World Acceptance Corporation Reports Fiscal 2020 Second Quarter Results

GREENVILLE, S.C.--()--World Acceptance Corporation (NASDAQ: WRLD) today reported financial results for its second fiscal quarter and six months ended September 30, 2019.

Portfolio results

As previously disclosed, we sold our Mexico operations effective July 1, 2018. As a result of the sale, we have classified the Mexico business as discontinued operations, and the US business as continuing operations on the statements of operations for the applicable periods.

Gross loans outstanding in the US, which are reported as continuing operations, increased to $1.27 billion as of September 30, 2019, a 13.1% increase from the $1.13 billion of gross loans outstanding as of September 30, 2018. This is compared to a 10.0% increase for the comparable period ended September 30, 2018. Year-to-date, the gross loans outstanding in the US increased 13.0% as of September 30, 2019, compared to an increase of 12.2% for the comparable period ended September 30, 2018.

Our customer base increased by 11.8% year-over-year as of September 30, 2019, compared to 7.0% growth for the twelve months ended September 30, 2018. Year-to-date, our customer base increased 10.7% from March 31, 2019, compared to an increase of 8.3% for the same period ended September 30, 2018. During the quarter ended September 30, 2019, the number of unique borrowers in the portfolio increased by 4.8% compared to an increase of 5.5% during the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

As of September 30, 2019, we had 1,234 branches open. For branches open for both years, same store gross loans increased 11.3% in the twelve months ended September 30, 2019, compared to a 10.0% increase for the same period ended September 30, 2018. For branches open in both years, the customer base on September 30, 2019, increased 9.3% year-over-year compared to a 6.5% increase for the twelve months ended September 30, 2018. Additionally, for the branches open for both years, the average customer base per store increased by 8.3% year-over-year.

Second quarter refinance loan volume increased 12.1% over the same quarter of the prior year compared to a 2.6% increase in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 over the same quarter of the prior year. This is the largest refinance loan volume in the second quarter since fiscal 2015. Second quarter former customer loan volume increased 4.9% over the same quarter of the prior year compared to a 2.4% increase in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 over the same quarter of the prior year. Second quarter new customer loan volume increased 3.6% over the same quarter of the prior year compared to a 13.4% increase in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 over the same quarter of the prior year. Individually, the second quarter former and new customer loan volumes were the largest on Company record.

Three-month financial results

Net income from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased $9.8 million, or 70.0%, to $4.2 million when compared to net income of $14.1 million for the same quarter of the prior year. The primary driver in the decrease of net income is a $12.6 million increase in provision for losses, when comparing the second quarter of fiscal 2020 to the second quarter of fiscal 2019. We continue to believe the significant portfolio growth, discussed above, will negatively impact the provision as long as there is significant growth in new customers, relative to the whole portfolio (more details below). We expect the earnings from investment in new customers over the last several quarters to exceed our cost of capital and be in line with long-term expectations.

Net income from continuing operations per diluted share decreased 66.0% to $0.51 in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 when compared to $1.51 for the same quarter of the prior year. Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased to $4.2 million from the $14.5 million reported for the same quarter of the prior year. Net income per diluted share decreased to $0.51 in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 from $1.56 in the prior year quarter.

Earnings per share for the quarter benefited from our share repurchase program. The Company repurchased 1,251,103 shares of its common stock on the open market at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $168.2 million during the quarter. This follows a repurchase of 141,077 shares in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $21.8 million. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, the Company repurchased 665,020 shares at an aggregate cost of $74.5 million. The Company had approximately 7.2 million common shares outstanding excluding approximately 0.8 million unvested restricted shares as of September 30, 2019.

Total revenues from continuing operations for the second quarter increased to $141.6 million, an 11.4% increase from the $127.1 million reported for the same quarter of the prior year. The revenues from the 1,154 branches open throughout both quarterly periods increased by 10.5%. Interest and fee income increased 11.1%, from $113.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 to $126.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020, primarily due to an increase in average earning loans. Insurance and other income increased by 13.6% to $15.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 compared to $13.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 primarily due to the increased loan volume.

Accounts that were 61 days or more past due increased to 6.4% on a recency basis at September 30, 2019, compared to 5.8% at September 30, 2018. Accounts that were 61 days or more past due on a contractual basis increased to 8.0% at September 30, 2019, compared to 7.5% at September 30, 2018. Our allowance for loan losses compared to net loans was 10.8% at September 30, 2019, compared to 9.6% at September 30, 2018. Recent portfolio acquisitions had a significant impact on delinquency as of the end of the quarter. We have included a table of both the total portfolio delinquency as well as the portfolio excluding acquired accounts that have not paid off, charged-off or refinanced as of the end of the quarter.

 

 

September 30, 2019

 

September 30, 2018

 

 

Total Portfolio

 

Rate

 

Excluding Acquired Loans

 

Rate

 

Total Portfolio

 

Rate

Days Past Due

       

 

 

30-60

 

$54,101,357

 

4.2%

 

$48,809,084

 

3.9%

 

$44,470,880

 

3.9%

61-90

 

$30,534,482

 

2.4%

 

$28,549,522

 

2.3%

 

$24,995,370

 

2.2%

91 plus

 

$51,155,872

 

4.0%

 

$46,000,387

 

3.7%

 

$40,612,083

 

3.6%

61 plus

 

$81,690,354

 

6.4%

 

$74,549,909

 

6.0%

 

$65,607,453

 

5.8%

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average net loans on an annualized basis increased from 14.4% in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 to 16.8% in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. The provision for loan losses in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 increased by $12.6 million, or 31.2%, when compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2019. Net charge-offs in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 increased $9.8 million when compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2019. There was a $0.4 million increase in the provision due to an increase during the quarter of accounts 91 days past due when comparing the second quarter of fiscal 2020 to the second quarter of fiscal 2019. The Company also recorded an additional $5.0 million of provision due to the higher front-end delinquency, which was largely driven by acquisitions as illustrated above.

The rapid growth of the portfolio during the prior two years has dramatically shifted the portfolio weighting of customers who are new to the Company. As of September 30, 2019, $456.5 million of the total loan portfolio is with customers who have been with the company less than two years, a 56.0% increase from the average of the fiscal year 2016-2018 second quarter portfolios. During that same period, the portfolio of customers with more than 2 years tenure has increased approximately 11.3% to $817.7 million. Both the growth in the less than two year tenure portfolio and the increase in weighting of that population in the portfolio mix have contributed to the increase in delinquencies and charge-offs. The tables below illustrate the changes in the portfolio as well as the relative impact on charge-offs over the last five years.

Gross Loan Balance by Customer Tenure at Origination

Period Ended

 

Less Than 2 Years

 

More Than 2 Years

 

Total

9/30/2015

 

$311,048,514

 

$755,681,520

 

$1,066,730,033

9/30/2016

 

$273,902,397

 

$718,179,163

 

$992,081,560

9/30/2017

 

$293,153,825

 

$730,770,924

 

$1,023,924,750

9/30/2018

 

$360,864,115

 

$765,926,024

 

$1,126,790,139

9/30/2019

 

$456,526,235

 

$817,682,263

 

$1,274,208,497

Year-over-Year Change in Gross Loan Balance by Customer Tenure at Origination

Period Ended

< 2 Years

> 2 Years

Total

9/30/2015

$(20,055,362)

$ 3,274,518

$(16,780,844)

9/30/2016

$(37,146,117)

$ (37,502,357)

$(74,648,474)

9/30/2017

$19,251,429

$ 12,591,761

$31,843,190

9/30/2018

$67,710,290

$ 35,155,099

$102,865,389

9/30/2019

$95,662,119

$ 51,756,239

$147,418,358

Year-over-Year Change in Gross Loan Balance by Customer Tenure at Origination

Period Ended

Less Than 2 Years

More Than 2 Years

Total

9/30/2015

(6.1)%

0.4%

(1.5)%

9/30/2016

(11.9)%

(5.0)%

(7.0)%

9/30/2017

7.0%

1.8%

3.2%

9/30/2018

23.1%

4.8%

10.0%

9/30/2019

26.5%

6.8%

13.1%

Portfolio Mix by Customer Tenure at Origination

Period Ended

 

Less Than 2 Years

 

More Than 2 Years

9/30/2015

 

29.2%

 

70.8%

9/30/2016

 

27.6%

 

72.4%

9/30/2017

 

28.6%

 

71.4%

9/30/2018

 

32.0%

 

68.0%

9/30/2019

 

35.8%

 

64.2%

Charge-off Rates by Tenure Since the Second Quarter of FY2016

Period Ended

Less Than 2 Years

More Than 2 Years

Total

9/30/2015

1.74

0.70

1.00

9/30/2016

2.16

0.86

1.22

9/30/2017

1.83

0.79

1.09

9/30/2018

1.67

0.74

1.04

9/30/2019

1.81

0.76

1.13

As illustrated above, charge-off rates for customers new to the Company are up moderately in the second quarter relative to the same period last year, but generally in line with the prior four years. For comparison, both customer groups performed similarly or better than the same period of fiscal 2018, but had a higher overall charge-off rate, due to the increased weighting of customers who are new to the Company. We continue to expect the return on these pools of customers to exceed our cost of capital and be in line with our long-term performance expectations.

General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses amounted to $78.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 compared to $64.9 million in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of revenues, G&A expenses increased from 51.1% during the second quarter of fiscal 2019 to 55.4% during the second quarter of fiscal 2020. G&A expenses per average open branch increased by 17.1% when comparing the two fiscal quarters, primarily due to an increase in personnel expense.

Personnel expense increased $9.7 million, or 24.3%, during the second quarter of fiscal 2020, as compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2019. Approximately $6.7 million of the increase is due to additional share-based compensation associated with the long-term incentive program and director equity awards, as previously disclosed. Salary and benefit expense increased approximately $3.4 million, or 10.5% when comparing the two quarterly periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, as a result of an increase in headcount. Our headcount as of September 30, 2019, increased 10.2% compared to September 30, 2018, primarily driven by acquisitions during the twelve months ended September 30, 2019. However, our accounts per employee have increased by approximately 3.0% over the same twelve months. Additionally, for branches open for both years, the number of active customers per store at the end of the second quarter increased 8.3% year-over-year.

Interest expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, increased by $2.2 million, or 52.2%, from the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The increase in interest expense is due to a 76.8% increase in the average debt outstanding, from $237.4 million to $419.8 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2018 and 2019, respectively. The increase due to average debt was offset by a reduction in the benchmark interest rate and interest margin on the credit facility. The Company’s debt to equity ratio increased to 1.3:1 at September 30, 2019, from 0.4:1 at September 30, 2018.

Other key return ratios for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 included a 6.0% return on average assets and a return on average equity of 10.8% (both on a trailing 12-month basis).

Six-month results

In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the US, we recognized a $31.3 million cumulative foreign currency translation loss in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, as a result of classifying our Mexico operations as held for sale. Due to this impairment in the prior year, net income for the six-months ended September 30, 2019, increased $19.8 million to $12.8 million compared to the $7.0 million loss reported for the same period of the prior year. This resulted in net income of $1.50 per diluted share for the six months ended September 30, 2019, compared to the net loss of $0.75 per diluted share in the prior year period.

Total revenues in the US for the first six-months of fiscal 2020 increased 12.0% to $280.0 million compared to $249.9 million during the corresponding period of the previous year. Annualized net charge-offs as a percent of average net loans increased from 14.7% during the first six-months of fiscal 2019 to 16.6% for the first six-months of fiscal 2020.

Other matters

As previously disclosed, we retained outside legal counsel and forensic accountants, upon receipt of an anonymous letter regarding compliance matters, to conduct an investigation of our operations in Mexico. The investigation focuses on the legality under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and certain local laws of certain payments related to loans, the maintenance of the Company’s books and records associated with such payments, and the treatment of compensation matters for certain employees. We voluntarily contacted the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) in June 2017 to advise both agencies that an investigation was underway. We are committed to compliance with applicable laws and regulations and intend to cooperate fully with both the SEC and the DOJ.

About World Acceptance Corporation

World Acceptance Corporation is one of the largest small-loan consumer finance companies, operating 1,234 branches in sixteen states as of September 30, 2019.

Second quarter conference call

The senior management of World Acceptance Corporation will be discussing these results in its quarterly conference call to be held at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time today. A simulcast of the conference call will be available on the Internet at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1118/32136. The call will be available for replay on the Internet for approximately 30 days.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

This press release may contain various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that represent the Company’s current expectations or beliefs concerning future events. Statements other than those of historical fact, as well as those identified by the words “anticipate,” “estimate,” intend,” “plan,” “expect,” “project,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could” and any variation of the foregoing and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are about matters that are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company’s actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results or performance to differ from the expectations expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include the following: recently enacted, proposed or future legislation and the manner in which it is implemented, including the effect of changes in tax law, such as the effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was enacted on December 22, 2017; the nature and scope of regulatory authority, particularly discretionary authority, that may be exercised by regulators, including, but not limited to, the SEC, DOJ, U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and individual state regulators having jurisdiction over the Company; the unpredictable nature of regulatory proceedings and litigation; developments in, and the outcome of, our ongoing investigation into certain transactions and payments in Mexico, including any legal proceedings or government enforcement actions which could arise out of the matters under review, and any remedial actions we may take in connection therewith; any determinations, findings, claims or actions made or taken by regulators or other third parties in connection with or resulting from our ongoing investigation or the SEC's formal order of investigation; the sale of our Mexico subsidiaries, including claims or litigation resulting therefrom; uncertainties associated with management turnover and the effective succession of senior management; the impact of changes in accounting rules and regulations, or their interpretation or application, which could materially and adversely affect the Company’s reported consolidated financial statements or necessitate material delays or changes in the issuance of the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements; the Company's assessment of its internal control over financial reporting; changes in interest rates; risks relating to expansion; risks inherent in making loans, including repayment risks and value of collateral; cybersecurity threats, including the potential misappropriation of assets or sensitive information, corruption of data or operational disruption; our dependence on debt and the potential impact of limitations in the Company’s amended revolving credit facility; the timing and amount of revenues that may be recognized by the Company; changes in current revenue and expense trends (including trends affecting delinquency and charge-offs); changes in the Company’s markets and general changes in the economy (particularly in the markets served by the Company).

These and other factors are discussed in greater detail in Part I, Item 1A,“Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019 filed with the SEC and the Company’s other reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC from time to time. World Acceptance Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements it makes. The Company is also not responsible for updating the information contained in this press release beyond the publication date, or for changes made to this document by wire services or Internet services.

 

WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

Three months ended

September 30,

 

Six months ended

September 30,

 

2019

 

2018

 

2019

 

2018

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and fee income

$

126,091

 

 

$

113,490

 

 

$

249,002

 

 

$

221,934

 

Insurance income, net and other income

15,482

 

 

13,626

 

 

31,014

 

 

27,971

 

Total revenues

141,573

 

 

127,116

 

 

280,016

 

 

249,905

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for loan losses

52,968

 

 

40,359

 

 

94,259

 

 

70,949

 

General and administrative expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel

49,611

 

 

39,906

 

 

102,070

 

 

80,700

 

Occupancy and equipment

13,554

 

 

11,901

 

 

26,911

 

 

23,710

 

Advertising

6,270

 

 

5,116

 

 

12,380

 

 

9,956

 

Amortization of intangible assets

1,258

 

 

275

 

 

2,213

 

 

539

 

Other

7,759

 

 

7,738

 

 

16,655

 

 

17,808

 

Total general and administrative expenses

78,452

 

 

64,936

 

 

160,229

 

 

132,713

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

6,328

 

 

4,158

 

 

10,731

 

 

8,383

 

Total expenses

137,748

 

 

109,453

 

 

265,219

 

 

212,045

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

3,825

 

 

17,663

 

 

14,797

 

 

37,860

 

Income taxes (benefit)

(395

)

 

3,604

 

 

1,968

 

 

8,163

 

Net income from continuing operations

4,220

 

 

14,059

 

 

12,829

 

 

29,697

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discontinued operations (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations before impairment loss and income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,342

 

Impairment gain (loss)

 

 

629

 

 

 

 

(38,378

)

Income taxes

 

 

150

 

 

 

 

627

 

Net income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

 

479

 

 

 

 

(36,663

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$

4,220

 

 

$

14,538

 

 

$

12,829

 

 

$

(6,966

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per common share from continuing operations, diluted

$

0.51

 

 

$

1.51

 

 

$

1.50

 

 

$

3.20

 

Net income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations, diluted

$

 

 

$

0.05

 

 

$

 

 

$

(3.95

)

Net income (loss) income per common share, diluted

$

0.51

 

 

$

1.56

 

 

$

1.50

 

 

$

(0.75

)

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

8,202

 

 

9,293

 

 

8,532

 

 

9,273

 

__________________________________________

(1) As previously disclosed, we sold our Mexico operations effective July 1, 2018. As a result of the sale, we have classified the Mexico business as discontinued operations on the statements of operations for the applicable periods.
 

WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited and in thousands)

 

 

September 30, 2019

 

March 31, 2019

 

September 30, 2018

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

10,225

 

 

$

9,335

 

 

$

5,596

 

Gross loans receivable

1,274,147

 

 

1,127,957

 

 

1,126,793

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

Unearned interest, insurance and fees

(334,327

)

 

(290,813

)

 

(297,699

)

Allowance for loan losses

(101,469

)

 

(81,520

)

 

(79,310

)

Loans receivable, net

838,351

 

 

755,624

 

 

749,784

 

Right-of-use asset

119,403

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

27,076

 

 

25,424

 

 

23,816

 

Deferred income taxes, net

31,899

 

 

23,832

 

 

22,892

 

Other assets, net

16,151

 

 

18,399

 

 

20,970

 

Goodwill

7,262

 

 

7,034

 

 

7,034

 

Intangible assets, net

27,449

 

 

15,340

 

 

8,857

 

Total assets

$

1,077,816

 

 

$

854,988

 

 

$

838,949

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Senior notes payable

518,831

 

 

251,940

 

 

230,190

 

Income taxes payable

6,850

 

 

11,550

 

 

13,565

 

Lease liability

120,130

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

37,061

 

 

39,381

 

 

30,203

 

Total liabilities

682,872

 

 

302,871

 

 

273,958

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders' equity

394,944

 

 

552,117

 

 

564,991

 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$

1,077,816

 

 

$

854,988

 

 

$

838,949

 

 

WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED STATISTICS (1)

(unaudited and in thousands, except percentages and branches)

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Six months ended September 30,

 

2019

 

2018

 

2019

 

2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross loans receivable

$

1,274,147

 

 

$

1,126,793

 

 

$

1,274,147

 

 

$

1,126,793

 

Average gross loans receivable (2)

1,253,249

 

 

1,098,797

 

 

1,212,281

 

 

1,063,148

 

Net loans receivable (3)

939,820

 

 

829,094

 

 

939,820

 

 

829,094

 

Average net loans receivable (4)

923,046

 

 

807,450

 

 

894,935

 

 

783,708

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses as a percentage of total revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for loan losses

37.4

%

 

31.7

%

 

33.7

%

 

28.4

%

General and administrative

55.4

%

 

51.1

%

 

57.2

%

 

53.1

%

Interest expense

4.5

%

 

3.3

%

 

3.8

%

 

3.4

%

Operating income as a % of total revenue (5)

7.2

%

 

17.2

%

 

9.1

%

 

18.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loan volume

729,775

 

 

647,271

 

 

1,481,923

 

 

1,319,512

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net charge-offs as percent of average net loans receivable

16.8

%

 

14.4

%

 

16.6

%

 

14.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets (trailing 12 months)

6.0

%

 

6.9

%

 

6.0

%

 

6.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average equity (trailing 12 months)

10.8

%

 

11.0

%

 

10.8

%

 

11.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Branches opened or acquired (merged or closed), net

16

 

 

8

 

 

41

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Branches open (at period end)

1,234

 

 

1,189

 

 

1,234

 

 

1,189

 

__________________________________________

(1)

As previously disclosed, we sold our Mexico operations effective July 1, 2018. As a result of the sale, we have classified the Mexico business as discontinued operations on the statements of operations for the applicable periods.

(2)

Average gross loans receivable have been determined by averaging month-end gross loans receivable over the indicated period, excluding tax advances.

(3)

Net loans receivable is defined as gross loans receivable less unearned interest and deferred fees.

(4)

Average net loans receivable have been determined by averaging month-end gross loans receivable less unearned interest and deferred fees over the indicated period, excluding tax advances.

(5)

Operating income is computed as total revenues less provision for loan losses and general and administrative expenses.

 

Contacts

John L. Calmes, Jr.
Chief Financial and Strategy Officer
(864) 298-9800

$Cashtags

Contacts

John L. Calmes, Jr.
Chief Financial and Strategy Officer
(864) 298-9800