Encore Capital Group Announces Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Encore Capital Group Announces Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

  • GAAP net income of $60 million
  • GAAP EPS of $2.29
  • Global collections of $498 million
  • Portfolio purchases of $173 million at attractive returns

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECPG), an international specialty finance company, today reported consolidated financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.

“Encore delivered another quarter of strong operating performance in Q2,” said Ashish Masih, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our financial results in the period were again driven primarily by collections within our MCM business in the U.S. As a result of our collections over-performance in recent quarters, we increased the estimated remaining collections (ERC) for certain vintages for the second straight quarter, but this time on a much smaller scale.”

“On a global basis, our portfolio purchases were $173 million in the quarter, an increase of 21% compared to the second quarter a year ago. We continue to acquire portfolios at attractive returns, enabled by our disciplined purchasing and collections effectiveness. Credit card lending, which has been growing steadily, has surpassed pre-pandemic levels in the U.S. and we have started to see an increase in portfolio supply for our MCM business. We remain well-positioned for future portfolio purchasing opportunities and will continue to focus on our consumer-centric approach to collections and our strong balance sheet,” said Masih.

Financial Highlights for the Second Quarter of 2022:

 Three Months Ended June 30,
(in thousands, except percentages and earnings per share) 2022   2021  Change
Collections$497,711  $612,427  (19)%
Revenues$356,917  $427,735  (17)%
Portfolio purchases(1)$173,007  $142,728  21%
Estimated Remaining Collections (ERC)$7,559,820  $8,111,917  (7)%
Operating expenses$237,969  $253,448  (6)%
GAAP net income attributable to Encore$60,439  $96,503  (37)%
GAAP earnings per share$2.29  $3.07  (25)%
LTM Pre-tax ROIC(2) 16.8%  15.0% +180bps
Leverage Ratio(3)2.0x 1.9x +0.1x


______________________
(1)Includes U.S. purchases of $116.2 million and $89.5 million, and Europe purchases of $56.8 million and $53.2 million in Q2 2022 and Q2 2021, respectively.
(2)This is a non-GAAP metric. See Supplemental Financial Information for a definition and calculation of LTM Pre-Tax ROIC (Return on Invested Capital).
(3)This is a non-GAAP metric that we define as the ratio of Net Debt at period end to (Adjusted EBITDA plus collections applied to principal balance for the preceding twelve months). See Supplemental Financial Information for a definition of Net Debt and Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of Net Debt to total debt and Adjusted EBITDA to net income.


Conference Call and Webcast

Encore will host a conference call and slide presentation today, August 3, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific / 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, to present and discuss second quarter results.

Members of the public are invited to access the live webcast via the Internet by logging in on the Investor Relations page of Encore's website at www.encorecapital.com. To access the live conference call by telephone, please pre-register using this link. Registrants will receive confirmation with dial-in details.

For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's website shortly after the call concludes.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release includes certain financial measures that exclude the impact of certain items and therefore have not been calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company has included information concerning adjusted EBITDA because management utilizes this information in the evaluation of its operations and believes that this measure is a useful indicator of the Company’s ability to generate cash collections in excess of operating expenses through the liquidation of its receivable portfolios. The Company has included Pre-Tax ROIC as management uses this measure to monitor and evaluate operating performance relative to our invested capital and because the Company believes it is a useful measure for investors to evaluate effective use of capital. The Company has included Net Debt and Leverage Ratio as management uses these measures to monitor and evaluate its ability to incur and service debt. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Income from Operations (used in Pre-Tax ROIC), Net Debt and Leverage Ratio have not been prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful than, net income and net income per share as indicators of the Company’s operating performance or liquidity. Further, these non-GAAP financial measures, as presented by the Company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The Company has attached to this news release a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

About Encore Capital Group, Inc.

Encore Capital Group is an international specialty finance company that provides debt recovery solutions and other related services for consumers across a broad range of financial assets. Through its subsidiaries around the globe, Encore purchases portfolios of consumer receivables from major banks, credit unions, and utility providers.

Encore partners with individuals as they repay their debt obligations, helping them on the road to financial recovery and ultimately improving their economic well-being. Encore is the first and only company of its kind to operate with a Consumer Bill of Rights that provides industry-leading commitments to consumers. Headquartered in San Diego, Encore is a publicly traded NASDAQ Global Select company (ticker symbol: ECPG) and a component stock of the Russell 2000, the S&P Small Cap 600 and the Wilshire 4500. More information about the company can be found at http://www.encorecapital.com.

Forward Looking Statements

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including, most importantly, those statements preceded by, or that include, the words “will,” “may,” “believe,” “projects,” “expects,” “anticipates” or the negation thereof, or similar expressions, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Reform Act”). These statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our future operating results, performance, liquidity, ability to access capital markets, business plans or prospects. For all “forward-looking statements,” the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act. Such forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company and its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are discussed in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, each as it may be amended from time to time. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Bruce Thomas
Encore Capital Group, Inc.
Vice President, Global Investor Relations
(858) 309-6442
[email protected]

SOURCE: Encore Capital Group, Inc.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW


ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
(In Thousands, Except Par Value Amounts)
(Unaudited)

 June 30,
2022		 December 31,
2021
Assets   
Cash and cash equivalents$154,295  $189,645 
Investment in receivable portfolios, net 3,035,123   3,065,553 
Property and equipment, net 109,591   119,857 
Other assets 336,265   335,275 
Goodwill 824,210   897,795 
Total assets$4,459,484  $4,608,125 
Liabilities and Equity   
Liabilities:   
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities$201,168  $229,586 
Borrowings 2,793,009   2,997,331 
Other liabilities 233,707   195,947 
Total liabilities 3,227,884   3,422,864 
Commitments and Contingencies   
Equity:   
Convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding —   — 
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 75,000 shares authorized, 23,989 and 24,541 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively 240   245 
Additional paid-in capital —   — 
Accumulated earnings 1,349,937   1,238,564 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (118,577)  (53,548)
Total stockholders’ equity 1,231,600   1,185,261 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$4,459,484  $4,608,125 


The following table presents certain assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) included in the consolidated statements of financial condition above. Most assets in the table below include those assets that can only be used to settle obligations of consolidated VIEs. The liabilities exclude amounts where creditors or beneficial interest holders have recourse to the general credit of the Company.

 June 30,
2022		 December 31,
2021
Assets   
Cash and cash equivalents$1,130 $1,927
Investment in receivable portfolios, net 452,013  498,507
Other assets 3,545  3,452
Liabilities   
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 159  105
Borrowings 426,108  473,443
Other liabilities 17  10


ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)

 Three Months Ended
June 30,		 Six Months Ended
June 30,
  2022   2021   2022   2021 
Revenues       
Revenue from receivable portfolios$306,282  $328,150  $610,387  $666,168 
Changes in recoveries 25,150   66,178   192,373   110,715 
Total debt purchasing revenue 331,432   394,328   802,760   776,883 
Servicing revenue 23,788   32,064   49,934   64,580 
Other revenues 1,697   1,343   3,905   3,109 
Total revenues 356,917   427,735   856,599   844,572 
Operating expenses       
Salaries and employee benefits 98,880   97,774   195,836   194,230 
Cost of legal collections 55,148   66,900   110,865   134,042 
General and administrative expenses 34,967   34,823   68,501   66,971 
Other operating expenses 27,405   28,228   54,432   56,669 
Collection agency commissions 9,923   13,677   19,528   26,501 
Depreciation and amortization 11,646   12,046   23,475   23,558 
Total operating expenses 237,969   253,448   472,637   501,971 
Income from operations 118,948   174,287   383,962   342,601 
Other expense       
Interest expense (37,054)  (44,159)  (71,687)  (90,685)
Loss on extinguishment of debt —   (9,300)  —   (9,300)
Other income 1,795   566   2,187   511 
Total other expense (35,259)  (52,893)  (69,500)  (99,474)
Income before income taxes 83,689   121,394   314,462   243,127 
Provision for income taxes (23,250)  (24,607)  (78,274)  (51,575)
Net income 60,439   96,787   236,188   191,552 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest —   (284)  —   (419)
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders$60,439  $96,503  $236,188  $191,133 
        
Earnings per share attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:       
Basic$2.48  $3.12  $9.63  $6.13 
Diluted$2.29  $3.07  $8.77  $6.04 
        
Weighted average shares outstanding:       
Basic 24,359   30,909   24,539   31,187 
Diluted 26,411   31,415   26,945   31,622 


ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited, In Thousands)

 Six Months Ended June 30,
  2022   2021 
Operating activities:   
Net income$236,188  $191,552 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:   
Depreciation and amortization 23,475   23,558 
Loss on extinguishment of debt —   9,300 
Other non-cash interest expense, net 8,149   9,403 
Stock-based compensation expense 9,040   9,056 
Deferred income taxes 3,699   (5,097)
Changes in recoveries (192,373)  (110,715)
Other, net 9,267   12,006 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities   
Other assets 39,037   60,880 
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities (37,952)  (50,978)
Net cash provided by operating activities 98,530   148,965 
Investing activities:   
Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of put-backs (337,932)  (306,549)
Collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios 406,738   552,720 
Purchases of asset held for sale (35,178)  (3,639)
Purchases of property and equipment (11,937)  (10,351)
Other, net 13,416   8,516 
Net cash provided by investing activities 35,107   240,697 
Financing activities:   
Proceeds from credit facilities 446,853   358,063 
Repayment of credit facilities (298,743)  (511,200)
Proceeds from senior secured notes —   353,747 
Repayment of senior secured notes (19,540)  (339,585)
Repayment of convertible senior notes (221,153)  (161,000)
Repurchase of common stock (50,835)  (47,421)
Other, net (12,182)  (22,251)
Net cash used in financing activities (155,600)  (369,647)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (21,963)  20,015 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (13,387)  (10,683)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 189,645   189,184 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$154,295  $198,516 
    
Supplemental disclosure of cash information:   
Cash paid for interest$64,366  $69,152 
Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds$44,671  $24,273 


ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Supplemental Financial Information
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Metrics

Adjusted EBITDA

 Three Months Ended
June 30,		 Six Months Ended
June 30,
(in thousands, unaudited) 2022   2021   2022   2021 
GAAP net income, as reported$60,439  $96,787  $236,188  $191,552 
Adjustments:       
Interest expense 37,054   44,159   71,687   90,685 
Interest income (588)  (426)  (1,025)  (900)
Provision for income taxes 23,250   24,607   78,274   51,575 
Depreciation and amortization 11,646   12,046   23,475   23,558 
Stock-based compensation expense 5,119   5,651   9,040   9,056 
Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses(1) 487   —   1,166   — 
Loss on extinguishment of debt$—  $9,300  $—  $9,300 
Adjusted EBITDA$137,407  $192,124  $418,805  $374,826 
Collections applied to principal balance(2)$170,112  $224,074  $223,679  $453,584 


________________________
(1)Amount represents acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses. We adjust for this amount because we believe these expenses are not indicative of ongoing operations; therefore, adjusting for these expenses enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and our competitors’ results.
(2)Amount represents (a) gross collections from receivable portfolios less (b) debt purchasing revenue, plus (c) proceeds applied to basis from sales of real estate owned (“REO”) assets and related activities. A reconciliation of “collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios, net” to “collections applied to principal balance” is available in the Form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2022.


Pre-Tax Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”)

ROIC is calculated as last twelve months adjusted income from operations, divided by our average invested capital. Adjusted income from operations excludes acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses, amortization of certain acquired intangible assets and other charges or gains that are not indicative of ongoing operations. Average invested capital is defined as the aggregate of average Net Debt (defined below) and average GAAP equity and is calculated as the sum of current and prior period ending amounts divided by two.

 Last Twelve Months Ended June 30,
(in thousands, except percentages, unaudited) 2022   2021 
Numerator   
Income from operations$674,633  $609,269 
Adjustments:(1)   
CFPB settlement fees —   15,009 
Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses 6,847   (1)
Amortization of certain acquired intangible assets(2) 7,110   7,326 
Adjusted income from operations$688,590  $631,603 
    
Denominator   
Average Net Debt$2,798,699  $3,016,599 
Average equity 1,292,975   1,198,369 
Total average invested capital$4,091,674  $4,214,968 
    
Pre-tax ROIC 16.8%  15.0%


________________________
(1)We believe these amounts are not indicative of ongoing operations; therefore, adjusting for them enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and our competitors’ results.
(2)We have acquired intangible assets, such as trade names and customer relationships, as a result of our acquisition of debt solution service providers. These intangible assets are valued at the time of the acquisition and amortized over their estimated lives. We believe that amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, especially the amortization of an acquired company’s trade names and customer relationships, is the result of pre-acquisition activities. In addition, the amortization of these acquired intangibles is a non-cash static expense that is not affected by operations during any reporting period.


Net Debt

Net Debt is GAAP borrowings adjusted for debt issuance costs and debt discounts, cash and cash equivalents and client cash. Net Debt is a measure commonly used by lenders to our industry to represent the net borrowings of market participants, and is also used regularly by lenders and others as the numerator in industry leverage calculations.

(in thousands, unaudited)June 30,
2022		 June 30,
2021		 June 30,
2020
GAAP Borrowings$2,793,009  $2,999,296  $3,353,730 
Debt issuance costs and debt discounts 50,304   64,468   63,017 
Cash & cash equivalents (154,295)  (198,516)  (293,800)
Client cash(1) 19,227   23,907   21,097 
Net Debt$2,708,245  $2,889,155  $3,144,044 


________________________
(1)Client cash is cash that was collected on behalf of, and remains payable to, third party clients.