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8-K - 8-K - TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPd275582d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

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At the Company

 

For Media:    For Stockholders and Analysts:
Kim Hillyer    Jeff Goeser
Director, Communications & Public Affairs    Director, Investor Relations & Finance
TD Ameritrade    TD Ameritrade
402-574-6523    402-597-8464
kim.hillyer@tdameritrade.com    jeffrey.goeser@tdameritrade.com
@TDAmeritradePR   

TD Ameritrade Reports Record 2016 Earnings

Record Diluted Earnings per Share of $1.58, up 6% Year-Over-Year

Record Net Revenues of $3.3B, up 2% Year-Over-Year

Net New Client Assets of $60B, 9% Annualized Growth Rate

OMAHA, Neb., October 24, 2016 TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: AMTD) has released results for fiscal year 2016. The Company generated record earnings and a record $1.58 per diluted share, driven by strong organic growth.

The Company’s results for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2016 include the following: (1)

 

    Record $1.58 in earnings per diluted share, on net income of $842 million

 

    Net new client assets of approximately $60 billion, a growth rate of 9 percent

 

    Average client trades per day of approximately 463,000, up slightly year over year

 

    Record net revenues of $3.3 billion, 57 percent of which were asset-based

 

    Investment product fee revenue of $374 million, up 12 percent year over year

 

    Pre-tax income of $1.3 billion, or 38 percent of net revenues

 

    EBITDA(2) of $1.5 billion, or 45 percent of net revenues

 

    Interest rate-sensitive assets(3) of $119 billion, up 10 percent year over year

 

    Record client assets of approximately $774 billion, up 16 percent year over year

“We’re pleased to report another year of strong growth across all our businesses,” said Tim Hockey, TD Ameritrade president and chief executive officer. “Strong asset-gathering and growth in investment products helped us deliver higher earnings despite a challenging rate environment. We averaged 463,000 trades per day and gathered $60 billion in net new client assets, a 9 percent growth rate. We end 2016 with strong momentum and plans firmly in place to continue building long-term earnings power.”

“We have a solid competitive position and a strong, healthy culture. Our organic growth strategy will not change, but how we execute that strategy will continue to evolve,” Hockey continued. “Over the next 12


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months we will continue driving greater organizational efficiency and invest in initiatives that will help us deliver a superior client experience that address the needs of today’s investor — and tomorrow’s. An intensified commitment to agility and increasing our speed to market will be paramount to our success and a key focus for our management team going forward.”

“Fiscal 2016 was a good year with record earnings of $1.58 per diluted share, despite the persistence of near-zero interest rates, and our capital-light model allowed us to return more than $700 million to our shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. Building our long-term earnings power remains our primary focus, and with interest rate-sensitive assets up 10 percent to $119 billion, we remain well-positioned for a rising-rate environment,” said Steve Boyle, executive vice president and chief financial officer. “Looking ahead, we expect trading and organic growth to drive fiscal 2017 results, and we’ll remain disciplined on managing expenses while generating savings that can be invested in initiatives to fuel future growth.”

Fourth Quarter 2016 Results

TD Ameritrade also released its results for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2016, which include the following: (1)

 

    Net income of $185 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, down 13 percent year over year

 

    Net new client assets of approximately $15 billion

 

    Average client trades per day of approximately 444,000, down 7 percent year over year

 

    Net revenues of $829 million, 58 percent of which were asset-based

 

    Investment product fee revenue of $98 million, up 20 percent year over year

 

    Pre-tax income of $270 million, or 33 percent of net revenues

 

    EBITDA(2) of $327 million, or 39 percent of net revenues

 

    Return on average stockholders’ equity (annualized) of 15 percent

Capital Management

During the 2016 fiscal year, the Company paid $362 million, in cash dividends, which included four quarterly dividends of $0.17 per share. The Company also repurchased approximately 12 million shares of its common stock.

The Company has declared an $0.18 per share quarterly cash dividend, an increase of 6 percent year-over-year, payable on Nov. 22, 2016 to all holders of record of common stock as of Nov. 8, 2016.

Fiscal 2017 Outlook

The Company has also released its outlook for the 2017 fiscal year, which reflects expected earnings of $1.50 to $1.80 per diluted share for its 2017 fiscal year.

More information on the fiscal 2017 forecast is available through the Company’s Outlook Statement, located in the “Financials & reports” section of its corporate web site, www.amtd.com.


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Company Hosts Conference Call

TD Ameritrade will host a conference call this morning, Oct. 24, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. EDT (7:30 a.m. CDT). Participants may listen to the conference call by dialing 877-648-7976. The Company will webcast the conference call through www.amtd.com, via the “Presentations & Events” page of the web site. A replay of the phone call will be available beginning at 12:00 p.m. EDT (11:00 a.m. CDT) on Oct. 24, 2016 by dialing 855-859-2056 and entering the Conference ID 69450485. The replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. EDT (10:59 p.m. CDT) on Oct. 31, 2016. A transcript of the call will be available on the Company’s corporate web site, www.amtd.com, via either the “Investor Relations” page or the “Presentations & Events” page beginning Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016.

Information about the Company’s corporate events, including earnings conference calls and webcasts, can be found by visiting www.amtd.com and clicking on “Investor Relations” and “Presentations & Events.” Click on the date of the event to access all pertinent links and resources. A high speed Internet connection is required in order to view the webcast.

The Company asks that interested parties visit or subscribe to newsfeeds at www.amtd.com for the most up-to-date corporate financial information, presentation announcements, transcripts and archives. The Company also communicates this information via Twitter, @TDAmeritradePR. Web site links, corporate titles and telephone numbers provided in this release, although correct when published, may change in the future.

About TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation

Millions of investors and independent registered investment advisors (RIAs) have turned to TD Ameritrade’s (Nasdaq: AMTD) technology, people and education to help make investing and trading easier to understand and do. Online or over the phone. In a branch or with an independent RIA. First-timer or sophisticated trader. Our clients want to take control, and we help them decide how - bringing Wall Street to Main Street for more than 40 years. An official sponsor of the 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, as well as an official sponsor of the National Football League, TD Ameritrade has time and again been recognized as a leader in investment services. Please visit TD Ameritrade’s newsroom or www.amtd.com for more information, or read our stories at http://freshaccounts.amtd.com.

Source: TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation

Safe Harbor

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws. In particular, any projections regarding our future revenues, expenses, earnings, capital expenditures, effective tax rates, client trading activity, accounts or stock price, as well as the assumptions on which such expectations are based, are forward-looking statements. These statements reflect only our current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance or results. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to: general economic and political conditions and other securities industry risks, fluctuations in interest rates, stock market fluctuations and changes in client trading activity, credit risk with clients and counterparties, increased competition, systems failures, delays and capacity constraints, network security risks, liquidity risks, new laws and regulations affecting our business, regulatory and legal matters and uncertainties and other risk factors described in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on Nov. 20, 2015 and our latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q


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filed thereafter. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which the statements were made. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by the federal securities laws.

 

1  Please see the Glossary of Terms, located in “Investor” section of www.amtd.com for more information on how these metrics are calculated.
2  See attached reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures.
3  Interest rate-sensitive assets consist of spread-based assets and money market mutual funds. Ending balances as of Sept. 30, 2016.

Brokerage services provided by TD Ameritrade, Inc., member FINRA (www.FINRA.org) /SIPC (www.SIPC.org).


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TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

In millions, except per share amounts

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended      Fiscal Year Ended  
     Sept. 30, 2016      June 30, 2016      Sept. 30, 2015      Sept. 30, 2016      Sept. 30, 2015  

Revenues:

              

Transaction-based revenues:

              

Commissions and transaction fees

   $ 336       $ 347       $ 364       $ 1,372       $ 1,401   

Asset-based revenues:

              

Insured deposit account fees

     230         234         218         926         839   

Net interest revenue

     151         143         155         595         622   

Investment product fees

     98         96         82         374         334   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total asset-based revenues

     479         473         455         1,895         1,795   

Other revenues

     14         18         12         60         51   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net revenues

     829         838         831         3,327         3,247   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

              

Employee compensation and benefits

     222         209         199         839         807   

Clearing and execution costs

     34         35         39         136         148   

Communications

     38         33         32         137         125   

Occupancy and equipment costs

     43         43         42         171         163   

Depreciation and amortization

     24         23         22         92         91   

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

     20         22         23         86         90   

Professional services

     57         47         39         178         159   

Advertising

     59         58         49         260         248   

Other

     49         20         26         110         91   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     546         490         471         2,009         1,922   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     283         348         360         1,318         1,325   

Other expense (income):

              

Interest on borrowings

     13         14         13         53         43   

Gain on sale of investments

     —           —           —           —           (7

Other

     —           —           —           —           1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other expense (income)

     13         14         13         53         37   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Pre-tax income

     270         334         347         1,265         1,288   

Provision for income taxes

     85         94         131         423         475   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 185       $ 240       $ 216       $ 842       $ 813   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per share - basic

   $ 0.35       $ 0.45       $ 0.40       $ 1.59       $ 1.50   

Earnings per share - diluted

   $ 0.35       $ 0.45       $ 0.40       $ 1.58       $ 1.49   

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic

     526         529         541         531         543   

Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted

     529         531         545         534         547   

Dividends declared per share

   $ 0.17       $ 0.17       $ 0.15       $ 0.68       $ 0.60   


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TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

In millions

(Unaudited)

 

     Sept. 30, 2016      Sept. 30, 2015  

Assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,855       $ 1,978   

Segregated cash and investments

     8,729         6,305   

Broker/dealer receivables

     1,190         862   

Client receivables, net

     11,941         12,770   

Investments available-for-sale, at fair value

     761         4   

Goodwill and intangible assets

     3,042         3,128   

Other

     1,300         1,328   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 28,818       $ 26,375   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:

     

Liabilities:

     

Broker/dealer payables

   $ 2,040       $ 2,707   

Client payables

     19,055         16,035   

Long-term debt

     1,817         1,800   

Other

     855         930   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     23,767         21,472   

Stockholders’ equity

     5,051         4,903   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 28,818       $ 26,375   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 


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TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION

SELECTED OPERATING DATA

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended     Fiscal Year Ended  
     Sept. 30, 2016     June 30, 2016     Sept. 30, 2015     Sept. 30, 2016     Sept. 30, 2015  
Key Metrics:           

Net new assets (in billions)

   $ 15.1      $ 13.6      $ 16.2      $ 60.3      $ 63.0   

Net new asset growth rate (annualized)

     8     8     9     9     10

Average client trades per day

     444,281        461,941        478,776        462,918        461,541   
Profitability Metrics:                               

Operating margin

     34.1     41.5     43.3     39.6     40.8

Pre-tax margin

     32.6     39.9     41.8     38.0     39.7

Return on average stockholders’ equity (annualized)

     14.7     19.5     17.4     17.0     16.7

Net profit margin

     22.3     28.6     26.0     25.3     25.0

EBITDA(1) as a percentage of net revenues

     39.4     46.9     48.7     45.0     46.6
Liquidity Metrics:           

Interest on borrowings (in millions)

   $ 13      $ 14      $ 13      $ 53      $ 43   

Interest coverage ratio (EBITDA(1)/interest on borrowings)

     25.2        28.1        31.2        28.2        35.2   

Cash and cash equivalents (in billions)

   $ 1.9      $ 1.9      $ 2.0      $ 1.9      $ 2.0   

Liquid assets available for corporate investing and financing activities(1) (in billions)

   $ 0.8      $ 0.7      $ 0.5      $ 0.8      $ 0.5   
Transaction-Based Revenue Metrics:           

Total trades (in millions)

     28.4        29.6        30.6        116.7        115.8   

Average commissions and transaction fees per trade

   $ 11.82      $ 11.72      $ 11.89      $ 11.76      $ 12.09   

Trading days

     64.0        64.0        64.0        252.0        251.0   

Order routing revenue (in millions)

   $ 75      $ 77      $ 76      $ 299      $ 299   
Spread-Based Asset Metrics:           

Average insured deposit account balances (in billions)

   $ 87.1      $ 83.4      $ 78.2      $ 83.7      $ 75.7   

Average interest-earning assets (in billions)

     23.8        22.7        21.6        22.7        20.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average spread-based balances (in billions)

   $ 110.9      $ 106.1      $ 99.8      $ 106.4      $ 95.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Insured deposit account fee revenue (in millions)

   $ 230      $ 234      $ 218      $ 926      $ 839   

Net interest revenue (in millions)

     151        143        155        595        622   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Spread-based revenue (in millions)

   $ 381      $ 377      $ 373      $ 1,521      $ 1,461   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Avg. annualized yield - insured deposit account fees

     1.03     1.11     1.09     1.09     1.09

Avg. annualized yield - interest-earning assets

     2.48     2.50     2.81     2.59     3.03

Net interest margin (NIM)

     1.35     1.41     1.46     1.41     1.50
Fee-Based Investment Metrics:           

Money market mutual fund fees:

          

Average balance (in billions)

   $ 5.3      $ 5.8      $ 5.7      $ 5.7      $ 5.6   

Average annualized yield

     0.28     0.26     0.02     0.19     0.01
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fee revenue (in millions)

   $ 4      $ 4      $ 0      $ 11      $ 0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Market fee-based investment balances:

          

Average balance (in billions)

   $ 163.7      $ 156.3      $ 151.4      $ 155.0      $ 150.5   

Average annualized yield

     0.22     0.23     0.21     0.23     0.22
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fee revenue (in millions)

   $ 94      $ 92      $ 82      $ 363      $ 334   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average fee-based investment balances (in billions)

   $ 169.0      $ 162.1      $ 157.1      $ 160.7      $ 156.1   

Average annualized yield

     0.23     0.23     0.20     0.23     0.21
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment product fee revenue (in millions)

   $ 98      $ 96      $ 82      $ 374      $ 334   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)  See attached reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures.

NOTE: See Glossary of Terms on the Company’s website at www.amtd.com for definitions of the above metrics.


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TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION

SELECTED OPERATING DATA

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended     Fiscal Year Ended  
     Sept. 30, 2016     June 30, 2016     Sept. 30, 2015     Sept. 30, 2016     Sept. 30, 2015  
Client Account and Client Asset Metrics:           

Funded accounts (beginning of period)

     6,872,000        6,777,000        6,551,000        6,621,000        6,301,000   

Funded accounts (end of period)

     6,950,000        6,872,000        6,621,000        6,950,000        6,621,000   

Percentage change during period

     1     1     1     5     5

Client assets (beginning of period, in billions)

   $ 736.3      $ 711.2      $ 702.3      $ 667.4      $ 653.1   

Client assets (end of period, in billions)

   $ 773.8      $ 736.3      $ 667.4      $ 773.8      $ 667.4   

Percentage change during period

     5     4     (5 %)      16     2
Net Interest Revenue:           

Segregated cash:

          

Average balance (in billions)

   $ 8.0      $ 7.4      $ 5.1      $ 7.0      $ 4.7   

Average annualized yield

     0.27     0.25     0.08     0.21     0.11
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest revenue (in millions)

   $ 5      $ 5      $ 1      $ 15      $ 5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Client margin balances:

          

Average balance (in billions)

   $ 11.7      $ 11.5      $ 12.6      $ 11.8      $ 12.1   

Average annualized yield

     3.60     3.69     3.57     3.65     3.60
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest revenue (in millions)

   $ 107      $ 107      $ 115      $ 436      $ 443   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Securities borrowing/lending:

          

Average securities borrowing balance (in billions)

   $ 1.2      $ 1.0      $ 0.9      $ 0.9      $ 0.9   

Average securities lending balance (in billions)

   $ 1.9      $ 2.1      $ 2.4      $ 2.1      $ 2.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net interest revenue - securities borrowing/lending (in millions)

   $ 37      $ 30      $ 39      $ 141      $ 174   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other cash and interest-earning investments:

          

Average balance (in billions)

   $ 2.9      $ 2.8      $ 3.0      $ 3.0      $ 2.5   

Average annualized yield

     0.28     0.21     0.03     0.18     0.04
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest revenue - net (in millions)

   $ 2      $ 1      $ 0      $ 5      $ 1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Client credit balances:

          

Average balance (in billions)

   $ 15.5      $ 14.7      $ 13.3      $ 14.7      $ 12.4   

Average annualized cost

     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01     0.01
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest expense (in millions)

   ($ 0   ($ 0   ($ 0   ($ 2   ($ 1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average interest-earning assets (in billions)

   $ 23.8      $ 22.7      $ 21.6      $ 22.7      $ 20.2   

Average annualized yield

     2.48     2.50     2.81     2.59     3.03
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net interest revenue (in millions)

   $ 151      $ 143      $ 155      $ 595      $ 622   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NOTE: See Glossary of Terms on the Company’s website at www.amtd.com for definitions of the above metrics.    


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TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Dollars in millions

(Unaudited)

 

    Quarter Ended     Fiscal Year Ended  
    Sept. 30, 2016     June 30, 2016     Sept. 30, 2015     Sept. 30, 2016     Sept. 30, 2015  
    $     % of Net Rev.     $     % of Net Rev.     $     % of Net Rev.     $     % of Net Rev.     $     % of Net Rev.  
EBITDA (1)                    

Net income

  $ 185        22.3   $ 240        28.6   $ 216        26.0   $ 842        25.3   $ 813        25.0

Add:

                   

Depreciation and amortization

    24        2.9     23        2.7     22        2.6     92        2.8     91        2.8

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

    20        2.4     22        2.6     23        2.8     86        2.6     90        2.8

Interest on borrowings

    13        1.6     14        1.7     13        1.6     53        1.6     43        1.3

Provision for income taxes

    85        10.3     94        11.2     131        15.8     423        12.7     475        14.6
 

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

EBITDA

  $ 327        39.4   $ 393        46.9   $ 405        48.7   $ 1,496        45.0   $ 1,512        46.6
 

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   
    As of              
    Sept. 30,     June 30,     Mar. 31,     Dec. 31,     Sept. 30,                    
    2016     2016     2016     2015     2015                                
Liquid Assets Available for Corporate Investing and Financing Activities (2)                    

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 1,855      $ 1,917      $ 2,476      $ 1,735      $ 1,978             

Less: Non-corporate cash and cash equivalents

    (1,395     (1,088     (1,430     (934     (909          
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

           

Corporate cash and cash equivalents

    460        829        1,046        801        1,069             

Corporate investments

    757        400        —          201        —               

Less: Corporate liquidity maintained for operational contingencies

    (773     (764     (764     (764     (750          
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

           

Excess corporate cash and cash equivalents and investments

    444        465        282        238        319             

Excess broker-dealer regulatory net capital

    369        263        431        346        211             
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

           

Liquid assets available for corporate investing and financing activities

  $ 813      $ 728      $ 713      $ 584      $ 530             
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

           

Note: The term “GAAP” in the following explanation refers to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.    

 

(1) EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is considered a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by SEC Regulation G. We consider EBITDA an important measure of our financial performance and of our ability to generate cash flows to service debt, fund capital expenditures and fund other corporate investing and financing activities. EBITDA is used as the denominator in the consolidated leverage ratio calculation for covenant purposes under our senior revolving credit facility. EBITDA eliminates the non-cash effect of tangible asset depreciation and amortization and intangible asset amortization. EBITDA should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, pre-tax income, net income and cash flows from operating activities.
(2) Liquid assets available for corporate investing and financing activities is considered a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by SEC Regulation G. We consider “liquid assets available for corporate investing and financing activities” to be an important measure of our liquidity. We include the excess capital of our broker-dealer subsidiaries in the calculation of liquid assets available for corporate investing and financing activities, rather than simply including broker-dealer cash and cash equivalents, because capital requirements may limit the amount of cash available for dividend from the broker-dealer subsidiaries to the parent company. Excess capital, as defined below, is generally available for dividend from the broker-dealer subsidiaries to the parent company. Liquid assets available for corporate investing and financing activities should be considered as a supplemental measure of liquidity, rather than as a substitute for cash and cash equivalents.

We define liquid assets available for corporate investing and financing activities as the sum of (a) corporate cash and cash equivalents and investments, excluding an amount that is being maintained to provide liquidity for operational contingencies, including lending to our broker-dealer, futures commission merchant and forex dealer member subsidiaries under intercompany credit agreements and (b) regulatory net capital of (i) our clearing broker-dealer subsidiary in excess of 10% of aggregate debit items and (ii) our introducing broker-dealer subsidiaries in excess of a minimum operational target established by management ($50 million in the case of our primary introducing broker-dealer, TD Ameritrade, Inc.). Liquid assets available for corporate investing and financing activities is based on more conservative measures of broker-dealer net capital than regulatory requirements because we generally manage to higher levels of net capital at the broker-dealer subsidiaries than the regulatory thresholds require.