NORFOLK, VA, Feb 14, 2006 -- Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRAA), a company that purchases and manages portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables and provides a broad range of accounts receivable management services, today reported net income of $9.4 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2005.
The Company's fourth-quarter 2005 earnings represent growth of 22% from net income of $7.7 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, in the same period a year earlier.
Total revenue increased 24% to $39.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 from $31.7 million in the year-earlier period. Total revenue consists of cash collections reduced by amounts applied to the Company's owned debt portfolios plus commissions from its fee-for-service businesses. During the fourth quarter of 2005, the Company applied 26.7% of cash collections to reduce the carrying basis of its owned debt portfolios. This included a $200,000 allowance charge against a portfolio of accounts acquired in 2001. This particular portfolio has greatly exceeded the Company's expectations to date, but performed under our expectations during the fourth quarter of 2005.
"Portfolio Recovery Associates performed well in the fourth quarter, completing a noteworthy year in which we continued to grow earnings, revenue and cash collections, purchased RDS -- our second corporate acquisition in two years -- and enjoyed the benefits of our disciplined approach to growth and portfolio acquisition. We did in fact make an extraordinary level of debt purchases during the quarter. At $92.3 million, we spent more in the fourth quarter of 2005 than in any prior full-year period. This was due, at least in part, to the recent changes in bankruptcy law that triggered a surge in bankruptcy filings and resulting charge offs. Although still competitive, pricing was better than we have seen in some time. On the operating front, collector-force productivity remained solid, even in the face of the seasonally slow fourth quarter and significant hiring," said Steven D. Fredrickson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.
For full-year 2005, net income grew 34% to $36.8 million, or $2.28 per diluted share, from $27.5 million, or $1.73 per diluted share, in 2004. Total revenue increased 31% to $148.5 million in 2005 from $113.4 million in 2004. During 2005, the Company applied 29.6% of its cash collections to reduce the carrying basis of its owned debt portfolios, compared with 30.7% in 2004.
Financial and Operating Highlights
-- Cash collections rose 16% to $47.2 million in the fourth quarter of
2005, up from $40.7 million in the year-ago period.
-- Productivity, as measured by cash collections per hour paid, the
Company's key measure of collector performance, stands at $133.39 for full-
year 2005, up 13% from $117.59 for all of 2004.
-- The Company purchased $2.84 billion of face-value debt during the
fourth quarter of 2005 for $92.3 million. This debt was acquired in 58
pools from 19 different sellers. The Company purchased $5.31 billion of
face value debt for $149.6 million during full-year 2005.
-- The Company's fee-for-service businesses generated revenue of $4.7
million in the fourth quarter of 2005, up from $3.3 million in the same
period a year ago.
-- The Company's cash balances were $16.0 million as of December 31,
2005, down from $67.4 million as of September 30, 2005, reflecting the
strong fourth quarter debt purchases. During the 2005 fourth quarter, the
Company made a $15 million draw on its newly expanded $75 million line of
credit. The $15 million remained outstanding at year end.
"In the fourth quarter, Portfolio Recovery Associates demonstrated the value of its long-term, disciplined approach to portfolio acquisitions -- building cash when profitable deals are scarce in order to take advantage of significant market opportunities when they arise. Our record fourth-quarter portfolio purchases of $92.3 million provide us with substantial raw material to drive cash collections, revenue and earnings for years to come. Despite this spending, our newly increased line of credit and expanded network of lenders positions the Company well to be able to continue aggressively purchasing new debt portfolios as attractive opportunities arise," said Kevin P. Stevenson, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer.
Conference Call Information
The Company will hold a conference call with investors today, February 14, 2006, at 5:30 p.m. EST to discuss its fourth quarter and full-year results. Investors can access the call live by dialing 866-356-4281 for domestic callers or 617-597-5395 for international callers using the pass code 42256959.
In addition, investors may listen to the call via a taped replay, which will be available for seven days, by dialing 888-286-8010 for domestic callers and 617-801-6888 for international callers using the pass code 20722563. The replay will be available approximately two hours after today's conference call ends. Investors may also listen via webcast, both live and archived, at the Company's website, www.portfoliorecovery.com.
About Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.
Portfolio Recovery Associates is a full-service provider of outsourced receivables management and related services. The company's primary business is the purchase, collection and management of portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables. These are the unpaid obligations of individuals to credit originators, which include banks, credit unions, consumer and auto finance companies, and retail merchants. Portfolio Recovery Associates also provides a broad range of collection services, including revenue administration for government entities through its RDS business, collateral-location services for credit originators via IGS Nevada, and fee-based collections through Anchor Receivables Management.
Statements herein which are not historical, including Portfolio Recovery Associates' or management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, plans or predictions of the future, including statements with respect to future contribution of IGS Nevada and RDS to earnings and future portfolio-purchase opportunities, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include references to Portfolio Recovery Associates' presentations and web casts. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions and expectations of the Company's future operations and economic performance, taking into account currently available information. These statements are not statements of historical fact. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, some of which are not currently known to us. Actual events or results may differ from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including the risk factors and other risks that are described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including but not limited to its annual reports on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its current reports on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available through the Company's website, which contain a more detailed discussion of the Company's business, including risks and uncertainties that may affect future results. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Information in this press release may be superseded by more recent information or statements, which may be disclosed in later press releases, subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or to reflect any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such forward-looking statements are based, in whole or in part.
Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Income Statements
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Three Months Three Months Year Year
Ended Ended Ended Ended
December December December December
31, 31, 31, 31,
2005 2004 2005 2004
Revenues:
Income recognized on finance
receivables $ 34,614 $ 28,387 $ 134,674 $ 106,254
Commissions 4,712 3,315 13,851 7,142
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total revenue 39,326 31,702 148,525 113,396
Operating expenses:
Compensation and
employee services 11,841 9,717 44,332 36,620
Outside legal and other
fees and services 7,811 6,369 29,965 21,408
Communications 1,211 980 4,424 3,638
Rent and occupancy 558 448 2,101 1,745
Other operating expenses 1,108 684 3,424 2,712
Depreciation and amortization 1,410 985 4,679 2,383
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total operating expenses 23,939 19,183 88,925 68,506
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Income from operations 15,387 12,519 59,600 44,890
Other income and (expense):
Interest income 136 117 611 223
Interest expense (95) (67) (281) (273)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Income before
income taxes 15,428 12,569 59,930 44,840
Provision for
income taxes 5,979 4,854 23,159 17,388
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income $ 9,449 $ 7,715 $ 36,771 $ 27,452
========= ========= ========= =========
Net income per common share
Basic $ 0.60 $ 0.50 $ 2.35 $ 1.79
Diluted $ 0.58 $ 0.48 $ 2.28 $ 1.73
Weighted average number
of shares outstanding
Basic 15,745 15,462 15,642 15,357
Diluted 16,196 16,030 16,149 15,853
Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Summary Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share amounts)
December 31, December 31,
ASSETS 2005 2004
Cash and cash equivalents $ 15,985 $ 24,513
Investments - 23,950
Finance receivables, net 193,645 105,189
Property and equipment, net 7,186 5,752
Goodwill 18,288 6,397
Intangible assets, net 9,023 6,319
Other assets 3,646 3,056
---------- ----------
Total assets $ 247,773 $ 175,176
========== ==========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 13,569 7,635
Deferred tax liability 22,346 13,651
Revolving line of credit 15,000 -
Long-term debt & capital lease obligations 1,535 2,501
---------- ----------
Total liabilities 52,450 23,787
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01,
authorized shares, 2,000,000,
issued and outstanding shares - 0 - -
Common stock, par value $0.01,
authorized shares, 30,000,000,
issued and outstanding shares -
15,767,443 at December 31, 2005
and 15,498,210 at December 31, 2004 158 155
Additional paid in capital 108,064 100,905
Retained earnings 87,101 50,329
---------- ----------
Total stockholders' equity 195,323 151,389
---------- ----------
Total liabilities and stockholders'
equity $ 247,773 $ 175,176
========== ==========
Contact:
Investor Relations
757-519-9300 ext. 13010
info@portfoliorecovery.com
SOURCE: Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.