Credit Acceptance Corporation (CACC) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

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.

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 laws. 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 risks and uncertainties include those spelled out in the cautionary statement 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 that 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, the decreased forecasted net cash flows by $87 million or 0.9%. We 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.

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

So when I think back overall long time frame in looking at the company and every cycle that we've seen, whether it was a great financial crisis or COVID it was roughly about 3/4 of charges that you took to kind of rightsize the forecasted collections. And then obviously, after that, those forecast revisions went away. We're at 6 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.

I don't -- it doesn't have anything to do with CECL. I mean that's just accounting. In terms of estimating forecasted collection rates don't have a perfect reason for as 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 at very elevated used car prices, and we have had the impact of inflation, which is something that we've never previously had to deal with. So -- that's really about the best answer I can give you.

Okay. And then just -- obviously, I saw the Q came out, it doesn't seem like there's any material disclosures regarding the CFPB and New York AG suit. But it does say that there's an update that has to be given on November 3. Is there anything you can tell us about what that update would include? Or is that a possible time frame in which this case would move forward again because obviously, it's still currently stayed. I just want to understand what happens on November 3.

Yes. I don't think that anything is really going to happen with the case until the CFP -- or the Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the CFPB. The court has granted a motion to stay on our case pending that decision. So I don't know exactly what we discussed in early November with the court. But I -- the court has granted a motion to stay pending the Supreme Court's decision.

And our next question comes from John Hecht of Jefferies.

I guess my question is a little bit related 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'd 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.

I think we think the competitive environment is relatively favorable today. We grew the loan portfolio and grew originations in Q3 at 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 that the competitive environment is certainly better than it was a year ago. And I don't know how that's going to play out in the future, but we're pleased with how it's going to date.

And then just, I guess, maybe comment on -- obviously, you're writing down the expected cash flows and you had kind of fits and spurts over the past few quarters in that. Maybe can you just discuss the credit environment? I mean, is it -- 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 consumers' ability to service their debts right now?