Source:
Financial and Operating Highlights
Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights (all comparisons to the Fourth Quarter 2022)
- Managed receivables2 increased 13.7% to
$2.4 billion - Total operating revenue increased 14.9% to
$308.6 million . - Return on average shareholders’ equity of 20.7%3
- Purchase volume of
$683.4 million . - Over 387,000 new accounts served during the quarter, 3.6 million total accounts served1
- Net income attributable to common shareholders of
$20.0 million , or$1.10 per diluted common share
1) In our calculation of total accounts served, we include all accounts with account activity and accounts that have open lines of credit at the end of the referenced period.
2) Managed receivables is a non-GAAP financial measure and excludes the results of our Auto Finance receivables. See Non-GAAP Financial Measures for important additional information
3) Return on average shareholders’ equity is calculated using Net Income attributable to common shareholders as the numerator and the average of Total shareholders’ equity as of
Management Commentary
“As credit conditions continue to stabilize and macro-economic uncertainty abates, we believe the markets that we serve provide exceptional opportunity for long-term, sustained growth. Within our general-purpose credit card, retail credit, healthcare payments, and auto-finance lines of business we are well positioned with a diversified product platform to help meet the financial needs of the over 100 million consumers with less than perfect credit who are overlooked by large banks. Our role is to continue to leverage our experience, our 27 years of data aggregation and proven analytics, and our technology to bring best in class products to these consumers in our effort to Empower Better Financial Outcomes for Everyday Americans.”
Financial Results | For the Three Months Ended December 31, | For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share data) | 2023 | 2022 | % Change | 2023 | 2022 | % Change | |||||||||||||||
Total operating revenue, net | $ | 308,600 | $ | 268,664 | 14.9 | % | $ | 1,155,246 | $ | 1,046,104 | 10.4 | % | |||||||||
Other non-operating revenue | 490 | 429 | nm | 630 | 809 | nm | |||||||||||||||
Total revenue | 309,090 | 269,093 | 14.9 | % | 1,155,876 | 1,046,913 | 10.4 | % | |||||||||||||
Interest expense | (32,619 | ) | (24,002 | ) | 35.9 | % | (109,342 | ) | (81,851 | ) | 33.6 | % | |||||||||
Provision for credit losses | (601 | ) | (542 | ) | nm | (2,152 | ) | (1,252 | ) | nm | |||||||||||
Changes in fair value of loans | (184,072 | ) | (162,206 | ) | 13.5 | % | (689,577 | ) | (577,069 | ) | 19.5 | % | |||||||||
Net margin | $ | 91,798 | $ | 82,343 | 11.5 | % | $ | 354,805 | $ | 386,741 | -8.3 | % | |||||||||
Total operating expenses | $ | 61,093 | $ | 52,561 | 16.2 | % | $ | 226,247 | $ | 237,469 | -4.7 | % | |||||||||
Net income | $ | 26,273 | $ | 23,690 | 10.9 | % | $ | 101,954 | $ | 134,612 | -24.3 | % | |||||||||
Net income attributable to controlling interests | $ | 26,304 | $ | 23,991 | 9.6 | % | $ | 102,845 | $ | 135,597 | -24.2 | % | |||||||||
Preferred stock and preferred unit dividends and discount accretion | $ | (6,341 | ) | $ | (6,317 | ) | nm | $ | (25,198 | ) | $ | (25,076 | ) | nm | |||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ | 19,963 | $ | 17,674 | 13.0 | % | $ | 77,647 | $ | 110,521 | -29.7 | % | |||||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders per common share—basic | $ | 1.37 | $ | 1.22 | 11.4 | % | $ | 5.35 | $ | 7.55 | -29.1 | % | |||||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders per common share—diluted | $ | 1.10 | $ | 0.98 | 12.2 | % | $ | 4.24 | $ | 5.83 | -27.3 | % |
*nm = not meaningful
Managed Receivables
Managed receivables increased 13.7% to
Total Operating Revenue
Total operating revenue consists of: 1) interest income, finance charges and late fees on consumer loans, 2) other fees on credit products including annual and merchant fees and 3) ancillary, interchange and servicing income on loan portfolios.
During the quarter and full year ended
We are currently experiencing continued period-over-period growth in private label credit and general purpose credit card receivables and to a lesser extent in our CAR receivables—growth that we expect to result in net period-over-period growth in our total interest income and related fees for these operations for 2024. Future periods’ growth is also dependent on the addition of new retail partners to expand the reach of private label credit operations as well as growth within existing partnerships and the level of marketing investment for the general purpose credit card operations.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was
Outstanding notes payable, net of unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts, associated with our private label credit and general purpose credit card platform increased to
Changes in Fair Value of Loans
Changes in fair value of loans increased to
We include asset performance degradation in our forecasts to reflect the possibility of delinquency rates increasing in the near term (and the corresponding increase in charge-offs and decrease in payments) above the level that historical and current trends would suggest. As receivables associated with both 1) assets acquired prior to our tightened underwriting standards (mentioned above) and 2) those assets negatively impacted by inflation, gradually become a smaller percentage of the portfolio, we expect to see overall improvements in the measured fair value of our portfolios of acquired receivables.
Total Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses increased 16.2% in the quarter but decreased 4.7% for the full year when compared to the same periods in 2022.
For the quarter, operating expenses increased, driven by increases in variable servicing costs associated with growth in our receivables as well as growth in both the number of employees and inflationary compensation pressure. Marketing costs, corresponding to growth in our accounts served also contributed to increases for the quarter.
We expect increased levels of expenditures associated with anticipated growth in private label credit and general purpose credit card operations. These expenses will primarily relate to the variable costs of marketing efforts and card and loan servicing expenses associated with new receivable acquisitions.
Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders
Net income attributable to common shareholders increased 13.0% to
Share Repurchases
We repurchased and retired 575,156 shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of
We will continue to evaluate the best use of our capital to increase shareholder value over time.
About
Empowering Better Financial Outcomes for Everyday Americans
Atlanticus™ technology enables bank, retail, and healthcare partners to offer more inclusive financial services to everyday Americans through the use of proprietary analytics. We apply the experience gained and infrastructure built from servicing over 20 million customers and over
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current views with respect to, among other things, its business, long-term growth plans and opportunities, operations, financial performance, revenue, amount and pace of growth of managed receivables, underwriting approach, total interest income and related fees and charges, debt financing, liquidity, interest rates, interest expense, operating expense, fair value of receivables, credit conditions, consumer spending, and the economy. You generally can identify these statements by the use of words such as outlook, potential, continue, may, seek, approximately, predict, believe, expect, plan, intend, estimate or anticipate and similar expressions or the negative versions of these words or comparable words, as well as future or conditional verbs such as will, should, would, likely and could. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those risks described in the Company's filings with the
Contact:
Investor Relations
(770) 828-2000
investors@atlanticus.com
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents (including | $ | 339,338 | $ | 384,984 | |||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents (including | 44,315 | 48,208 | |||||
Loans, interest and fees receivable: | |||||||
Loans at fair value (including | 2,173,759 | 1,817,976 | |||||
Loans at amortized cost | 118,045 | 105,267 | |||||
Allowances for credit losses | (1,759 | ) | (1,643 | ) | |||
Deferred revenue | (17,861 | ) | (16,190 | ) | |||
Net loans, interest and fees receivable | 2,272,184 | 1,905,410 | |||||
Property at cost, net of depreciation | 11,445 | 10,013 | |||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 11,310 | 11,782 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 27,853 | 27,417 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 2,706,445 | $ | 2,387,814 | |||
Liabilities | |||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 61,634 | $ | 44,332 | |||
Operating lease liabilities | 20,180 | 20,112 | |||||
Notes payable, net (including | 1,861,685 | 1,653,306 | |||||
Senior notes, net | 144,453 | 144,385 | |||||
Income tax liability | 85,826 | 60,689 | |||||
Total liabilities | 2,173,778 | 1,922,824 | |||||
Commitments and contingencies | |||||||
Preferred stock, no par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized: | |||||||
Series A preferred stock, 400,000 shares issued and outstanding at | 40,000 | 40,000 | |||||
Class B preferred units issued to noncontrolling interests | 100,250 | 99,950 | |||||
Shareholders' Equity | |||||||
Series B preferred stock, no par value, 3,256,561 shares issued and outstanding at | — | — | |||||
Common stock, no par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized: 14,603,563 and 14,453,415 shares issued and outstanding at | — | — | |||||
Paid-in capital | 87,415 | 121,996 | |||||
Retained earnings | 307,260 | 204,415 | |||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 394,675 | 326,411 | |||||
Noncontrolling interests | (2,258 | ) | (1,371 | ) | |||
Total equity | 392,417 | 325,040 | |||||
Total liabilities, shareholders’ equity and temporary equity | $ | 2,706,445 | $ | 2,387,814 | |||
(1) Both the Series A preferred stock and the Series B preferred stock have no par value and are part of the same aggregate 10,000,000 shares authorized
Consolidated Statements of Income (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) | |||||||
For the Year Ended | |||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Revenue: | |||||||
Consumer loans, including past due fees | $ | 879,123 | $ | 786,235 | |||
Fees and related income on earning assets | 238,775 | 217,071 | |||||
Other revenue | 37,348 | 42,798 | |||||
Total operating revenue, net | 1,155,246 | 1,046,104 | |||||
Other non-operating revenue | 630 | 809 | |||||
Total revenue | 1,155,876 | 1,046,913 | |||||
Interest expense | (109,342 | ) | (81,851 | ) | |||
Provision for credit losses | (2,152 | ) | (1,252 | ) | |||
Changes in fair value of loans | (689,577 | ) | (577,069 | ) | |||
Net margin | 354,805 | 386,741 | |||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||
Salaries and benefits | 43,906 | 43,063 | |||||
Card and loan servicing | 100,620 | 95,428 | |||||
Marketing and solicitation | 52,421 | 62,403 | |||||
Depreciation | 2,560 | 2,175 | |||||
Other | 26,740 | 34,400 | |||||
Total operating expenses | 226,247 | 237,469 | |||||
Income before income taxes | 128,558 | 149,272 | |||||
Income tax expense | (26,604 | ) | (14,660 | ) | |||
Net income | 101,954 | 134,612 | |||||
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | 891 | 985 | |||||
Net income attributable to controlling interests | 102,845 | 135,597 | |||||
Preferred stock and preferred unit dividends and discount accretion | (25,198 | ) | (25,076 | ) | |||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ | 77,647 | $ | 110,521 | |||
Net income attributable to common shareholders per common share—basic | $ | 5.35 | $ | 7.55 | |||
Net income attributable to common shareholders per common share—diluted | $ | 4.24 | $ | 5.83 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Temporary Equity For the Years Ended (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series B Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Temporary Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares Issued | Amount | Shares Issued | Amount | Retained Earnings (Deficit) | Non controlling Interests | Total Equity | Series A Preferred Stock | Class B Preferred Units | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at | 3,188,533 | $ | — | 14,804,408 | $ | — | $ | 227,763 | $ | 60,236 | $ | (500 | ) | $ | 287,499 | $ | 40,000 | $ | 99,650 | ||||||||||||||
Cumulative effects from adoption of the CECL standard | — | — | — | — | — | 8,582 | — | 8,582 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Accretion of discount associated with issuance of subsidiary equity | — | — | — | — | (300 | ) | — | — | (300 | ) | — | 300 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Discount associated with repurchase of preferred stock | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | 18 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred stock and preferred unit dividends | — | — | — | — | (24,794 | ) | — | — | (24,794 | ) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Stock option exercises and proceeds related thereto | — | — | 1,211,141 | — | 3,731 | — | — | 3,731 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Compensatory stock issuances, net of forfeitures | — | — | 112,027 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of series B preferred stock, net | 19,607 | — | — | — | 437 | — | — | 437 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Contributions by owners of noncontrolling interests | — | — | — | — | — | — | 114 | 114 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation costs | — | — | — | — | 4,167 | — | — | 4,167 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemption and retirement of preferred shares | (3,500 | ) | — | — | — | (87 | ) | — | — | (87 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Redemption and retirement of common shares | — | — | (1,674,161 | ) | — | (88,939 | ) | — | — | (88,939 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | — | — | — | — | — | 135,597 | (985 | ) | 134,612 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at | 3,204,640 | $ | — | 14,453,415 | $ | — | $ | 121,996 | $ | 204,415 | $ | (1,371 | ) | $ | 325,040 | $ | 40,000 | $ | 99,950 | ||||||||||||||
Accretion of discount associated with issuance of subsidiary equity | — | — | — | — | (300 | ) | — | — | (300 | ) | — | 300 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Discount associated with repurchase of preferred stock | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 16 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred stock and preferred unit dividends | — | — | — | — | (24,914 | ) | — | — | (24,914 | ) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Stock option exercises and proceeds related thereto | — | — | 576,758 | — | 3,405 | — | — | 3,405 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Compensatory stock issuances, net of forfeitures | — | — | 148,546 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of series B preferred stock, net | 53,727 | — | — | — | 1,118 | — | — | 1,118 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Contributions by owners of noncontrolling interests | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation costs | — | — | — | — | 3,783 | — | — | 3,783 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemption and retirement of preferred shares | (1,806 | ) | — | — | — | (45 | ) | — | — | (45 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Redemption and retirement of common shares | — | — | (575,156 | ) | — | (17,644 | ) | — | — | (17,644 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | — | — | — | — | — | 102,845 | (891 | ) | 101,954 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at | 3,256,561 | $ | — | 14,603,563 | $ | — | $ | 87,415 | $ | 307,260 | $ | (2,258 | ) | $ | 392,417 | $ | 40,000 | $ | 100,250 |
Additional Information
Additional trends and data with respect to our private label credit and general purpose credit card receivables can be found in our latest Form 10-K filing with the
Calculation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release presents information about managed receivables, which is a non-GAAP financial measure provided as a supplement to the results provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in
These non-GAAP financial measures are presented for supplemental informational purposes only. These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures or the calculation of the non-GAAP financial measures are provided below for each of the fiscal periods indicated.
These non-GAAP financial measures include only the performance of those receivables underlying consolidated subsidiaries (for receivables carried at amortized cost basis and fair value) and exclude the performance of receivables held by our former equity method investee. As the receivables underlying our former equity method investee reflect a small and diminishing portion of our overall receivables base, we do not believe their inclusion or exclusion in the overall results is material. Additionally, we calculate average managed receivables based on the quarter-end balances.
The comparison of non-GAAP managed receivables to our GAAP financial statements requires an understanding that managed receivables reflect the face value of loans, interest and fees receivable without any consideration for potential credit losses or other adjustments to reflect fair value.
A reconciliation of Loans at fair value to Loans at amortized cost is as follows:
At or for the Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in Millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loans at fair value | $ | 2,173.8 | $ | 2,050.0 | $ | 1,916.1 | $ | 1,795.6 | $ | 1,818.0 | $ | 1,728.1 | $ | 1,616.9 | $ | 1,405.8 | ||||||||
Fair value mark against receivable (2) | $ | 237.5 | $ | 265.2 | $ | 257.9 | $ | 260.1 | $ | 302.1 | $ | 322.3 | $ | 293.0 | $ | 272.9 | ||||||||
Loans at amortized cost | $ | 2,411.3 | $ | 2,315.2 | $ | 2,174.0 | $ | 2,055.7 | $ | 2,120.1 | $ | 2,050.4 | $ | 1,909.9 | $ | 1,678.7 | ||||||||
Total managed receivables | $ | 2,411.3 | $ | 2,315.2 | $ | 2,174.0 | $ | 2,055.7 | $ | 2,120.1 | $ | 2,050.4 | $ | 1,909.9 | $ | 1,678.7 | ||||||||
Fair value to face value ratio (3) | 90.2 | % | 88.5 | % | 88.1 | % | 87.3 | % | 85.8 | % | 84.3 | % | 84.7 | % | 83.7 | % |
(1 | ) | We elected the fair value option to account for certain loans receivable associated with our private label credit and general purpose credit card platform that were acquired on or after |
(2 | ) | The fair value mark against receivables reflects the difference between the face value of a receivable and the net present value of the expected cash flows associated with that receivable. |
(3 | ) | The Fair value to face value ratio is calculated using Loans at fair value as the numerator, and Loans at amortized cost as the denominator. |
A reconciliation of our operating revenues, net of finance and fee charge-offs, to comparable amounts used in our calculation of Total managed yield is as follows:
At or for the Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in Millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Consumer loans, including past due fees | $ | 214.6 | $ | 214.6 | $ | 210.3 | $ | 200.5 | $ | 202.9 | $ | 208.9 | $ | 182.8 | $ | 156.5 | ||||||||
Fees and related income on earning assets | 71.7 | 59.8 | 62.9 | 44.3 | 48.0 | 48.5 | 65.8 | 54.7 | ||||||||||||||||
Other revenue | 12.0 | 10.2 | 7.6 | 6.7 | 8.5 | 11.1 | 12.2 | 10.0 | ||||||||||||||||
Total operating revenue – Caas Segment | 298.3 | 284.6 | 280.8 | 251.5 | 259.4 | 268.5 | 260.8 | 221.2 | ||||||||||||||||
Adjustments due to acceleration of merchant fee discount amortization under fair value accounting | 6.5 | (6.8 | ) | (10.6 | ) | (0.5 | ) | 3.4 | (7.9 | ) | (12.1 | ) | 1.8 | |||||||||||
Adjustments due to acceleration of annual fees recognition under fair value accounting | (12.6 | ) | (3.1 | ) | (9.8 | ) | 7.3 | 7.9 | 10.0 | (6.6 | ) | (1.3 | ) | |||||||||||
Removal of finance charge-offs | (59.5 | ) | (47.1 | ) | (54.2 | ) | (61.7 | ) | (58.3 | ) | (45.3 | ) | (41.2 | ) | (32.5 | ) | ||||||||
Total managed yield | $ | 232.7 | $ | 227.6 | $ | 206.2 | $ | 196.6 | $ | 212.4 | $ | 225.3 | $ | 200.9 | $ | 189.2 |
The calculation of Combined principal net charge-offs is as follows:
2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in Millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charge-offs on loans at fair value | $ | 215.2 | $ | 173.5 | $ | 180.0 | $ | 191.9 | $ | 182.3 | $ | 134.4 | $ | 126.5 | $ | 101.3 | ||||||||
Gross charge-offs on non-fair value accounts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
Finance charge-offs (2) | (59.5 | ) | (47.1 | ) | (54.2 | ) | (61.7 | ) | (58.3 | ) | (45.3 | ) | (41.2 | ) | (32.5 | ) | ||||||||
Recoveries on non-fair value accounts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
Combined principal net charge-offs | $ | 155.7 | $ | 126.4 | $ | 125.8 | $ | 130.2 | $ | 124.0 | $ | 89.1 | $ | 85.3 | $ | 68.8 |
(1 | ) | On |
(2 | ) | Finance charge-offs are included as a component of our Provision for credit losses and Changes in fair value of loans in the consolidated statements of income. |
Source:
2024 GlobeNewswire, Inc., source