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Credit Acceptance Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Earnings

January 30, 2020 4:03 PM

Southfield, Michigan, Jan. 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Credit Acceptance Corporation (Nasdaq: CACC) (referred to as the “Company”, “Credit Acceptance”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) today announced consolidated net income of $161.9 million, or $8.60 per diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2019 compared to consolidated net income of $151.9 million, or $7.79 per diluted share, for the same period in 2018. For the year ended December 31, 2019, consolidated net income was $656.1 million, or $34.57 per diluted share, compared to consolidated net income of $574.0 million, or $29.39 per diluted share, for the same period in 2018.

Adjusted net income, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the three months ended December 31, 2019 was $173.5 million, or $9.22 per diluted share, compared to $153.0 million, or $7.85 per diluted share, for the same period in 2018. For the year ended December 31, 2019, adjusted net income was $658.4 million, or $34.70 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $554.5 million, or $28.39 per diluted share, for the same period in 2018.

Webcast Details

We will host a webcast on January 30, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to answer questions related to our fourth quarter and full year results. The webcast can be accessed live by visiting the “Investor Relations” section of our website at ir.creditacceptance.com or by dialing 877-303-2904. Additionally, a replay and transcript of the webcast will be archived in the “Investor Relations” section of our website.


Consumer Loan Metrics

Dealers assign retail installment contracts (referred to as “Consumer Loans”) to Credit Acceptance. At the time a Consumer Loan is submitted to us for assignment, we forecast future expected cash flows from the Consumer Loan. Based on the amount and timing of these forecasts and expected expense levels, an advance or one-time purchase payment is made to the related dealer at a price designed to maximize economic profit, a non-GAAP financial measure that considers our return on capital, our cost of capital and the amount of capital invested.

We use a statistical model to estimate the expected collection rate for each Consumer Loan at the time of assignment. We continue to evaluate the expected collection rate of each Consumer Loan subsequent to assignment. Our evaluation becomes more accurate as the Consumer Loans age, as we use actual performance data in our forecast. By comparing our current expected collection rate for each Consumer Loan with the rate we projected at the time of assignment, we are able to assess the accuracy of our initial forecast. The following table compares our forecast of Consumer Loan collection rates as of December 31, 2019 with the forecasts as of September 30, 2019, as of December 31, 2018 and at the time of assignment, segmented by year of assignment:

Forecasted Collection Percentage as of (1) Current Forecast Variance from
Consumer Loan Assignment Year December 31, 2019 September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Initial
Forecast
September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Initial
Forecast
2010 77.8% 77.7% 77.7% 73.6% 0.1% 0.1% 4.2%
2011 74.8% 74.8% 74.7% 72.5% 0.0% 0.1% 2.3%
2012 73.9% 73.9% 73.8% 71.4% 0.0% 0.1% 2.5%
2013 73.5% 73.5% 73.5% 72.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.5%
2014 71.7% 71.8% 71.7% 71.8% -0.1% 0.0% -0.1%
2015 65.4% 65.5% 65.4% 67.7% -0.1% 0.0% -2.3%
2016 64.1% 64.1% 64.2% 65.4% 0.0% -0.1% -1.3%
2017 64.8% 65.0% 65.5% 64.0% -0.2% -0.7% 0.8%
2018 65.1% 65.4% 65.0% 63.6% -0.3% 0.1% 1.5%
2019 (2) 64.6% 64.8% 64.0% -0.2% 0.6%

(1) Represents the total forecasted collections we expect to collect on the Consumer Loans as a percentage of the repayments that we were contractually owed on the Consumer Loans at the time of assignment. Contractual repayments include both principal and interest. Forecasted collection rates are negatively impacted by canceled Consumer Loans as the contractual amount owed is not removed from the denominator for purposes of computing forecasted collection rates in the table.

(2) The forecasted collection rate for 2019 Consumer Loans as of December 31, 2019 includes both Consumer Loans that were in our portfolio as of September 30, 2019 and Consumer Loans assigned during the most recent quarter. The following table provides forecasted collection rates for each of these segments:

Forecasted Collection Percentage as of Current Forecast Variance from
2019 Consumer Loan Assignment Period December 31, 2019 September 30, 2019 Initial Forecast September 30, 2019 Initial Forecast
January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019 64.9% 64.8% 64.1% 0.1% 0.8%
October 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019 63.8% 63.6% 0.2%

Consumer Loans assigned in 2010 through 2013 and 2018 have yielded forecasted collection results materially better than our initial estimates, while Consumer Loans assigned in 2015 and 2016 have yielded forecasted collection results materially worse than our initial estimates. For Consumer Loans assigned in 2014, 2017 and 2019, actual results have been close to our initial estimates. For the three months ended December 31, 2019, forecasted collection rates declined for Consumer Loans assigned in 2017 and 2018 and were generally consistent with expectations at the start of the period for all other assignment years presented. For the year ended December 31, 2019, forecasted collection rates improved for Consumer Loans assigned in 2019, declined for Consumer Loans assigned in 2017 and were generally consistent with expectations at the start of the period for all other assignment years presented.


The changes in forecasted collection rates for the three months and year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 impacted forecasted net cash flows (forecasted collections less forecasted dealer holdback payments) as follows:

(In millions) For the Three Months Ended December 31, For the Years Ended December 31,
Increase (Decrease) in Forecasted Net Cash Flows 2019 2018 2019 2018
Dealer loans $(7.6) $(1.5) $(7.9) $2.0
Purchased loans (10.1) 9.3 22.5 40.3
Total loans $(17.7) $7.8 $14.6 $42.3

The following table presents information on the average Consumer Loan assignment for each of the last 10 years:

Average
Consumer Loan Assignment Year Consumer Loan (1) Advance (2) Initial Loan Term (in months)
2010 $14,480 $6,473 41
2011 15,686 7,137 46
2012 15,468 7,165 47
2013 15,445 7,344 47
2014 15,692 7,492 47
2015 16,354 7,272 50
2016 18,218 7,976 53
2017 20,230 8,746 55
2018 22,158 9,635 57
2019 (3) 23,139 10,174 57

(1) Represents the repayments that we were contractually owed on Consumer Loans at the time of assignment, which include both principal and interest.

(2) Represents advances paid to dealers on Consumer Loans assigned under our portfolio program and one-time payments made to dealers to purchase Consumer Loans assigned under our purchase program. Payments of dealer holdback and accelerated dealer holdback are not included.

(3) The averages for 2019 Consumer Loans include both Consumer Loans that were in our portfolio as of September 30, 2019 and Consumer Loans assigned during the most recent quarter. The following table provides averages for each of these segments:

Average
2019 Consumer Loan Assignment Period Consumer Loan Advance Initial Loan Term (in months)
January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019 $22,942 $10,098 57
October 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019 23,876 10,460 58

Forecasting collection rates accurately at loan inception is difficult. With this in mind, we establish advance rates that are intended to allow us to achieve acceptable levels of profitability, even if collection rates are less than we initially forecast.

The following table presents forecasted Consumer Loan collection rates, advance rates, the spread (the forecasted collection rate less the advance rate), and the percentage of the forecasted collections that had been realized as of December 31, 2019. All amounts, unless otherwise noted, are presented as a percentage of the initial balance of the Consumer Loan (principal + interest). The table includes both dealer loans and purchased loans.

As of December 31, 2019
Consumer Loan Assignment Year Forecasted
Collection %
Advance % (1) Spread % % of Forecast
Realized (2)
2010 77.8% 44.7% 33.1% 99.8%
2011 74.8% 45.5% 29.3% 99.6%
2012 73.9% 46.3% 27.6% 99.3%
2013 73.5% 47.6% 25.9% 98.8%
2014 71.7% 47.7% 24.0% 98.0%
2015 65.4% 44.5% 20.9% 94.5%
2016 64.1% 43.8% 20.3% 84.8%
2017 64.8% 43.2% 21.6% 68.8%
2018 65.1% 43.5% 21.6% 44.9%
2019 (3) 64.6% 44.0% 20.6% 15.4%

(1) Represents advances paid to dealers on Consumer Loans assigned under our portfolio program and one-time payments made to dealers to purchase Consumer Loans assigned under our purchase program as a percentage of the initial balance of the Consumer Loans. Payments of dealer holdback and accelerated dealer holdback are not included.

(2) Presented as a percentage of total forecasted collections.

(3) The forecasted collection rate, advance rate and spread for 2019 Consumer Loans as of December 31, 2019 include both Consumer Loans that were in our portfolio as of September 30, 2019 and Consumer Loans assigned during the most recent quarter. The following table provides forecasted collection rates, advance rates and spreads for each of these segments:

As of December 31, 2019
2019 Consumer Loan Assignment Period Forecasted
Collection %
Advance % Spread %
January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019 64.9% 44.0% 20.9%
October 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019 63.8% 43.8% 20.0%

The risk of a material change in our forecasted collection rate declines as the Consumer Loans age. For 2015 and prior Consumer Loan assignments, the risk of a material forecast variance is modest, as we have currently realized in excess of 90% of the expected collections. Conversely, the forecasted collection rates for more recent Consumer Loan assignments are less certain as a significant portion of our forecast has not been realized.

The spread between the forecasted collection rate and the advance rate has ranged from 20.3% to 33.1%, on an annual basis, over the last 10 years. The spread was at the high end of this range in 2010, when the competitive environment was unusually favorable, and much lower during other years (2015 through 2019) when competition was more intense. The decrease in the spread from 2018 to 2019 was primarily the result of the performance of 2018 Consumer Loans, which has exceeded our initial estimates by a greater margin than those assigned to us in 2019. The decrease in the spread from the first nine months of 2019 to the fourth quarter of 2019 was the result of the performance of Consumer Loans assigned to us during the first nine months of 2019, which has exceeded our initial estimates by a greater margin than those assigned to us during the fourth quarter of 2019, and a change in the mix of Consumer Loan assignments.


The following table compares our forecast of Consumer Loan collection rates as of December 31, 2019 with the forecasts at the time of assignment, for dealer loans and purchased loans separately:

Dealer Loans Purchased Loans
Forecasted Collection Percentage as of (1) Forecasted Collection Percentage as of (1)
Consumer Loan Assignment Year December 31,
2019
Initial
Forecast
Variance December 31,
2019
Initial
Forecast
Variance
2010 77.6% 73.6% 4.0% 78.7% 73.1% 5.6%
2011 74.6% 72.4% 2.2% 76.4% 72.7% 3.7%
2012 73.7% 71.3% 2.4% 75.9% 71.4% 4.5%
2013 73.4% 72.1% 1.3% 74.4% 71.6% 2.8%
2014 71.6% 71.9% -0.3% 72.5% 70.9% 1.6%
2015 64.8% 67.5% -2.7% 69.3% 68.5% 0.8%
2016 63.2% 65.1% -1.9% 66.6% 66.5% 0.1%
2017 64.2% 63.8% 0.4% 66.3% 64.6% 1.7%
2018 64.7% 63.6% 1.1% 66.0% 63.5% 2.5%
2019 64.4% 63.9% 0.5% 65.1% 64.2% 0.9%

(1) The forecasted collection rates presented for dealer loans and purchased loans reflect the Consumer Loan classification at the time of assignment.

The following table presents forecasted Consumer Loan collection rates, advance rates, and the spread (the forecasted collection rate less the advance rate) as of December 31, 2019 for dealer loans and purchased loans separately. All amounts are presented as a percentage of the initial balance of the Consumer Loan (principal + interest).

Dealer Loans Purchased Loans
Consumer Loan Assignment Year Forecasted Collection % (1) Advance % (1)(2) Spread % Forecasted Collection % (1) Advance % (1)(2) Spread %
2010 77.6% 44.4% 33.2% 78.7% 47.3% 31.4%
2011 74.6% 45.1% 29.5% 76.4% 49.3% 27.1%
2012 73.7% 46.0% 27.7% 75.9% 50.0% 25.9%
2013 73.4% 47.2% 26.2% 74.4% 51.5% 22.9%
2014 71.6% 47.2% 24.4% 72.5% 51.8% 20.7%
2015 64.8% 43.4% 21.4% 69.3% 50.2% 19.1%
2016 63.2% 42.1% 21.1% 66.6% 48.6% 18.0%
2017 64.2% 42.1% 22.1% 66.3% 45.8% 20.5%
2018 64.7% 42.7% 22.0% 66.0% 45.2% 20.8%
2019 64.4% 43.1% 21.3% 65.1% 45.6% 19.5%

(1) The forecasted collection rates and advance rates presented for dealer loans and purchased loans reflect the Consumer Loan classification at the time of assignment.

(2) Represents advances paid to dealers on Consumer Loans assigned under our portfolio program and one-time payments made to dealers to purchase Consumer Loans assigned under our purchase program as a percentage of the initial balance of the Consumer Loans. Payments of dealer holdback and accelerated dealer holdback are not included.


Although the advance rate on purchased loans is higher as compared to the advance rate on dealer loans, purchased loans do not require us to pay dealer holdback.

The spread on dealer loans decreased from 22.0% in 2018 to 21.3% in 2019, primarily as a result of the performance of 2018 Consumer Loans in our dealer loan portfolio, which has exceeded our initial estimates by a greater margin than those assigned to us in 2019. The spread on purchased loans decreased from 20.8% in 2018 to 19.5% in 2019, primarily as a result of the performance of 2018 Consumer Loans in our purchased loan portfolio, which has exceeded our initial estimates by a greater margin than those assigned to us in 2019.


Consumer Loan Volume

The following table summarizes changes in Consumer Loan assignment volume in each of the last eight quarters as compared to the same period in the previous year:

Year over Year Percent Change
Three Months Ended Unit Volume Dollar Volume (1)
March 31, 2018 18.5% 32.9%
June 30, 2018 19.8% 34.7%
September 30, 2018 9.4% 20.3%
December 31, 2018 5.9% 12.4%
March 31, 2019 0.4% 5.1%
June 30, 2019 0.0% 5.6%
September 30, 2019 0.4% 7.6%
December 31, 2019 -5.3% 1.1%

(1) Represents advances paid to dealers on Consumer Loans assigned under our portfolio program and one-time payments made to dealers to purchase Consumer Loans assigned under our purchase program. Payments of dealer holdback and accelerated dealer holdback are not included.


Consumer Loan assignment volumes depend on a number of factors including (1) the overall demand for our financing programs, (2) the amount of capital available to fund new loans, and (3) our assessment of the volume that our infrastructure can support. Our pricing strategy is intended to maximize the amount of economic profit we generate, within the confines of capital and infrastructure constraints.

Unit volume declined 5.3% while dollar volume grew 1.1% during the fourth quarter of 2019 as the number of active dealers grew 4.7% while average unit volume per active dealer declined 9.7%. Dollar volume grew while unit volume declined during the fourth quarter of 2019 due to an increase in the average advance paid per unit. This increase was the result of an increase in the average size of the Consumer Loans assigned, primarily due to increases in the average vehicle selling price and average initial loan term and an increase in purchased loans as a percentage of total unit volume.

The following table summarizes the changes in Consumer Loan unit volume and active dealers:

For the Three Months Ended December 31, For the Years Ended December 31,
2019 2018 % Change 2019 2018 % Change
Consumer Loan unit volume78,017 82,353 -5.3% 369,805 373,329 -0.9%
Active dealers (1)9,255 8,838 4.7% 13,399 12,528 7.0%
Average volume per active dealer8.4 9.3 -9.7% 27.6 29.8 -7.4%
Consumer Loan unit volume from dealers active both periods61,119 68,281 -10.5% 322,665 343,091 -6.0%
Dealers active both periods5,949 5,949 9,253 9,253
Average volume per dealer active both periods10.3 11.5 -10.5% 34.9 37.1 -6.0%
Consumer loan unit volume from dealers not active both periods16,898 14,072 20.1% 47,140 30,238 55.9%
Dealers not active both periods3,306 2,889 14.4% 4,146 3,275 26.6%
Average volume per dealer not active both periods5.1 4.9 4.1% 11.4 9.2 23.9%

(1) Active dealers are dealers who have received funding for at least one Consumer Loan during the period.


The following table provides additional information on the changes in Consumer Loan unit volume and active dealers:

For the Three Months Ended December 31, For the Years Ended December 31,
2019 2018 % Change 2019 2018 % Change
Consumer Loan unit volume from new active dealers2,720 3,854 -29.4% 44,938 47,898 -6.2%
New active dealers (1)753 1,032 -27.0% 3,936 4,037 -2.5%
Average volume per new active dealer3.6 3.7 -2.7% 11.4 11.9 -4.2%
Attrition (2)-17.1% -17.2% -8.1% -9.6%

(1) New active dealers are dealers who enrolled in our program and have received funding for their first dealer loan or purchased loan from us during the period.

(2) Attrition is measured according to the following formula: decrease in Consumer Loan unit volume from dealers who have received funding for at least one dealer loan or purchased loan during the comparable period of the prior year but did not receive funding for any dealer loans or purchased loans during the current period divided by prior year comparable period Consumer Loan unit volume.


The following table shows the percentage of Consumer Loans assigned to us as dealer loans and purchased loans for each of the last eight quarters:

Unit Volume Dollar Volume (1)
Three Months Ended Dealer Loans Purchased Loans Dealer Loans Purchased Loans
March 31, 2018 70.1% 29.9% 67.4% 32.6%
June 30, 2018 69.7% 30.3% 66.8% 33.2%
September 30, 2018 69.5% 30.5% 67.0% 33.0%
December 31, 2018 69.4% 30.6% 67.4% 32.6%
March 31, 2019 67.4% 32.6% 65.0% 35.0%
June 30, 2019 66.7% 33.3% 63.7% 36.3%
September 30, 2019 67.2% 32.8% 64.1% 35.9%
December 31, 2019 67.4% 32.6% 64.0% 36.0%

(1) Represents advances paid to dealers on Consumer Loans assigned under our portfolio program and one-time payments made to dealers to purchase Consumer Loans assigned under our purchase program. Payments of dealer holdback and accelerated dealer holdback are not included.


As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the net dealer loans receivable balance was 62.8% and 65.3%, respectively, of the total net loans receivable balance.


Financial Results

(Dollars in millions, except per share data)For the Three Months Ended December 31, For the Years Ended December 31,
2019 2018 % Change 2019 2018 % Change
GAAP average debt$4,320.2 $3,794.4 13.9% $4,198.0 $3,617.4 16.1%
GAAP average shareholders' equity2,392.7 2,023.5 18.2% 2,201.2 1,808.4 21.7%
Average capital$6,712.9 $5,817.9 15.4% $6,399.2 $5,425.8 17.9%
GAAP net income$161.9 $151.9 6.6% $656.1 $574.0 14.3%
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding18,827,222 19,500,601 -3.5% 18,976,560 19,532,312 -2.8%
GAAP net income per diluted share$8.60 $7.79 10.4% $34.57 $29.39 17.6%

The increase in GAAP net income for the three months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to the same period in 2018, was primarily the result of the following:

The increase in GAAP net income for the year ended December 31, 2019, as compared to the same period in 2018, was primarily the result of the following:

Adjusted financial results are provided to help shareholders understand our financial performance. The financial data below is non-GAAP, unless labeled otherwise. We use adjusted financial information internally to measure financial performance and to determine incentive compensation. In addition, effective January 1, 2020, certain debt facilities utilize adjusted financial information for the determination of loan collateral values. The table below shows our results following adjustments to reflect non-GAAP accounting methods. Material adjustments are explained in the table footnotes and the subsequent “Floating Yield Adjustment” and “Senior Notes Adjustment” sections. Measures such as adjusted average capital, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, adjusted interest expense (after-tax), adjusted net income plus interest expense (after-tax), adjusted return on capital, adjusted revenue, operating expenses, and economic profit are all non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, our reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2019, compared to the same periods in 2018, include the following:

(Dollars in millions, except per share data)For the Three Months Ended December 31, For the Years Ended December 31,
2019 2018 % Change 2019 2018 % Change
Adjusted average capital$6,663.9 $5,797.3 14.9% $6,372.2 $5,420.9 17.5%
Adjusted net income$173.5 $153.0 13.4% $658.4 $554.5 18.7%
Adjusted interest expense (after-tax)$39.5 $33.2 19.0% $153.2 $123.1 24.5%
Adjusted net income plus interest expense (after-tax)$213.0 $186.2 14.4% $811.6 $677.6 19.8%
Adjusted return on capital12.8% 12.9% -0.8% 12.7% 12.5% 1.6%
Cost of capital5.8% 6.4% -9.4% 6.0% 6.2% -3.2%
Economic profit$116.9 $93.4 25.2% $432.7 $340.4 27.1%
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding18,827,222 19,500,601 -3.5% 18,976,560 19,532,312 -2.8%
Adjusted net income per diluted share$9.22 $7.85 17.5% $34.70 $28.39 22.2%

Economic profit increased 25.2% and 27.1% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2019, as compared to the same periods in 2018. Economic profit is a function of the return on capital in excess of the cost of capital and the amount of capital invested in the business. The following table summarizes the impact each of these components had on the changes in economic profit for the three months and year ended December 31, 2019, as compared to the same periods in 2018:

(In millions)Year over Year Change in Economic Profit
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2019 For the Year Ended December 31, 2019
Increase in adjusted average capital$14.1 $59.7
Decrease in cost of capital10.6 17.2
Increase (decrease) in adjusted return on capital(1.2) 15.4
Increase in economic profit$23.5 $92.3

The increase in economic profit for the three months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to the same period in 2018, was primarily the result of the following:

The increase in economic profit for the year ended December 31, 2019, as compared to 2018, was primarily the result of the following:

The following table shows adjusted revenue and operating expenses as a percentage of adjusted average capital, the adjusted return on capital, and the percentage change in adjusted average capital for each of the last eight quarters, compared to the same period in the prior year:

For the Three Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019 Sept. 30, 2019 Jun. 30, 2019 Mar. 31, 2019 Dec. 31, 2018 Sept. 30, 2018 Jun. 30, 2018 Mar. 31, 2018
Adjusted revenue as a percentage of adjusted average capital (1) 21.6% 21.6% 21.6% 21.9% 21.9% 21.5% 21.3% 21.7%
Operating expenses as a percentage of adjusted average capital (1) 5.0% 5.0% 5.1% 5.5% 5.2% 5.1% 5.2% 6.1%
Adjusted return on capital (1) 12.8% 12.8% 12.7% 12.7% 12.9% 12.7% 12.4% 12.0%
Percentage change in adjusted average capital compared to the same period in the prior year 14.9% 15.0% 19.0% 22.1% 26.7% 29.8% 27.5% 22.8%

(1) Annualized.


The following tables provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures. Certain amounts do not recalculate due to rounding.

(Dollars in millions, except per share data) For the Three Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019 Sept. 30, 2019 Jun. 30, 2019 Mar. 31, 2019 Dec. 31, 2018 Sept. 30, 2018 Jun. 30, 2018 Mar. 31, 2018
Adjusted net income
GAAP net income $161.9 $165.4 $164.4 $164.4 $151.9 $151.0 $151.0 $120.1
Floating yield adjustment (after-tax) (14.3) (14.5) (14.1) (15.8) (14.7) (15.8) (17.8) (19.9)
GAAP provision for credit losses (after-tax) 21.0 14.9 11.8 11.2 13.6 10.8 1.4 18.0
Senior notes adjustment (after-tax) 1.1 (0.6) (0.7) (0.6) (0.6) (0.6) (0.7) (0.6)
Income tax adjustment (1) 3.8 3.2 1.5 (5.6) 2.8 1.8 1.5 1.3
Adjusted net income $173.5 $168.4 $162.9 $153.6 $153.0 $147.2 $135.4 $118.9
Adjusted net income per diluted share (2) $9.22 $8.89 $8.60 $8.08 $7.85 $7.56 $6.95 $6.11
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 18,827,222 18,950,866 18,949,962 19,004,498 19,500,601 19,473,978 19,472,164 19,473,563
Adjusted revenue
GAAP total revenue $385.9 $378.7 $370.6 $353.8 $342.8 $332.0 $315.4 $295.6
Floating yield adjustment (18.5) (18.8) (18.4) (20.5) (19.0) (20.6) (23.0) (25.9)
GAAP provision for claims (7.0) (8.2) (8.3) (6.6) (6.5) (7.0) (7.3) (5.2)
Adjusted revenue $360.4 $351.7 $343.9 $326.7 $317.3 $304.4 $285.1 $264.5
Adjusted average capital
GAAP average debt $4,320.2 $4,230.2 $4,245.5 $3,996.2 $3,794.4 $3,784.2 $3,609.6 $3,281.4
GAAP average shareholders' equity 2,392.7 2,297.8 2,131.8 1,982.6 2,023.5 1,885.6 1,732.6 1,591.7
Deferred debt issuance adjustment 25.3 25.3 24.5 23.3 22.1 23.4 22.7 21.7
Senior notes adjustment (20.1) 6.9 7.5 8.2 8.7 9.4 10.1 10.5
Income tax adjustment (3) (118.5) (118.5) (118.5) (118.5) (118.5) (118.5) (118.5) (115.4)
Floating yield adjustment 64.3 64.9 63.1 72.5 67.1 74.7 85.0 96.3
Adjusted average capital $6,663.9 $6,506.6 $6,353.9 $5,964.3 $5,797.3 $5,658.8 $5,341.5 $4,886.2
Adjusted revenue as a percentage of adjusted average capital (4) 21.6% 21.6% 21.6% 21.9% 21.9% 21.5% 21.3% 21.7%
Adjusted interest expense (after-tax)
GAAP interest expense $51.0 $50.4 $49.8 $45.0 $42.3 $41.1 $38.7 $34.5
Senior notes adjustment 0.4 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.8
Adjusted interest expense (pre-tax) 51.4 51.2 50.6 45.8 43.2 41.9 39.5 35.3
Adjustment to record tax effect (1) (11.9) (11.7) (11.7) (10.5) (10.0) (9.6) (9.1) (8.1)
Adjusted interest expense (after-tax) $39.5 $39.5 $38.9 $35.3 $33.2 $32.3 $30.4 $27.2

(1) Adjustment to record taxes at our estimated long-term effective income tax rate of 23%.

(2) Net income per share is computed independently for each of the quarters presented. Therefore, the sum of quarterly net income per share information may not equal year-to-date net income per share.

(3) The enactment of the 2017 Tax Act in December 2017 resulted in the reversal of $118.5 million of provision for income taxes to reflect the new federal statutory income tax rate, of which $99.8 million related to the reversal of GAAP provision for income taxes in December 2017 and $18.7 million related to the reversal of adjusted provision for income taxes in January 2018. This adjustment removes the impact of this reversal from adjusted average capital. We believe the income tax adjustment provides a more accurate reflection of the performance of our business as we are recognizing provision for income taxes at the applicable long-term effective tax rate for the period.

(4) Annualized.


(Dollars in millions)
For the Three Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019 Sept. 30, 2019 Jun. 30, 2019 Mar. 31, 2019 Dec. 31, 2018 Sept. 30, 2018 Jun. 30, 2018 Mar. 31, 2018
Adjusted return on capital
Adjusted net income $173.5 $168.4 $162.9 $153.6 $153.0 $147.2 $135.4 $118.9
Adjusted interest expense (after-tax) 39.5 39.5 38.9 35.3 33.2 32.3 30.4 27.2
Adjusted net income plus interest expense (after-tax) $213.0 $207.9 $201.8 $188.9 $186.2 $179.5 $165.8 $146.1
Reconciliation of GAAP return on equity to adjusted return on capital (4)
GAAP return on equity (1) 27.1% 28.8% 30.8% 33.2% 30.0% 32.0% 34.9% 30.2%
Non-GAAP adjustments -14.3% -16.0% -18.1% -20.5% -17.1% -19.3% -22.5% -18.2%
Adjusted return on capital (2) 12.8% 12.8% 12.7% 12.7% 12.9% 12.7% 12.4% 12.0%
Economic profit
Adjusted return on capital 12.8% 12.8% 12.7% 12.7% 12.9% 12.7% 12.4% 12.0%
Cost of capital (3) (4) 5.8% 5.8% 6.0% 6.2% 6.4% 6.2% 6.1% 6.1%
Adjusted return on capital in excess of cost of capital 7.0% 7.0% 6.7% 6.5% 6.5% 6.5% 6.3% 5.9%
Adjusted average capital $6,663.9 $6,506.6 $6,353.9 $5,964.3 $5,797.3 $5,658.8 $5,341.5 $4,886.2
Economic profit $116.9 $113.2 $105.8 $96.8 $93.4 $91.5 $84.0 $71.5
Reconciliation of GAAP net income
to economic profit
GAAP net income $161.9 $165.4 $164.4 $164.4 $151.9 $151.0 $151.0 $120.1
Non-GAAP adjustments 11.6 3.0 (1.5) (10.8) 1.1 (3.8) (15.6) (1.2)
Adjusted net income 173.5 168.4 162.9 153.6 153.0 147.2 135.4 118.9
Adjusted interest expense (after-tax) 39.5 39.5 38.9 35.3 33.2 32.3 30.4 27.2
Adjusted net income plus interest expense (after-tax) 213.0 207.9 201.8 188.9 186.2 179.5 165.8 146.1
Less: cost of capital 96.1 94.7 96.0 92.1 92.8 88.0 81.8 74.6
Economic profit $116.9 $113.2 $105.8 $96.8 $93.4 $91.5 $84.0 $71.5
Operating expenses
GAAP salaries and wages $49.4 $47.9 $47.3 $48.7 $44.5 $41.1 $39.7 $42.5
GAAP general and administrative 17.2 17.2 16.8 13.9 14.4 14.1 12.7 14.5
GAAP sales and marketing 17.1 16.6 17.7 18.8 16.4 16.3 17.2 17.8
Operating expenses $83.7 $81.7 $81.8 $81.4 $75.3 $71.5 $69.6 $74.8
Operating expenses as a percentage of adjusted average capital (4) 5.0% 5.0% 5.1% 5.5% 5.2% 5.1% 5.2% 6.1%
Percentage change in adjusted average capital compared to the same period in the prior year 14.9% 15.0% 19.0% 22.1% 26.7% 29.8% 27.5% 22.8%

(1) Calculated by dividing GAAP net income by GAAP average shareholders' equity.

(2) Adjusted return on capital is defined as adjusted net income plus adjusted interest expense (after-tax) divided by adjusted average capital.

(3) The cost of capital includes both a cost of equity and a cost of debt. The cost of equity capital is determined based on a formula that considers the risk of the business and the risk associated with our use of debt. The formula utilized for determining the cost of equity capital is as follows: (the average 30-year Treasury rate + 5%) + [(1 – tax rate) x (the average 30-year Treasury rate + 5% – pre-tax average cost of debt rate) x average debt/(average equity + average debt x tax rate)]. For the periods presented, the average 30-year Treasury rate and the adjusted pre-tax average cost of debt were as follows:

For the Three Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019 Sept. 30, 2019 Jun. 30, 2019 Mar. 31, 2019 Dec. 31, 2018 Sept. 30, 2018 Jun. 30, 2018 Mar. 31, 2018
Average 30-year Treasury rate 2.2% 2.3% 2.7% 3.0% 3.3% 3.1% 3.0% 3.0%
Adjusted pre-tax average cost of debt (4) 4.8% 4.8% 4.7% 4.6% 4.5% 4.4% 4.3% 4.3%

(4) Annualized.


(In millions, except share and per share data)
For the Years Ended December 31,
2019 2018
Adjusted net income
GAAP net income $656.1 $574.0
Floating yield adjustment (after-tax) (58.7) (68.2)
GAAP provision for credit losses (after-tax) 58.9 43.8
Senior notes adjustment (after-tax) (0.8) (2.5)
Income tax adjustment (1) 2.9 7.4
Adjusted net income $658.4 $554.5
Adjusted net income per diluted share $34.70 $28.39
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 18,976,560 19,532,312
Adjusted average capital
GAAP average debt $4,198.0 $3,617.4
GAAP average shareholders' equity 2,201.2 1,808.4
Deferred debt issuance adjustment 24.7 22.4
Senior notes adjustment 0.6 9.7
Income tax adjustment (2) (118.5) (117.8)
Floating yield adjustment 66.2 80.8
Adjusted average capital $6,372.2 $5,420.9
Adjusted interest expense (after-tax)
GAAP interest expense $196.2 $156.6
Senior notes adjustment 2.8 3.3
Adjusted interest expense (pre-tax) 199.0 159.9
Adjustment to record tax effect (1) (45.8) (36.8)
Adjusted interest expense (after-tax) $153.2 $123.1
Adjusted return on capital
Adjusted net income $658.4 $554.5
Adjusted interest expense (after-tax) 153.2 123.1
Adjusted net income plus interest expense (after-tax) $811.6 $677.6
Reconciliation of GAAP return on equity to adjusted return on capital
GAAP return on equity (3) 29.8% 31.7%
Non-GAAP adjustments -17.1% -19.2%
Adjusted return on capital (4) 12.7% 12.5%
Economic profit
Adjusted return on capital 12.7% 12.5%
Cost of capital (5) 6.0% 6.2%
Adjusted return on capital in excess of cost of capital 6.7% 6.3%
Adjusted average capital $6,372.2 $5,420.9
Economic profit $432.7 $340.4
Reconciliation of GAAP net income to economic profit
GAAP net income $656.1 $574.0
Non-GAAP adjustments 2.3 (19.5)
Adjusted net income 658.4 554.5
Adjusted interest expense (after-tax) 153.2 123.1
Adjusted net income plus interest expense (after-tax) 811.6 677.6
Less: cost of capital 378.9 337.2
Economic profit $432.7 $340.4
Operating expenses
GAAP salaries and wages $193.3 $167.8
GAAP general and administrative 65.1 55.7
GAAP sales and marketing 70.2 67.7
Operating expenses $328.6 $291.2

(1) Adjustment to record taxes at our estimated long-term effective income tax rate of 23%.

(2) The enactment of the 2017 Tax Act in December 2017 resulted in the reversal of $118.5 million of provision for income taxes to reflect the new federal statutory income tax rate, of which $99.8 million related to the reversal of GAAP provision for income taxes in December 2017 and $18.7 million related to the reversal of adjusted provision for income taxes in January 2018. This adjustment removes the impact of this reversal from adjusted average capital. We believe the income tax adjustment provides a more accurate reflection of the performance of our business as we are recognizing provision for income taxes at the applicable long-term effective tax rate for the period.

(3) Calculated by dividing GAAP net income by GAAP average shareholders' equity.

(4) Adjusted return on capital is defined as adjusted net income plus adjusted interest expense after-tax divided by adjusted average capital.

(5) The cost of capital includes both a cost of equity and a cost of debt. The cost of equity capital is determined based on a formula that considers the risk of the business and the risk associated with our use of debt. The formula utilized for determining the cost of equity capital is as follows: (the average 30-year Treasury rate + 5%) + [(1 - tax rate) x (the average 30-year Treasury rate + 5% - pre-tax average cost of debt rate) x average debt/(average equity + average debt x tax rate)]. For the periods presented, the average 30-year Treasury rate and the adjusted pre-tax average cost of debt were as follows:

For the Years Ended December 31,
2019 2018
Average 30-year Treasury rate 2.6% 3.1%
Adjusted pre-tax average cost of debt 4.7% 4.4%


Floating Yield Adjustment

The purpose of this non-GAAP adjustment is to modify the calculation of our GAAP-based finance charge revenue so that favorable and unfavorable changes in expected cash flows from loans receivable are treated consistently. To make the adjustment understandable, we must first explain how GAAP requires us to account for finance charge revenue, our primary revenue source.

The finance charge revenue we will recognize over the life of the loan equals the cash inflows from our loan portfolio less cash outflows to acquire the loans. Our GAAP finance charge revenue is based on estimates of future cash flows and is recognized on a level-yield basis over the estimated life of the loan. With the level-yield approach, the amount of finance charge revenue recognized from a loan in a given period, divided by the loan asset, is a constant percentage. Under GAAP, favorable changes in expected cash flows are treated as increases to the yield and are recognized over time, while unfavorable changes are recorded as a current period expense. The non-GAAP methodology that we use (the “floating yield” method) is identical to the GAAP approach except that, under the “floating yield” method, all changes in expected cash flows (both positive and negative) are treated as yield adjustments and therefore impact earnings over time. The GAAP treatment results in a lower carrying value of the loan receivable asset, but may result in either higher or lower earnings for any given period depending on the timing and amount of expected cash flow changes.

We believe the floating yield adjustment provides a more accurate reflection of the performance of our business, since both favorable and unfavorable changes in estimated cash flows are treated consistently.

Senior Notes Adjustment

The purpose of this non-GAAP adjustment is to modify our GAAP financial results to treat the issuance of certain senior notes as a refinancing of certain previously-issued senior notes.

On December 18, 2019, we issued $400.0 million of 5.125% senior notes due 2024 (the “2024 senior notes”). We used a portion of the net proceeds from the 2024 senior notes to repurchase or redeem all of the $300.0 million outstanding principal amount of our 6.125% senior notes due 2021 (the “2021 senior notes”), of which $148.2 million was repurchased on December 18, 2019 and the remaining $151.8 million was redeemed on January 17, 2020. We intend to use the remaining net proceeds from the 2024 senior notes, together with borrowings under our revolving credit facility and cash on hand to the extent available, to redeem in full the $250.0 million outstanding principal amount of our 7.375% senior notes due 2023 on or around March 15, 2020. Under GAAP, the fourth quarter of 2019 included (i) a pre-tax loss on extinguishment of debt of $1.8 million related to the repurchase of 2021 senior notes in the fourth quarter of 2019 and the redemption of the remaining 2021 senior notes in the first quarter of 2020 and (ii) additional interest expense of $0.3 million on $160.0 million of additional outstanding debt caused by the one month lag from the issuance of the 2024 senior notes and repurchase of 2021 senior notes in the fourth quarter of 2019 to the redemption of the remaining 2021 senior notes in the first quarter of 2020.

On January 22, 2014, we issued the 2021 senior notes. On February 21, 2014, we used the net proceeds from the 2021 senior notes, together with borrowings under our revolving credit facilities, to redeem in full the $350.0 million outstanding principal amount of our 9.125% senior notes due 2017 (the “2017 senior notes”). Under GAAP, the first quarter of 2014 included (i) a pre-tax loss on extinguishment of debt of $21.8 million related to the redemption of the 2017 senior notes in the first quarter of 2014 and (ii) additional interest expense of $1.4 million on $276.0 million of additional outstanding debt caused by the one month lag from the issuance of the 2021 senior notes to the redemption of the 2017 senior notes.

Under our non-GAAP approach, the loss on extinguishment of debt and additional interest expense that were recognized for GAAP purposes were in each case deferred as debt issuance costs and are being recognized ratably as interest expense over the term of the newly issued notes. In addition, for adjusted average capital purposes, the impact of additional outstanding debt related to the lag from the issuance of the new notes to the redemption of the previously issued notes was in each case deferred and is being recognized ratably over the term of the newly issued notes. Upon the issuance of the 2024 senior notes in the fourth quarter of 2019, the outstanding unamortized balances of the non-GAAP adjustments related to the 2021 senior notes were deferred and are being recognized ratably over the term of the 2024 senior notes.

We believe the senior notes adjustment provides a more accurate reflection of the performance of our business, since we are recognizing the costs incurred with these transactions in a manner consistent with how we recognize the costs incurred when we periodically refinance our other debt facilities.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

We claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for all of our forward-looking statements. Statements in this release that are not historical facts, such as those using terms like “may,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “target” and those regarding our future results, plans and objectives, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements represent our outlook only as of the date of this release. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements since the statements are based on our current expectations, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, the factors set forth in Item 1A of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 8, 2019, other risk factors discussed herein or listed from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the following:

Other factors not currently anticipated by management may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We do not undertake, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update or alter our statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Description of Credit Acceptance Corporation

Since 1972, Credit Acceptance has offered financing programs that enable automobile dealers to sell vehicles to consumers, regardless of their credit history. Our financing programs are offered through a nationwide network of automobile dealers who benefit from sales of vehicles to consumers who otherwise could not obtain financing; from repeat and referral sales generated by these same customers; and from sales to customers responding to advertisements for our financing programs, but who actually end up qualifying for traditional financing.

Without our financing programs, consumers are often unable to purchase vehicles or they purchase unreliable ones. Further, as we report to the three national credit reporting agencies, an important ancillary benefit of our programs is that we provide consumers with an opportunity to improve their lives by improving their credit score and move on to more traditional sources of financing. Credit Acceptance is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol CACC. For more information, visit creditacceptance.com.


CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)

(Dollars in millions, except per share data)For the Three Months Ended December 31, For the Years Ended December 31,
2019 2018 2019 2018
Revenue:
Finance charges$356.1 $313.8 $1,369.4 $1,176.8
Premiums earned12.8 12.4 51.0 46.6
Other income17.0 16.6 68.6 62.4
Total revenue385.9 342.8 1,489.0 1,285.8
Costs and expenses:
Salaries and wages49.4 44.5 193.3 167.8
General and administrative17.2 14.4 65.1 55.7
Sales and marketing17.1 16.4 70.2 67.7
Provision for credit losses27.2 17.7 76.4 56.9
Interest51.0 42.3 196.2 156.6
Provision for claims7.0 6.5 30.1 26.0
Loss on extinguishment of debt1.8 1.8
Total costs and expenses170.7 141.8 633.1 530.7
Income before provision for income taxes215.2 201.0 855.9 755.1
Provision for income taxes53.3 49.1 199.8 181.1
Net income$161.9 $151.9 $656.1 $574.0
Net income per share:
Basic$8.63 $7.82 $34.71 $29.52
Diluted$8.60 $7.79 $34.57 $29.39
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic18,758,168 19,415,436 18,900,256 19,446,067
Diluted18,827,222 19,500,601 18,976,560 19,532,312


CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)

(Dollars in millions, except per share data)As of
December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents$187.4 $25.7
Restricted cash and cash equivalents330.3 303.6
Restricted securities available for sale59.3 58.6
Loans receivable7,221.2 6,225.2
Allowance for credit losses(536.0) (461.9)
Loans receivable, net6,685.2 5,763.3
Property and equipment, net59.7 40.2
Income taxes receivable66.2 7.9
Other assets35.1 38.1
Total Assets$7,423.2 $6,237.4
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities$206.4 $186.4
Revolving secured line of credit 171.9
Secured financing3,339.7 3,092.7
Senior notes1,187.8 544.4
Mortgage note11.3 11.9
Deferred income taxes, net322.5 236.7
Income taxes payable0.2 2.5
Total Liabilities5,067.9 4,246.5
Shareholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 80,000,000 shares authorized, 18,352,779 and 18,972,558 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively0.2 0.2
Paid-in capital157.7 154.9
Retained earnings2,196.6 1,836.1
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)0.8 (0.3)
Total Shareholders' Equity2,355.3 1,990.9
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity$7,423.2 $6,237.4

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