Despite the rate cuts in July and September, core net new assets grew 6% to $56.6 billion in the third quarter of 2019 versus $53.5 billion in the prior-year quarter. The online brokerage firm attracted 363,000 new brokerage accounts in the quarter, raising the active brokerage accounts to 12.1 million, up 6% year-over-year. Client assets totaled a record $3.77 trillion at quarter end, up 6%.
The San Francisco, California-based firm’s net interest revenue rose 7% in 3Q to $1.6 billion, due to higher investment yields and higher client cash allocations. Total expenses of $1.5 billion in the third quarter included $62 million in severance charges associated with the elimination of 3% of the company’s workforce.
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Earlier this month, Charles Schwab slashed online trade commissions for stocks, ETFs, and options listed on U.S. or Canadian exchanges. Schwab’s peers Interactive Brokers Group’s (NASDAQ: IBKR), TD Ameritrade Holding (NASDAQ: AMTD) and Fidelity had also cut down their trade commissions to $0.
“Our contemporary full-service model helps us remain a trusted partner as clients navigate an environment that has only grown more cloudy in recent months. The equity markets have shown noteworthy durability – the S&P 500 remained up nearly 20% for the year as of quarter-end. Concerns persist, however, regarding global trade and a generally softening economic outlook,” said CEO Walt Bettinger.
Charles Schwab stock had given a negative return in both year-to-date and past 52 weeks periods, declining 9% and 23%, respectively.