SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 27, 2016 

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Delaware    001-31234    75-2969997
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission    (IRS Employer
of incorporation)     File Number)    Identification No.)

200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75201
(Address of principal executive offices)

(214) 756-6900
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see  General Instruction A.2. below):

o    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM 2.02:    RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Release No. 34-47583, the following information, which is being furnished pursuant to the requirements of Item 2.02, “Results of Operations and Financial Condition,” is being reported under Item 7.01, “Regulation FD Disclosure.”

On July 27, 2016, Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (“Westwood”) issued a press release entitled “Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2016 Results; Assets Under Management of $21 Billion”, a copy of which is furnished with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as otherwise expressly stated in such filing.

ITEM 7.01:    REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

Westwood announced today that its Board of Directors has approved the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.57  per common share payable on  October 3, 2016  to stockholders of record on  September 9, 2016 .

ITEM 9.01:    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d)    Exhibits: The following exhibit is furnished with this report:

Exhibit Number                    Description
 	 	
99.1	Press Release dated July 27, 2016, entitled “Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2016 Results; Assets Under Management of $21 Billion”.	

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: July 27, 2016 

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.

By:    /s/ Tiffany B. Kice        
Tiffany B. Kice
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number        Description
 	 	
99.1	Press Release dated July 27, 2016, entitled “Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2016 Results; Assets Under Management of $21 Billion”.	

Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2016 Results
Assets Under Management of $21 billion 

Dallas, TX, July 27, 2016 – Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (NYSE: WHG) today reported second quarter 2016 revenues of $31.0 million compared to revenues of $37.3 million in the second quarter of 2015. Asset-based advisory fees decreased $4.8 million due to lower average assets under management primarily related to net outflows and depreciation since the second quarter of 2015. We earned performance-based fees of $0.4 million in the second quarter 2016 compared to $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2015. Assets under management ("AUM") totaled $21.0 billion at June 30, 2016, excluding assets under advisement ("AUA") totaling $322 million.

Second quarter net income totaled $5.7 million compared with $9.8 million in the second quarter of 2015, primarily due to a $4.2 million decrease in advisory fees and a $0.6 million charge for one-time information technology implementation costs, both net of tax, partially offset by a decrease in incentive compensation costs related to lower results in 2016. Diluted earnings per share of $0.69 compared to $1.23 for the second quarter of 2015. Non-GAAP Economic Earnings for the quarter of $10.4 million compared with $14.4 million in the prior year's second quarter. Non-GAAP Economic Earnings per share ("Economic EPS") of $1.27 compared with $1.80 in the second quarter of 2015.

Highlights from the second quarter 2016 include:
 	 	
•	Strong performance of our Emerging Markets and Multi-Asset strategies.	
 	 	
•	Negative flows were driven primarily by reallocations from U.S. equity mandates.	
 	 	
•	Unfunded mandate wins were at their highest level in over a year.	

Brian Casey, Westwood’s President & CEO, commented, “The current investing and business environment is one of the most unusual we have seen in a long time. Flows to low- and in some cases even negative-yielding fixed income securities are strong while equities remain out of favor despite the S&P 500 recently reaching an all-time high. So far this year, strong performance has been delivered by several of our strategies, primarily in the Emerging Markets and Multi-Asset segments, which positions us well in areas of rising long-term secular investor demand. We experienced negative flows for the quarter, primarily driven by continued reductions in U.S. equity allocations by investors. On a positive note, unfunded mandates reached their highest level in over a year, with wins coming across a number of our strategies. We expect these mandates to be funded over the remainder of this year.”

Westwood’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.57 per common share, payable on October 3, 2016 to stockholders of record on September 9, 2016. At quarter-end, Westwood had $73.9 million in cash and investments, stockholders’ equity of $137.6 million, and no debt.

Economic Earnings and Economic EPS are non-GAAP performance measures and are explained and reconciled with the most comparable GAAP numbers in the attached tables.

Westwood will host a conference call to discuss second quarter 2016 results and other business matters at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time today. To join the conference call, dial 877-303-6235 (domestic and Canada) or 631-291-4837 (international). The conference call can also be accessed via our Investor Relations page at westwoodgroup.com and will be available for replay through August 3, 2016 by dialing 855-859-2056 (domestic and Canada) or 404-537-3406 (international) and then entering the passcode 43853210.

About Westwood

Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. provides investment management services to institutional investors, private wealth clients and financial intermediaries. With $21.0 billion in assets under management * , our firm offers a range of investment strategies including U.S. equities, Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs), Multi-Asset, Global and Emerging Markets equities, and Global Convertible securities portfolios. Access to these strategies is available through separate accounts, commingled funds, the Westwood Funds® family of mutual funds, and UCITS funds. Westwood benefits from significant, broad-based employee ownership and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WHG.” Based in Dallas, Westwood also maintains offices in Toronto, Boston, Omaha and Houston.

For more information on Westwood, please visit www.westwoodgroup.com.

For more information on the Westwood Funds®, please visit www.westwoodfunds.com.

*As of June 30, 2016 

Forward-looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts, including, without limitation, statements about our expected future financial position, results of operations or cash flows, as well as other statements including without limitation, words such as “anticipate,” “forecast,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “goal,” “may,” “target,” “designed,” “on track,” “comfortable with,” “optimistic” and other similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results and the timing of some events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation: regulations adversely affecting the financial services industry; the composition and market value of our assets under management; competition in the investment management industry; our investments in foreign companies; our ability to develop and market new investment strategies successfully; our ability to pursue and properly integrate acquired businesses; litigation risks; our ability to retain qualified personnel; our relationships with current and potential customers; our ability to properly address conflicts of interest; our ability to maintain adequate insurance coverage; our ability to maintain effective information systems; our ability to maintain effective cyber security; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls; our ability to maintain our fee structure in light of competitive fee pressures; our relationships with investment consulting firms; the significant concentration of our revenues in a small number of customers; and the other risks detailed from time to time in Westwood’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, Westwood is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

# # # #

SOURCE: Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.

(WHG-G)
CONTACT:
Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.
Tiffany B. Kice
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(214) 756-6900

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except per share and share amounts)
(unaudited)

 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Three Months Ended	
 	June 30,
2016	 	March 31,
2016	 	June 30,
2015	
REVENUES:	 	 	 	 	 	
Advisory fees:	 	 	 	 	 	
Asset-based	$	22,666	
 	 	$	21,815	
 	 	$	27,458	
 	
Performance-based	409	
 	 	—	
 	 	1,918	
 	
Trust fees	7,643	
 	 	7,465	
 	 	7,921	
 	
Other, net	305	
 	 	(151	)	 	14	
 	
Total revenues	31,023	
 	 	29,129	
 	 	37,311	

EXPENSES:	 	 	 	 	 	
Employee compensation and benefits	$	15,108	
 	 	$	16,494	
 	 	$	16,512	
 	
Sales and marketing	687	
 	 	328	
 	 	496	
 	
Westwood mutual funds	831	
 	 	696	
 	 	901	
 	
Information technology	2,201	
 	 	1,964	
 	 	1,422	
 	
Professional services	1,158	
 	 	1,646	
 	 	1,031	
 	
General and administrative	2,526	
 	 	2,355	
 	 	2,197	
 	
Total expenses	22,511	
 	 	23,483	
 	 	22,559	
 	
Income before income taxes	8,512	
 	 	5,646	
 	 	14,752	
 	
Provision for income taxes	2,851	
 	 	2,124	
 	 	4,957	
 	
Net income	$	5,661	
 	 	$	3,522	
 	 	$	9,795	
 	
Other comprehensive income (loss):	 	 	 	 	 	
Foreign currency translation adjustments	157	
 	 	1,303	
 	 	233	
 	
Total comprehensive income	$	5,818	
 	 	$	4,825	
 	 	$	10,028	

Earnings per share:	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	$	0.71	
 	 	$	0.45	
 	 	$	1.25	
 	
Diluted	$	0.69	
 	 	$	0.44	
 	 	$	1.23	

Weighted average shares outstanding:	 	 	 	 	 	
   Basic	8,000,214	
 	 	7,862,449	
 	 	7,806,031	
 	
   Diluted	8,172,923	
 	 	8,047,084	
 	 	7,961,406	

Economic Earnings	$	10,387	
 	 	$	8,093	
 	 	$	14,352	
 	
Economic EPS	$	1.27	
 	 	$	1.01	
 	 	$	1.80	

Dividends declared per share	$	0.57	
 	 	$	0.57	
 	 	$	0.50	

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except per share and share amounts)
(unaudited)

 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Six Months Ended June 30,	
 	2016	 	2015	
REVENUES:	 	 	 	
Advisory fees:	 	 	 	
Asset-based	$	44,481	
 	 	$	51,387	
 	
Performance-based	409	
 	 	2,206	
 	
Trust fees	15,108	
 	 	13,071	
 	
Other, net	154	
 	 	255	
 	
Total revenues	60,152	
 	 	66,919	

EXPENSES:	 	 	 	
Employee compensation and benefits	$	31,602	
 	 	$	31,821	
 	
Sales and marketing	1,015	
 	 	891	
 	
Westwood mutual funds	1,527	
 	 	1,728	
 	
Information technology	4,165	
 	 	2,459	
 	
Professional services	2,804	
 	 	3,103	
 	
General and administrative	4,881	
 	 	3,787	
 	
Total expenses	45,994	
 	 	43,789	
 	
Income before income taxes	14,158	
 	 	23,130	
 	
Provision for income taxes	4,975	
 	 	7,725	
 	
Net income	$	9,183	
 	 	$	15,405	
 	
Other comprehensive income (loss):	 	 	 	
Foreign currency translation adjustments	1,460	
 	 	(1,155	)	
Total comprehensive income	$	10,643	
 	 	$	14,250	

Earnings per share:	 	 	 	
Basic	$	1.16	
 	 	$	2.00	
 	
Diluted	$	1.13	
 	 	$	1.93	

Weighted average shares outstanding:	 	 	 	
   Basic	7,931,331	
 	 	7,701,707	
 	
   Diluted	8,132,941	
 	 	7,976,790	

Economic Earnings	$	18,480	
 	 	$	23,768	
 	
Economic EPS	$	2.27	
 	 	$	2.98	

Dividends declared per share	$	1.14	
 	 	$	1.00	

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except par value and share amounts)
(unaudited)

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	June 30,
2016	 	December 31, 2015	
ASSETS	 	 	 	
Current Assets:	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	$	29,124	
 	 	$	22,740	
 	
Accounts receivable	21,376	
 	 	19,618	
 	
Investments, at fair value	44,800	
 	 	72,320	
 	
Other current assets	2,159	
 	 	2,926	
 	
Total current assets	97,459	
 	 	117,604	
 	
Goodwill	27,144	
 	 	27,144	
 	
Deferred income taxes	11,143	
 	 	11,042	
 	
Intangible assets, net	22,374	
 	 	23,354	
 	
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $4,133 and $3,687	3,908	
 	 	2,192	
 	
Total assets	$	162,028	
 	 	$	181,336	

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	 	 	 	
Current Liabilities:	 	 	 	
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	3,545	
 	 	$	3,549	
 	
Dividends payable	5,924	
 	 	5,749	
 	
Compensation and benefits payable	8,754	
 	 	20,264	
 	
Contingent consideration	—	
 	 	9,023	
 	
Income taxes payable	3,109	
 	 	6,268	
 	
Total current liabilities	21,332	
 	 	44,853	
 	
Accrued dividends	1,236	
 	 	1,699	
 	
Deferred rent	1,844	
 	 	817	
 	
Total liabilities	24,412	
 	 	47,369	

 	
 	 	 	
Stockholders’ Equity:	 	 	 	
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 25,000,000 shares, issued 9,823,881 and outstanding 8,847,754 shares at June 30, 2016; issued 9,425,309 and outstanding 8,630,687 shares at December 31, 2015	98	
 	 	94	
 	
Additional paid-in capital	155,525	
 	 	143,797	
 	
Treasury stock, at cost - 976,127 shares at June 30, 2016; 794,622 shares at December 31, 2015	(43,641	)	 	(34,910	)	
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,228	)	 	(4,688	)	
Retained earnings	28,862	
 	 	29,674	
 	
Total stockholders’ equity	137,616	
 	 	133,967	
 	
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	162,028	
 	 	$	181,336	

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

 	Six Months Ended June 30,	
 	2016	 	2015	
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:	 	 	 	
Net income	$	9,183	
 	 	$	15,405	
 	
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	 	 	 	
Depreciation	494	
 	 	325	
 	
Amortization of intangible assets	980	
 	 	552	
 	
Unrealized losses (gains) on trading investments	(425	)	 	(81	)	
Stock based compensation expense	8,083	
 	 	7,695	
 	
Deferred income taxes	(72	)	 	(612	)	
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation	(165	)	 	(1,396	)	
Net sales (purchases) of investments – trading securities	27,945	
 	 	33,506	
 	
Other non-cash, net	276	
 	 	—	
 	
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	 	 	 	
Accounts receivable	(1,188	)	 	(6,773	)	
Other current assets	981	
 	 	288	
 	
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(375	)	 	810	
 	
Compensation and benefits payable	(11,384	)	 	(6,522	)	
Income taxes payable	(3,889	)	 	1,673	
 	
Other liabilities	166	
 	 	(18	)	
Net cash provided by operating activities	30,610	
 	 	44,852	
 	
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	 	 	 	
Purchases of property and equipment	(994	)	 	(564	)	
Acquisition of Woodway, net of cash acquired	—	
 	 	(24,133	)	
Net cash used in investing activities	(994	)	 	(24,697	)	
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	 	 	 	
Purchases of treasury stock	(4,421	)	 	—	
 	
Issuance of treasury stock under employee stock plans	(614	)	 	(1,327	)	
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes	(3,696	)	 	(5,576	)	
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation	165	
 	 	1,396	
 	
Payment of contingent consideration in acquisition	(5,562	)	 	—	
 	
Cash dividends	(10,282	)	 	(8,743	)	
Net cash used in financing activities	(24,410	)	 	(14,250	)	
Effect of currency rate changes on cash	1,178	
 	 	(1,269	)	
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	6,384	
 	 	4,636	
 	
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	22,740	
 	 	18,131	
 	
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	29,124	
 	 	$	22,767	

Supplemental cash flow information:	 	 	 	
Cash paid during the period for income taxes	$	8,783	
 	 	$	6,675	
 	
Common stock issued for acquisition	$	3,734	
 	 	$	5,669	
 	
Non-cash accrued contingent consideration	$	—	
 	 	$	9,257	
 	
Accrued dividends	$	7,160	
 	 	$	6,071	
 	
Accrued purchase of property and equipment	$	332	
 	 	$	—	
 	
Tenant allowance included in Property and equipment	$	1,128	
 	 	$	—	

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Reconciliation of Net Income to Economic Earnings
(in thousands, except per share and share amounts)
(unaudited)

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Three Months Ended	
 	June 30,
2016	 	March 31,
2016	 	June 30,
2015	
Net Income	$	5,661	
 	 	$	3,522	
 	 	$	9,795	
 	
Add: Stock based compensation expense	4,080	
 	 	4,003	
 	 	4,017	
 	
Add: Intangible amortization	490	
 	 	490	
 	 	462	
 	
Add: Tax benefit from goodwill amortization	156	
 	 	78	
 	 	78	
 	
Economic Earnings	$	10,387	
 	 	$	8,093	
 	 	$	14,352	

Diluted weighted average shares	8,172,923	
 	 	8,047,084	
 	 	7,961,406	
 	
Economic EPS	$	1.27	
 	 	$	1.01	
 	 	$	1.80	

 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Six Months Ended June 30,	
 	2016	 	2015	
Net Income	$	9,183	
 	 	$	15,405	
 	
Add: Stock based compensation expense	8,083	
 	 	7,695	
 	
Add: Intangible amortization	980	
 	 	552	
 	
Add: Tax benefit from goodwill amortization	234	
 	 	116	
 	
Economic Earnings	$	18,480	
 	 	$	23,768	

Diluted weighted average shares	8,132,941	
 	 	7,976,790	
 	
Economic EPS	$	2.27	
 	 	$	2.98	

As supplemental information, we are providing non-GAAP performance measures that we refer to as Economic Earnings and Economic Earnings per share ("Economic EPS"). We provide these measures in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income and earnings per share, which are reported on a GAAP basis. Management reviews Economic Earnings and Economic EPS to evaluate Westwood’s ongoing performance, allocate resources and review the dividend policy. We believe that these non-GAAP performance measures, while not substitutes for GAAP net income or earnings per share, are useful for management and investors when evaluating Westwood’s underlying operating and financial performance and its available resources. We do not advocate that investors consider these non-GAAP measures without also considering financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

We define Economic Earnings as net income plus non-cash equity-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets and deferred taxes related to goodwill. Although depreciation on fixed assets is a non-cash expense, we do not add it back when calculating Economic Earnings because depreciation charges represent an allocation of the decline in the value of the related assets that will ultimately require replacement. In addition, we do not adjust Economic Earnings for tax deductions related to restricted stock expense or amortization of intangible assets. Economic EPS represents Economic Earnings divided by diluted weighted average shares outstanding.