Credit Acceptance Corporation (CACC) Q3 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Credit Acceptance Corporation (NASDAQ:CACC) Q3 2023 Earnings Conference Call October 30, 2023 5:00 PM ET

Company Participants

Douglas Busk – Chief Treasury Officer

Conference Call Participants

John Rowan – Janney Montgomery Scott

John Hecht – Jefferies

Robert Wildhack – Autonomous Research

Operator

Good day, everyone and welcome to the Credit Acceptance Corporation Third Quarter 2023 Earnings Call. Today’s call is being recorded. A webcast and transcript of today’s earnings call will be made available on Credit Acceptance’s website.

At this time, I would like to turn the call over to Credit Acceptance Chief Treasury Officer, Doug Busk.

Douglas Busk

Thank you. Good afternoon, and welcome to the Credit Acceptance Corporation third quarter 2023 earnings call. As you read our news release posted on the Investor Relations section of our website at ir.creditacceptance.com, and as you listen to this conference call, please recognize that both contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities law.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control and which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. These risk and uncertainties include those spelled out in the cautionary statements regarding forward-looking information included in the news release. Consider all forward-looking statements in light of those and other risks and uncertainties.

Additionally, I should mention that to comply with the SEC’s Regulation G, please refer to the financial results section of our news release, which provides tables showing how non-GAAP measures reconcile to GAAP measures. Our GAAP and adjusted results for the quarter include a decrease in forecasted collection rates, the decreased forecasted net cash flows by $69 million or 0.7% compared to a decrease in forecasted collection rates during the third quarter of 2022, that decreased forecasted net cash flows by $87 million or 0.9%.

Forecasted profitability for consumer loans assigned in 2020 through 2022, that was lower than our estimates at September 30, 2022 due to a decline in forecasted collection rates since the third quarter of 2022 and slower forecast net cash flow timing during 2023, primarily as a result of a decrease in consumer loan prepayments to below average levels.

Unit and dollar volumes grew 13% and 10.5 % respectively as compared to the third quarter of 2022. The average balance of our loan portfolio on a GAAP and adjusted basis increased 5.9% and 10.6% respectively as compared to the third quarter of 2022. An increase in the initial spread on consumer loan assignments to 21.4% compared to 20.2% on consumer loans assigned in the third quarter of 2022.

An increase in our average cost of debt, which was primarily a result of higher interest rates on recently completed or extended secured financing and the repayment of older secured financings with lower interest rates. Adjusted net income decreased 22% from the third quarter of 2022 to $140 million. Adjusted earnings per share decreased 20% from the third quarter of 2022 to $10.70.

At this time, Ken Booth, our Chief Executive Officer; Jay Martin, our Senior Vice-President, Finance and Accounting, and I will take your questions.

Question-and-Answer Session

Operator

Thank you. [Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from John Rowan of Janney Montgomery Scott.

John Rowan

Good afternoon.

Douglas Busk

Hey, John.

John Rowan

So when I think back, overall long timeframe and looking at the company and every cycle that we’ve seen, whether it was great financial crisis or COVID, it was roughly about three-quarters of charges that you took to kind of right-size the forecasted collections. And then obviously — and then after that those forecast revisions went away.

We’re at six quarters now in a row of forecasted collection revisions on the downside. Is there something different about this environment that makes it more difficult to get that number right? Is it still COVID reverberations? Is it CECL or is it car prices? I’m just trying to figure out why we’re so much longer into the cycle and we’re still seeing these negative charges? Thank you.

Douglas Busk

Yeah. I don’t — it doesn’t have anything to do with CECL. I mean, that’s just accounting. In terms of estimated forecasted collection rates, don’t have a perfect reason for us to why it’s taken longer for the ’22 [indiscernible] in particular to settle in. We were — those loans were originated in a pretty unique time, was very competitive in the industry, yet very elevated used car prices. And we have had the impact of inflation, which was something that we’ve never previously had to deal with. So that’s really one of the best answer I can give you.

John Rowan

Okay. And then just obviously I saw the Q came out, and it doesn’t seem like there is any material disclosures regarding the CFPB and New York AG suit, but it does said there was an update that has to be given on November 3. Is it — is there anything you can tell us about what that update would include or is that, a possible timeframe in which this case would move forward again, because obviously, it’s still currently staged. Just want to understand what happens on November 3? Thank you.

Douglas Busk

Yeah. I don’t think that, anything is really going to happen with the case until the CFPB or the Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the CFPB. The court has granted a motion to stay on our case while pending that decision. So I don’t know exactly what will be discussed in early November with the court. What I, the court has granted a motion to stay pending the Supreme Court’s decision.

John Rowan

Okay. All right. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. One moment for our next question. And our next question comes from John Hecht of Jefferies.

John Hecht

Hey, guys. Good afternoon. Thanks for taking my question. I mean, I guess it’s — my question is a little bit related to John — to John’s prior question, just because this is a longer cycle. In prior cycles, you guys have kind of emerged as a price maker as other competitors have fallen back. But if you look at the spreads that you’re issuing now, they’re still kind of below where they were even a few years ago.

I’m wondering kind of how would you describe the competitive market, and is there something that you would see in the future or any indications that, it may be coming more favorable because we’ve gone through such a tough cycle for a period of time.

Douglas Busk

I think we think the competitive environment is relatively favorable today. We grew the loan portfolio, we grew originations in Q3 or rates that we’re happy with. Volume through the first 28 days of October is up materially. So, I think the competitive environment is favorable. The October volume would indicate that it’s even more favorable recently. It’s certainly not a situation like that, that existed in the credit crisis when the industry really didn’t have access to capital for a period of time. But I think the competitive environment is certainly better than it was a year ago. And don’t know how that’s going to play out in the future, but we’re pleased with how it’s going to date.

John Hecht

And then just, I guess, maybe comment on obviously you’re writing down the expected cash flows at kind of fits and spurts over the past few quarters in that. Maybe can you just discuss the credit environment, I mean, is it a consumer that’s just been exhausted by inflation or is it because — is it more tied to asset values in the market? How do you describe the credit and the consumer’s ability to service their debts right now?

Douglas Busk

I mean I think it’s a combination of several factors, probably the two that you mentioned asset values and inflation would be the two most material contributors.

John Hecht

Okay. Thanks very much, guys.

Operator

Thank you. [Operator Instructions] And our next question comes from Robert Wildhack of Autonomous Research.

Robert Wildhack

Hi, guys. Just to follow-up on the last point there. Why you think the competitive or what’s the reason behind the improvement in the competitive landscape? Is that structural, in other words competitors going out of business or is that temporary i.e. something just pulling back for a bit?

Douglas Busk

There have been some companies that have gone out of business or exited the market, but they haven’t been huge participants in used vehicle financing to sub-prime consumers. So I think it’s just more a function of other industry participants having to price their loans differently due to the increase in interest rates. I think people are also probably reacting to softness in credit performance.

Robert Wildhack

Okay. And then as it relates to the downward revisions in forecasted collections, have you adjusted your approval rate at all in the recent quarters, and that did you change your approval rate at all in October?

Douglas Busk

We haven’t seen a material, I mean, we approve everyone. So we haven’t seen a change in our approval policies. And we haven’t made any meaningful changes in policy or price in October.

Robert Wildhack

Okay. No change in October.

Douglas Busk

No material changes. No.

Robert Wildhack

Okay. Thanks.

Operator

With no further questions in the queue, I would like to turn the conference back over to Mr. Busk for any additional or closing remarks.

Douglas Busk

We would like to thank everyone for their support and for joining us on our conference call today. If you have any additional follow-up questions, please direct them to our Investor Relations mailbox at [email protected]. We look forward to talking to you again next quarter. Thank you.

Operator

Once again, this does conclude today’s conference. We thank you for your participation.