Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (MMI)

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto included elsewhere herein. The following discussion contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those factors set forth under Item 1A – “Risk Factors” and Item 7 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Overview – Factors Affecting Our Business” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview

Our Business

We are a leading national real estate services firm specializing in commercial real estate investment sales, financing services, research, and advisory services. We have been the top commercial real estate investment broker in the United States based on the number of investment transactions for more than 15 years. As of December 31, 2024, we had 1,712 investment sales and financing professionals that are primarily exclusive independent contractors operating in more than 80 offices, who provide real estate brokerage and financing services to sellers and buyers of commercial real estate assets. During the year ended December 31, 2024, we closed 7,836 investment sales, financing and other transactions with total sales volume of approximately $49.6 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we closed 7,546 investment sales, financing and other transactions with total sales volume of approximately $43.6 billion.

We generate revenue by collecting real estate brokerage commissions upon the sale, and financing fees upon the financing of commercial properties, by providing equity advisory services and loan sales, loan guarantees and providing consulting and advisory services. Real estate brokerage commissions are typically based upon the value of the property and financing fees are typically based upon the size of the loan. During the year ended December 31, 2024, approximately 85% of our revenue was generated from real estate brokerage commissions, 12% from financing fees and 3% from other revenue, including consulting and advisory services.

Acquisitions

We continue to pursue opportunities to increase our market presence through the execution of our growth strategies by targeting markets based on population, employment, level of commercial real estate sales, inventory and competitive opportunities where we believe the markets will benefit from our commercial real estate investment sales, financing, research, and advisory services.

Factors Affecting Our Business

Our business and our operating results, financial condition and liquidity are significantly affected by the number and size of commercial real estate investment sales and financing transactions that we close in any period. The number and size of these transactions are affected by our ability to recruit and retain investment sales and financing professionals, identify and contract properties for sale, and identify those that need financing and refinancing. We principally monitor the commercial real estate market through four factors, which generally drive our business. The factors are the economy, commercial real estate supply and demand, capital markets, and investor sentiment and investment activity.

The Economy

Our business is dependent on economic conditions within the markets in which we operate. Changes in the economy on a global, national, regional, or local basis can have a positive or negative impact on our business. Economic indicators and projections related to job growth, unemployment, interest rates, retail spending and consumer confidence trends can have a positive or negative impact on our business. Overall market conditions, including global trade, interest rate changes, inflation, job creation, and global events can affect investor sentiment and, ultimately, the demand for our services from investors in real estate.

The economic landscape entering 2025 may change significantly due to the U.S. presidential and congressional elections in 2024 resulting in Republican control of both houses of Congress and the executive branch of government. Dramatic policy changes have the potential to reshape both growth and inflation outlooks, in turn spurring increased uncertainty. Following the two 25 basis point rate reductions by the Federal Reserve in November and December 2024, it

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appears further rate cuts will be placed on hold pending additional clarity on federal tax, budget, immigration, trade, deregulation and domestic policies.

Positive readings of key fourth quarter metrics including the addition of more than 500,000 jobs, low unemployment, positive retail sales, rising small business optimism, increasing consumer sentiment and a variety of other metrics suggest economic durability, but the federal policy decisions could alter the trajectory of the economy. Policies such as the introduction of broad-based trade tariffs, tighter immigration control and reduced taxes could put upward pressure on inflation, keeping interest rates elevated. Nonetheless, positive fourth quarter economic momentum supported increased household formation, in turn supporting strong demand for rental housing. Likewise, sturdy consumption bolstered demand for both retail and industrial space. Office space demand also gained ground as more employees worked from the office more frequently, whether by choice or by corporate mandate. The strengthened housing and commercial real estate space demand trends, together with a generally positive economic outlook and the prospect of accretive commercial real estate tax policies have the potential to drive increased investor activity, particularly if uncertainty abates and interest rates are reduced.

Commercial Real Estate Supply and Demand

Our business is dependent on the willingness of investors to invest in or sell commercial real estate, which is affected by many factors beyond our control. These factors include the supply of commercial real estate, coupled with user demand for these properties, and the performance of real estate assets, when compared with other investment alternatives, such as stocks and bonds.

All four major property types saw positive space demand in the fourth quarter of 2024 and in the year ended December 31, 2024. Over 200,000 net apartment units were filled in the fourth quarter, taking the annual total apartment unit demand above 660,000, the second strongest annual total in the 32 years on record. The demand modestly outpaced the record 590,000 apartment completions delivered in 2024 to reduce vacancy by 60 basis points to 5.2%. Robust apartment demand outpaced expectations and bolstered multifamily investor confidence.

The industrial vacancy rate increased in the fourth quarter of 2024 as still-elevated construction exceeded space demand. For the year, the industrial vacancy rate rose by 130 basis points to 6.9% as tempered space needs met the still-robust construction pipeline. Industrial completions are expected to fall by 40% in 2025 to 210 million square feet, the slowest construction pace since 2014. Although many retailers increased their inventories ahead of anticipated tariffs, warehouse industrial space needs have tapered significantly over the last two years. Retail vacancy rates have remained range-bound in the mid-4% range, near a record-low. Space absorption has been tempered by limited space availability and nominal construction levels. The limited availability of retail space is placing upward pressure on lease rates, but the pace of increases is restrained by extended pre-negotiated lease renewals. Office vacancy rates decreased an additional 20 basis points in the fourth quarter to 16.7% on positive absorption of 29 million square feet. For the year, total net office absorption approached 55 million square feet, the strongest annual office space demand since 2019. Although office space demand momentum appears to have shifted, office performance remains challenged by vacancy rates that are still near a record high.

We expect the generally positive commercial real estate space demand will align with an anticipated falloff in commercial real estate construction this year. New industrial and multifamily completions are trending lower entering 2025, but the reduction in construction activity may be accelerated by the diversion of workers and construction materials to areas impacted by severe natural disasters. In addition, tariff-driven construction material cost increases and reduced construction labor availability could impact commercial real estate deliveries. The combination of strengthening space demand and reduced construction suggests key commercial real estate fundamentals could improve steadily in the coming year, supporting investment activity.

Capital Markets

Credit and liquidity issues in the financial markets have a direct impact on the flow of capital to the commercial real estate market. Real estate purchases are often financed with debt, and as a result, credit and liquidity impact transaction activity and prices. Movements of interest rates in one direction, whether increasing or decreasing, could adversely or positively affect the operations and income potential of commercial real estate properties, as well as lender and equity underwriting for real estate investments. These changes directly influence investor demand for commercial real estate investments and what they are willing to pay. Furthermore, the use of debt or loan-to-value ratios can shift along with

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lender confidence and underwriting standards. At times of heightened uncertainty or liquidity issues, loan-to-values decline, requiring buyers to provide more equity and take more risk to close deals.

The capital markets have been at the heart of the commercial real estate transaction slowdown over the last two years. The combination of sustained higher interest rates with tighter lender underwriting, reduced loan-to-value standards and a broad-based reduction in the volume of available debt capital have restrained market liquidity. This has forced investors to recalibrate their underwriting. This widened the buyer/seller expectation gap and reduced trading throughout 2023 and 2024.

The 100-basis point rate reduction by the Federal Reserve in the latter part of 2024 initially improved investor sentiment, but the increase of the 10-year treasury rate following the rate cut negatively impacted borrowing rates. However, lending liquidity is gradually improving, and the competition to lend capital is rising, which is causing lenders to reduce their spreads over the underlying rates, in turn putting modest downward pressure on borrowing rates. At the same time, the slowing pace of new supply additions in conjunction with strengthening space demand suggests that asset performance could improve over the coming years. The prospect of falling vacancy rates and increasing rent growth have begun to encourage investors to recalibrate their underwriting on acquisition targets, helping to bridge the buyer/seller expectation gap. Despite still-high interest rates, improving fundamentals may be sufficient to offset the elevated cost of debt capital to bolster transactional velocity in the coming year if public policy remains accretive to household formation and rising sentiment levels.

Investor Sentiment and Investment Activity

We facilitate investors buying, selling, and financing properties in order to generate commissions. Investors’ desires and need to engage in real estate transactions are dependent on many factors that are beyond our control. The economy, supply and demand for properly positioned properties, available credit and market events impact investor sentiment and, therefore, transaction velocity. In addition, our private clients, who make up the largest source of revenue, are often motivated to buy, sell and/or refinance properties due to personal circumstances, such as death, divorce, partnership breakups and estate planning.

The commercial real estate sector experienced a modest upturn of sales activity in the fourth quarter of 2024 as investors capitalized on the short window of sub-4% 10-year treasury rates. While the 10-year treasury has returned to mid-4% range, the combination of improving fundamentals and the need for investors to place capital and reposition their portfolios may continue to support positive momentum. Investor sentiment rose in the fourth quarter as evidenced by the rise of small business optimism and consumer sentiment, suggesting that investor caution is beginning to abate. However, elevated uncertainty spawned by the rapidly evolving cadre of federal policies that could change has the potential to counterbalance investor enthusiasm.

Several metrics including increased exclusive inventory being brought to market and a rising number of property tours in several markets and property types, suggest investor activity may rise in 2025. Nonetheless, a variety of factors including the economy, interest rates, financial market trends, geopolitical and commercial real estate pricing clarity could suppress activity in 2025. Should the Federal Reserve continue to reduce rates, it would support positive momentum, but a full market recovery will take additional time. Lenders are becoming more assertive with borrowers, and though loan extensions and modification remain common, incidents of forced refinancing and distressed sales are becoming more frequent. Office properties, particularly those in the urban core, continue to face the greatest uncertainty and the greatest challenges in acquiring debt financing. Apartment financing, underpinned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has generally been the most attainable, with typically lower interest rates than other property types. Defensive assets, such as single-tenant net lease properties backed by high-credit tenants, and medical office assets continue to receive buyer interest, but sales of these types of properties have also fallen as the flow of 1031 exchange capital coming from other property types has diminished. Ultimately, the market velocity will be dictated by a combination of the economic outlook, geopolitical forces, Federal Reserve action, interest rates and the narrowing of the buyer/seller expectation gap. If interest rates trend lower, we believe commercial real estate investment activity could gain additional momentum.

Seasonality

Our real estate brokerage commissions and financing fees have tended to be seasonal and, combined with other factors, can affect an investor’s ability to compare our financial condition and results of operations on a quarter-by-quarter basis. Historically, this seasonality has generally caused our revenue, operating income, net income, and cash flows from operating activities to be lower in the first half of the year and higher in the second half of the year, particularly in the

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fourth quarter. The concentration of earnings and cash flows in the last six months of the year, particularly in the fourth quarter, is due to an industry-wide focus of clients to complete transactions towards the end of the calendar year. This historical trend can be disrupted both positively and negatively by major economic events, political events, natural disasters, or public health crises, which may impact, among other things, investor sentiment for a particular property type or location, volatility in financial markets, current and future projections of interest rates, attractiveness of other asset classes, market liquidity, and the extent of limitations or availability of capital allocations for larger property buyers, among others. Private client investors may accelerate or delay transactions due to personal or business-related reasons unrelated to economic events. In addition, our operating margins are typically lower during the second half of each year due to our commission structure for some of our senior investment sales and financing professionals. These senior investment sales and financing professionals are on a graduated commission schedule that resets annually, pursuant to which higher commissions are paid for higher sales volumes. During 2024, seasonal fluctuations were disrupted by changes in overall market conditions and interest rates, and going forward our historical pattern of seasonality may or may not continue to the same degree experienced in prior years.

Key Financial Measures and Indicators

Revenue

Our revenue is primarily generated from our real estate investment sales business. In addition to real estate brokerage commissions, we generate revenue from financing fees and from other revenue, which are primarily comprised of consulting and advisory fees.

Because our business is transaction oriented, we rely on investment sales and financing professionals to continually develop leads, identify properties to sell and finance, market those properties and close the sale or financing in a timely manner to generate a consistent flow of revenue. While our sales volume is impacted by seasonality factors, the timing of closings is also dependent on many market and personal factors unique to a particular client or transaction, particularly clients transacting in the $1 million to $10 million private client market. These factors can cause transactions to be accelerated or delayed beyond our control. Further, commission rates earned are generally inversely related to the value of the property sold or financed. As we have expanded our business into the middle and larger transaction markets, we have seen our overall commission rates fluctuate from period-to-period as a result of changes in the relative mix of the number and volume of investment sales transactions closed in the middle and larger transaction markets as compared to the $1 million to $10 million private client market. These factors may result in period-to-period variations in our revenue that differ from historical patterns.

A small percentage of our transactions include retainer fees and/or breakage fees. Retainer fees are credited against a success-based fee paid upon the closing of a transaction or a breakage fee. Transactions that are terminated before completion will sometimes generate breakage fees, which are usually calculated as a set amount or a percentage of the fee we would have received had the transaction closed.

Real Estate Brokerage Commissions

We earn real estate brokerage commissions by acting as a broker for commercial real estate owners seeking to sell or investors seeking to buy properties. Revenue from real estate brokerage commissions is recognized at the close of escrow.

Financing Fees

We earn financing fees by securing financing on purchase transactions or by securing refinancing of our clients’ existing mortgage debt. We recognize financing fee revenue at the time the loan closes, and we have no remaining significant obligations in connection with the transaction.

To a lesser extent, we also earn fees on loan performance, equity advisory services, loan sales, loan guarantees and ancillary services associated with financing activities. We recognize guarantee fees over the term of the guarantee and other fees when we have no further obligations, generally upon the closing of the transaction. We no longer hold any mortgage servicing rights ("MSRs"), but prior to the third quarter of 2022, we recognized mortgage servicing revenue upon the acquisition of a servicing obligation. We generated mortgage servicing fees through the provision of collection, remittance, recordkeeping, reporting, and other related mortgage servicing functions, activities, and services.

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Other Revenue

Other revenue includes fees generated from consulting and advisory services, leasing, as well as referral fees from other real estate brokers, and are recognized when services are provided, upon closing of the transaction or when we have no further obligations.

Operating Expenses

Our operating expenses consist of cost of services, selling, general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization. The significant components of our expenses are further described below.

Cost of Services

The majority of our cost of services expense is variable commissions paid to our investment sales and financing professionals and compensation-related costs related to our financing activities. Commission expenses are directly attributable to providing services to our clients for investment sales and financing services. Most of our investment sales and financing professionals are independent contractors and are paid commissions; however, because there are some who are employees and initially paid a salary, costs of services also include employee-related compensation, employer taxes and benefits for those employees. The commission rates we pay to our investment sales and financing professionals vary based on individual contracts negotiated and are generally higher for the more experienced professionals. Some of our most senior investment sales and financing professionals can also earn additional commissions after meeting certain annual financial thresholds. These additional commissions are recognized as cost of services in the period in which they are earned. Payment of a portion of these additional commissions are generally deferred for a period of three years, at our election, and paid at the end of the third calendar year. Cost of services also includes referral fees paid to other real estate brokers where we are the principal service provider. Cost of services, therefore, can vary based on the commission structure of the investment sales and financing professionals that closed transactions in any particular period.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

The largest expense component within selling, general and administrative expenses is compensation for our management team and sales and support staff, as well as business development, marketing, and expensing of forgivable loans provided to our investment sales and financing professionals over the contractual term of the loan. In addition, these costs include facility costs (excluding depreciation and amortization), sales and events, licenses and subscriptions, legal, information technology, telecommunications, changes in fair value for contingent and deferred consideration and other administrative expenses. Also included in selling, general and administrative are expenses for stock-based compensation.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation expense consists of depreciation recorded on our computer software and hardware equipment, as well as our furniture, fixtures and equipment. Depreciation is recognized over estimated useful lives ranging from three to seven years for assets. Amortization expense consists of amortization recorded on intangible assets amortized on a straight-line basis using a useful life between one and seven years.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net primarily consists of interest income, realized gains and losses on our marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, net gains or losses on our deferred compensation plan assets, foreign currency gains and losses and other non-operating income and expenses.

Interest Expense

Interest expense primarily consists of interest expense associated with the stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) liability, and our credit agreement.

(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes

We are subject to U.S. and Canadian federal taxes and individual state and local taxes based on the income generated in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Our effective tax rate fluctuates as a result of (i) changes in our annual effective tax rate applied to current pre-tax income (loss), (ii) the change in the mix of our activities in the jurisdictions in which we

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operate due to differing tax rates in those jurisdictions and (iii) the impact of permanent items, including compensation charges, qualified transportation fringe benefits, uncertain tax positions, meals and entertainment and tax-exempt deferred compensation plan assets. Our (benefit) provision for income taxes includes the windfall tax benefits and shortfall expenses, net, from shares issued in connection with our Amended Plan and Amended ESPP.

We record deferred taxes, net based on the tax rate expected to be in effect at the time those items are expected to be recognized for tax purposes.

Results of Operations

The following is a discussion of our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. The tables included in the period comparisons below provide summaries of our results of operations. The period-to-period comparisons of financial results are not necessarily indicative of future results.

Key Operating Metrics

We regularly review a number of key metrics to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate financial projections and make strategic decisions. We also believe these metrics are relevant to investors’ and others’ assessment of our financial condition and results of operations. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, we closed more than 7,800, 7,500 and 12,200 investment sales, financing and other transactions, respectively, with total sales volume of approximately $49.6 billion, $43.6 billion and $86.3 billion, respectively. Such key metrics for real estate brokerage and financing activities (excluding other transactions) are as follows:

(1)Operating metrics exclude certain financing fees not directly associated to transactions.

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The following table sets forth the number of transactions, sales volume and revenue by commercial real estate market for real estate brokerage:

Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023

Below are key operating results for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2023 (dollars in thousands):

(1)Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of our financial performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income or any other measures derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For a definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net (loss) income, which is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measure” below.

Revenue

Our total revenue was $696.1 million in 2024 compared to $645.9 million in 2023, an increase of $50.1 million, or 7.8%. Total revenue primarily increased as a result of increases in real estate brokerage commissions and financing fees, as described below. See "Factors Affecting Our Business" section for additional market information.

Real estate brokerage commissions. Revenue from real estate brokerage commissions increased to $589.7 million in 2024 from $559.8 million in 2023, an increase of $29.9 million, or 5.3%. The increase was primarily the result of a 9.1%

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increase in total sales volume, partially offset by a seven basis point decrease in the average commission rate earned, caused by the shift in the proportion of transactions to the Middle Market and Larger Transaction Market from the Private Client Market, as Middle Market and Larger Transaction Markets typically earn lower commission rates. The combined Middle Market and Larger Transaction Market revenue increased by 22.3%, while Private Client Market revenue decreased by 1.9%.

Financing fees. Revenue from financing fees increased to $84.5 million in 2024 from $66.9 million in 2023, an increase of $17.6 million, or 26.3%. The increase was a result of a 35.2% increase in the total financing volume, partially offset by a decrease of eight basis points in the average fee rate earned compared to 2023.

Other revenue. Other revenue increased to $21.9 million in 2024 from $19.3 million in 2023, an increase of $2.6 million, or 13.4%. The increase was primarily driven by increases in leasing fees during 2024 compared to 2023.

Total Operating Expenses

Our total operating expenses were $729.0 million in 2024 compared to $705.3 million in 2023, an increase of $23.7 million, or 3.4%. Cost of services increased by $24.8 million and selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased by $4.1 million, as described below.

Cost of services. Cost of services are variable commissions paid to our investment sales professionals and compensation-related costs in connection with our financing activities. Cost of services increased to $431.5 million in 2024 from $406.6 million in 2023, an increase of $24.8 million, or 6.1%. The increase was primarily due to increased commission expenses driven by the related increased revenue discussed above. Cost of services as a percentage of total revenue decreased by 100 basis points to 62.0% compared to 2023 primarily due to our senior investment sales and financing professionals earning a lower amount of commissions.

Selling, general, and administrative expense. Selling, general and administrative expense decreased to $280.9 million in 2024 from $285.0 million in 2023, a decrease of $4.1 million or 1.4%. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in marketing support costs, partially offset by an increase in compensation-related costs. As a percentage of revenue, selling, general and administrative expense decreased due to the fixed nature of certain of these expenses.

Depreciation and amortization expense. Depreciation and amortization expense increased to $16.6 million in 2024 from $13.6 million in 2023, an increase of $3.0 million, or 21.7%. The increase primarily relates to accelerated amortization and impairment of certain intangible assets resulting from changes in estimates.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net increased to $20.7 million in 2024 from $19.9 million in 2023. The $0.8 million increase was primarily driven by an increase in interest income as a result of rebalancing the Company's investments to take advantage of higher yields.

Interest Expense

Interest expense increased by an immaterial amount in 2024 compared to 2023, and primarily relates to interest expense on our SARs liability.

(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes

The benefit for income taxes was $0.7 million in 2024, compared to a benefit for income taxes of $6.4 million in 2023. The effective income tax rate for 2024 was 5.1% compared to 15.8% for 2023. The majority of the reduction in the effective tax rate is related to permanent and other items and stock based compensation expense as presented in Note 12 - "Income Taxes" of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

A discussion regarding our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2022 can be found under Item 7 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial

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Condition and Results of Operations – Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024, which is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we include a non-GAAP financial measure, Adjusted EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net (loss) income before (i) interest income and other, including net realized gains (losses) on marketable debt securities, available-for-sale and cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, (ii) interest expense, (iii) (benefit) provision for income taxes, (iv) depreciation and amortization, and (v) stock-based compensation. We use Adjusted EBITDA in our business operations to evaluate the performance of our business, develop budgets and measure our performance against those budgets, among other things. We also believe that analysts and investors use Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure to evaluate our overall operating performance. However, Adjusted EBITDA has material limitations as a supplemental metric and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under U.S. GAAP. We find Adjusted EBITDA to be a useful management metric to assist in evaluating performance, because Adjusted EBITDA eliminates items related to capital structure, taxes and non-cash items. In light of the foregoing limitations, we do not rely solely on Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure and also consider our U.S. GAAP results. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of our financial performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net (loss) income, operating (loss) income or any other measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Because Adjusted EBITDA is not calculated in the same manner by all companies, it may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. A reconciliation of the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, net income, to Adjusted EBITDA is as follows (in thousands):

(1)Other includes net realized gains (losses) on marketable debt securities, available-for-sale.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash and cash equivalents, cash flows from operations, marketable debt securities, available-for-sale and, if necessary, borrowings under the Credit Agreement (as defined herein). We have invested a portion of our cash in money market funds and fixed and variable income debt securities, in accordance with our investment policy approved by the Board of Directors. Certain of our investments in money market funds may not maintain a stable net asset value and may impose a discretionary liquidity fee. To date, we have not experienced any restrictions on our ability to redeem funds from money market funds. Although we have historically funded our operations through operating cash flows, there can be no assurance that we can continue to meet our cash requirements entirely through our operations, cash and cash equivalents, proceeds from the sale of marketable debt securities, available-for-sale or availability under the Credit Agreement.

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Cash Flows

Our total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash balance decreased by $17.3 million to $153.4 million at December 31, 2024, compared to $170.8 million at December 31, 2023. The following table sets forth our summary cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022 (in thousands):

Operating Activities

Cash flows provided by operating activities were $21.7 million in 2024 compared to cash flows used in operating activities of $72.4 million in 2023. The $94.1 million increase in cash flows from operating activities in 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to (a) a reduction in net losses, as discussed above, (b) a reduction in bonus payments as the 2023 payment for bonuses related to amounts accrued in 2022 based in part on 2022 profits and (c) a reduction in payments in deferred compensation and commissions. The cash flows from operating activities were also affected by the timing of certain cash receipts and payments.

Investing Activities

Cash flows used in investing activities were $9.9 million in 2024 compared to cash flows provided by investing activities of $74.9 million in 2023. The $84.8 million decrease in cash from investing activities in 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to a decrease in net proceeds of $86.3 million from sales, purchases, and maturities of securities in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

Financing Activities

Cash flows used in financing activities were $28.8 million in 2024 compared to $67.7 million in 2023. The decrease of $38.9 million in cash flows used in financing activities in 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to a decrease of $38.7 million in stock repurchases.

Liquidity

We believe that our existing balances of cash and cash equivalents, cash flows expected to be generated from our operations, and proceeds from the sale of marketable debt securities, available-for-sale will be sufficient to satisfy our operating requirements for at least the next 12 months and beyond. If we need to raise additional capital through public or private debt or equity financings, strategic relationships or other arrangements, this capital might not be available to us in a timely manner, on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise sufficient capital when needed could prevent us from funding acquisitions or otherwise financing our growth or operations. As of December 31, 2024, cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, aggregated $394.2 million, which includes $10.7 million in restricted cash.

Credit Agreement

We have a credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”) which provides for a $10 million principal amount senior secured revolving credit facility that is guaranteed by all of our domestic subsidiaries and matures on June 1, 2025. As of December 31, 2024, there were no amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement. We monitor covenant compliance on a regular basis to ensure continued compliance with the Credit Agreement. Our ability to borrow under the Credit Agreement is limited by our ability to comply with its covenants or

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obtain necessary waivers. See Note 16 – “Commitments and Contingencies” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Credit Agreement.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company, in connection with the Strategic Alliance with M&T Realty Capital Corporation (“MTRCC”), has agreed to provide loan opportunities that may be funded through MTRCC’s agreement with Fannie Mae, which requires MTRCC to guarantee a portion of each funded loan. On a loan-by-loan basis, the Company, at its option, can assume a portion of MTRCC’s guarantee obligation to Fannie Mae of loan opportunities presented to and closed by MTRCC. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has agreed to a maximum aggregate guarantee obligation of $296.3 million relating to loans with an unpaid balance of $1,831.8 million. The maximum guarantee obligation is not representative of the actual loss we would incur. The Company would be liable for this amount only if all of the loans for which it is providing a guarantee to MTRCC were to default and all of the collateral underlying these loans was determined to be without value at the time of settlement, and the Company has recorded an allowance for losses of $174,000 as of December 31, 2024 related to these guarantee obligations. The Company is required to provide cash collateral to MTRCC for this obligation and this is reflected as $0.7 million of restricted cash as of December 31, 2024, which is included in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheet.

Material Cash Requirements

The following table summarizes current and long-term material cash requirements as of December 31, 2024, which we expect to fund primarily with operating cash flows (in thousands):

(1)See Note 4 – “Operating Leases” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)Forecasted principal payments are based on each participant’s estimated retirement age and current contractual interest rate of 5.95% as of January 1, 2024 and reflect required payments that resulted from the retirement of certain executives. See Note 7 – “Selected Balance Sheet Data” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(3)Includes short-term and long-term deferred commissions payable (excludes commissions currently payable on closed transactions). See Note 7 – “Selected Balance Sheet Data” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(4)Represents current estimated payouts for participants currently receiving payments based on their elections at the time of deferral. We hold assets in a rabbi trust of $12.2 million to settle outstanding amounts when they become due. Amounts assume no increase or decrease in the liability due to future returns or losses. See Note 7 – “Selected Balance Sheet Data” of our accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(5)Relates to contingent and deferred consideration in connection with our business acquisitions. See Note 6 – “Acquisitions, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” and Note 9 – “Fair Value Measurements” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(6)Relates to amounts that may be advanced to sales and financing professionals. See Note 16 – “Commitments and Contingencies” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(7)Amounts in Other represent amounts where payments are dependent on future events, which may occur at any time from less than 1 year to more than 5 years and relates to our deferred compensation liability and certain advances to sales and financing professionals. Payments for deferred compensation liability are based on the participants’ elections at the time of deferral and may not begin before separation from service. The ultimate resolution depends

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on many factors and assumptions. Certain amounts advanced to sales and financing professionals are contingent upon reaching specified performance criteria. Accordingly, we are not able to reasonably estimate the timing of such payments, if any.

Other than operating expenses, including those accrued and payable as December 31, 2024, cash requirements for 2025 are expected to consist primarily of capital expenditures for the future acquisitions, if any, payment of dividends, if any, payments for stock repurchases, if any, and advances to our investment sales and financing professionals.

Inflation

Our commissions and other variable costs related to revenue are primarily affected by real estate market supply and demand, which may be affected by uncertain or changing economic and market conditions, including inflation/deflation arising in connection with and in response to various macroeconomic factors and impact of increased interest rates on the broader economy.

The annual CPI inflation rate in the U.S. peaked at 9.1% in June 2022, the highest annual inflation rate since November 1981. CPI inflation has since fallen to 2.9% as of December 2024. In 2022 through 2023, the Federal Reserve increased the federal funds rate to the 5.25%-5.5% range in an effort to combat inflation, which had an adverse impact on commercial real estate transactions. In the latter part of 2024, the Federal Reserve lowered the overnight rate by 100 basis points to the 4.25%-4.5% range, which was a positive trend for investors, but the 10-year treasury has remained range-bound in the mid- to upper-4% range keeping the cost of debt capital elevated.

Looking forward, the Federal Reserve has communicated a restrained interest rate outlook pending additional clarity on federal fiscal, trade, tax, regulatory and domestic policies. Several of the policies in consideration such as tariffs and more stringent immigration controls have the potential to be inflationary in nature, so future inflation risk may depend on when and how assertively the proposed policies are implemented.

Critical Accounting Estimates

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In applying many of these accounting principles, we make assumptions, estimates and/or judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in our consolidated financial statements. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. These assumptions, estimates and/or judgments, however, are often subjective and our actual results may change based on changing circumstances or changes in our analyses. If actual amounts are ultimately different from our estimates, the revisions are included in our results of operations for the period in which the actual amounts become known.

We believe that the critical accounting policies discussed below involve a greater degree of judgment or complexity than our other accounting policies. Accordingly, these are the policies we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. See the notes to our consolidated financial statements for a summary of our significant accounting policies.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to (i) differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis, and (ii) operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. We measure existing deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which we expect to have temporary differences realized or settled. We recognize in the provision for income taxes, the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates in the period that includes the enactment date. We periodically evaluate deferred tax assets to assess whether it is likely that the deferred tax assets will be realized. In determining whether a valuation allowance is required, we consider the timing of deferred tax reversals, estimates of future taxable income, current year taxable income, and historical performance. Valuation allowances are provided against deferred tax assets when it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Our valuation allowance is related principally to losses incurred in our Canadian operations. Future results of operations of the Canadian business will impact valuation allowances in the future.

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Due to the nature of our business, which includes activity in the U.S. and Canada, incorporating numerous states and provinces as well as local jurisdictions, our tax position can be complex. As such, our effective tax rate is subject to changes as a result of fluctuations in the mix of our activity in the various jurisdictions in which we operate including changes in tax rates, state apportionment, tax related interest and penalties, valuation allowances and other permanent items, including Sec. 162(m) and net windfalls and shortfalls related to stock-based compensation. Calculating some of the amounts involves a high degree of judgment. Our state taxes, net of federal benefit, has ranged from 1.5% to 4.5% over the past 3 years.

We evaluate our tax positions quarterly. The threshold for recognizing the benefits of tax return positions in the financial statements is “more likely than not” to be sustained by the taxing authority and requires measurement of a tax position meeting the more-likely-than-not criterion, based on the largest benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized. We assess our inventory of tax positions with respect to all applicable income tax issues for all open tax years (in each respective jurisdiction) and determine whether uncertain tax positions are required to be recognized in our consolidated financial statements.

The above factors create volatility in our effective tax rate from quarter to quarter and have caused our effective tax rates to range from 5.1% to 26.6% over the past three years.

We recognize interest and penalties incurred as income tax expense. See Note 12 – “Income Taxes” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Leases

Our leases consist of purpose built-out office space, which reverts to the lessor upon termination of the lease and operating leases for autos. We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Right-of-use assets (“ROU assets”) represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our contractual obligation to make lease payments under the lease. Operating leases are included in operating lease ROU assets, non-current, and operating lease liabilities current and non-current captions in the consolidated balance sheets.

Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized on the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Lease agreements may contain periods of free rent or reduced rent, predetermined fixed increases in the minimum rent and renewal or termination options, all of which add complexity and impact the determination of the lease term and lease payments to be used in calculating the lease liability. Certain facility leases provide for rental escalations related to increases in the lessors’ direct operating expenses. We use the implicit rate in the lease when determinable. As most of our leases do not have a determinable implicit rate, determining the rate to be used in our calculations is judgmental. We use an estimated incremental borrowing rate calculated on a spread over treasuries based on our estimated credit rating for the indicated term of the lease based on the information available on the commencement date of the lease. As a result, the incremental borrowing rate has and will continue to be impacted by market interest rates. The weighted average incremental borrowing rate was 5.2% in 2024 and 4.7% in 2023. Any payments for completed improvements, determined to be owed by the lessor, net of incentives received, are recorded as an increase to the ROU asset and considered in the determination of the lease cost.

We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are accounted for as a single lease component. Lease cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease payments consist of common area costs, insurance, taxes, utilities, parking, and other lease related costs, which are determined principally based on billings from landlords.

Investments in Marketable Debt Securities, Available-for-Sale

We maintain a portfolio of investments in a variety of fixed and variable rate debt securities, including U.S. treasuries, U.S. government sponsored entities, corporate debt, asset-backed securities, and other. We consider our investments in marketable debt securities to be available-for-sale, and accordingly, are recorded at their fair values. We determine the appropriate classification of investments in marketable debt securities at the time of purchase. Interest along with amortization of purchase premiums and accretion of discounts from the purchase date through the estimated maturity date, including consideration of variable maturities and contractual call provisions, are included in other income, net in the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 5 – “Investments in Marketable Debt Securities, Available-for-Sale” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. We typically invest in highly rated debt securities, and our investment policy generally limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. The policy

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requires substantially all investments to be investment grade, with the primary objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss and matching long-term liabilities.

Unrealized losses on our marketable securities, available-for-sale, fluctuate based on changes in market interest rates due the fixed interest rates of most of the securities. Unrealized losses aggregated $1.6 million and $2.6 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We review our investment portfolio quarterly for all securities in an unrealized loss position to determine if an impairment charge or credit reserve is required. We exclude accrued interest from both the fair value and the amortized cost basis of marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, for the purposes of identifying and measuring an impairment. An investment is impaired if the fair value is less than its amortized cost basis. Impairment relating to credit losses is recorded through a reduction in the amortized cost of the security or an allowance for credit losses and credit loss expense (included in selling, general and administrative expense), limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Impairment that has not been recorded as a credit loss is recorded through other comprehensive (loss) income, net of applicable taxes. We made an accounting policy election to not measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivable. We evaluate write-off of accrued interest receivable by the major security-type level at the time credit loss exists for the underlying security.

Determining whether a credit loss exists requires a high degree of judgment, and we consider both qualitative and quantitative factors in making our determination. We evaluate our intent to sell, or whether we will more likely than not be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. For all securities in an unrealized loss position, we evaluate, among other items, the extent and length of time the fair market value of a security is less than its amortized cost, time to maturity, duration, seniority, the financial condition of the issuer including credit ratings, any changes thereto and relative default rates and loss severity, leverage ratios, availability of liquidity to make principle and interest payments, performance indicators of the underlying assets, analyst reports and recommendations, and changes in base and market interest rates. If the qualitative and quantitative analysis is sufficient to conclude that an impairment related to credit losses does not exist, we typically do not perform further quantitative analysis to estimate the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the debt security. Estimates of expected future cash flows are our best estimate based on past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable economic forecasts. To date, we have not recorded any credit losses or impairments on our portfolio of marketable securities, available for sale.

Contingent and Deferred Consideration

In connection with certain business acquisitions, the Company may enter into agreements to pay additional cash or other consideration based on the achievement of certain performance measures and/or service and time requirements. Contingent and deferred consideration in connection with the acquisition of a business is measured at fair value on the acquisition date and remeasured at fair value each reporting period thereafter until the consideration is settled, with changes in fair value recorded in selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

In its determination of fair value for contingent and deferred consideration, the Company uses judgment in determining the probability of achieving contractual performance targets and the time frame in which the settlements will occur. Further, judgment is used in determining the appropriate current and future interest rates to apply in each situation. The Company estimated the probability of achievement of contractual performance targets was between 0% to 100% based on each acquisition’s historical and estimated future performance and risk adjusted discount rates of between 4.8% to 6.1%, which resulted in a recorded fair value for the contingent consideration of $4.7 million and $5.5 million as of December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. The Company estimated the fair value of the deferred consideration using a discounted cash flow estimate using market rates, with the only remaining condition on such payments being the passage of time which resulted in a recorded fair value of $0.4 million and $1.6 million as of December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. The maximum undiscounted future settlements of contingent and deferred consideration was $12.0 million at December 31, 2024, and the Company is uncertain as to the extent of the volatility in the judgments and unobservable inputs will have on the ultimate settlement of these amounts in the foreseeable future.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For information regarding recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 – “Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We do not believe any of the other accounting pronouncements listed in that note will have a significant impact on our business.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto included elsewhere herein. The following discussion contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those factors set forth under Item 1A – “Risk Factors” and Item 7 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Overview – Factors Affecting Our Business” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview

Our Business

We are a leading national real estate services firm specializing in commercial real estate investment sales, financing services, research, and advisory services. We have been the top commercial real estate investment broker in the United States based on the number of investment transactions for more than 15 years. As of December 31, 2023, we had 1,783 investment sales and financing professionals that are primarily exclusive independent contractors operating in more than 80 offices, who provide real estate brokerage and financing services to sellers and buyers of commercial real estate assets. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we closed 7,546 investment sales, financing and other transactions with total sales volume of approximately $43.6 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we closed 12,272 investment sales, financing and other transactions with total sales volume of approximately $86.3 billion.

We generate revenue by collecting real estate brokerage commissions upon the sale, and financing fees upon the financing of commercial properties, by providing equity advisory services and loan sales, loan guarantees and providing consulting and advisory services. Real estate brokerage commissions are typically based upon the value of the property and financing fees are typically based upon the size of the loan. During the year ended December 31, 2023, approximately 87% of our revenue was generated from real estate brokerage commissions, 10% from financing fees and 3% from other revenue, including consulting and advisory services.

Acquisitions

We continue to pursue opportunities to increase our market presence through the execution of our growth strategies by targeting markets based on population, employment, level of commercial real estate sales, inventory and competitive opportunities where we believe the markets will benefit from our commercial real estate investment sales, financing, research, and advisory services.

Factors Affecting Our Business

Our business and our operating results, financial condition and liquidity are significantly affected by the number and size of commercial real estate investment sales and financing transactions that we close in any period. The number and size of these transactions are affected by our ability to recruit and retain investment sales and financing professionals, identify and contract properties for sale, and identify those that need financing and refinancing. We principally monitor the commercial real estate market through four factors, which generally drive our business. The factors are the economy, commercial real estate supply and demand, capital markets, and investor sentiment and investment activity.

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The Economy

Our business is dependent on economic conditions within the markets in which we operate. Changes in the economy on a global, national, regional, or local basis can have a positive or negative impact on our business. Economic indicators and projections related to job growth, unemployment, interest rates, retail spending and consumer confidence trends can have a positive or negative impact on our business. Overall market conditions, including global trade, interest rate changes, inflation, job creation, and global events can affect investor sentiment and, ultimately, the demand for our services from investors in real estate.

A “soft landing” has emerged as the consensus 2024 economic forecast suggests the U.S. will likely avoid a recession. However, several factors continue to pose a risk to the outlook, including the potential of the Federal Reserve holding rates too high for too long or dropping rates too soon, the upcoming election and governmental dysfunction that has made it particularly difficult to set a federal budget, geopolitical headwinds including the war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict and possible financial market and banking sector disruptions.

Despite the risks, numerous metrics suggest the economy remains sound. Job creation has been durable with the addition of an average of 227,000 jobs per month in the fourth quarter of 2023. The unemployment rate has been range-bound in the mid to upper 3% band for 24 months straight, while weekly first-time unemployment claims from December 9, 2023 to January 20, 2024 remain near 200,000, approximately 35% below the pre-pandemic average. In addition, retail sales increased by 2.8% on an inflation adjusted basis in 2023, and consumer confidence has risen to a more than two year high. These positive trends align with steadily falling inflation. While core Personal Consumption Expenditure (excluding food and energy), the Federal Reserve’s favored measure, stood at 2.9% on a year-over-year basis as of December 2023, over the last six months this metric has remained at 1.9% annualized, which is below the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%.

Within this context, the Federal Reserve has suggested they could begin reducing rates in 2024, although the timing of any reductions remains uncertain. Decreasing the overnight rate would send a strong signal to the financial sector and commercial real estate investors that the Federal Reserve has completed the tightening cycle and begun a normalization process. That in turn could lead to modest declines in debt capital interest rates, which could support increased commercial real estate transaction activity.

Commercial Real Estate Supply and Demand

Our business is dependent on the willingness of investors to invest in or sell commercial real estate, which is affected by many factors beyond our control. These factors include the supply of commercial real estate, coupled with user demand for these properties, and the performance of real estate assets, when compared with other investment alternatives, such as stocks and bonds.

Space demand remained positive in 2023 for most commercial real estate property types, with office being the notable exception. Despite office’s filling an additional 21 million square feet in the fourth quarter, the total net office space absorption for the year was negative, resulting in a national office vacancy rate of 16.9%. Multifamily demand was positive throughout 2023, but the 236,000 additional filled units failed to keep pace with the record number of apartment completions on a macro level, resulting in a 90 basis point national average vacancy increase in 2023. Industrial properties faced a similar challenge with space demand remaining positive through the year, but falling short of the record development. Retail space also sustained positive absorption throughout the year, with limited new construction helping the sector achieve a record low vacancy rate.

Although the fundamentals of most property types remain sound, both lending and investor activity remain below the pre-pandemic norm and the expectation gap between buyers and sellers remains wide. The demand for space will continue to be influenced by consumer and business sentiment as well as the broader economic outlook.

Capital Markets

Credit and liquidity issues in the financial markets have a direct impact on the flow of capital to the commercial real estate market. Real estate purchases are often financed with debt, and as a result, credit and liquidity impact transaction activity and prices. Movements of interest rates in one direction, whether increasing or decreasing, could adversely or positively affect the operations and income potential of commercial real estate properties, as well as lender and equity underwriting for real estate investments. These changes directly influence investor demand for commercial real estate investments. Furthermore, the use of debt or loan-to-value ratios can shift along with lender confidence and underwriting

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standards. At times of heightened uncertainty or liquidity issues, loan-to-values decline, requiring buyers to provide more equity and take more risk to close deals.

The capital markets remain at the heart of the commercial real estate transaction slowdown. The combination of sharply higher interest rates with tighter lender underwriting, reduced loan-to-value standards and a broad-based reduction in the volume of available debt capital have restrained market liquidity and forced investors to recalibrate their underwriting. This exacerbated the buyer/seller expectation gap and reduced trading throughout 2023.

Although the Federal Reserve has suggested an increased likelihood of reductions in the overnight rate in 2024, the timing of any adjustments remains unclear. The Federal Reserve has held interest rates flat in the 5.25% - 5.5% range since July 2023, but considering that the annualized rate of inflation over the last six months has been below the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, it appears that inflation risks may be substantively contained. Prevailing Wall Street sentiment has assigned a 90% likelihood that the overnight rate at the end of 2024 will be lowered by 100 basis points or more, which would likely place downward pressure on the interest rates charged for commercial real estate debt capital. The 10-year treasury rate has remained range bound near 4% since early December 2023, and many economists predict it will remain in that range through 2024. In general, rate stability with a modest downward bias in combination with a stable economy could support increased investor activity in 2024.

Investor Sentiment and Investment Activity

We facilitate investors buying, selling, and financing properties in order to generate commissions. Investors’ desires and need to engage in real estate transactions are dependent on many factors that are beyond our control. The economy, supply and demand for properly positioned properties, available credit and market events impact investor sentiment and, therefore, transaction velocity. In addition, our private clients, who make up the largest source of revenue, are often motivated to buy, sell and/or refinance properties due to personal circumstances, such as death, divorce, partnership breakups and estate planning.

Commercial real estate sales activity remained constrained through 2023 as tightened lender underwriting, significantly higher interest rates, recession risk and broad-based uncertainty impacted investor decisions. We believe a significant volume of investment capital remains undeployed waiting for economic, interest rate, financial market, geopolitical and commercial real estate pricing clarity. Price adjustments are necessary to recalibrate values to higher interest rates, but the duration of the recalibration process will depend on the combination of Federal Reserve rate policies, political stability and the market forces driving long-term interest rates. Once investors re-engage in the market, it will likely take time to navigate the price discovery process and for sales activity to revive.

Office properties, particularly those in the urban core, face the greatest uncertainty and the greatest challenges in acquiring debt financing. Apartment financing, underpinned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has generally been the most attainable, with typically lower interest rates than other property types. However, the rapid interest rate spike relative to the sector's very low cap rates and the large apartment development pipeline together with slackening rent growth has impacted apartment sales. Defensive assets — such as single-tenant net lease properties backed by high-credit tenants — and medical office assets continue to receive buyer interest, but sales of these types of properties have also fallen as the flow of 1031 exchange capital coming from other property types has diminished. Ultimately, the market velocity will be dictated by a combination of the economic outlook, geopolitical forces, Federal Reserve action, interest rates and the narrowing of the buyer/seller expectation gap. If, and when, the Federal Reserve reduces rates, we believe commercial real estate sales activity should begin to increase toward its historical norm in 2024.

Seasonality

Our real estate brokerage commissions and financing fees have tended to be seasonal and, combined with other factors, can affect an investor’s ability to compare our financial condition and results of operations on a quarter-by-quarter basis. Historically, this seasonality has generally caused our revenue, operating income, net income, and cash flows from operating activities to be lower in the first half of the year and higher in the second half of the year, particularly in the fourth quarter. The concentration of earnings and cash flows in the last six months of the year, particularly in the fourth quarter, is due to an industry-wide focus of clients to complete transactions towards the end of the calendar year. This historical trend can be disrupted both positively and negatively by major economic events, political events, natural disasters or pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which may impact, among other things, investor sentiment for a particular property type or location, volatility in financial markets, current and future projections of interest rates, attractiveness of other asset classes, market liquidity, and the extent of limitations or availability of capital allocations for larger property

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buyers, among others. Private client investors may accelerate or delay transactions due to personal or business-related reasons unrelated to economic events. In addition, our operating margins are typically lower during the second half of each year due to our commission structure for some of our senior investment sales and financing professionals. These senior investment sales and financing professionals are on a graduated commission schedule that resets annually, pursuant to which higher commissions are paid for higher sales volumes. During the year ended December 31, 2023, seasonal fluctuations were disrupted by changes in overall market conditions and increased interest rates, and going forward our historical pattern of seasonality may or may not continue to the same degree experienced in prior years.

Key Financial Measures and Indicators

Revenue

Our revenue is primarily generated from our real estate investment sales business. In addition to real estate brokerage commissions, we generate revenue from financing fees and from other revenue, which are primarily comprised of consulting and advisory fees.

Because our business is transaction oriented, we rely on investment sales and financing professionals to continually develop leads, identify properties to sell and finance, market those properties and close the sale timely to generate a consistent flow of revenue. While our sales volume is impacted by seasonality factors, the timing of closings is also dependent on many market and personal factors unique to a particular client or transaction, particularly clients transacting in the $1 million to $10 million private client market. These factors can cause transactions to be accelerated or delayed beyond our control. Further, commission rates earned are generally inversely related to the value of the property sold. As a result of our expansion into the middle and larger transaction markets, we have seen our overall commission rates fluctuate from period-to-period as a result of changes in the relative mix of the number and volume of investment sales transactions closed in the middle and larger transaction markets as compared to the $1 million to $10 million private client market. These factors may result in period-to-period variations in our revenue that differ from historical patterns.

A small percentage of our transactions include retainer fees and/or breakage fees. Retainer fees are credited against a success-based fee paid upon the closing of a transaction or a breakage fee. Transactions that are terminated before completion will sometimes generate breakage fees, which are usually calculated as a set amount or a percentage of the fee we would have received had the transaction closed.

Real Estate Brokerage Commissions

We earn real estate brokerage commissions by acting as a broker for commercial real estate owners seeking to sell or investors seeking to buy properties. Revenue from real estate brokerage commissions is recognized at the close of escrow.

Financing Fees

We earn financing fees by securing financing on purchase transactions or by securing refinancing of our clients’ existing mortgage debt. We recognize financing fee revenue at the time the loan closes, and we have no remaining significant obligations in connection with the transaction.

To a lesser extent, we also earn fees on loan performance, equity advisory services, loan sales, loan guarantees and ancillary services associated with financing activities. We recognize guarantee fees over the term of the guarantee and other fees when we have no further obligations, generally upon the closing of the transaction. We no longer hold any mortgage servicing rights ("MSRs"), but prior to the third quarter of 2022, we recognized mortgage servicing revenue upon the acquisition of a servicing obligation. We generated mortgage servicing fees through the provision of collection, remittance, recordkeeping, reporting, and other related mortgage servicing functions, activities, and services.

Other Revenue

Other revenue includes fees generated from consulting and advisory services, leasing, as well as referral fees from other real estate brokers, and are recognized when services are provided, upon closing of the transaction or when we have no further obligations.

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Operating Expenses

Our operating expenses consist of cost of services, selling, general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization. The significant components of our expenses are further described below.

Cost of Services

The majority of our cost of services expense is variable commissions paid to our investment sales and financing professionals and compensation-related costs related to our financing activities. Commission expenses are directly attributable to providing services to our clients for investment sales and financing services. Most of our investment sales and financing professionals are independent contractors and are paid commissions; however, because there are some who are initially paid a salary and certain of our financing professionals are employees, costs of services also include employee-related compensation, employer taxes and benefits for those employees. The commission rates we pay to our investment sales and financing professionals vary based on individual contracts negotiated and are generally higher for the more experienced professionals. Some of our most senior investment sales and financing professionals can also earn additional commissions after meeting certain annual financial thresholds. These additional commissions are recognized as cost of services in the period in which they are earned. Payment of a portion of these additional commissions are generally deferred for a period of three years, at our election, and paid at the end of the third calendar year. Cost of services also includes referral fees paid to other real estate brokers where we are the principal service provider. Cost of services, therefore, can vary based on the commission structure of the independent contractors that closed transactions in any particular period.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

The largest expense component within selling, general and administrative expenses is personnel expenses for our management team and sales and support staff, as well as business development, marketing, and expensing of forgivable loans over the retention period of our sales and financing professionals. In addition, these costs include facilities costs (excluding depreciation and amortization), staff related expenses, sales, marketing, legal, telecommunication, network, data sources, transaction costs related to acquisitions, changes in fair value for contingent and deferred consideration and other administrative expenses. Also included in selling, general and administrative are expenses for stock-based compensation to non-employee directors, employees and independent contractors (i.e. investment sales and financing professionals) under the 2013 Plan and the ESPP.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation expense consists of depreciation recorded on our computer software and hardware equipment, as well as our furniture, fixtures and equipment. Depreciation is recognized over estimated useful lives ranging from three to seven years for assets. Amortization expense consists of (i) amortization recorded on intangible assets amortized on a straight-line basis using a useful life between one and seven years and (ii) amortization recorded for the 2022 and 2021 periods on our mortgage servicing rights using the interest method over the period that servicing income was expected to be received. Such servicing rights were terminated in June 2022.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net primarily consists of interest income, realized gains and losses on our marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, net gains or losses on our deferred compensation plan assets, foreign currency gains and losses and other non-operating income and expenses.

Interest Expense

Interest expense primarily consists of interest expense associated with the stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) liability, and our credit agreement.

(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes

We are subject to U.S. and Canadian federal taxes and individual state and local taxes based on the income generated in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Our effective tax rate fluctuates as a result of (i) changes in our annual effective tax rate applied to current pre-tax income (loss), (ii) the change in the mix of our activities in the jurisdictions in which we operate due to differing tax rates in those jurisdictions and (iii) the impact of permanent items, including compensation

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charges, qualified transportation fringe benefits, uncertain tax positions, meals and entertainment and tax-exempt deferred compensation plan assets. Our (benefit) provision for income taxes includes the windfall tax benefits and shortfall expenses, net, from shares issued in connection with our 2013 Plan and ESPP.

We record deferred taxes, net based on the tax rate expected to be in effect at the time those items are expected to be recognized for tax purposes.

Results of Operations

The following is a discussion of our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. The tables included in the period comparisons below provide summaries of our results of operations. The period-to-period comparisons of financial results are not necessarily indicative of future results.

Key Operating Metrics

We regularly review a number of key metrics to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate financial projections and make strategic decisions. We also believe these metrics are relevant to investors’ and others’ assessment of our financial condition and results of operations. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, we closed more than 7,500, 12,200 and 13,200 investment sales, financing and other transactions, respectively, with total sales volume of approximately $43.6 billion, $86.3 billion and $84.4 billion, respectively. Such key metrics for real estate brokerage and financing activities (excluding other transactions) are as follows:

(1)Operating metrics exclude certain financing fees not directly associated to transactions.

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Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

Below are key operating results for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands):

(1)Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of our financial performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income or any other measures derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For a definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net (loss) income, which is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measure” below.

Revenue

Our total revenue was $645.9 million in 2023 compared to $1,301.7 million in 2022, a decrease of $655.8 million, or 50.4%. Total revenue decreased as a result of decreases in real estate brokerage commissions and financing fees, as described below. See "Factors Affecting Our Business" section for additional market information.

Real estate brokerage commissions. Revenue from real estate brokerage commissions decreased to $559.8 million in 2023, from $1,170.3 million in 2022, a decrease of $610.6 million, or 52.2%. The number of transactions decreased by 39.9% and the average transaction size decreased by 24.7%, which drove a decrease of revenue of 45.3% in the Private Client Market and a decrease of 64.2% in the combined Middle Market and Larger Transaction Market. The average commission rate increased by 10 basis points in 2023 compared to 2022, as a result of a shift in the proportion of transactions to the Private Client Market from the Middle Market and Larger Transaction Market as Private Client Market transactions typically earn higher commission rates.

Financing fees. Revenue from financing fees decreased to $66.9 million in 2023 from $113.0 million in 2022, a decrease of $46.1 million, or 40.8%, resulting primarily from a 49.8% decrease in the number of financing transactions. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in the average transaction size of 4.5%, and an increase in the average fee per transaction of 13.8%, resulting in an increase in the average fee rate of seven basis points.

Other revenue. Other revenue of $19.3 million in 2023 was comparable to $18.4 million in 2022.

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Total Operating Expenses

Our total operating expenses were $705.3 million in 2023 compared to $1,164.3 million in 2022, a decrease of $459.0 million, or 39.4%. Cost of services decreased by $444.2 million and selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased by $15.0 million, as described below.

Cost of services. Cost of services are variable commissions paid to our investment sales professionals and compensation-related costs in connection with our financing activities. Cost of services decreased to $406.6 million in 2023 from $850.9 million in 2022, a decrease of $444.2 million, or 52.2%. The decrease was primarily due to decreased commission expenses driven by the related decreased revenue discussed above. Cost of services as a percentage of total revenue decreased by 240 basis points to 63.0% compared to 2022 primarily due to our senior investment sales and financing professionals earning a lower amount of additional commissions due to lower revenue.

Selling, general, and administrative expense. Selling, general and administrative expense decreased to $285.0 million in 2023, from $300.0 million in 2022, a decrease of $15.0 million or 5.0%. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in compensation-related costs, specifically performance-based bonuses for 2023, partially offset by an increase in business development, marketing, and expensing of forgivable loans related to the long-term retention of our sales and financing professionals. As a percentage of revenue, selling, general and administrative expense increased due to the fixed nature of certain of these expenses.

Depreciation and amortization expense. Depreciation and amortization expense increased by an immaterial amount in 2023 compared to 2022.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net increased to $19.9 million in 2023 from $5.3 million in 2022. The increase of $14.5 million was primarily driven by an increase of $8.9 million in income from investments as a result of increased interest rates and a favorable change of $3.3 million in the value of our deferred compensation plan assets that are held in a rabbi trust.

Interest Expense

Interest expense increased by an immaterial amount in 2023 compared to 2022, and primarily relates to interest expense on our SARs liability.

(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes

The benefit for income taxes was $6.4 million in 2023, compared to a provision for income taxes of $37.8 million in 2022. The effective income tax rate for 2023 was 15.8% compared to 26.6% for 2022. The majority of the reduction in the effective tax rate is related to permanent and other items and state income tax expense as presented in Note 12 - "Income Taxes" of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

A discussion regarding our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2021 can be found under Item 7 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2023, which is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we include a non-GAAP financial measure, Adjusted EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net (loss) income before (i) interest income and other, including net realized gains (losses) on marketable debt securities, available-for-sale and cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, (ii) interest expense, (iii) (benefit) provision for income taxes, (iv) depreciation and amortization, (v) stock-based compensation, and (vi) non-cash MSR activity. We use Adjusted EBITDA in our business operations to evaluate the performance of our business, develop budgets and measure our performance against those budgets, among other things. We also believe that analysts and investors use Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure to evaluate our overall operating performance. However, Adjusted EBITDA has material limitations as a supplemental metric and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under U.S. GAAP. We find Adjusted EBITDA to be a useful management

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metric to assist in evaluating performance, because Adjusted EBITDA eliminates items related to capital structure, taxes and non-cash items. In light of the foregoing limitations, we do not rely solely on Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure and also consider our U.S. GAAP results. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of our financial performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income or any other measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Because Adjusted EBITDA is not calculated in the same manner by all companies, it may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. A reconciliation of the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, net income, to Adjusted EBITDA is as follows (in thousands):

(1)Other includes net realized gains (losses) on marketable debt securities, available-for-sale.

(2)Non-cash MSR activity includes the assumption of servicing obligations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash and cash equivalents, cash flows from operations, marketable debt securities, available-for-sale and, if necessary, borrowings under the Credit Agreement (as defined herein). In order to enhance our yield, we have invested a portion of our cash in money market funds and fixed and variable income debt securities, in accordance with our investment policy approved by the Board of Directors. Certain of our investments in money market funds may not maintain a stable net asset value and may impose a discretionary liquidity fee. To date, we have not experienced any restrictions on our ability to redeem funds from money market funds. Although we have historically funded our operations through operating cash flows, there can be no assurance that we can continue to meet our cash requirements entirely through our operations, cash and cash equivalents, proceeds from the sale of marketable debt securities, available-for-sale or availability under the Credit Agreement.

Cash Flows

Our total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash balance decreased by $65.1 million to $170.8 million at December 31, 2023, compared to $235.9 million at December 31, 2022. The following table sets forth our summary cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 (in thousands):

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Operating Activities

Cash flows used in operating activities were $72.4 million in 2023 compared to cash flows provided by operating activities of $13.6 million in 2022. The $86.0 million decrease in cash flows from operating activities in 2023 compared to 2022 was primarily due to decreased operating income, as discussed above. The cash flows from operating activities were also affected by the timing of certain cash receipts and payments.

Investing Activities

Cash flows provided by investing activities were $74.9 million in 2023 compared to cash flows used in investing activities of $54.0 million in 2022. The $128.9 million increase in cash provided by investing activities in 2023 compared to 2022 was primarily due to a net increase of $119.1 million in net proceeds from sales, purchases, and maturities of securities in 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, as well as the 2022 acquisition of a business for $12.5 million, with no corresponding outflow in 2023.

Financing Activities

Cash flows used in financing activities were $67.7 million in 2023 compared to $105.6 million in 2022. The decrease of $37.9 million in cash flows used in financing activities in 2023 compared to 2022 was primarily due to a decrease of $5.3 million in taxes paid related to net share settlement of stock-based awards, along with a decrease of $40.3 million in dividends paid, partially offset by an increase of $10.4 million in stock repurchases. The decrease in dividend paid relates primarily to a one-time special dividend paid in 2022 with no corresponding one-time dividend payment in 2023.

Liquidity

We believe that our existing balances of cash and cash equivalents, cash flows expected to be generated from our operations, and proceeds from the sale of marketable debt securities, available-for-sale will be sufficient to satisfy our operating requirements for at least the next 12 months and beyond. If we need to raise additional capital through public or private debt or equity financings, strategic relationships or other arrangements, this capital might not be available to us in a timely manner, on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise sufficient capital when needed could prevent us from funding acquisitions or otherwise financing our growth or operations. As of December 31, 2023, cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, aggregated $407.1 million.

Credit Agreement

We have a credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as amended, the "Credit Agreement") which provides for a $10.0 million principal amount senior secured revolving credit facility that is guaranteed by all of our domestic subsidiaries and matures on June 1, 2024. We monitor covenant compliance on a regular basis to ensure continued compliance with the Credit Agreement. Our ability to borrow under the Credit Agreement is limited by our ability to comply with its covenants or obtain necessary waivers. See Note 15 – “Commitments and Contingencies” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Credit Agreement.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company, in connection with the Strategic Alliance with M&T Realty Capital Corporation (“MTRCC”), has agreed to provide loan opportunities that may be funded through MTRCC’s agreement with Fannie Mae, which requires MTRCC to guarantee a portion of each funded loan. On a loan-by-loan basis, the Company, at its option, can assume a portion of MTRCC’s guarantee obligation to Fannie Mae of loan opportunities presented to and closed by MTRCC. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has agreed to a maximum aggregate guarantee obligation of $152.6 million relating to loans with an unpaid balance of $915.4 million. The maximum guarantee obligation is not representative of the actual loss we would incur. The Company would be liable for this amount only if all of the loans for which it is providing a guarantee to MTRCC were to default and all of the collateral underlying these loans was determined to be without value at the time of settlement. The Company records a loan-loss obligation and is required to provide cash collateral to MTRCC for this obligation and has provided $283,000 as of December 31, 2023 which is included in cash and cash equivalent on the balance sheet.

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Material Cash Requirements

The following table summarizes current and long-term material cash requirements as of December 31, 2023, which we expect to fund primarily with operating cash flows (in thousands):

(1)See Note 4 – “Operating Leases” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)Forecasted principal payments are based on each participant’s estimated retirement age and current contractual interest rate of 5.79% as of January 1, 2023 and reflect required payments that resulted from the retirement of certain executives. See Note 7 – “Selected Balance Sheet Data” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(3)Includes short-term and long-term deferred commissions payable (excludes commissions currently payable on closed transactions). See Note 7 – “Selected Balance Sheet Data” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(4)Represents current estimated payouts for participants currently receiving payments based on their elections at the time of deferral. We hold assets in a rabbi trust of $10.8 million to settle outstanding amounts when they become due. Amounts assume no increase or decrease in the liability due to future returns or losses. See Note 7 – “Selected Balance Sheet Data” of our accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(5)Relates to contingent and deferred consideration in connection with our business acquisitions. See Note 6 – “Acquisitions, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” and Note 9 – “Fair Value Measurements” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(6)Relates to amounts that may be advanced to sales and financing professionals. See Note 15 – “Commitments and Contingencies” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(7)Amounts in Other represent amounts where payments are dependent on future events, which may occur at any time from less than 1 year to more than 5 years and relates to our deferred compensation liability and certain advances to sales and financing professionals. Payments for deferred compensation liability are based on the participants’ elections at the time of deferral and may not begin before separation from service. The ultimate resolution depends on many factors and assumptions. Certain amounts advanced to sales and financing professionals are contingent upon reaching specified performance criteria. Accordingly, we are not able to reasonably estimate the timing of such payments, if any.

Other than operating expenses, including those accrued and payable as December 31, 2023, cash requirements for 2024 are expected to consist primarily of capital expenditures for the future acquisitions, if any, payment of dividends, payments for stock repurchases, and advances to our investment sales and financing professionals.

Inflation

Our commissions and other variable costs related to revenue are primarily affected by real estate market supply and demand, which may be affected by uncertain or changing economic and market conditions, including inflation/deflation arising in connection with and in response to various macroeconomic factors and impact of increased interest rates on the broader economy.

The annual inflation rate in the U.S. increased to 9.1% in June 2022, the highest annual inflation rate since November 1981, but has fallen to 3.4% in December 2023. In 2022 through 2023, the Federal Reserve increased the federal funds rate to the 5.25%-5.5% range in an effort to combat inflation, and this has had an adverse impact on commercial real estate

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transactions. Inflation has increased the wages paid to our employees and independent contractors. Furthermore, our clients are also affected by inflation and increased interest rates. Entering 2024, consensus forecasts anticipate the Federal Reserve will begin cutting rates this year, but the timing and magnitude of any prospective cuts will be dependent on a continued decline in inflation and slowing economic growth.

Critical Accounting Estimates

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In applying many of these accounting principles, we make assumptions, estimates and/or judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in our consolidated financial statements. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. These assumptions, estimates and/or judgments, however, are often subjective and our actual results may change based on changing circumstances or changes in our analyses. If actual amounts are ultimately different from our estimates, the revisions are included in our results of operations for the period in which the actual amounts become known.

We believe that the critical accounting policies discussed below involve a greater degree of judgment or complexity than our other accounting policies. Accordingly, these are the policies we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. See the notes to our consolidated financial statements for a summary of our significant accounting policies.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to (i) differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis, and (ii) operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. We measure existing deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which we expect to have temporary differences realized or settled. We recognize in the provision for income taxes, the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates in the period that includes the enactment date. We periodically evaluate deferred tax assets to assess whether it is likely that the deferred tax assets will be realized. In determining whether a valuation allowance is required, we consider the timing of deferred tax reversals, current year taxable income, and historical performance. Valuation allowances are provided against deferred tax assets when it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Our valuation allowance is related principally to losses incurred in our Canadian operations. Future results of operations of the Canadian business will impact valuation allowances in the future.

Due to the nature of our business, which includes activity in the U.S. and Canada, incorporating numerous states and provinces as well as local jurisdictions, our tax position can be complex. As such, our effective tax rate is subject to changes as a result of fluctuations in the mix of our activity in the various jurisdictions in which we operate including changes in tax rates, state apportionment, tax related interest and penalties, valuation allowances and other permanent items, including net windfalls and shortfalls related to stock-based compensation. Calculating some of the amounts involves a high degree of judgment. Our state taxes, net of federal benefit, has ranged from 1.5% to 4.8% over the past 3 years.

We evaluate our tax positions quarterly. The threshold for recognizing the benefits of tax return positions in the financial statements is “more likely than not” to be sustained by the taxing authority and requires measurement of a tax position meeting the more-likely-than-not criterion, based on the largest benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized. We assess our inventory of tax positions with respect to all applicable income tax issues for all open tax years (in each respective jurisdiction) and determine whether uncertain tax positions are required to be recognized in our consolidated financial statements.

The above factors create volatility in our effective tax rate from quarter to quarter and have caused our effective tax rates to range from 15.8% to 26.6% over the past three years.

We recognize interest and penalties incurred as income tax expense. See Note 12 – “Income Taxes” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

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Leases

Our leases consist of purpose built-out office space, which reverts to the lessor upon termination of the lease and operating leases for autos. We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Right-of-use assets (“ROU assets”) represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our contractual obligation to make lease payments under the lease. Operating leases are included in operating lease ROU assets, non-current, and operating lease liabilities current and non-current captions in the consolidated balance sheets.

Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized on the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Lease agreements may contain periods of free rent or reduced rent, predetermined fixed increases in the minimum rent and renewal or termination options, all of which add complexity and impact the determination of the lease term and lease payments to be used in calculating the lease liability. Certain facility leases provide for rental escalations related to increases in the lessors’ direct operating expenses. We use the implicit rate in the lease when determinable. As most of our leases do not have a determinable implicit rate, determining the rate to be used in our calculations is judgmental. We use an estimated incremental borrowing rate based on borrowing options under our credit agreement and apply a spread over treasury rates for the indicated term of the lease based on the information available on the commencement date of the lease. As a result, the incremental borrowing rate has and will continue to be impacted by market interest rates. The weighted average incremental borrowing rate was 4.7% in 2023 and 3.9% in 2022. Any payments for completed improvements, determined to be owed by the lessor, net of incentives received, are recorded as an increase to the ROU asset and considered in the determination of the lease cost.

We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are accounted for as a single lease component. Lease cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease payments consist of common area costs, insurance, taxes, utilities, parking, and other lease related costs, which are determined principally based on billings from landlords.

Investments in Marketable Debt Securities, Available-for-Sale

We maintain a portfolio of investments in a variety of fixed and variable rate debt securities, including U.S. treasuries, U.S. government sponsored entities, corporate debt, asset-backed securities, and other. We consider our investments in marketable debt securities to be available-for-sale, and accordingly, are recorded at their fair values. We determine the appropriate classification of investments in marketable debt securities at the time of purchase. Interest along with amortization of purchase premiums and accretion of discounts from the purchase date through the estimated maturity date, including consideration of variable maturities and contractual call provisions, are included in other income, net in the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 5 – “Investments in Marketable Debt Securities, Available-for-Sale” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. We typically invest in highly rated debt securities, and our investment policy generally limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. The policy requires substantially all investments to be investment grade, with the primary objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss and matching long-term liabilities.

Unrealized losses on our marketable securities, available-for-sale, fluctuate based on changes in market interest rates due the fixed interest rates of most of the securities. Unrealized losses aggregated $2,635,000 and $5,508,000 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We review our investment portfolio quarterly for all securities in an unrealized loss position to determine if an impairment charge or credit reserve is required. We exclude accrued interest from both the fair value and the amortized cost basis of marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, for the purposes of identifying and measuring an impairment. An investment is impaired if the fair value is less than its amortized cost basis. Impairment relating to credit losses is recorded through a reduction in the amortized cost of the security or an allowance for credit losses and credit loss expense (included in selling, general and administrative expense), limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Impairment that has not been recorded as a credit loss is recorded through other comprehensive (loss) income, net of applicable taxes. We made an accounting policy election to not measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivable. We evaluate write-off of accrued interest receivable by the major security-type level at the time credit loss exists for the underlying security.

Determining whether a credit loss exists requires a high degree of judgment, and we consider both qualitative and quantitative factors in making our determination. We evaluate our intent to sell, or whether we will more likely than not be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. For all securities in an unrealized loss position, we evaluate, among other items, the extent and length of time the fair market value of a security is less than its amortized cost, time to maturity, duration, seniority, the financial condition of the issuer including credit ratings, any changes thereto and relative default rates and loss severity, leverage ratios, availability of liquidity to make principle and interest payments,

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performance indicators of the underlying assets, analyst reports and recommendations, and changes in base and market interest rates. If the qualitative and quantitative analysis is sufficient to conclude that an impairment related to credit losses does not exist, we typically do not perform further quantitative analysis to estimate the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the debt security. Estimates of expected future cash flows are our best estimate based on past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable economic forecasts. To date, we have not recorded any credit losses or impairments on our portfolio of marketable securities, available for sale.

Contingent and Deferred Consideration

In connection with certain business acquisitions, the Company may enter into agreements to pay additional cash or other consideration based on the achievement of certain performance measures and/or service and time requirements. Contingent and deferred consideration in connection with the acquisition of a business is measured at fair value on the acquisition date and remeasured at fair value each reporting period thereafter until the consideration is settled, with changes in fair value recorded in selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

In its determination of fair value for contingent and deferred consideration, the Company uses judgment in determining the probability of achieving contractual EBITDA and other performance targets and the time frame in which the settlements will occur. Further, judgment is used in determining the appropriate current and future interest rates to apply in each situation. The Company estimated the probability of achievement of contractual EBITDA and other performance targets was between 11.1% to 100.0% based on each acquisition’s historical and estimated future performance and risk adjusted discount rates of between 5.3% to 6.4%, which resulted in a recorded fair value for the contingent consideration of $5.5 million and $7.1 million as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The Company estimated the fair value of the deferred consideration using a discounted cash flow estimate using market rates, with the only remaining condition on such payments being the passage of time which resulted in a recorded fair value of $1.6 million and $5.1 million as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The maximum undiscounted future settlements of contingent and deferred consideration was $14.7 million at December 31, 2023, and the Company is uncertain as to the extent of the volatility in the judgments and unobservable inputs will have on the ultimate settlement of these amounts in the foreseeable future.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For information regarding recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 – “Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements” of our accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We do not believe any of the other accounting pronouncements listed in that note will have a significant impact on our business.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto included elsewhere herein. The following discussion contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those factors set forth under Item 1A – “Risk Factors” and Item 7 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Overview – Factors Affecting Our Business” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview

Our Business

We are a leading national brokerage firm specializing in commercial real estate investment sales, financing, research, and advisory services. We have been the top commercial real estate investment broker in the United States based on the number of investment transactions for more than 15 years. As of December 31, 2022, we had 1,904 investment sales and financing professionals that are primarily exclusive independent contractors operating in 81 offices, who provide real estate brokerage and financing services to sellers and buyers of commercial real estate. We also offer market research, consulting, and advisory services to our clients. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we closed 12,272 investment sales, financing and other transactions with total sales volume of approximately $86.3 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we closed 13,255 investment sales, financing, and other transactions with total sales volume of approximately $84.4 billion.

We generate revenue by collecting real estate brokerage commissions upon the sale, and fees upon the financing of commercial properties and by providing consulting, advisory, and other real estate services. Real estate brokerage commissions are typically based upon the value of the property, and financing fees are typically based upon the size of the loan. During the year ended December 31, 2022, approximately 90% of our revenue was generated from real estate brokerage commissions, 9% from financing fees, and 1% from other real estate related services.

Acquisitions

We continue to pursue opportunities to increase our market presence through the execution of our growth strategies by targeting markets based on population, employment, level of commercial real estate sales, inventory and competitive opportunities where we believe the markets will benefit from our commercial real estate investment sales, financing, research, and advisory services.

Factors Affecting Our Business

Our business and our operating results, financial condition, and liquidity are significantly affected by the number and size of commercial real estate investment sales and financing transactions that we close in any period. The number and size of these transactions are affected by our ability to recruit and retain investment sales and financing professionals, identify and contract properties for sale, and identify those that need financing and refinancing. We principally monitor the commercial real estate market through four factors, which generally drive our business. The factors are the economy, commercial real estate supply and demand, capital markets, and investor sentiment and investment activity.

The Economy

Our business is dependent on economic conditions within the markets in which we operate. Changes in the economy on a global, national, regional, or local basis can have a positive or negative impact on our business. Economic indicators and projections related to job growth, unemployment, interest rates, retail spending, and consumer confidence trends can

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have a positive or negative impact on our business. Overall market conditions, including global trade, interest rate changes, inflation, and job creation, can affect investor sentiment and, ultimately, the demand for our services from investors in real estate.

The close of 2022 brought positive signs of receding inflationary pressure as pressure on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Producer Price Index (PPI), and Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) readings all abated. All inflation measures remain well above the Federal Reserve’s target rates, but their rate of growth has eased in recent months, supporting the Federal Reserve’s ability to moderate their rate increase regimen. Various economic indicators continue to send mixed signals about the near-term economic outlook. The two best known signals of an ensuing recession remain in contradiction. The treasury rate yield curve inverted early in the fourth quarter last year and short-term treasury rates remain higher than longer term rates signaling a possible downturn, but the unemployment rate is at a 54-year low of 3.4% as of January 2023 indicating labor market strength. Other measures are mixed as well. The manufacturing outlook index is delivering contraction readings, while job creation, inflation-adjusted personal consumption and other metrics suggest growth. This inconsistency among indicators has confounded economist forecasts for 2023, resulting in a variety of contradictory outlooks. Within that context, many commercial real estate investors stepped to the sidelines in the second half of 2022 to await clarity and a stabilization of interest rates.

Looking forward into 2023, economist forecasts of economic growth for the year range between -1.4% and +2.0% with a consensus of +0.5% per the January 10 Blue Chip economist survey. This range suggests that the economy may experience a mild recession or could achieve a soft landing. Regardless, the consensus suggests the U.S. economy will remain relatively flat in the coming year. Given the Federal Reserve’s restrictive monetary policies, it is likely that most commercial real estate investors would perceive even mild growth in 2023 positively. Sustained job creation in the coming year, together with rising wages and a deep well of cash savings have the potential to sustain demand for multifamily housing as well as industrial and retail space demand. Positive commercial real estate fundamentals will be a key ingredient supporting commercial real estate investment activity.

Commercial Real Estate Supply and Demand

Our business is dependent on the willingness of investors to invest in or sell commercial real estate, which is affected by many factors beyond our control. These factors include the supply of commercial real estate, coupled with user demand for these properties, and the performance of real estate assets, when compared with other investment alternatives, such as stocks and bonds.

Fourth quarter national average occupancy levels decreased in apartment, office, and industrial properties, reflecting elevated uncertainty surrounding the economy and interest rate climate. Retail space demand remained positive, pushing the occupancy rate back into alignment with pre-pandemic levels. Elevated apartment and industrial construction levels have been a significant factor weighing on overall occupancy, but concerns surrounding high inflation and a potential recession have restrained both household formation and space leasing commitments. Below-average consumer and business sentiment suggest that demand will remain below normal over the short term, but a recent uptick in sentiment and reduced rate increases by the Federal Reserve have the potential to reinvigorate space demand in 2023. Rent growth has been tempered by these same economic and monetary policy forces, moderating the aggressiveness of investment buyer underwriting. As a result, the bid-ask spread between buyers and sellers has widened and fourth quarter commercial real estate transactions activity was significantly reduced from the record heights achieved in 2021. Economic crosscurrents and continuing questions about the Federal Reserve’s rate policies have the potential to create additional hurdles for investors in 2023, but should increased evidence of an economic “soft landing” emerge, pent-up investor demand could surface.

Capital Markets

Credit and liquidity issues in the financial markets have a direct impact on the flow of capital to the commercial real estate market. Real estate purchases are often financed with debt, and as a result, credit and liquidity impact transaction activity and prices. Movements of interest rates in one direction, whether increasing or decreasing, could adversely or positively affect the operations and income potential of commercial real estate properties, as well as lender and equity underwriting for real estate investments. These changes directly influence investor demand for commercial real estate investments.

In its effort to battle inflation last year, the Federal Reserve initiated its most aggressive interest rate increase cycle since 1980. The Federal Reserve appears to have completed the heavy lifting of raising the Federal Overnight Rate by 425 basis points in 2022 and has begun to signal a potential shift to a fine-tuning strategy in 2023. On February 1, 2023, the

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Federal Reserve limited its rate increase to 25 basis points. While the Federal Reserve indicated that additional rate increases will likely occur in 2023, the smaller rate increase alleviated some pressure on commercial real estate lenders. The combination of a comparatively low 10-year treasury rate, together with an expectation of a slower pace of Federal Reserve movements in 2023 allows commercial real estate lenders to tighten their safety margins and to reduce their rates. Lending liquidity remains constrained compared to early 2022, but the lending climate is improving with rates edging lower and capital availability increasing, potentially boosting commercial real estate transactional liquidity as the year progresses.

Investor Sentiment and Investment Activity

We facilitate investors' buying, selling, and financing properties in order to generate commissions. Investors’ desires and need to engage in real estate transactions are dependent on many factors that are beyond our control. The economy, supply and demand for properly positioned properties, available credit, and market events impact investor sentiment and, therefore, transaction velocity. In addition, our private clients, who make up the largest source of revenue, are often motivated to buy, sell and/or refinance properties due to personal circumstances, such as death, divorce, partnership breakups, and estate planning.

Commercial real estate sales activity declined sharply in the fourth quarter of 2022 as the cost of debt capital rose above commercial real estate yields in many instances. The disconnect between sellers seeking prices similar to the beginning of 2022, before the Federal Reserve increased interest rates by more than 425 basis points, and buyers contending with the higher borrowing costs slowed activity. This disconnect between buyers and sellers remains a headwind to transaction activity, but as the Federal Reserve slows its rate increases, the market may recalibrate and navigate a price discovery process. In addition, as economic clarity emerges and the risk of a recession balances out against the prospect of a “soft landing,” investors may have increased comfort deploying capital. Office properties, particularly those in the urban core, face the greatest uncertainty, while more inflation-resistant properties such as apartments, self-storage and hotels, particularly in growth markets, are better positioned to sustain buyer interest. Sales of “defensive” assets such as single-tenant net lease properties backed by high credit tenants and medical office assets have also maintained buyer interest. Ultimately, the market velocity will be dictated by a combination of the economic outlook, Federal Reserve action, interest rates, and the narrowing of the buyer/seller expectation gap. If the Federal Reserve raises rates minimally throughout the year and the economy avoids a significant recession, we believe commercial real estate sales activity should return toward its historical norm in 2023.

Seasonality

Our real estate brokerage commissions and financing fees have tended to be seasonal and, combined with other factors, can affect an investor’s ability to compare our financial condition and results of operations on a quarter-by-quarter basis. Historically, this seasonality has generally caused our revenue, operating income, net income, and cash flows from operating activities to be lower in the first half of the year and higher in the second half of the year, particularly in the fourth quarter. The concentration of earnings and cash flows in the last six months of the year, particularly in the fourth quarter, is due to an industry-wide focus of clients to complete transactions towards the end of the calendar year. This historical trend can be disrupted both positively and negatively by major economic events, political events, natural disasters or pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which may impact, among other things, investor sentiment for a particular property type or location, volatility in financial markets, current and future projections of interest rates, attractiveness of other asset classes, market liquidity and the extent of limitations or availability of capital allocations for larger property buyers, among others. Private client investors may accelerate or delay transactions due to personal or business-related reasons unrelated to economic events. In addition, our operating margins are typically lower during the second half of each year due to our commission structure for some of our senior investment sales and financing professionals. These senior investment sales and financing professionals are on a graduated commission schedule that resets annually, pursuant to which higher commissions are paid for higher sales volumes. During the year ended December 31, 2022, seasonal fluctuations were disrupted by changes in overall market conditions and rising interest rates, and going forward our historical pattern of seasonality may or may not continue to the same degree experienced in prior years.

Operating Segments

We follow the guidance for segment reporting, which requires reporting information on operating segments in interim and annual financial statements. Substantially all of our operations involve the delivery of commercial real estate services to our customers including real estate investment sales, financing and consulting and advisory services.

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Management makes operating decisions, assesses performance and allocates resources based on an ongoing review of these integrated operations, which constitute only one operating segment for financial reporting purposes.

Key Financial Measures and Indicators

Revenue

Our revenue is primarily generated from our real estate investment sales business. In addition to real estate brokerage commissions, we generate revenue from financing fees and from other revenue, which are primarily comprised of consulting and advisory fees.

Because our business is transaction oriented, we rely on investment sales and financing professionals to continually develop leads, identify properties to sell and finance, market those properties, and close the sale timely to generate a consistent flow of revenue. While our sales volume is impacted by seasonality factors, the timing of closings is also dependent on many market and personal factors unique to a particular client or transaction, particularly clients transacting in the $1 million to $10 million private client market segment. These factors can cause transactions to be accelerated or delayed beyond our control. Further, commission rates earned are generally inversely related to the value of the property sold. As a result of our expansion into the middle and larger transaction market segments, we have seen our overall commission rates fluctuate from period-to-period as a result of changes in the relative mix of the number and volume of investment sales transactions closed in the middle and larger transaction market segments as compared to the $1 million to $10 million private client market segment. These factors may result in period-to-period variations in our revenue that differ from historical patterns.

A small percentage of our transactions include retainer fees and/or breakage fees. Retainer fees are credited against a success-based fee paid upon the closing of a transaction or a breakage fee. Transactions that are terminated before completion will sometimes generate breakage fees, which are usually calculated as a set amount or a percentage of the fee we would have received had the transaction closed.

Real Estate Brokerage Commissions

We earn real estate brokerage commissions by acting as a broker for commercial real estate owners seeking to sell or investors seeking to buy properties. Revenue from real estate brokerage commissions is typically recognized at the close of escrow.

Financing Fees

We earn financing fees by securing financing on purchase transactions or by securing refinancing of our clients’ existing mortgage debt. We recognize financing fee revenue when the loan closes and we have no remaining significant obligations for performance in connection with the transaction.

To a lesser extent, we also earn equity advisory services, loan sales, and ancillary fees associated with financing activities. We no longer hold any mortgage servicing rights, but prior to the third quarter of 2022, recognized mortgage servicing revenue upon the acquisition of a servicing obligation. We generated mortgage servicing fees through the provision of collection, remittance, recordkeeping, reporting, and other related mortgage servicing functions, activities, and services.

Other Revenue

Other revenue includes fees generated from consulting, advisory, and other real estate services performed by our investment sales professionals, as well as referral fees from other real estate brokers. Revenue from these services is recognized as the services are performed and completed.

Operating Expenses

Our operating expenses consist of cost of services, selling, general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization. The significant components of our expenses are further described below.

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Cost of Services

The majority of our cost of services expense is variable commissions paid to our investment sales professionals and compensation-related costs related to our financing activities. Commission expenses are directly attributable to providing services to our clients for investment sales and financing services. Most of our investment sales and financing professionals are independent contractors and are paid commissions; however, because there are some who are initially paid a salary and certain of our financing professionals are employees, costs of services also include employee-related compensation, employer taxes, and benefits for those employees. The commission rates we pay to our investment sales and financing professionals vary based on individual contracts negotiated and are generally higher for the more experienced professionals. Some of our most senior investment sales and financing professionals also have the ability to earn additional commissions after meeting certain annual financial thresholds. These additional commissions are recognized as cost of services in the period in which they are earned. Payment of a portion of these additional commissions are generally deferred for a period of one to three years, at our election, and paid at the beginning of the second and fourth calendar year. Cost of services also includes referral fees paid to other real estate brokers where we are the principal service provider. Cost of services, therefore, can vary based on the commission structure of the independent contractors that closed transactions in any particular period.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

The largest expense component within selling, general and administrative expenses is personnel expenses for our management team and sales and support staff. In addition, these costs include facilities expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization), staff related expenses, sales, marketing, legal, telecommunication, network, data sources, transaction costs related to acquisitions, changes in fair value for contingent and deferred consideration, forgiveness of advances and loans issued to investment sales and financing professionals and other administrative expenses. Also included in selling, general and administrative are expenses for stock-based compensation to non-employee directors, employees, and independent contractors (i.e. investment sales and financing professionals) under the Amended and Restated 2013 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (“2013 Plan”) and the 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”).

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation expense consists of depreciation recorded on our computer software and hardware and furniture, fixtures, and equipment. Depreciation is recorded over estimated useful lives ranging from three to seven years for assets. Amortization expense consists of (i) amortization recorded on our mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”) using the interest method over the period that servicing income is expected to be received and (ii) amortization recorded on intangible assets amortized on a straight-line basis using a useful life between one and seven years.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net primarily consists of interest income, net gains or losses on our deferred compensation plan assets, realized gains and losses on our marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, foreign currency gains and losses, and other non-operating income and expenses.

Interest Expense

Interest expense primarily consists of interest expense associated with the stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) liability and our credit agreement.

Provision for Income Taxes

We are subject to U.S. and Canadian federal taxes and individual state and local taxes based on the income generated in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Our effective tax rate fluctuates as a result of the change in the mix of our activities in the jurisdictions we operate due to differing tax rates in those jurisdictions and the impact of permanent items, including principally compensation charges, qualified transportation fringe benefits, uncertain tax positions, meals and entertainment, and tax-exempt deferred compensation plan assets. Our provision for income taxes includes the windfall tax benefits and shortfall expenses, net, from shares issued in connection with our 2013 Plan and ESPP.

We record deferred taxes, net based on the tax rate expected to be in effect at the time those items are expected to be recognized for tax purposes.

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Results of Operations

Following is a discussion of our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. The tables included in the period comparisons below provide summaries of our results of operations. The period-to-period comparisons of financial results are not necessarily indicative of future results.

Key Operating Metrics

We regularly review a number of key metrics to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate financial projections, and make strategic decisions. We also believe these metrics are relevant to investors’ and others’ assessment of our financial condition and results of operations. During the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, we closed more than 12,000, 13,200, and 8,900 investment sales, financing, and other transactions, respectively, with total sales volume of approximately $86.3 billion, $84.4 billion, and $43.4 billion, respectively. Such key metrics for real estate brokerage and financing activities (excluding other transactions) are as follows:

(1)Operating metrics calculated excluding certain financing fees not directly associated to transactions.

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Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

Below are key operating results for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2021 (dollars in thousands):

(1)Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of our financial performance under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, or any other measures derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For a definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measure.”

Revenue

Our total revenue was $1,301.7 million in 2022 compared to $1,296.4 million in 2021, an increase of $5.3 million, or 0.4%. Total revenue increased as a result of increases in financing fees and other revenue, as described below.

Real estate brokerage commissions. Revenue from real estate brokerage commissions decreased to $1,170.3 million in 2022 from $1,171.0 million in 2021, a decrease of $0.7 million, or 0.1%. While total sales volume increased by 0.9%, the average transaction size increased by 6.8% due to a larger proportion of transactions closed from the Middle Transaction Market segment. The total number of investment sales transactions decreased 5.6%.

Financing fees. Revenue from financing fees increased to $113.0 million in 2022 from $109.7 million in 2021, an increase of $3.3 million, or 3.0%. The increase was driven by a 10.5% increase in financing volume, partially offset by a seven basis points reduction in average commission rates due in part to fees from certain larger loan transactions. Financing volume increase was driven by a 27.6% increase in the average transaction size that was partially offset by a 13.4% decrease in the number of financing transactions.

Other revenue. Other revenue increased to $18.4 million in 2022 from $15.8 million in 2021, an increase of $2.6 million, or 16.7%. The increase was primarily driven by increases in consulting and advisory services during 2022, compared to 2021.

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Operating expenses

Our total operating expenses were $1,164.3 million in 2022 compared to $1,107.1 million in 2021, an increase of $57.2 million, or 5.2%. The increase was due to increases in cost of services, which are variable commissions paid to our investment sales professionals, and compensation-related costs in connection with our financing activities, selling, general and administrative costs and depreciation and amortization expense, as described below.

Cost of services. Cost of services increased to $850.9 million in 2022 from $840.2 million in 2021, an increase of $10.7 million, or 1.3%. Cost of services as a percent of total revenue increased to 65.4% for 2022 compared to 64.8% for 2021. These increases were primarily due to a higher proportion of transactions closed by our more senior investment sales and financing professionals, who earned additional commissions after meeting certain annual financial thresholds earlier in the year.

Selling, general and administrative expense. Selling, general and administrative expense in 2022 increased $44.9 million, to $300.0 million from $255.2 million in 2021. The increase was primarily due to increases in (i) compensation related costs, primarily driven by increases in staff salaries and stock-based compensation; (ii) business development, marketing, and other support related to the long-term retention of our sales and financing professionals; and (iii) net change in value of contingent and deferred consideration in connection with our acquisition activities. These increases were partially offset by decreases in (i) bonus accruals and (ii) legal costs.

Depreciation and amortization expense. Depreciation and amortization expense increased to $13.4 million in 2022 from $11.7 million in 2021, an increase of $1.7 million, or 14.4%, principally related to additional amortization of intangible assets related to recent acquisitions and additional amortization of mortgage servicing rights due to the cancellation notices received on certain servicing contracts.

Other income, net

Other income, net increased to $5.3 million in 2022 from $4.5 million in 2021. The increase was primarily driven by a $5.6 million increase in interest income on our investments in marketable debt securities at higher interest rates. This increase was partially offset by an unfavorable change in the carrying value of the assets held in the rabbi trust for $3.2 million and an unfavorable change in foreign currency losses of $1.1 million.

Interest expense

Interest expense increased to $0.7 million in 2022 from $0.6 million in 2021. The increase was primarily due to an increase in interest expense on the SARs liability due to higher interest rates partially offset by lower average principal outstanding.

Provision for income taxes

The provision for income taxes was $37.8 million for 2022 compared to $50.8 million in 2021, a decrease of $13.0 million, or (25.6)%. The effective tax rate for 2022 was 26.6%, compared with 26.3% in 2021. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to the change in the relationship of permanent nondeductible items and other adjustments relative to income before provision for income taxes, partially offset by an increase in windfall tax benefits, net related to the settlement of stock-based awards.

Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

A discussion regarding our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2020 can be found under Item 7 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2022, which is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we include a non-GAAP financial measure, adjusted earnings before interest income/expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation and other non-cash items, or Adjusted EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income before (i) interest income and other, including net realized gains (losses) on marketable debt securities, available-for-sale and cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, (ii) interest

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expense, (iii) provision for income taxes, (iv) depreciation and amortization, (v) stock-based compensation, and (vi) non-cash MSR activity. We use Adjusted EBITDA in our business operations to evaluate the performance of our business, develop budgets, and measure our performance against those budgets, among other things. We also believe that analysts and investors use Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure to evaluate our overall operating performance. However, Adjusted EBITDA has material limitations as a supplemental metric and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under U.S. GAAP. We find Adjusted EBITDA to be a useful management metric to assist in evaluating performance, because Adjusted EBITDA eliminates items related to capital structure, taxes and non-cash items. In light of the foregoing limitations, we do not rely solely on Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure and also consider our U.S. GAAP results. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of our financial performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, or any other measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is not calculated in the same manner by all companies and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. A reconciliation of the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, net income, to Adjusted EBITDA is as follows (in thousands):

(1)Other includes net realized gains (losses) on marketable debt securities, available-for-sale.

(2)Non-cash MSR activity includes the assumption of servicing obligations.

(3)The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 is primarily due to a higher proportion of selling, general and administrative expenses compared to total revenue.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash cash flows from operations, marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, and, if necessary, borrowings under our credit agreement. In order to enhance yield to us, we have invested a portion of our cash in money market funds and fixed and variable income debt securities in accordance with our investment policy approved by the Board of Directors. Certain of our investments in money market funds may not maintain a stable net asset value and may impose fees on redemptions and/or gating fees. To date, the Company has not experienced any restrictions or gating fees on its ability to redeem funds from money market funds. Although we have historically funded our operations through operating cash flows, there can be no assurance that we can continue to meet our cash requirements entirely through our operations, cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, proceeds from the sale of marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, or availability under our credit agreement.

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Cash Flows

Our total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash balance decreased by $146.3 million to $235.9 million at December 31, 2022, compared to $382.1 million at December 31, 2021. The following table sets forth our summary cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 (in thousands):

Operating Activities

2022 Compared to 2021. Cash flows provided by operating activities were $13.6 million in 2022 compared to $255.9 million in 2021. The $242.3 million decrease in cash flows from operating activities during 2022 compared to 2021 was primarily due to increased operating expenses as discussed above, an increase in advances and loans to our investment sales and financing professionals, a higher amount of bonuses and deferred compensation and commissions paid in 2022 related to outperformance in 2021, and an increase in estimated income tax payments.

Investing Activities

2022 Compared to 2021. Cash flows used in investing activities were $54.0 million in 2022 compared to $108.4 million in 2021. The $54.4 million decrease in cash flows used in investing activities for 2022 compared to 2021 was primarily due to a net decrease of $72.2 million in net cash used to purchase securities in 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, partially offset by $12.5 million paid in 2022 for the acquisition of a business that did not occur in 2021, and an increase of $4.8 million in purchases of property and equipment in 2022 compared to 2021.

Financing Activities

2022 Compared to 2021. Cash flows used in financing activities were $105.6 million in 2022 compared to $5.9 million in 2021. The $99.7 million additional cash flow used in financing activities for 2022 was primarily due to the payment of $60.4 million of dividends and $29.0 million in stock repurchases in 2022, which did not occur in 2021 and an increase of $6.4 million of taxes paid related to net share settlement of stock-based awards due to settlement of Deferred Stock Units. See Note 11 – “Stock-Based Compensation Plans” of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Liquidity

We believe that our existing balances of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, cash flows expected to be generated from our operations, proceeds from the sale of marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, and borrowings available under the Credit Agreement (defined below) will be sufficient to satisfy our operating requirements for at least the next 12 months. If we need to raise additional capital through public or private debt or equity financings, strategic relationships, or other arrangements, this capital might not be available to us in a timely manner, on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise sufficient capital when needed could prevent us from funding acquisitions or otherwise financing our growth or operations. In addition, our SARs agreements have provisions which could accelerate repayment of outstanding principal and accrued interest and impact our liquidity. As of December 31, 2022, cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, aggregated $557.9 million, and we had $59.5 million of borrowing capacity under our credit agreement.

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Credit Agreement

We have a Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association for a $60.0 million principal amount senior secured revolving credit facility that is guaranteed by all of our domestic subsidiaries and matures on June 1, 2025 (the “Credit Agreement”). See Note 15 – “Commitments and Contingencies” of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Credit Agreement.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company, in connection with the Strategic Alliance with MTRCC,, has agreed to provide loan opportunities that may be funded through MTRCC’s agreement with Fannie Mae, which requires MTRCC to guarantee a portion of each funded loan. On a loan-by-loan basis, the Company, at its option, can agree to assume a portion of MTRCC guarantee obligation of loan opportunities presented to and closed by MTRCC. As of December 31, 2022, the Company has agreed to a maximum aggregate guarantee obligation of $55.7 million relating to loans with an unpaid balance of $334.0 million. The maximum guarantee obligation is not representative of the actual loss we would incur. The Company would be liable for this amount only if all of the loans for which it is providing a guarantee to MTRCC were to default and all of the collateral underlying these loans was determined to be without value at the time of settlement. The Company records a loan-loss obligation and is required to provide cash collateral to MTRCC for this obligation.

Material Cash Requirements

The following table summarizes current and long-term material cash requirements as of December 31, 2022, which we expect to fund primarily with operating cash flows (in thousands):

(1)See Note 4 – “Operating Leases” of our Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)Forecasted principal payments are based on each participant’s estimated retirement age and current contractual interest rate of 3.630% as of January 1, 2022 and reflect required payments that resulted from the retirement of certain executives. See Note 7 – “Selected Balance Sheet Data” of our Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(3)Includes short-term and long-term deferred commissions payable. See Note 7 – “Selected Balance Sheet Data” of our Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(4)Represents current estimated payouts for participants currently receiving payments based on their elections at the time of deferral. We hold assets in a rabbi trust of $9.6 million to settle outstanding amounts when they become due. Amounts assume no increase or decrease in the liability due to future returns or losses. See Note 7 – “Selected Balance Sheet Data” of our Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(5)Relates to contingent and deferred consideration in connection with our business acquisitions. See Note 6 – “Acquisitions, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” and Note 9 – “Fair Value Measurements” of our Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(6)Relates to amounts that may be advanced to sales and financing professionals and uncertain tax positions. See Note 12 – “Income Taxes” and Note 15 – “Commitments and Contingencies” of our Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(7)Amounts in Other represent amounts where payments are dependent on future events, which may occur at any time from less than 1 year to more than 5 years and relates to our deferred compensation liability and uncertain tax positions. Payments for deferred compensation liability are based on the participants’ elections at the time of deferral

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and may not begin before separation from service. The net liability for uncertain tax positions may be payable by us in the future. The ultimate resolution depends on many factors and assumptions; accordingly, we are not able to reasonably estimate the timing of such payments, if any.

Other than operating expenses, including those accrued and payable as December 31, 2022, cash requirements for 2023 are expected to consist primarily of capital expenditures for the future acquisitions, if any, payment of dividends, payments for stock repurchases, and advances to our investment sales and financing professionals.

Inflation

Our commissions and other variable costs related to revenue are primarily affected by real estate market supply and demand, which may be affected by uncertain or changing economic and market conditions, including inflation/deflation arising in connection with and in response to various macroeconomic factors and impact of rising interest rates on the broader economy.

The annual inflation rate in the U.S. increased to 9.1% in June 2022, the highest annual inflation rate since November 1981, but decreased to 6.5% in December 2022. As a result, during 2022, the Federal Reserve increased the federal funds rate by 425 basis points and indicated its intention to continue to increase interest rates in an effort to combat inflation, which had an adverse impact on commercial real estate transactions in the second half of 2022. Inflation has increased the wages paid to our employees and independent contractors. Furthermore, our clients are also affected by inflation and rising interest rates. A significant and continued increase in interest rates and inflation would be expected to have a negative impact on client demand for commercial real estate.

Critical Accounting Policies; Use of Estimates

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In applying many of these accounting principles, we make assumptions, estimates and/or judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses in our consolidated financial statements. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. These assumptions, estimates and/or judgments, however, are often subjective and our actual results may change based on changing circumstances or changes in our analyses. If actual amounts are ultimately different from our estimates, the revisions are included in our results of operations for the period in which the actual amounts become known.

We believe that the critical accounting policies discussed below involve a greater degree of judgment or complexity than our other accounting policies. Accordingly, these are the policies we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. See the notes to our consolidated financial statements for a summary of our significant accounting policies.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to (i) differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis, and (ii) operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. We measure existing deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which we expect to have temporary differences realized or settled. We recognize in the provision for income taxes, the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates in the period that includes the enactment date. We periodically evaluate deferred tax assets to assess whether it is likely that the deferred tax assets will be realized. In determining whether a valuation allowance is required, we consider the timing of deferred tax reversals, current year taxable income, and historical performance. Valuation allowances are provided against deferred tax assets when it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Our valuation allowance is related principally to losses incurred in our Canadian operations. Future results of operations of the Canadian business will impact valuation allowances in the future.

Due to the nature of our business, which includes activity in the U.S. and Canada, incorporating numerous states and provinces as well as local jurisdictions, our tax position can be complex. As such, our effective tax rate is subject to changes as a result of fluctuations in the mix of our activity in the various jurisdictions in which we operate including changes in tax rates, state apportionment, tax related interest and penalties, valuation allowances and other permanent items, including net windfalls and shortfalls related to stock-based compensation. Calculating some of the amounts

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involves a high degree of judgment. Our state taxes, net of federal benefit, has ranged from 4.3% to 5.0% over the past 3 years.

We evaluate our tax positions quarterly. The threshold for recognizing the benefits of tax return positions in the financial statements is “more likely than not” to be sustained by the taxing authority and requires measurement of a tax position meeting the more-likely-than-not criterion, based on the largest benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized. We assess our inventory of tax positions with respect to all applicable income tax issues for all open tax years (in each respective jurisdiction) and determine whether uncertain tax positions are required to be recognized in our consolidated financial statements.

The above factors create volatility in our effective tax rate from quarter to quarter and have caused our effective tax rates to range from 26.3% to 27.8% over the past three years.

We recognize interest and penalties incurred as income tax expense. See Note 12 – “Income Taxes” of our Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Leases

Our leases consist of purpose built-out office space, which reverts to the lessor upon termination of the lease and operating leases for autos. We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Right-of-use assets (“ROU assets”) represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our contractual obligation to make lease payments under the lease. Operating leases are included in operating lease ROU assets, non-current, and operating lease liabilities current and non-current captions in the consolidated balance sheets.

Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized on the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Lease agreements may contain periods of free rent or reduced rent, predetermined fixed increases in the minimum rent and renewal or termination options, all of which add complexity and impact the determination of the lease term and lease payments to be used in calculating the lease liability. Certain facility leases provide for rental escalations related to increases in the lessors’ direct operating expenses. We use the implicit rate in the lease when determinable. As most of our leases do not have a determinable implicit rate, determining the rate to be used in our calculations is judgmental. We use an estimated incremental borrowing rate based on borrowing options under our credit agreement and apply a spread over treasury rates for the indicated term of the lease based on the information available on the commencement date of the lease. As a result, the incremental borrowing rate has and will continue to be impacted by market interest rates. The weighted average incremental borrowing rate was 3.9% in 2022 and 2.9% in 2021. Any payments for completed improvements, determined to be owed by the lessor, net of incentives received, are recorded as an increase to the ROU asset and considered in the determination of the lease cost.

We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are accounted for as a single lease component. Lease cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease payments consist of common area costs, insurance, taxes, utilities, parking, and other lease related costs, which are determined principally based on billings from landlords.

Investments in Marketable Debt Securities, Available-for-Sale

We maintain a portfolio of investments in a variety of fixed and variable rate debt securities, including U.S. treasuries, U.S. government sponsored entities, corporate debt, asset-backed securities, and other. We consider our investments in marketable debt securities to be available-for-sale, and accordingly, are recorded at their fair values. We determine the appropriate classification of investments in marketable debt securities at the time of purchase. Interest along with amortization of purchase premiums and accretion of discounts from the purchase date through the estimated maturity date, including consideration of variable maturities and contractual call provisions, are included in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 5 – “Investments in Marketable Debt Securities, Available-for-Sale” of our Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. We typically invest in highly rated debt securities, and our investment policy generally limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. The policy requires substantially all investments to be investment grade, with the primary objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss and matching long-term liabilities.

Unrealized losses on our marketable securities, available-for-sale, fluctuate based on changes in market interest rates due the fixed interest rates of most of the securities. Unrealized losses aggregated $5,508,000 and $511,000 as of

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December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. We review our investment portfolio quarterly for all securities in an unrealized loss position to determine if an impairment charge or credit reserve is required. We exclude accrued interest from both the fair value and the amortized cost basis of marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, for the purposes of identifying and measuring an impairment. An investment is impaired if the fair value is less than its amortized cost basis. Impairment relating to credit losses is recorded through a reduction in the amortized cost of the security or an allowance for credit losses and credit loss expense (included in selling, general and administrative expense), limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Impairment that has not been recorded as a credit loss is recorded through other comprehensive income (loss), net of applicable taxes. We made an accounting policy election to not measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivable. We evaluate write-off of accrued interest receivable by the major security-type level at the time credit loss exists for the underlying security.

Determining whether a credit loss exists requires a high degree of judgment, and we consider both qualitative and quantitative factors in making our determination. We evaluate our intent to sell, or whether we will more likely than not be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. For all securities in an unrealized loss position, we evaluate, among other items, the extent and length of time the fair market value of a security is less than its amortized cost, time to maturity, duration, seniority, the financial condition of the issuer including credit ratings, any changes thereto and relative default rates and loss severity, leverage ratios, availability of liquidity to make principle and interest payments, performance indicators of the underlying assets, analyst reports and recommendations, and changes in base and market interest rates. If the qualitative and quantitative analysis is sufficient to conclude that an impairment related to credit losses does not exist, we typically do not perform further quantitative analysis to estimate the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the debt security. Estimates of expected future cash flows are our best estimate based on past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable economic forecasts. To date, the Company has not recorded any credit losses or impairments on its portfolio of marketable securities, available for sale.

Contingent and Deferred Consideration

In connection with certain business acquisitions, the Company may enter into agreements to pay additional cash or other consideration based on the achievement of certain performance measures and/or service and time requirements. Contingent and deferred consideration in connection with the acquisition of a business is measured at fair value on the acquisition date and remeasured at fair value each reporting period thereafter until the consideration is settled, with changes in fair value recorded in selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

In its determination of fair value for contingent and deferred consideration, the Company uses judgment in determining the probability of achieving contractual EBITDA and other performance targets and the time frame in which the settlements will occur. Further, judgment is used in determining the appropriate current and future interest rates to apply in each situation. The Company estimated the probability of achievement of contractual EBITDA and other performance targets was between 0% to 100.0% based on each acquisition’s historical and estimated future performance and risk adjusted discount rates of between 6.0% to 7.0%, which resulted in a recorded fair value for the contingent consideration of $7.1 million and $9.3 million as of December 31, 2022, and 2021, respectively. The Company estimated the fair value of the deferred consideration using a discounted cash flow estimate using market rates, with the only remaining condition on such payments being the passage of time which resulted in a recorded fair value of $5.1 million and $9.8 million as of December 31, 2022, and 2021, respectively. The maximum undiscounted future settlements of contingent and deferred consideration was $21.3 million at December 31, 2022, and the Company is uncertain as to the extent of the volatility in the judgments and unobservable inputs will have on the ultimate settlement of these amounts in the foreseeable future.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For information regarding recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 – “Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements” of our Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We do not believe any of the other accounting pronouncements listed in that note will have a significant impact on our business.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto included elsewhere herein. The following discussion contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those factors set forth under Item 1A – “Risk Factors” and Item 7 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Overview –

Factors Affecting Our Business

” of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K.

Overview

Our Business

We are a leading national brokerage firm specializing in commercial real estate investment sales, financing, research and advisory services. We have been the top commercial real estate investment broker in the United States based on the number of investment transactions for more than 15 years. As of December 31, 2021, we had 1,994 investment sales and financing professionals that are primarily exclusive independent contractors operating in 82 offices, who provide real estate brokerage and financing services to sellers and buyers of commercial real estate. We also offer market research, consulting and advisory services to our clients. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we closed 13,255 investment sales, financing and other transactions with total sales volume of approximately $84.4 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we closed 8,954 sales, financing and other transactions with total sales volume of approximately $43.4 billion.

We generate revenues by collecting real estate brokerage commissions upon the sale, and fees upon the financing of commercial properties and by providing consulting, advisory and other real estate services. Real estate brokerage commissions are typically based upon the value of the property, and financing fees are typically based upon the size of the loan. During the year ended December 31, 2021, approximately 90% of our revenues were generated from real estate brokerage commissions, 9% from financing fees and 1% from other real estate related services.

Acquisitions

We continue to pursue opportunities to increase our market presence through the execution of our growth strategies by targeting markets based on population, employment, level of commercial real estate sales, inventory and competitive opportunities where we believe the markets will benefit from our commercial real estate investment sales, financing, research and advisory services.

COVID-19

We are closely monitoring the continuing impact of the
COVID-19
pandemic on all aspects of our business and in the regions we operate. We continue to follow the local guidelines in cities where our offices are located, and all of our offices have remained open and accessible to our sales force within health protocols. All support functions to facilitate generating, processing, and closing business have continued through remote access and/or a hybrid work model.

Our business was impacted by the
COVID-19
pandemic during most of 2020, with the total number of transactions and total revenues declining 7.9% and 11.1%, respectively, in the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. During the year ended December 31, 2021, total number of transactions and total revenues increased 48.0% and 80.8%, respectively compared to the same period in 2020. While our total revenues were significantly above prior years’ levels, some uncertainty exists in our ability to sustain the growth rates experienced during the year ended December 31, 2021, which was positively impacted by the closing of deals that had been delayed or cancelled and investors’ heightened motivation to transact ahead of potential changes to the tax code and rising interest rates.

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Due to the continuing uncertainty around the
COVID-19
pandemic, we are unable to predict its potential impact on our future financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. These uncertainties include the scope, severity and duration of the pandemic; variants in the virus, vaccination rates, vaccine mandates and the effects thereof; expectation gaps among buyers and sellers on pricing and property operation, vulnerability to economic weakness and/or slow-down in the recovery; the direct and indirect economic effects of the actions taken by state and local governments to continue to contain the pandemic or mitigate its impact; and the impact of these and other factors on our employees, independent contractors, clients and potential clients.

Factors Affecting Our Business

Our business and our operating results, financial condition and liquidity are significantly affected by the number and size of commercial real estate investment sales and financing transactions that we close in any period. The number and size of these transactions are affected by our ability to recruit and retain investment sales and financing professionals, identify and contract properties for sale and identify those that need financing and refinancing. We principally monitor the commercial real estate market through four factors, which generally drive our business. The factors are the economy, commercial real estate supply and demand, capital markets and investor sentiment and investment activity.

The Economy

Our business is dependent on economic conditions within the markets in which we operate. Changes in the economy on a global, national, regional or local basis can have a positive or a negative impact on our business. Economic indicators and projections related to job growth, unemployment, interest rates, retail spending and confidence trends can have a positive or a negative impact on our business. Overall market conditions, including global trade, interest rate changes and job creation, can affect investor sentiment and, ultimately, the demand for our services from investors in real estate.

The U.S. economy expanded at a strong pace in the fourth quarter resulting in 5.7% GDP growth in 2021, the strongest full-year gain since 1984. That growth was supported by the addition of nearly 6.5 million jobs last year, the most jobs the U.S. has ever added in a single year. Thus far, 84% of the 22.4 million jobs lost during the pandemic have been recovered, and the country appears to be heading toward backfilling the employment lost during the pandemic by the end of 2022. However,
COVID-19
variants, such as Omicron together with the significant labor shortage will likely affect employment additions this year and potentially place additional upward pressure on wages. Wage pressure will join rising housing costs, supply chain bottlenecks and shortages of raw materials, manufacturing inputs, building materials and products to drive inflationary pressure. Headline inflation has surpassed 7%, its highest level since 1982, and the Federal Reserve has signaled that it plans to combat inflation through monetary policy including the wind-down of quantitative easing and by raising the Federal Funds rate. While we believe commercial real estate investment is comparatively inflation resistant, the upward pressure on interest rates has the potential to affect investor activity. Much will depend on the magnitude of the interest rate rise relative to the still elevated level of capital liquidity targeting commercial real estate. The commercial real estate sector delivered a record volume of sales in the fourth quarter as investment capital flowed to these assets. Momentum remains positive entering 2022, but a higher than expected change in interest rates or eruption of geopolitical concerns into crisis could significantly impact the investor enthusiasm.

Commercial Real Estate Supply and Demand

Our business is dependent on the willingness of investors to invest in or sell commercial real estate, which is affected by many factors beyond our control. These factors include the supply of commercial real estate coupled with user demand for these properties and the performance of real estate assets when compared with other investment alternatives, such as stocks and bonds.

Space demand for most commercial property types gained momentum in 2021. At
year-end,
apartment and industrial vacancy rates were at
record-low
levels. Retail demand was positive in each quarter of the year and

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office properties, still restrained by work-from-home protocols, delivered above average absorption through the second half of the year. Hotel properties,
hard-hit
in the early stages of the pandemic, have nearly returned to
pre-pandemic
occupancy levels while the average daily rate in December stood nearly 7% above the same month in 2019. At the same time, materials shortages and elevated building costs have restrained construction levels for all property types except apartments and industrial space, the two property types that could possibly see record deliveries in 2022. The mitigated supply risk for most property types is a positive factor supporting the commercial real estate outlook. Demand drivers continue to favor suburban areas and metros across the southeast and southwest that are benefiting from elevated
in-migration.
Although vacancy rates in major urban gateway markets like New York and San Francisco were disproportionately impacted by the health crisis, they generated positive commercial real estate space demand through the second half of 2021, supporting the belief that core urban areas could sustain a gradual recovery. The positive momentum of commercial real estate fundamentals has attracted increased capital to the sector, creating a particularly active bid climate for many marketed assets, especially those in markets demonstrating favorable growth metrics. The rising demand for assets has supported increased transaction flow and has placed upward pressure on prices at a macro level.

Capital Markets

Credit and liquidity issues in the financial markets have a direct impact on the flow of capital to the commercial real estate market. Real estate purchases are often financed with debt and, as a result, credit and liquidity impact transaction activity and prices. Changes in interest rates, as well as steady and protracted movements of interest rates in one direction, whether increases or decreases, could adversely or positively affect the operations and income potential of commercial real estate properties, as well as lender and equity underwriting for real estate investments. These changes generally influence the demand of investors for commercial real estate investments.

Both equity and debt capital remain very liquid, with financing broadly available for most property types in most markets. Lending institutions continue to compete to place capital, keeping borrowing rates low, but the recently accelerated taper of quantitative easing together with more hawkish messaging from the Federal Reserve have placed upward pressure on interest rates. With inflation at a
40-year
high, we believe the Federal Reserve will remain committed to raising both short- and long-term interest rates. If rates rise nominally this year, we believe investors will stay aggressive in their bidding for assets, but if the Federal Reserve boosts rates significantly it could force investors to recalibrate their underwriting. That could potentially widen the expectation gap between buyers and sellers in 2022. The volume of capital competing for commercial real estate assets has been substantial as demonstrated by the record fourth quarter 2021 sales activity. Barring a major interest rate increase or another severe
COVID-19
outbreak, we believe the pool of capital seeking placement in commercial real estate could sustain strong transaction activity well into 2022.

Investor Sentiment and Investment Activity

We rely on investors to buy and sell properties in order to generate commissions. Investors’ desires to engage in real estate transactions are dependent on many factors that are beyond our control. The economy, supply and demand for properly positioned properties, available credit and market events impact investor sentiment and, therefore, transaction velocity. In addition, our private clients, who make up the largest source of revenue, are often motivated to buy, sell and/or refinance properties due to personal circumstances such as death, divorce, partnership breakups and estate planning.

Dollar volumes for commercial real estate investments reached record levels in 2021, outpacing the previous record set in 2019 by approximately 35%. The market activity reflects the elevated market liquidity, still low interest rates, strong commercial real estate performance trends in most property types, positive economic and demographic drivers and the perception in the market that commercial real estate has greater inflation resistance than most other investment classes. The demand for commercial real estate is especially acute in markets with strong growth trends. Buyers have aggressively competed for assets, driving record pricing for

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some property types in select markets. Most property types have either fully recovered from the pandemic recession or are demonstrating positive recovery characteristics. Apartments and necessity retail including single-tenant, and industrial properties (e.g. fast food restaurants and drug stores), have performed well throughout the pandemic and therefore remain most favored by investors. Apartments and retail make up the majority of MMI’s revenue, and industrial is one of the fastest growing segments for the Company. The office property type faces the greatest uncertainty due to questions about corporate strategies for returning to the offices, particularly following the recent Omicron wave. Office pricing has become increasingly stable, but

investors still favor suburban assets with long-term leases in place. Senior housing has also faced headwinds due to the disproportionate
COVID-19
health risks faced by the elderly. Despite the uncertainty surrounding these two property segments, we believe the overall enthusiasm for commercial real estate investment as demonstrated by increasing transaction activity remains positive.

Seasonality

Our real estate brokerage commissions and financing fees have tended to be seasonal and, combined with other factors, can affect an investor’s ability to compare our financial condition and results of operations on a

quarter-by-quarter

basis. Historically, this seasonality has generally caused our revenue, operating income, net income and cash flows from operating activities to be lower in the first half of the year and higher in the second half of the year, particularly in the fourth quarter. The concentration of earnings and cash flows in the last six months of the year, particularly in the fourth quarter, is due to an industry-wide focus of clients to complete transactions towards the end of the calendar year. This historical trend can be disrupted both positively and negatively by major economic events, political events, natural disasters or pandemics such as the
COVID-19
pandemic, which may impact, among other things, investor sentiment for a particular property type or location, volatility in financial markets, current and future projections of interest rates, attractiveness of other asset classes, market liquidity and the extent of limitations or availability of capital allocations for larger property buyers, among others. Private client investors may accelerate or delay transactions due to personal or business-related reasons unrelated to economic events. In addition, our operating margins are typically lower during the second half of each year due to our commission structure for some of our senior investment sales and financing professionals. These senior investment sales and financing professionals are on a graduated commission schedule that resets annually, pursuant to which higher commissions are paid for higher sales volumes. Our historical pattern of seasonality may or may not continue to the same degree experienced in prior years.

Operating Segments

We follow the guidance for segment reporting, which requires reporting information on operating segments in interim and annual financial statements. Substantially all of our operations involve the delivery of commercial real estate services to our customers including real estate investment sales, financing and consulting and advisory services. Management makes operating decisions, assesses performance and allocates resources based on an ongoing review of these integrated operations, which constitute only one operating segment for financial reporting purposes.

Key Financial Measures and Indicators

Revenues

Our revenues are primarily generated from our real estate investment sales business. In addition to real estate brokerage commissions, we generate revenues from financing fees and from other revenues, which are primarily comprised of consulting and advisory fees.

Because our business is transaction oriented, we rely on investment sales and financing professionals to continually develop leads, identify properties to sell and finance, market those properties and close the sale timely to generate a consistent flow of revenue. While our sales volume is impacted by seasonality factors, the timing of closings is also dependent on many market and personal factors unique to a particular client or

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transaction, particularly clients transacting in the
$1-$10 million
private client market segment. These factors can cause transactions to be accelerated or delayed beyond our control. Further, commission rates earned are generally inversely related to the value of the property sold. As a result of our expansion into the middle and larger transaction market segments, we have seen our overall commission rates fluctuate from

period-to-period

as a result of changes in the relative mix of the number and volume of investment sales transactions closed in the middle and larger transaction market segments as compared to the
$1-$10 million
private client market segment. These factors may result in

period-to-period

variations in our revenues that differ from historical patterns.

A small percentage of our transactions include retainer fees and/or breakage fees. Retainer fees are credited against a success-based fee paid upon the closing of a transaction or a breakage fee. Transactions that are terminated before completion will sometimes generate breakage fees, which are usually calculated as a set amount or a percentage of the fee we would have received had the transaction closed.

Real Estate Brokerage Commissions

We earn real estate brokerage commissions by acting as a broker for commercial real estate owners seeking to sell or investors seeking to buy properties. Revenues from real estate brokerage commissions are typically recognized at the close of escrow.

Financing Fees

We earn financing fees by securing financing on purchase transactions or by securing refinancing of our clients’ existing mortgage debt. We recognize financing fee revenues at the time the loan closes, and we have no remaining significant obligations for performance in connection with the transaction.

To a lesser extent, we also earn mortgage servicing revenue, mortgage servicing fees, equity advisory services, loan sales and ancillary fees associated with financing activities. We recognize mortgage servicing revenues upon the acquisition of a servicing obligation. We generate mortgage servicing fees through the provision of collection, remittance, recordkeeping, reporting and other related mortgage servicing functions, activities and services.

Other Revenues

Other revenues include fees generated from consulting, advisory and other real estate services performed by our investment sales professionals, as well as referral fees from other real estate brokers. Revenues from these services are recognized as they are performed and completed.

Operating Expenses

Our operating expenses consist of cost of services, selling, general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization. The significant components of our expenses are further described below.

Cost of Services

The majority of our cost of services expense is variable commissions paid to our investment sales professionals and compensation-related costs related to our financing activities. Commission expenses are directly attributable to providing services to our clients for investment sales and financing services. Most of our investment sales and financing professionals are independent contractors and are paid commissions; however, because there are some who are initially paid a salary and certain of our financing professionals are employees, costs of services also include employee-related compensation, employer taxes and benefits for those employees. The commission rates we pay to our investment sales and financing professionals vary based on individual contracts negotiated and are generally higher for the more experienced professionals. Some of our most senior

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investment sales and financing professionals also have the ability to earn additional commissions after meeting certain annual financial thresholds. These additional commissions are recognized as cost of services in the period in which they are earned. Payment of a portion of these additional commissions are generally deferred for a period of one to three years, at our election, and paid at the beginning of the second and fourth calendar year. Cost of services also includes referral fees paid to other real estate brokers where we are the principal service provider. Cost of services, therefore, can vary based on the commission structure of the independent contractors that closed transactions in any particular period.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

The largest expense component within selling, general and administrative expenses is personnel expenses for our management team and sales and support staff. In addition, these costs include facilities costs (excluding depreciation and amortization), staff related expenses, sales, marketing, legal, telecommunication, network, data sources, transaction costs related to acquisitions, changes in fair value for contingent and deferred consideration and other administrative expenses. Also included in selling, general and administrative are expenses for stock-based compensation to
non-employee
directors, employees and independent contractors (i.e. investment sales and financing professionals) under the Amended and Restated 2013 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (“2013 Plan”) and the 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”).

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation expense consists of depreciation recorded on our computer software and hardware and furniture, fixture and equipment. Depreciation is provided over estimated useful lives ranging from three to seven years for assets. Amortization expense consists of (i) amortization recorded on our mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”) using the interest method over the period that servicing income is expected to be received and (ii) amortization recorded on intangible assets amortized on a straight-line basis using a useful life between one and seven years.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net primarily consists of interest income, net gains or losses on our deferred compensation plan assets, realized gains and losses on our marketable debt securities,

available-for-sale,

foreign currency gains and losses and other
non-operating
income and expenses.

Interest Expense

Interest expense primarily consists of interest expense associated with the stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) liability, notes payable to former stockholders (through the second quarter of 2020 when fully repaid) and our credit agreement.

Provision for Income Taxes

We are subject to U.S. and Canadian federal taxes and individual state and local taxes based on the income generated in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Our effective tax rate fluctuates as a result of the change in the mix of our activities in the jurisdictions we operate due to differing tax rates in those jurisdictions and the impact of permanent items, including principally compensation charges, qualified transportation fringe benefits, uncertain tax positions, meals and entertainment and
tax-exempt
deferred compensation plan assets. Our provision for income taxes includes the windfall tax benefits and shortfall expenses, net, from shares issued in connection with our 2013 Plan and ESPP.

We record deferred taxes, net based on the tax rate expected to be in effect at the time those items are expected to be recognized for tax purposes.

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Results of Operations

Following is a discussion of our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. The tables included in the period comparisons below provide summaries of our results of operations. The

period-to-period

comparisons of financial results are not necessarily indicative of future results.

Key Operating Metrics

We regularly review a number of key metrics to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate financial projections and make strategic decisions. We also believe these metrics are relevant to investors’ and others’ assessment of our financial condition and results of operations. During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, we closed more than 13,200, 8,900 and 9,700 investment sales, financing and other transactions, respectively, with total sales volume of approximately $84.4 billion, $43.4 billion and $49.7 billion, respectively. Such key metrics for real estate brokerage and financing activities (excluding other transactions) are as follows: