Encore Capital Group Announces Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Encore Capital Group (NASDAQ: ECPG) reported strong Q2 2024 financial results, with global portfolio purchases of $279 million, including a record $237 million in the U.S. Global collections increased by 15% to $547 million compared to Q2 2023. The company achieved GAAP EPS of $1.34, up 24% year-over-year. Encore is raising its 2024 guidance, expecting global portfolio purchases to exceed $1,150 million and year-over-year collections growth of approximately 11% to over $2,075 million. The U.S. market for charged-off receivable portfolios continues to grow, driven by credit card lending growth and rising charge-off rates.

Positive

• Record U.S. portfolio purchases of $237 million
• Global collections increased by 15% to $547 million
• GAAP EPS grew by 24% to $1.34
• Raised 2024 guidance for global portfolio purchases and collections growth
• Favorable U.S. market conditions for charged-off receivable portfolios

Negative

• European market pricing remains competitive and does not consistently reflect higher cost of capital

Insights

Financial Analyst

Encore Capital Group's Q2 2024 results show strong performance, particularly in the U.S. market. Global portfolio purchases reached $279 million, with a record $237 million in the U.S. This 2% increase year-over-year indicates favorable purchasing conditions, driven by growing credit card lending and rising charge-off rates.

Collections grew impressively, up 15% to $547 million, reflecting the impact of strong U.S. portfolio purchases over the past two years. GAAP EPS increased by 24% to $1.34, signaling improved profitability. The company's raised guidance for 2024, expecting global portfolio purchases to exceed $1,150 million and collections growth of about 11%, indicates confidence in continued strong performance.

However, investors should note the competitive European market, where Encore is maintaining a selective approach due to pricing not consistently reflecting higher capital costs.

Market Research Analyst

The debt collection market is showing divergent trends in the U.S. and Europe. In the U.S., we're seeing record levels of charged-off receivable portfolios, creating a buyer's market for companies like Encore. This is driven by expanding credit card lending and increasing charge-off rates, likely due to economic pressures on consumers.

Conversely, Europe's market is more competitive with pricing not fully reflecting higher interest rates. This dichotomy presents both opportunities and challenges for Encore. The company's strategic focus on the U.S. market is paying off, as evidenced by the record $237 million deployment there.

Looking ahead, the raised guidance suggests Encore expects these favorable U.S. conditions to persist through 2024. This could lead to continued strong performance, but investors should monitor for any shifts in credit markets or regulatory environment that could impact this trajectory.

• Highly favorable purchasing conditions continue in U.S. market
• Global portfolio purchases of $279 million including record $237 million in the U.S.
• Global collections of $547 million up 15% compared to Q2 2023
• GAAP EPS of $1.34

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 07, 2024 (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, 2024.

“Encore’s second quarter results are a continuation of our strong performance trajectory,” said Ashish Masih, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our year-to-date growth in portfolio purchasing, collections and cash generation reinforces our belief that 2024 will be a turning point in Encore’s operational and financial results.”

“In the U.S., the market for charged-off receivable portfolios continues to grow to record levels, driven by growth in credit card lending and rising charge off rates. Amid these favorable purchasing conditions, we deployed a record $237 million in the U.S. at strong returns.”

“In Europe, the portfolio purchasing market is showing continued signs of improvement but remains competitive. Although we continue to see examples of improved pricing, we believe European market pricing still does not consistently reflect the higher cost of capital caused by higher interest rates. As a result, we are maintaining discipline and are continuing our selective approach to purchasing portfolios in the region.”

“Our second quarter global collections of $547 million were up 15% compared to a year ago, reflecting the influence of our strong portfolio purchasing in the U.S. over the past two years as well as the stable collections environment in our key markets.”

“Due to the strength of our position in the favorable U.S. market for portfolio purchasing and the continued execution of our strategy, we are raising our 2024 guidance provided in February. We now anticipate our global portfolio purchasing this year will exceed $1,150 million and we expect our year-over-year collections growth to be approximately 11% to over $2,075 million. We also remain committed to the critical role we play in the consumer credit ecosystem and to helping consumers restore their financial health,” said Masih.

Financial Highlights for the Second Quarter of 2024:

	Three Months Ended June 30,
(in thousands, except percentages and earnings per share)	2024			2023			Change
Portfolio purchases(1)	$	278,692		$	274,325		2	%
Estimated Remaining Collections (ERC)	$	8,396,696		$	7,979,353		5	%
Collections	$	546,728		$	476,522		15	%
Revenues	$	355,285		$	323,044		10	%
Operating expenses	$	253,446		$	234,972		8	%
GAAP net income	$	32,181		$	26,305		22	%
GAAP earnings per share	$	1.34		$	1.08		24	%

______________________

(1)      Includes U.S. purchases of $236.8 million and $213.4 million, and Europe purchases of $41.9 million and $61.0 million in Q2 2024 and Q2 2023, respectively.

Conference Call and Webcast

Encore will host a conference call and slide presentation today, August 7, 2024, 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 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. Adjusted EBITDA has not been prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income and net income per share as indicators of the Company’s operating performance. Further, this non-GAAP financial measure, as presented by the Company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is below.

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 (including purchases and collections), performance, supply and pricing, liquidity, 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
bruce.thomas@encorecapital.com

SOURCE: Encore Capital Group, Inc.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (In Thousands, Except Par Value Amounts) (Unaudited)
	June 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	250,621			$	158,364
Investment in receivable portfolios, net		3,583,322				3,468,432
Property and equipment, net		102,291				103,959
Other assets		277,799				293,256
Goodwill		602,811				606,475
Total assets	$	4,816,844			$	4,630,486
Liabilities and Equity
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	197,555			$	189,928
Borrowings		3,455,130				3,318,031
Other liabilities		176,032				185,989
Total liabilities		3,828,717				3,693,948
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, 23,691 and 23,545 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively		237				235
Additional paid-in capital		13,257				11,052
Accumulated earnings		1,104,591				1,049,171
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(129,958	)			(123,920	)
Total stockholders’ equity		988,127				936,538
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	4,816,844			$	4,630,486

The following table presents certain assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) included in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition above. The liabilities in the table below can only be settled from assets in the respective VIEs. Creditors of the VIEs do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company.

	June 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	26,714			$	24,472
Investment in receivable portfolios, net		774,104				717,556
Other assets		9,294				19,358
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		2,266				1,854
Borrowings		466,267				494,925
Other liabilities		7				2,452

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Revenues
Revenue from receivable portfolios	$	321,930			$	301,184			$	637,782			$	596,858
Changes in recoveries		5,754				(3,486	)			(6,655	)			(12,987	)
Total debt purchasing revenue		327,684				297,698				631,127				583,871
Servicing revenue		21,107				21,008				41,486				43,593
Other revenues		6,494				4,338				11,058				8,210
Total revenues		355,285				323,044				683,671				635,674
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits		106,608				95,855				210,792				199,705
Cost of legal collections		64,249				57,150				122,970				111,251
General and administrative expenses		36,779				34,529				73,020				72,494
Other operating expenses		30,845				26,349				61,212				53,905
Collection agency commissions		7,504				10,387				14,938				18,537
Depreciation and amortization		7,461				10,702				15,309				21,572
Total operating expenses		253,446				234,972				498,241				477,464
Income from operations		101,839				88,072				185,430				158,210
Other expense
Interest expense		(61,376	)			(49,983	)			(117,141	)			(96,818	)
Other income (expense), net		2,047				(1,755	)			4,713				(23	)
Total other expense		(59,329	)			(51,738	)			(112,428	)			(96,841	)
Income before income taxes		42,510				36,334				73,002				61,369
Provision for income taxes		(10,329	)			(10,029	)			(17,582	)			(16,438	)
Net income	$	32,181			$	26,305			$	55,420			$	44,931
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	1.35			$	1.11			$	2.33			$	1.90
Diluted	$	1.34			$	1.08			$	2.28			$	1.83
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		23,883				23,670				23,834				23,610
Diluted		24,097				24,280				24,282				24,611

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited, In Thousands)
	Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023
Operating activities:
Net income	$	55,420			$	44,931
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		15,309				21,572
Other non-cash interest expense, net		7,941				8,660
Stock-based compensation expense		7,994				7,925
Deferred income taxes		(810	)			2,785
Changes in recoveries		6,655				12,987
Other, net		3,357				985
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Other assets		(25,896	)			(35,730	)
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities		16,727				(1,492	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		86,697				62,623
Investing activities:
Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of put-backs		(566,960	)			(544,721	)
Collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios		419,833				342,020
Purchases of asset held for sale		(212	)			(24,645	)
Purchases of property and equipment		(14,251	)			(9,503	)
Other, net		29,704				22,603
Net cash used in investing activities		(131,886	)			(214,246	)
Financing activities:
Payment of loan and debt refinancing costs		(17,201	)			(8,151	)
Proceeds from credit facilities		393,455				444,805
Repayment of credit facilities		(1,234,189	)			(259,843	)
Proceeds from senior secured notes		1,000,000				—
Repayment of senior secured notes		(19,540	)			(19,540	)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes		—				230,000
Repayment of exchangeable senior notes		—				(192,457	)
Proceeds from convertible hedge instruments, net		—				10,050
Other, net		16,967				(14,238	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		139,492				190,626
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		94,303				39,003
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(2,046	)			1,956
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		158,364				143,912
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	250,621			$	184,871
Supplemental disclosure of cash information:
Cash paid for interest	$	80,945			$	79,167
Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds		42,365				36,822
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
Investment in receivable portfolios transferred to real estate owned	$	3,098			$	6,244

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)		2024				2023				2024				2023
GAAP net income, as reported	$	32,181			$	26,305			$	55,420			$	44,931
Adjustments:
Interest expense		61,376				49,983				117,141				96,818
Interest income		(1,760	)			(1,123	)			(3,128	)			(2,067	)
Provision for income taxes		10,329				10,029				17,582				16,438
Depreciation and amortization		7,461				10,702				15,309				21,572
Net gain on derivative instruments(1)		(78	)			—				(273	)			—
Stock-based compensation expense		4,637				3,873				7,994				7,925
Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses(2)		1,883				454				4,202				5,980
Adjusted EBITDA	$	116,029			$	100,223			$	214,247			$	191,597
Collections applied to principal balance(3)	$	228,923			$	190,658			$	443,474			$	373,639

________________________

1. Amount represents gain or loss recognized on derivative instruments that are not designated as hedging instruments or gain or loss recognized on derivative instruments upon dedesignation of hedge relationships. We adjust for this amount because we believe the gain or loss on derivative contracts is not indicative of ongoing operations.
2. 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.
3. 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 other receivable portfolios. 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, 2024.

FAQ

What was Encore Capital Group's (ECPG) global portfolio purchase amount in Q2 2024?

Encore Capital Group's global portfolio purchases in Q2 2024 amounted to $279 million, including a record $237 million in the U.S.

How much did Encore Capital Group's (ECPG) global collections increase in Q2 2024 compared to Q2 2023?

Encore Capital Group's global collections in Q2 2024 increased by 15% to $547 million compared to Q2 2023.

What is Encore Capital Group's (ECPG) revised 2024 guidance for global portfolio purchases?

Encore Capital Group has raised its 2024 guidance and now expects global portfolio purchases to exceed $1,150 million.

What was Encore Capital Group's (ECPG) GAAP EPS for Q2 2024?

Encore Capital Group reported a GAAP EPS of $1.34 for Q2 2024, representing a 24% increase year-over-year.