Encore Capital Group Announces Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Encore Capital Group, Inc.

• Global collections of $477 million
  

• Portfolio purchases of $274 million up 59%, including $213 million in the U.S.

• Portfolio supply growth continues in U.S. market

• GAAP EPS of $1.08

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 02, 2023 (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, 2023.

“Encore’s second quarter performance reflected normalized consumer behavior and a stable collections environment in each of our key markets,” said Ashish Masih, President and Chief Executive Officer. “With lending and charge-off rates steadily rising in the U.S., the growth of portfolio supply and improvements in portfolio pricing continue. Consequently, MCM portfolio purchases in the U.S. in the second quarter matched our Q1 total of $213 million.”

“In Europe, portfolio purchasing remains very competitive with pricing still not fully reflecting the higher cost of capital caused by higher interest rates. Against this backdrop, we continue to constrain Cabot portfolio purchasing and believe this disciplined approach to portfolio purchasing best positions us for success when Cabot’s markets become more constructive.”

“As a result of the continued, disciplined execution of our strategy, Encore remains well-positioned with the operational capability and balance sheet required to capitalize on the growing portfolio purchasing opportunities in the U.S. market. Looking forward, with higher portfolio purchases and strengthening returns in the U.S., we expect the steady growth in ERC and earnings to continue. 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 2023:

	Three Months Ended June 30,
(in thousands, except percentages and earnings per share)		2023			2022		Change
Portfolio purchases(1)	$	274,325		$	173,007		59	%
Estimated Remaining Collections (ERC)	$	7,979,353		$	7,559,820		6	%
Collections	$	476,522		$	497,711		(4)	%
Revenues	$	323,044		$	356,917		(9)	%
Operating expenses	$	234,972		$	237,969		(1)	%
GAAP net income	$	26,305		$	60,439		(56)	%
GAAP earnings per share	$	1.08		$	2.29		(53)	%

______________________

_{⁽¹⁾   Includes U.S. purchases of $213.4 million and $116.2 million, and Europe purchases of $61.0 million and $56.8 million in Q2 2023 and Q2 2022, respectively.}

Conference Call and Webcast

Encore will host a conference call and slide presentation today, August 2, 2023, 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. 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, performance, supply and pricing, 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
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, 2023				December 31, 2022
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	184,871			$	143,912
Investment in receivable portfolios, net		3,330,986				3,088,261
Property and equipment, net		107,218				113,900
Other assets		401,299				341,073
Goodwill		852,196				821,214
Total assets	$	4,876,570			$	4,508,360
Liabilities and Equity
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	203,050			$	198,217
Borrowings		3,203,425				2,898,821
Other liabilities		236,260				231,695
Total liabilities		3,642,735				3,328,733
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, 23,485 and 23,323 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		235				233
Additional paid-in capital		3,906				—
Accumulated earnings		1,300,594				1,278,210
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(70,900	)			(98,816	)
Total stockholders’ equity		1,233,835				1,179,627
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	4,876,570			$	4,508,360

The following table presents certain assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) included in the condensed 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, 2023			December 31, 2022
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,537		$	1,344
Investment in receivable portfolios, net		470,666			431,350
Other assets		3,151			3,627
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		99			150
Borrowings		448,424			423,522
Other liabilities		129			105

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,
		2023				2022				2023				2022
Revenues
Revenue from receivable portfolios	$	301,184			$	306,282			$	596,858			$	610,387
Changes in recoveries		(3,486	)			25,150				(12,987	)			192,373
Total debt purchasing revenue		297,698				331,432				583,871				802,760
Servicing revenue		21,008				23,788				43,593				49,934
Other revenues		4,338				1,697				8,210				3,905
Total revenues		323,044				356,917				635,674				856,599
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits		95,855				98,880				199,705				195,836
Cost of legal collections		57,150				55,148				111,251				110,865
General and administrative expenses		34,529				34,967				72,494				68,501
Other operating expenses		26,349				27,405				53,905				54,432
Collection agency commissions		10,387				9,923				18,537				19,528
Depreciation and amortization		10,702				11,646				21,572				23,475
Total operating expenses		234,972				237,969				477,464				472,637
Income from operations		88,072				118,948				158,210				383,962
Other expense
Interest expense		(49,983	)			(37,054	)			(96,818	)			(71,687	)
Other (expense) income, net		(1,755	)			1,795				(23	)			2,187
Total other expense		(51,738	)			(35,259	)			(96,841	)			(69,500	)
Income before income taxes		36,334				83,689				61,369				314,462
Provision for income taxes		(10,029	)			(23,250	)			(16,438	)			(78,274	)
Net income	$	26,305			$	60,439			$	44,931			$	236,188
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	1.11			$	2.48			$	1.90			$	9.63
Diluted	$	1.08			$	2.29			$	1.83			$	8.77
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		23,670				24,359				23,610				24,539
Diluted		24,280				26,411				24,611				26,945

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited, In Thousands)
	Six Months Ended June 30,
		2023				2022
Operating activities:
Net income	$	44,931			$	236,188
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		21,572				23,475
Other non-cash interest expense, net		8,660				8,149
Stock-based compensation expense		7,925				9,040
Deferred income taxes		2,785				3,699
Changes in recoveries		12,987				(192,373	)
Other, net		985				9,267
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Other assets		(35,730	)			39,037
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities		(1,492	)			(37,952	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		62,623				98,530
Investing activities:
Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of put-backs		(544,721	)			(337,932	)
Collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios		342,020				406,738
Purchases of asset held for sale		(24,645	)			(35,178	)
Purchases of property and equipment		(9,503	)			(11,937	)
Other, net		22,603				13,416
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(214,246	)			35,107
Financing activities:
Payment of loan and debt refinancing costs		(8,151	)			(1,659	)
Proceeds from credit facilities		444,805				446,853
Repayment of credit facilities		(259,843	)			(298,743	)
Repayment of senior secured notes		(19,540	)			(19,540	)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes		230,000				—
Repayment of convertible and exchangeable senior notes		(192,457	)			(221,153	)
Proceeds from convertible hedge instruments, net		10,050				—
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		—				(50,835	)
Other, net		(14,238	)			(10,523	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		190,626				(155,600	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		39,003				(21,963	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		1,956				(13,387	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		143,912				189,645
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	184,871			$	154,295
Supplemental disclosure of cash information:
Cash paid for interest	$	79,167			$	64,366
Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds	$	36,822			$	44,671

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)		2023				2022				2023				2022
GAAP net income, as reported	$	26,305			$	60,439			$	44,931			$	236,188
Adjustments:
Interest expense		49,983				37,054				96,818				71,687
Interest income		(1,123	)			(588	)			(2,067	)			(1,025	)
Provision for income taxes		10,029				23,250				16,438				78,274
Depreciation and amortization		10,702				11,646				21,572				23,475
Stock-based compensation expense		3,873				5,119				7,925				9,040
Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses(1)		454				487				5,980				1,166
Adjusted EBITDA	$	100,223			$	137,407			$	191,597			$	418,805
Collections applied to principal balance(2)	$	190,658			$	170,112			$	373,639			$	223,679

________________________

(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. For the three and six months ended   June 30, 2023 amount represents costs related to headcount reductions in Europe. The remainder of the costs relating to the headcount reductions in Europe are included in stock-based compensation expense.

(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 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, 2023.