Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
BACKGROUND
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (together, the "Company", "Firm", "Parent", "we", "our" or "us"). The Company's condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto which appear elsewhere in this quarterly report.
Oppenheimer Holdings Inc., through its operating subsidiaries, is a leading middle market investment bank and full service broker-dealer that is engaged in a broad range of activities in the securities industry, including retail securities brokerage, institutional sales and trading, market-making, research, investment banking (both corporate and public finance), investment advisory and asset management services and trust services. Its principal subsidiaries are Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. ("Oppenheimer") and Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. ("OAM"). As of September 30, 2025, we provided our services from 88 offices in 25 states located throughout the United States and offices in Puerto Rico, Tel Aviv, Israel, Hong Kong, China, London, England, St. Helier, Isle of Jersey and Geneva, Switzerland. The Company provides investment advisory services through OAM and Oppenheimer Investment Management LLC ("OIM") and Oppenheimer's financial advisor directed programs. At September 30, 2025, client assets under management ("AUM") totaled $55.1 billion. AUM includes the total market value of client investments in discretionary and non-discretionary advisory programs as well as the net asset value of private placements of alternative investments offered by and held by clients of the Company. Client assets under administration ("CAUA") as of September 30, 2025 totaled $143.5 billion. CAUA includes AUM and the other assets held for which the Company provides services. We also provide trust services and products through Oppenheimer Trust Company of Delaware. Through OPY Credit Corp., we conduct secondary trading activities related to the purchase and sale of loans and trade claims, primarily on a riskless principal basis. At September 30, 2025, the Company employed 2,978 employees (2,938 full-time, 35 part-time, and 5 interns), of whom 927 were financial advisors.
In September 2025, the Company announced Freedom's plans to cease operations and formally deregister as a broker-dealer. Pursuant to this action, Freedom expects to cease all broker-dealer activities and close or transfer any remaining customer accounts by the end of 2025. Once all customer accounts have been moved or closed, Freedom will submit a Uniform Request for Broker-Dealer Withdrawal (“Form BDW”) to FINRA and the SEC to formally deregister as a broker-dealer. Freedom has been winding down its business for a number of years and the Company does not expect that the closing of Freedom will have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Outlook
We are focused on growing our wealth management business through strategic additions of experienced financial advisors in our existing branch system and employment of experienced money management personnel in our asset management business as well as deploying our capital for expansion through targeted acquisitions or strategic partnerships. We are increasingly creating and investing in private market opportunities on our own behalf and on behalf of qualified clients. We are also focused on opportunities in our capital market businesses, including integrating new technology platforms to expand the suite of services offered to our clients and onboarding experienced personnel and/or small units that will improve our ability to attract institutional clients in both equities and fixed income without significantly raising our risk profile. In investment banking, we are committed to growing our footprint by adding experienced bankers within our existing industry practices as well as new industry practices where we believe we can be successful.
We continuously invest in and improve our technology platform to support client service and to remain competitive, while simultaneously managing expenses. The Company's long-term growth plan is to continue to expand existing offices by hiring experienced professionals, qualified trainees as well as to expand through the purchase of operating branch offices from other broker-dealers or the opening of new branch offices in attractive locations, and to continue to grow and develop the existing trading, investment banking, investment advisory and other divisions. We recognize employee work habits have changed in a post-pandemic world. As a result, we are continuously reviewing our physical footprint on lease renewals, and in many cases reducing office size and configuration. We are committed to continuing to improve our capabilities to ensure compliance with industry regulations, support client service and expand our wealth management and capital markets capabilities. We recognize the importance of compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and are committed to performing rigorous and ongoing assessments of our compliance and risk
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management effort, and investing in people and programs, while providing a platform with first class investment programs and services.
The Company also reviews its full service business model to determine the opportunities available to build or acquire closely related businesses in areas where others have shown some success. Equally important is the search for viable acquisition candidates. Our long-term intention is to pursue growth by acquisition where we can find a comfortable match in terms of corporate goals and personnel at a price that would provide our stockholders with incremental value. We review potential acquisition opportunities from time to time with the aim of fulfilling the Company's strategic goals, while evaluating and managing our existing businesses. In addition, the Company may from time to time acquire a controlling financial interest in a business or make minority private investments out of excess capital in allied or unrelated businesses with the goal of either syndicating the investment to eligible clients or retaining ownership because we believe them to be an attractive investment or offer products and services aligned with the Company's long-term business objectives.
Short-term Interest Rate Environment
After holding rates steady for the first nine months of the year amidst uncertainty over the potential inflationary impact of tariffs, the Federal Reserve (the “FED”) voted at its September 2025 meeting to reduce the federal funds rate by 25 basis points. The FED followed suit with another quarter point reduction at its October meeting. The new target range of 3.75% to 4.0% reflects the FED’s pivot from an inflationary focus to one centered around addressing the softening labor market.
Potential changes to the federal funds rate may impact our interest-based revenues. While decreases in interest rates will lower fees the Company earns from FDIC-insured deposits of clients through a program offered by the Company, such decreases may be offset to a degree if the cash sweep balances increase as clients find fewer higher-yielding alternatives to deploy these balances. Future rate decreases will also reduce the rates the Company charges on customer margin loans and earns on other interest-sensitive assets, which will have a negative impact on our earnings. The Company may enjoy an offset to such interest reduced revenues by increased activities in other parts of its business as has traditionally been the case. Additionally, lower rates may also reduce the Company's short-term borrowing costs, reducing the Company's interest-related expenses.
Gaza War
On October 7, 2023, Hamas initiated an unprovoked invasion of Israel from the Gaza Strip, resulting in thousands of casualties. Israel formally declared war on Hamas in response to the attack and initiated several military operations in an effort to clear militants from the area. Israel and Hamas have recently announced a tentative agreement whereby Hamas will release all hostages and a permanent ceasefire will take hold, subject to numerous conditions yet to be defined. If there is continued unrest, there remains a risk that the conflict expands into a wider regional war which could have an adverse impact on the worldwide economy, financial markets and thus on our business. We continue to monitor for any adverse impacts of this conflict on our business operations and financial performance in Israel or elsewhere.
Recent Changes in U.S. Trade Policies
In recent months, the United States has significantly increased tariffs across a broad range of imports from all of its major trading partners. While the current administration has paused certain tariffs while trade negotiations unfold, it is possible that these negotiations if unsuccessful could prompt retaliatory levies from impacted countries. The proposed tariffs are also likely to disrupt supply lines, increase inflation and negatively impact consumer spending in the U.S. While the recent changes to U.S. trade policies have not had a significant impact on the Company’s financial results to date, adverse changes or sudden policy announcements, including retaliatory tariffs, could adversely impact the financial markets, reducing the value of our assets under management and related advisory fees. To date, turmoil created by proposed tariffs, as well as expected lower interest rates and constantly changing U.S. policy, have substantially and adversely impacted the value of the U.S. dollar in comparison with other major currencies. Changes or adverse developments to U.S trade policies may also depress trading volumes as well as capital market and deal making activities, reducing our related commissions and investment banking revenues. Uncertainty over the outcome of trade negotiations may also impact activity levels in the capital markets as well as general price levels in the equity and debt markets.
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Potential Impacts of the U.S. Government Shutdown
The U.S. government shutdown began on October 1, 2025 due to congressional inaction in passing appropriations legislation amid partisan disagreements. As a result of the shutdown, the SEC is operating with limited staffing levels and is unable to review or approve IPO filings, which may adversely impact the Company’s underwriting and related investment banking fees in the fourth quarter of 2025. Furthermore, a prolonged U.S. government shutdown may erode investor confidence or drive higher market volatility, which could lead to lower client trading activity and related transaction-based fee revenues. It may also trigger a decline in the broader financial markets, which would result in lower AUMs and a reduction in our advisory fee revenues.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Our third quarter operating performance saw a substantial increase in investment banking revenues amid a still-favorable capital raising environment. Market concerns about lingering inflation, a weakening labor market and eroding central bank independence were outweighed by the positive sentiments emanating from the Federal Reserve embarking on a new rate cutting cycle. In addition, continuing enthusiasm around the potential for spending related to the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) resulted in extended rallies that pushed all major indices to new record highs in September. These conditions spurred a significant rise in new equity issuance volumes and resulted in significantly higher investment banking revenues during the third quarter.
The momentum in the financial markets also provided a positive backdrop for our Wealth Management business, as rising markets propelled AUM to a new all-time high. This in turn drove higher fee-based revenues while strong investor sentiment also led to higher transaction volumes and commissions. Our Wealth Management results, however, were adversely impacted by reduced interest-sensitive sweep income largely due to lower average sweep balances and rates.
Although we were gratified to see markets recognize our success by bidding up our share price to a new record high, it also drove higher compensation expense associated with certain employee liability-based awards that rose in value in direct correlation with the increase in our share price during the quarter and negatively impacted our results for the quarter. Specifically, compensation expenses for these liability-based awards totaled $13.5 million or $0.95 basic earnings per share (after-tax).
With three-quarters of the year now behind us, we have already exceeded the Company’s full year 2024 operating results. As we enter the fourth quarter, we remain focused on our clients, helping them raise, manage and allocate their capital. Our success is a reflection of good client outcomes and long-term relationships built over many market cycles. We are optimistic about the future and the many investment opportunities available, while remaining cautious and vigilant about the uncertainties that could emerge.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The Company reported net income of $21.7 million or $2.06 basic earnings per share for the third quarter of 2025, compared with net income of $24.5 million or $2.38 per share for the third quarter of 2024. Revenue for the third quarter of 2025 was $424.4 million, an increase of 13.7%, compared to revenue of $373.4 million for the third quarter of 2024.
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(Expressed in thousands, except Per Share Amounts or otherwise indicated)
3Q-2025 3Q-2024 Change % Change
Revenue $ 424,438 $ 373,352 $ 51,086 13.7
Compensation expenses $ 290,222 $ 237,935 $ 52,287 22.0
Non-compensation expenses $ 102,581 $ 100,047 $ 2,534 2.5
Pre-tax income $ 31,635 $ 35,370 $ (3,735) (10.6)
Income tax provision $ 9,923 $ 10,862 $ (939) (8.6)
Net income $ 21,712 $ 24,508 $ (2,796) (11.4)
Earnings per share (basic) $ 2.06 $ 2.38 $ (0.32) (13.4)
Earnings per share (diluted) $ 1.90 $ 2.16 $ (0.26) (12.0)
Book Value Per Share $ 87.47 $ 81.10 $ 6.37 7.9
Tangible Book Value Per Share (1)
$ 70.48 $ 64.03 $ 6.45 10.1
Class A Shares Outstanding 10,420,884 10,231,736 189,148 1.8
AUA ($ billions) $ 143.5 $ 129.8 $ 13.7 10.6
AUM ($ billions) $ 55.1 $ 49.1 $ 6.0 12.2
(1) Represents book value less goodwill and intangible assets divided by number of shares outstanding.
Highlights
• Higher revenue for the third quarter of 2025 was primarily driven by robust equity underwriting volumes, an increase in transaction-based commissions and greater advisory fees attributable to a rise in billable AUM
• Rising equities markets propelled both assets under administration and assets under management to new record highs at September 30, 2025
• Compensation expenses increased from the prior year quarter largely as the result of greater production-related expenses, higher bonus accruals and elevated costs associated with stock appreciation rights tied to the Company's share price
• Non-compensation expenses increased from the prior year quarter primarily due to higher underwriting and technology-related expenses partially offset by lower interest costs
• Total stockholders' equity, book value and tangible book value per share reached new record highs as a result of positive earnings
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
The table below presents information about the reported revenue and pre-tax income (loss) of the Company's reportable business segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024:
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(Expressed in thousands)
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
2025 2024 % Change 2025 2024 % Change
Revenue
Wealth Management $ 259,726 $ 246,049 5.6 $ 748,133 $ 718,536 4.1
Capital Markets 162,145 124,030 30.7 408,387 328,254 24.4
Corporate/Other 2,567 3,273 (21.6) 8,921 10,289 (13.3)
Total $ 424,438 $ 373,352 13.7 $ 1,165,441 $ 1,057,079 10.3
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)
Wealth Management $ 62,528 $ 72,015 (13.2) $ 193,226 $ 212,031 (8.9)
Capital Markets 12,289 (6,144) * 3,328 (34,621) *
Corporate/Other (43,182) (30,501) 41.6 (91,333) (88,720) 2.9
Total $ 31,635 $ 35,370 (10.6) $ 105,221 $ 88,690 18.6
* Not meaningful
Wealth Management
Wealth Management reported revenue for the current quarter of $259.7 million, 5.6% higher compared with the prior year period. Pre-tax income was $62.5 million in the current quarter, a decrease of 13.2% compared with a year ago. Financial advisor headcount at the end of the current quarter was 927, flat when compared to 928 at the end of the third quarter of 2024.
('000s unless otherwise indicated)
3Q-2025 3Q-2024 Change % Change
Revenue $ 259,726 $ 246,049 $ 13,677 5.6
Commissions $ 61,862 $ 54,872 $ 6,990 12.7
Advisory fee revenue $ 134,396 $ 121,619 $ 12,777 10.5
Bank deposit sweep income $ 28,349 $ 34,875 $ (6,526) (18.7)
Interest $ 22,381 $ 24,331 $ (1,950) (8.0)
Other $ 12,738 $ 10,352 $ 2,386 23.0
Total Expenses $ 197,198 $ 174,034 $ 23,164 13.3
Compensation $ 148,978 $ 125,270 $ 23,708 18.9
Non-compensation $ 48,220 $ 48,764 $ (544) (1.1)
Pre-Tax Income $ 62,528 $ 72,015 $ (9,487) (13.2)
Compensation Ratio 57.4 % 50.9 % 6.5 % 12.8
Non-compensation Ratio 18.6 % 19.8 % (1.2) % (6.1)
Pre-Tax Margin 24.1 % 29.3 % (5.2) % (17.7)
Asset Under Administration (billions) $ 143.5 $ 129.8 $ 13.7 10.6
Asset Under Management (billions) $ 55.1 $ 49.1 $ 6.0 12.2
Cash Sweep Balances (billions) $ 2.8 $ 2.8 $ — —
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• Retail commissions increased 12.7% from the prior year period primarily due to higher retail transaction volumes
• Advisory fees increased 10.5% due to higher AUM during the billing period
• Bank deposit sweep income decreased $6.5 million from a year ago due to lower average cash sweep balances and lower short-term interest rates
• Interest revenue decreased 8.0% from a year ago primarily due to lower short-term interest rates
• Other revenue increased slightly from a year ago due to a number of items, including an increase in the cash surrender value of Company-owned life insurance policies, which fluctuates based on changes in the fair value of the policies' underlying investments and greater death benefit insurance proceeds
• Compensation expenses increased 18.9% from the prior year period primarily due to higher production related expenses and elevated expenses associated with share appreciation rights
• Non-compensation expenses were flat from a year ago
The following table provides a breakdown of the change in assets under management for the three months ended September 30, 2025:
(Expressed in millions)
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2025
Fund Type Beginning Balance Contributions Redemptions/Profit Distribution Appreciation (Depreciation) Ending Balance
Traditional (1)
$ 45,784 $ 1,751 $ (2,778) $ 2,785 $ 47,542
Institutional Fixed Income (2)
911 24 (44) 17 908
Alternative Investments:
Hedge funds (3)
4,544 56 (125) 411 4,886
Private Equity Funds (4)
1,371 104 (10) 87 1,552
Portfolio Enhancement Program (5)
227 3 (15) (4) 211
Other 3 — — — 3
$ 52,840 $ 1,938 $ (2,972) $ 3,296 $ 55,102
(1) Traditional investments include third party advisory programs, Oppenheimer financial advisor managed and advisory programs, and Oppenheimer Asset Management taxable and tax-exempt portfolio management strategies.
(2) Institutional fixed income provides solutions to institutional investors including: Taft-Hartley Funds, Public Pension Funds, Corporate Pension Funds, and Foundations and Endowments.
(3) Hedge funds represent investments in strategies including long/short equity, global macro, event driven, merger arbitrage, multi-strategy and credit. They may be single manager or fund of funds.
(4) Private equity funds include portfolios focused on technology, infrastructure, real estate, natural resources and specific co-investment opportunities.
(5) The portfolio enhancement program sells uncovered, out-of-money puts and calls on the S&P 500 Index. The program is market neutral and uncorrelated to the index. Valuation is based on collateral requirements for a series of contracts representing the investment strategy.
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Capital Markets
Capital Markets reported revenue for the current quarter of $162.1 million, 30.7% higher when compared with the prior year period. Pre-tax income was $12.3 million compared with a pre-tax loss of $6.1 million a year ago.
('000s) 3Q-2025 3Q-2024 Change % Change
Revenue $ 162,145 $ 124,030 $ 38,115 30.7
Investment Banking $ 75,045 $ 50,098 $ 24,947 49.8
Advisory fees $ 21,865 $ 32,798 $ (10,933) (33.3)
Equities underwriting $ 48,326 $ 12,588 $ 35,738 283.9
Fixed income underwriting $ 3,818 $ 4,390 $ (572) (13.0)
Other $ 1,036 $ 322 $ 714 221.7
Sales and Trading $ 86,753 $ 72,755 $ 13,998 19.2
Equities $ 44,139 $ 33,303 $ 10,836 32.5
Fixed Income $ 42,614 $ 39,452 $ 3,162 8.0
Other $ 347 $ 1,177 $ (830) (70.5)
Total Expenses $ 149,856 $ 130,174 $ 19,682 15.1
Compensation $ 106,245 $ 87,649 $ 18,596 21.2
Non-compensation $ 43,611 $ 42,525 $ 1,086 2.6
Pre-Tax Income (Loss) $ 12,289 $ (6,144) $ 18,433 *
Compensation Ratio 65.5 % 70.7 % (5.2) % (7.4)
Non-compensation Ratio 26.9 % 34.3 % (7.4) % (21.6)
Pre-Tax Margin 7.6 % (5.0) % 12.6 % (252.0)
* Not meaningful
• Advisory fees earned from investment banking activities decreased 33.3% compared with the prior year period primarily due to the absence of a large restructuring related transaction that closed in the prior year period
• Equities underwriting fees increased significantly when compared with the prior year period due to robust underwriting volumes with large completed transactions in the financial institutions and technology sectors
• Equities sales and trading revenue increased 32.5% compared with the prior year period mostly due to higher overall trading volumes, including greater options-related commissions
• Fixed income sales and trading revenue increased 8.0% compared with a year ago largely due to higher trading volumes and interest income on trading inventory
• Compensation expenses increased 21.2% compared with the prior year period largely due to greater production-related expenses and higher incentive compensation accruals
• Non-compensation expenses were modestly higher than a year ago primarily due to an increase in underwriting expenses associated with increased activity
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Company's condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Reference is also made to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto found in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
The Company's accounting policies are essential to understanding and interpreting the financial results reported on the condensed consolidated financial statements. The significant accounting policies used in the preparation of the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements are summarized in Note 2 to those statements and the notes thereto found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Certain of those policies are considered to be particularly important to the presentation of the Company's financial results because they require management to make difficult, complex or subjective judgments, often as a result of matters that are inherently uncertain.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2025, there were no material changes to matters discussed under the heading "Critical Accounting Polices" in Part II, Item 7 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
New Accounting Pronouncements
The following Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") have not yet been adopted by the Company:
ASU 2023-09 – Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures
The FASB issued this ASU in December of 2023 to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments require certain entities to enhance the annual reconciliation of its statutory income tax rate to its effective tax rate by mandating the disclosure of the impact associated with specific categories and requiring separate disclosure for reconciling items exceeding certain quantitative thresholds. The amendments also require entities to annually disclose the amount of taxes paid (net of refunds received) disaggregated by federal, state and foreign taxes, with separate disclosure of individual jurisdictions exceeding 5% of total income taxes paid. The new guidance, which becomes effective for 2025 year-end reporting, will not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations since it only amends certain disclosures.
ASU 2024-03 – Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses
The FASB issued this ASU in November of 2024 which will require public business entities to disclose specified information about certain costs and expenses, including employee compensation, depreciation and intangible asset amortization at each interim and annual reporting period. The new guidance, which becomes effective in 2027, will not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations since it only amends certain disclosures.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At September 30, 2025, total assets increased by 12.9% from December 31, 2024. The Company satisfies its need for financing from internally generated funds and collateralized and uncollateralized borrowings, consisting primarily of bank call loans, stock loans, and uncommitted lines of credit. We finance our trading in government securities through the use of securities sold under repurchase agreements. Oppenheimer has uncommitted arrangements with banks for borrowings on a fully collateralized basis. The amount of Oppenheimer's bank borrowings fluctuates in response to changes in the level of the Company's securities inventories and customer margin debt, changes in notes receivable from employees, investment in furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements, and changes in stock loan balances and financing through repurchase agreements. At September 30, 2025, the Company had an outstanding bank call loan balance of $262.3 million compared to $252.1 million at December 31, 2024. The Company also has some availability of uncommitted short-term bank financing on an unsecured basis.
The Company's overseas subsidiaries, Oppenheimer Europe Ltd. and Oppenheimer Investments Asia Limited, are subject to local regulatory capital requirements that restrict our ability to utilize their capital for other purposes.
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The regulatory capital requirements for Oppenheimer Europe Ltd. and Oppenheimer Investments Asia Limited were $6.9 million and $385,582, respectively, at September 30, 2025. The liquid assets at Oppenheimer Europe Ltd. are primarily comprised of cash deposits in bank accounts.
The liquid assets at Oppenheimer Investments Asia Limited are primarily comprised of investments in U.S. Treasuries and cash deposits in bank accounts. Any transfer of these liquid assets from Oppenheimer Europe Ltd. and Oppenheimer Investments Asia Limited to the Company or its other subsidiaries would be limited by regulatory capital requirements.
The Company permanently reinvests eligible earnings of its foreign subsidiaries and, accordingly, does not accrue any U.S. income taxes that would arise if these earnings were repatriated. The unrecognized deferred tax liability associated with the outside basis difference of its foreign subsidiaries is estimated at $3.6 million for those subsidiaries. We have continued to reinvest permanently the excess earnings of Oppenheimer Israel (OPCO) Ltd. in its own business and in the businesses in Europe and Asia to support business initiatives in those regions. We will continue to review our historical treatment of these earnings to determine whether our historical practice will continue or whether a change is warranted.
While the results of Oppenheimer Israel (OPCO) Ltd. are not material, based on its recent performance, it is possible that a valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets of $2.6 million as of September 30, 2025 may be required in a future reporting period. Currently, based on all available evidence, a valuation allowance is not needed and we are looking to mitigate the need to record a valuation allowance in the future.
Liquidity
For the most part, the Company's assets consist of cash and cash equivalents and assets that it can readily convert into cash. The receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations represents deposits for securities borrowed transactions, margin deposits and current transactions awaiting settlement. The receivable from customers represents margin balances and amounts due on transactions awaiting settlement. Our receivables are, for the most part, collateralized by marketable securities. Our collateral maintenance policies and procedures are designed to limit our exposure to credit risk. Securities owned are mainly comprised of actively traded readily marketable securities. We issued $5.5 million in forgivable notes (which are inherently illiquid) to employees during the three months ended September 30, 2025 ($1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024) as upfront or backend inducements to commence or continue employment as the case may be. The amount of funds allocated to such inducements will vary with hiring activity and retention initiatives.
We satisfy our need for liquidity from internally generated funds, collateralized and uncollateralized bank borrowings, stock loans and repurchase agreements. Bank borrowings are uncommitted in nature and, in most cases, collateralized by Company and customer securities.
We obtain short-term borrowings primarily through bank call loans. Bank call loans are generally payable on demand, uncommitted in nature and bear interest at various rates. At September 30, 2025, the Company had $262.3 million of bank call loans ($252.1 million at December 31, 2024). The average daily bank loan balance outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 was $235.6 million and $279.4 million, respectively ($235.0 million and $147.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively). The largest daily bank loan balance outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 was $373.7 million and $491.7 million, respectively ($346.9 million for each the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024).
At September 30, 2025, securities loan balances totaled $286.7 million ($235.5 million at December 31, 2024 and $272.0 million at September 30, 2024). The average daily securities loan balances outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 were $379.8 million and $384.3 million, respectively ($299.6 million and $296.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively). The largest daily stock loan balances for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 were $435.8 million and $502.9 million, respectively ($375.5 million for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024).
We finance our government trading operations through the use of securities purchased under reverse repurchase agreements and securities sold under agreements to repurchase. Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, primarily involving government securities, are carried at amounts at which securities subsequently will be resold or reacquired as specified in the respective agreements and include accrued interest.
Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are presented on a net-by-counterparty basis, when the repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are executed with the same counterparty, have the same explicit settlement date, are
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executed in accordance with a master netting arrangement, the securities underlying the repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements exist in "book entry" form and certain other requirements are met.
At September 30, 2025, the gross balances of reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements were $236.7 million and $1,208.9 million, respectively. The average daily balance of reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements on a gross basis for the three months ended September 30, 2025 was $233.6 million and $1,143.6 million, respectively ($233.0 million and $915.8 million, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2024). The largest amount of reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements outstanding on a gross basis during the three months ended September 30, 2025 was $339.3 million and $1,405.8 million, respectively ($569.1 million and $1,035.9 million, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2024).
Liquidity Management
We manage our liquidity to meet our current obligations and upcoming liquidity needs as well as to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Our liquidity needs may be affected by market conditions, increased inventory positions, business expansion and other unanticipated occurrences. In the event that existing financial resources do not satisfy our liquidity needs, we may have to seek additional external financing. The availability of such additional external financing may depend on market factors outside our control.
We have Company-owned life insurance policies which are utilized to fund certain non-qualified deferred compensation plans. A portion of the assets underling these policies are invested in mutual funds that match those offered within the deferred compensation plans. As such, increases in deferred compensation costs recognized within Compensation and related expenses may be offset to a degree by increases in the cash surrender value of the Company-owned life insurance policies recognized within Other revenue and vice versa. Certain policies which could provide additional liquidity if needed had a cash surrender value of $107.7 million as of September 30, 2025.
We regularly review our sources of liquidity and financing, both on a short term and long term basis, and conduct internal stress analyses to determine the impact on the Company of events that could remove sources of liquidity or financing and to plan actions the Company could take in the case of such an eventuality. Regulators are increasingly focused on liquidity management and we have seen increased regulatory scrutiny of liquidity management by our industry. Should a disruption occur in our liquidity and financing sources, we have developed a contingency funding plan that we believe would result in a reduction of assets through liquidation that would significantly reduce the Company's need for external financing.
We have long-term cash requirements of $195.7 million for operating lease obligations. The total cash requirement for operating lease obligations is estimated to be $10.9 million for the remainder of 2025 year.
Funding Risk
(Expressed in thousands)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
2025 2024
Cash provided by/(used in) operating activities $ 11,752 $ (182,880)
Cash (used in)/provided by investing activities (618) 455
Cash (used in)/provided by financing activities (5,996) 185,832
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 5,138 $ 3,407
Management believes that funds from operations, combined with our capital base and available credit facilities, are sufficient for our liquidity needs for the foreseeable future. Under some circumstances, banks including those on whom we rely may back away from providing funding to the securities industry. Such a development might impact our ability to finance our day-to-day activities or increase the costs to acquire funding. We may or may not be able to pass such increased funding costs on to our clients.
During periods of high volatility, we may see increased calls for deposits of collateral to offset perceived risk between the Company's settlement liability to industry clearinghouses such as the Depository Trust Company ("DTCC"), Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”) and National Securities Clearing Corp. (“NSCC”) as well as more stringent collateral arrangements with our bank lenders. The recent reduction of the settlement cycle for security transactions in the U.S. has
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substantially reduced settlement risks. All such requirements have been and will be met in the ordinary course with available collateral or short-term borrowings.
CYBERSECURITY
Cybersecurity presents significant challenges to the business community in general, including to the financial services industry. Increasingly, bad actors, both domestic and international, attempt to steal personal data and/or interrupt the normal functioning of businesses through accessing individuals' and companies' files and equipment connected to the internet. Recent incidents have reflected the increasing sophistication of intruders and their intent to steal personally identifiable information as well as funds and securities. These intruders sometimes use instructions that are seemingly from authorized parties but, in fact are from parties intent on attempting to steal. In other instances, these intruders attempt to bypass normal safeguards and disrupt or steal significant amounts of information and then either release it to the Internet or hold it for ransom. Regulators are increasingly requiring companies to provide heightened levels of sophisticated defenses. The Company maintains processes and systems with an aim to preventing any such attack from disrupting its services to clients as well as to prevent any loss of client or Company funds or data concerning its clients, their financial affairs, as well as Company-privileged information.
Our management is actively involved in the oversight of our cybersecurity risk management program. We have devoted significant financial and personnel resources to implement and maintain security measures to meet regulatory requirements and customer expectations. We have incorporated cybersecurity processes to assess, identify and manage risks from cybersecurity threats into our overall risk assessment process. The Company maintains a cybersecurity program that is designed to identify, protect from, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats and risks, and protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its information systems, including the information residing on such systems. The National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework helps the Company inform its cybersecurity agenda and prioritize its cybersecurity activities. The Company takes a risk-based approach to cybersecurity, which begins with the identification and evaluation of cybersecurity risks or threats that could affect the Company’s operations, finances, legal or regulatory compliance, or reputation. The Company has processes in place for assessing, identifying and managing material risks from cybersecurity threats along with risk assessment procedures designed to allow such processes to remain responsive to emerging risks. Our processes include, but are not limited to, the following:
• we engage third-party cybersecurity firms and tools to assist with network monitoring, endpoint protection, vulnerability assessments and penetration testing;
• we engage cyber security consultants and auditors to perform tabletop exercises and evaluate our cyber processes including an assessment of our incident response procedures. Identified risks are formally tracked until mitigated or eliminated;
• we perform regular scanning of our systems to identify and resolve critical vulnerabilities;
• we provide periodic training and testing, including phishing tests, to help our employees understand cybersecurity risks and their responsibility in mitigating those risks; and
• we insure against potential losses from cyber incidents by maintaining cybersecurity insurance.
We have a written incident response plan that identifies the steps to be taken in response to a cybersecurity incident that includes investigation, escalation and remediation provisions. The Incident Response Plan includes processes for reporting and escalating cybersecurity incidents to senior management, regulators and criminal enforcement to the extent warranted.
We have processes to evaluate third party service providers and vendors that have access to sensitive systems and Company and customer data, which includes the use of cybersecurity questionnaires and due diligence procedures such as assessments of that service provider’s cybersecurity posture.
Management’s Role
Management has implemented risk management structures, policies and procedures, and manages our risk exposure on a day-to-day basis. The Company has a dedicated cybersecurity organization within its technology department that focuses on current and emerging cybersecurity matters. The Company’s cybersecurity function is led by the Company’s Chief Information Officer ("CIO") and the Company’s Chief Information Security Officer ("CISO"), who reports to the Company’s CIO. The CIO and his direct reports, including the CISO, discuss action items related to risks at a standing monthly meeting. The CISO and many members of his team have multiple decades of cybersecurity related experience. Risk reporting is provided at monthly meetings of the Company's cross-business Cybersecurity Committee and periodic
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presentations to the Company’s Risk Management Committee, at which many members of the Company’s senior management are present.
The CEO meets regularly with the CIO to discuss cybersecurity threats and existing and potentially new technology systems including those related to cybersecurity. The CIO and CISO have a standing monthly meeting with the President/CEO and General Counsel to discuss potential vulnerabilities in the cyber environment. The President/CEO formerly ran the Information Technology Department at the Company and as a result has significant systems experience including experience related to cybersecurity.
Board Oversight
The Board of Directors, both directly and through the Audit Committee, oversees management’s responsibility of ensuring proper functioning of our cybersecurity risk management program. In particular, the Audit Committee assists the Board in its oversight of management’s responsibility to assess, manage and mitigate cybersecurity risks. Recently, the Audit Committee added a member with significant cybersecurity experience. The Audit Committee receives a cybersecurity update at each regular meeting of the Board covering cybersecurity risks, cybersecurity staffing and staff development including certifications and training. These updates are given either in person by the CIO and CISO or in written presentations created by them.
As of the date of this filing, the Company has not identified any cybersecurity threats that have materially affected or are reasonably anticipated to have a material effect on the Company’s business strategy, results of operations or financial condition. Although the Company has not experienced cybersecurity incidents that are individually, or in the aggregate, material, the Company has experienced cyberattacks in the past, which the Company believes have thus far been mitigated by preventative, detective, and responsive measures put in place by the Company. Given the continuing reports of cyber incidents in general, we believe that the Company will most likely continue to be a target of cybersecurity attacks by bad actors.
For additional information on how risks from cybersecurity threats may adversely affect the Company, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors-Risks Related to Our Business” in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
REGULATORY AND TAXATION MATTERS AND DEVELOPMENTS
See the discussion of the regulatory environment in which we operate and the impact on our operations of certain rules and regulations in Item 1 “Business - Regulation” in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 for additional information.
Regulatory Capital Requirements
Oppenheimer and many of its affiliates are each subject to various regulatory capital requirements. As of September 30, 2025, all of our active regulated domestic and international subsidiaries had net capital in excess of minimum requirements. See Note 14 to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 for further information on regulatory capital requirements.
Amendments to SEC Rule 15c3-3
On December 20, 2024, the SEC adopted rule amendments to SEC Rule 15c3-3 (the customer protection rule) to require certain broker-dealers, including those with average total credits (amounts owed to customers) equal to or greater than $500 million, to increase the frequency with which they perform computation of the net cash they owe customers and proprietary accounts of other broker-dealers ("PAB") from weekly to daily. Impacted entities must perform the customer and PAB reserve computations daily beginning no later than June 30, 2026. We anticipate that the new amendments will impact our principal broker dealer and may result in an increase in required staffing levels.
One Big Beautiful Bill Act
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (the “OBBBA”), which includes several U.S. federal income tax provisions affecting businesses. Among its changes, the OBBBA modifies certain Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) and Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (“TCJA”) provisions, including allowing companies to expense 100% of the cost of qualified property in the year it is initially placed in service. While changes in tax law are
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accounted for in the period of enactment, there are varied effective dates for the OBBBA’s provisions, some of which extend into 2026. The passage of the OBBBA did not and is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
Limitations on Tax Deductions for Compensation Paid to Certain Executives and Officers
Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) (“Section 162(m)”) currently limits a public company’s tax deductions for compensation above $1 million paid to “covered employees,” which includes the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the next three highest paid officers. Amendments to Section 162(m) included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which become effective on January 1, 2027, expand the definition of “covered employees” to include the next five highest paid employees or officers. If there are no further changes or amendments to Section 162(m), or if the definition of “covered employees” is further expanded, we expect the Company’s operating results to be adversely impacted due to anticipated increases in the Company’s income tax expense and effective tax rate. Since the impact of these changes is dependent on our compensation and personnel mix beginning in 2027, we are unable to quantify the potential impact at this time.
Frequency of Reporting Requirements for Public Companies
The current administration and the SEC have recently suggested that they will propose rulemaking that will shift certain SEC reporting requirements for public companies from reporting quarterly (on Form 10-Q) to semi-annually. It is the Company's present intention to continue to report results on a quarterly basis.
Other Regulatory Matters
On March 31, 2025, Oppenheimer received an administrative subpoena from the Office of Foreign Asset Control of the United States Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) requesting certain information regarding Oppenheimer’s anti-money laundering policies and procedures. Oppenheimer has responded and will continue to respond to the OFAC subpoena.
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FACTORS AFFECTING "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS"
From time to time, the Company may publish or make oral statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may relate to such matters as anticipated financial performance, future revenues, earnings, liabilities or expenses, business prospects, projected ventures, new products, anticipated market performance, and similar matters. The Company cautions readers that a variety of factors could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the Company’s forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, include, but are not limited to: (i) transaction volume in the securities markets, (ii) the volatility of the securities markets, (iii) fluctuations in interest rates, (iv) changes in regulatory requirements or taxation policy that could affect the cost and method of doing business, (v) general economic conditions, both domestic and international, including inflation, recession, stagflation, and changes in consumer confidence and spending, (vi) competition from existing financial institutions, new entrants and other participants in the securities markets and financial services industry, (vii) potential cybersecurity threats and attacks, (viii) legal developments affecting the litigation experience of the securities industry and the Company, (ix) changes in foreign, federal and state tax laws that could affect the popularity of products sold by the Company or impose taxes on securities transactions, (x) the adoption and implementation of the SEC’s “Regulation Best Interest” and other regulations adopted in recent years, (xi) war, terrorist acts and nuclear confrontation as well as political unrest, including events relating to the Israel-Hamas war, the conflict with Hezbollah and Iran and related unrest in the Middle East and Russia's invasion of Ukraine and related Western sanctions, (xii) the Company’s ability to achieve its business plan, (xiii) the effects of the economy on the Company’s ability to find and maintain financing options and liquidity, (xiv) credit, operational, legal and regulatory risks, (xv) risks related to foreign operations, (xvi) the effect of technological innovation on the financial services industry and securities business, (xvii) risks related to election results, Congressional gridlock, political and social unrest, government shutdowns and investigations, government spending, inflation, immigration, impact of tariffs and trade wars, bank failures, changes in or uncertainty surrounding regulation, and the potential for default by the U.S. government on the nation's debt, (xviii) risks related to changes in capital requirements under international standards that may cause banks to back away from providing funding to the securities industry and (xix) economic, market, political and social impact of, and uncertainty relating to, any catastrophic events, including pandemics, epidemics or other outbreaks of disease, climate-related risks such as natural disasters and extreme weather events. There can be no assurance that the Company has correctly or completely identified and assessed all of the factors affecting the Company's business. See “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
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Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
During the nine months ended September 30, 2025, there were no material changes to the information contained in Part II, Item 7A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
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Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.