%
 
9.38%
   
9.28%
Other Income
$924
 
($434)
 
$490
   
$404
Provision for Loan Losses
$989
 
$269
 
$1,258
   
$383
Direct Banking Income Before Taxes
$546
 
($673)
 
($127)
   
$554
                 
Allowance for Loan Losses
$1,758
 
$2,144
 
$3,902
   
$3,304
Reserve Rate
7.44%
 
0.43%
 
7.87%
   
6.87%


Direct Banking pretax income of $554 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 was a $681 million improvement from the fourth quarter of 2009, as adjusted.

Discover card sales volume grew 6% from the prior year, the fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth.  Credit card loans were $45.2 billion, essentially unchanged from the prior quarter and down $2.3 billion from the prior year, driven by a reduction in promotional rate balances and an increase in the payment rate.

Total loans ended the quarter at $48.8 billion, down 4% compared to the prior year reflecting a decline in credit card loans as well as the previously disclosed $1.5 billion sale of federal student loans.  The company classified the remaining $800 million in federal student loan balances as held for sale in the fourth quarter of 2010 in anticipation of selling them in 2011.

Net interest margin was 9.28%, a decrease of 10 basis points from the prior year as adjusted and up 12 basis points from the prior quarter.  The decrease from the prior year primarily reflects the impact of legislative changes on credit card yield partially offset by lower interest charge-offs.  Net interest margin was up from the prior quarter reflecting the impact of the sale of lower rate federal student loans partially offset by the impact of legislative changes and a higher level of promotional rate balances.

The delinquency rate for loans over 30 days past due declined to 3.89%, an improvement of 142 basis points from the prior year, and 27 basis points from the prior quarter.  The net charge-off rate decreased to 6.58% for the fourth quarter of 2010, down 185 basis points from the prior year and 60 basis points from the prior quarter.

Provision for loan losses of $383 million decreased $876 million from the prior year, as adjusted, driven by lower charge-offs and a reduction in the allowance for loan losses.  Improvement in the outlook for credit performance over the next twelve months led to a reduction in the loan loss reserve rate, which resulted in a reserve release of $414 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 versus a reserve build of $195 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Other income decreased $87 million, or 18% from the prior year as adjusted. The decline was primarily due to lower late fees, the discontinuance of overlimit fees beginning in February 2010 and a $28 million charge related to federal student loans classified as held for sale.
 
Expenses were up $49 million, or 9%, from the prior year, reflecting increased marketing and advertising spending as well as costs related to The Student Loan Corporation acquisition.

 
2

 

 
Payment Services

Payment Services pretax income of $31 million in the quarter was up $8 million, or 32%, from the prior year. Revenues were up $9 million, reflecting increased volumes from new and existing clients, as well as higher margins from transactions on the PULSE ATM/Debit network.

Payment Services dollar volume was a record $40.4 billion for the fourth quarter, up 21% from the prior year, driven by higher PULSE and third-party issuer volume.  The number of transactions on the PULSE network increased 33%.

Dividends

The company’s board declared a cash dividend of $0.02 per share of common stock, payable on Jan. 20, 2011, to stockholders of record at the close of business on Dec. 29, 2010.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

The company will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter results on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. Central time.  Interested parties can listen to the conference call via a live audio webcast at http://investorrelations.discoverfinancial.com.


About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company operates the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers personal and student loans, online savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its Discover Bank subsidiary. Its payment businesses consist of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discoverfinancial.com.
 
Contacts:
 
Investors:
Craig Streem, 224-405-3575
craigstreem@discover.com
 
Media:
Jon Drummond, 224-405-1888
JonDrummond@discover.com
 
A financial summary follows. Financial, statistical, and business related information, as well as information regarding business and segment trends, is included in the financial supplement filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the company’s Form 8-K filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Both the earnings release and the financial supplement are available online at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) and the company’s website (http://investorrelations.discoverfinancial.com).
 
 
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This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, which speak to our expected business and financial performance, among other matters, contain words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “likely,” and similar expressions. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and there is no undertaking to update or revise them as more information becomes available.  The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: changes in economic variables, such as the availability of consumer credit, the housing market, energy costs, the number and size of personal bankruptcy filings, the rate of unemployment and the levels of consumer confidence and consumer debt, and investor sentiment; the impact of current, pending and future legislation, regulation and regulatory and legal actions, including new laws and rules limiting or modifying certain credit card practices, new laws and rules affecting securitizations, funding and liquidity, new laws and rules related to financial regulatory reform, and bank holding company regulations and supervisory guidance; restrictions on the company’s operations resulting from financing transactions; the actions and initiatives of current and potential competitors; the company’s ability to successfully achieve card acceptance across its networks and maintain relationships with network participants; the company’s ability to manage its credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, operational risk, legal and compliance risk, and strategic risk; the availability and cost of funding and capital; access to deposit, securitization, equity, debt and credit markets; the impact of rating agency actions; the level and volatility of equity prices, commodity prices and interest rates, currency values, investments, other market fluctuations and other market indices; losses in the company’s investment portfolio; the company’s ability to increase or sustain Discover card usage or attract new customers; the company’s ability to attract new merchants and maintain relationships with current merchants; the effect of political, economic and market conditions, geopolitical events and unforeseen or catastrophic events; fraudulent activities or material security breaches of key systems; the company’s ability to introduce new products or services; the company’s ability to sustain its investment in new technology and manage its relationships with third-party vendors; the company’s ability to collect amounts for disputed transactions from merchants and merchant acquirers; the company’s ability to attract and retain employees; the company’s ability to protect its reputation and its intellectual property; difficulty financing, transitioning, integrating or managing the expenses of new businesses, products or technologies; the company’s ability to maintain relationships with schools; and new lawsuits, investigations or similar matters or unanticipated developments related to current matters. The company routinely evaluates and may pursue acquisitions of or investments in businesses, products, technologies, loan portfolios or deposits, which may involve payment in cash or the company's debt or equity securities.  The company’s upcoming acquisition of The Student Loan Corporation (“SLC”) is subject to closing conditions including, among others, the approval of the transaction by SLC’s stockholders and the closing of SLC’s asset sale transactions.  For additional information regarding the acquisition, see the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 17, 2010.
 
Additional factors that could cause the company’s results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found under “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2009 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended February 28, 2010, May 31, 2010 and August 31, 2010, which are filed with the SEC and available at the SEC's internet site (http://www.sec.gov).
 
 
4

 

Discover Financial Services
                 
As Adjusted Basis (for 2009 data)  1
                 
(unaudited, dollars in thousands, except per
                 
share statistics)
 
Quarter Ended
 
   
Nov 30, 2010
 
Aug 31, 2010
 
Nov 30, 2009
                   
Earnings Summary
                 
    Interest Income
    $1,499,347       $1,535,939       $1,576,442  
    Interest Expense
    375,506       389,137       393,160  
Net Interest Income
    1,123,841       1,146,802       1,183,282  
Other Income
    472,135       564,144       550,229  
Revenue Net of Interest Expense
    1,595,976       1,710,946       1,733,511  
Provision for Loan Losses
    382,670       712,565       1,258,261  
Total Other Expense
    628,075       566,238       578,507  
Income Before Income Taxes
    585,231       432,143       (103,257 )
Tax Expense
    235,589       171,526       (44,037 )
Net Income
    $349,642       $260,617       $(59,220 )
                         
Net Income Allocated to Common Stockholders 2
    $346,517       $258,194       $(77,855 )
                         
Income Before Income Taxes, Direct Banking
    $553,905       $395,299       $(127,028 )
Income Before Income Taxes, Payment Services
    $31,326       $36,844       $23,771  
                         
Basic EPS3
    $0.64       $0.47       $(0.14 )
Diluted EPS3
    $0.64       $0.47       $(0.14 )
                         
Balance Sheet Statistics
                       
Total Assets
    $60,784,968       $60,057,553       $67,116,359  
Total Equity
    $6,456,846       $6,111,297       $7,102,991  
Total Loans
    $48,836,413       $50,130,664       $50,854,146  
Average Total Loans
    $48,596,601       $49,687,300       $50,585,332  
                         
Key Ratios
                       
Net Interest Margin 4
    9.28 %     9.16 %     9.38 %
Return on Loan Receivables 5
    2.89 %     2.08 %     (0.47 %)
Reserve Rate 6
    6.77 %     7.47 %     7.67 %
Reserve Rate (excluding guaranteed student loans)  7
    6.87 %     7.80 %     7.87 %
Interest Yield 8
    12.24 %     12.16 %     12.35 %
Net Principal Charge-off Rate  9
    6.58 %     7.18 %     8.43 %
Delinquency Rate (over 30 days) 10
    3.89 %     4.16 %     5.31 %
Delinquency Rate (over 90 days) 11
    2.03 %     2.19 %     2.78 %
                         
Total Discover Card Volume
    $25,054,455       $25,552,568       $23,335,440  
Discover Card Sales Volume
    $23,219,361       $23,992,715       $21,903,694  
                         
Volume
                       
PULSE Network
    $31,333,712       $30,581,850       $24,667,926  
Third-Party Issuers
    1,768,429       1,793,785       1,522,269  
Diners Club International 12
    7,327,446       6,542,418       7,172,809  
Total Payment Services
    40,429,587       38,918,053       33,363,004  
Discover Network - Proprietary 13
    24,075,419       24,880,163       22,712,600  
Total
    $64,505,006       $63,798,216       $56,075,604  
                         
                         
1 GAAP data is presented in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("FAS") No. 140 for the quarter ended November 30, 2009. As adjusted income statement data also excludes the impact of income received in connection with the settlement of the Company's antitrust litigation with Visa and MasterCard in 2009. For reconciliation of comparable GAAP measures see Reconciliation of GAAP to As Adjusted data.
                         
2 Net Income Allocated to Common Stockholders represents net income less (i) dividends and accretion of discount on shares of preferred stock and (ii) income allocated to participating securities.
                         
3Earnings per share represents net income allocated to common stockholders divided by the weighted average common shares outstanding.
                         
4 Net Interest Margin represents net interest income (annualized) divided by average total loans for the period.
                         
5 Return on Loan Receivables represents net income (annualized) divided by average total loans for the period.
                         
6 Reserve Rate represents the allowance for loan losses divided by total loans. The Reserve Rate includes federal student loans held for sale.
                         
7 Reserve Rate (excluding guaranteed student loans), a non-GAAP financial measure, represents the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans excluding guaranteed student loans. The Company believes that a reserve rate excluding the government guaranteed portion of student loans is a more meaningful valuation to investors of the portion of the portfolio that has a risk of loss. For a corresponding reconciliation of loans excluding the guaranteed portion of student loans to a GAAP financial measure, see Reconciliation of GAAP to As Adjusted data schedule.
                         
8 Interest Yield represents interest income on loan receivables (annualized) over average loans for the reporting period.
                         
9 Net Principal Charge-off Rate represents net principal charge-off dollars (annualized) divided by average loans for the reporting period.
                         
10 Delinquency Rate (Over 30 Days) represents loans delinquent over thirty days divided by ending loans (total or credit card loans, as appropriate).
                         
11 Delinquency Rate (Over 90 Days) represents loans delinquent over ninety days divided by ending loans (total or credit card loans, as appropriate).
                         
12 Volume is derived from data provided by licensees for Diners Club branded cards issued outside of North America and is subject to subsequent revision or amendment.
                         
13 Gross proprietary sales volume on the Discover Network.
         
 
 
 

 
 
 
DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES
                         
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO AS ADJUSTED DATA
 
The following pages present a reconciliation for certain information disclosed in the financial data supplement.
 
The trusts used in the securitization activities of Discover Financial Services (the "Company") are included in the Company's consolidated financial results  beginning with the fiscal quarter ending February 28, 2010, in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Statement of Financial  Accounting Standards No. 166,  Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets - an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140  ("Statement No. 166")  (codified under the FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Section 860,  Transfers and Servicing ) and Statement of Financial Accounting  Standards No. 167,  Amendments to FASB Interpretations No. 46(R)  ("Statement No. 167") (codified under ASC Section 810,  Consolidation), which  were effective for the Company at the beginning of its current fiscal year, December 1, 2009.
 
The Company did not retrospectively adopt Statements No. 166 and 167 and, therefore, financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for 2010 and beyond will reflect the new accounting requirements, but the historical GAAP financial statements for periods ending on or before November 30, 2009 will continue to reflect the accounting applicable prior to the Company’s adoption of Statements No. 166 and 167.
 
To allow for a more meaningful historical comparison in analyzing financial data presented in 2010 and beyond, the Company has prepared financial  statements showing how the Company's financial data would have been presented if the trusts used in the Company's securitization activities were  consolidated into the Company's financial statements in 2009. In preparing the financial statements, the Company made securitization and as adjusted adjustments for each period.  Securitization adjustments reverse the effect of loan securitization by recharacterizing securitization income to report interest income, interest expense, provision for loan losses, discount and interchange revenue and loan fee revenues in the same lines as non-securitized loans. As adjusted adjustments include additional amounts necessary to reflect results as if the trusts used in our securitization activities had been fully consolidated in our historical results and adjustments to exclude the impact of income received in connection with the settlement of the Company's antitrust litigation with Visa and MasterCard in 2009.
 
Reserve rate (excluding guaranteed student loans), a non-GAAP financial measure, represents the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans excluding guaranteed student loans. A reconciliation of total loans, a GAAP financial measure, to loans excluding the guaranteed portion of student loans is shown on the pages that follow. A portion of the Company's student loans are 97% guaranteed by the federal government under the Federal Family Education Loan Program. These guaranteed student loans carry little default risk and therefore, are reserved at a significantly lower rate than the remaining portfolio. Management believes that a reserve rate excluding the government guaranteed portion of student loans is a more meaningful valuation to investors of the portion of the portfolio that has a risk of loss.
 
Discover Financial Services
                 
Reconciliation of GAAP to As Adjusted Data
                 
(unaudited, dollars in thousands, except per share statistics)
             
   
Quarter Ended
   
Nov 30, 2010
 
Aug 31, 2010
 
Nov 30, 2009
                   
GAAP Total Loans
    $48,836,413       $50,130,664       $23,625,084  
Securitization Adjustments
 
NA
   
NA
      27,235,288  
Managed Basis
    48,836,413       50,130,664       50,860,372  
As Adjusted Adjustments
    -       -       (6,226 )
As Adjusted Total Loans
    48,836,413       50,130,664       50,854,146  
  Less: Guaranteed portion of student loans
    (764,458 )     (2,128,446 )     (1,274,453 )
As Adjusted Total Loans Less: Guaranteed portion of student loans
    $48,071,955       $48,002,218       $49,579,693  
                         
Reserve Rate
                       
GAAP Basis
    6.77 %     7.47 %     7.44 %
Adjustments
    -       -       0.23 %
As Adjusted
    6.77 %     7.47 %     7.67 %
Adjustments (to exclude guaranteed student loans)
    0.10 %     0.33 %     0.20 %
As Adjusted (excluding guaranteed student loans)
    6.87 %     7.80 %     7.87 %
                         
Total Company
                       
Interest Income
                       
GAAP Basis
                    $638,086  
Securitization Adjustments
                    947,604  
Managed Basis
                    1,585,690  
As Adjusted Adjustments
                    (9,248 )
As Adjusted
                    $1,576,442  
                         
Interest Expense
                       
GAAP Basis
                    $314,158  
Securitization Adjustments
                    89,140  
Managed Basis
                    403,298  
As Adjusted Adjustments
                    (10,138 )
As Adjusted
                    $393,160  
                         
Net Interest Income
                       
GAAP Basis
                    $323,928  
Securitization Adjustments
                    858,464  
Managed Basis
                    1,182,392  
As Adjusted Adjustments
                    890  
As Adjusted
                    $1,183,282  
 
 
 

 

 
Other Income
     
GAAP Basis
    $1,253,559  
Securitization Adjustments
    (269,187 )
Managed Basis
    984,372  
As Adjusted Adjustments
    (434,143 )
As Adjusted
    $550,229  
         
Revenue Net of Interest Expense
       
GAAP Basis
    $1,577,487  
Securitization Adjustments
    589,277  
Managed Basis
    2,166,764  
As Adjusted Adjustments
    (433,253 )
As Adjusted
    $1,733,511  
         
Provision for Loan Losses
       
GAAP Basis
    $399,732  
Securitization Adjustments
    589,277  
Managed Basis
    989,009  
As Adjusted Adjustments
    269,252  
As Adjusted
    $1,258,261  
         
Income Before Income Taxes
       
GAAP Basis
    $570,256  
As Adjusted Adjustments
    (673,513 )
As Adjusted
    $(103,257 )
         
Tax Expense
       
GAAP Basis
    $217,719  
As Adjusted Adjustments
    (261,756 )
As Adjusted
    $(44,037 )
         
Net Income
       
GAAP Basis
    $352,537  
As Adjusted Adjustments
    (411,757 )
As Adjusted
    $(59,220 )
         
Net Income Allocated to Common Stockholders
       
GAAP Basis
    $330,505  
As Adjusted Adjustments
    (408,360 )
As Adjusted
    $(77,855 )
         
Basic EPS
       
GAAP Basis
    $0.61  
Adjustments
    (0.75 )
As Adjusted
    $(0.14 )
         
Diluted EPS
       
GAAP Basis
    $0.60  
Adjustments
    (0.74 )
As Adjusted
    $(0.14 )
         
Total Assets
       
GAAP Basis
    $46,020,987  
Securitization Adjustments
    26,968,289  
Managed Basis
    72,989,276  
As Adjusted Adjustments
    (5,872,917 )
As Adjusted
    $67,116,359  
         
Total Equity
       
GAAP Basis
    $8,435,547  
As Adjusted Adjustments
    (1,332,556 )
As Adjusted
    $7,102,991  
         
Average Total Loans
       
GAAP Basis
    $23,835,598  
Securitization Adjustments
    26,755,248  
Managed Basis
    50,590,846  
As Adjusted Adjustments
    (5,514 )
As Adjusted
    $50,585,332  
         
Income Before Income Taxes, Direct Banking
       
Managed
    $546,485  
As Adjusted Adjustments
    (673,513 )
As Adjusted
    $(127,028 )
         
Net Interest Margin
       
GAAP Basis
    5.45 %
Adjustments
    3.93 %
As Adjusted
    9.38 %
         
Return on Loan Receivables
       
GAAP Basis
    5.93 %
Adjustments
    (6.40 %)
As Adjusted
    (0.47 %)
         
Interest Yield
       
GAAP Basis
    10.25 %
Adjustments
    2.10 %
As Adjusted
    12.35 %
 
 
 

 
 
         
Net Principal Charge-off Rate
       
GAAP Basis
    7.98 %
Adjustments
    0.45 %
As Adjusted
    8.43 %
         
Delinquency Rate (over 30 days)
       
GAAP Basis
    4.92 %
Adjustments
    0.39 %
As Adjusted
    5.31 %
         
Delinquency Rate (over 90 days)
       
GAAP Basis
    2.58 %
Adjustments
    0.20 %
As Adjusted
    2.78 %