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Rent-A-Center, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2015 Results

By: Rent-A-Center |  0 Shares     109 Reads

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 EPS Increased Excluding Special Items

The Company Recognizes Non-Cash Goodwill Impairment Charge

Board Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.08

PLANO, Texas - February 01, 2016 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Rent-A-Center, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ/NGS: RCII) today announced results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015.

Notable Items for the Quarter

GAAP Basis

• Diluted loss per share was $17.20 compared to earnings of $0.48 for the fourth quarter of 2014. For the full year 2015, diluted loss per share was $16.34 compared to earnings of $1.81 in the prior year. These losses were the result of the impairment of goodwill described below
• The Company's annual goodwill impairment testing performed in the fourth quarter resulted in the recognition of a $1,170.0 million goodwill impairment. The impairment is a non-cash charge and does not affect liquidity or debt covenants

Excluding Special Items (see non-GAAP reconciliation below)

• Diluted earnings per share increased to $0.54 compared to $0.51 for the fourth quarter of 2014. For the full year 2015, diluted earnings per share increased to $2.03 compared to $1.96 in the prior year
• Consolidated total revenues decreased 0.4 percent to $793.8 million and same store sales increased 1.7 percent
• Acceptance Now same store sales increased 13.7 percent as the Company begins to lap the 90 day option pricing changes
• Core U.S. same store sales decreased by 2.2 percent as the Company has fully lapped the introduction of the smartphone category. Core U.S. same store sales is driven by declines in the computer and tablets category and headwinds in oil affected markets, partially offset by increases in furniture, consumer electronics, and appliances
• The Company’s operating profit as a percent of total revenues increased to 6.7 percent, a 40 basis point improvement over the prior year
• For the full year 2015, the Company generated $230.5 million of cash from operations, capital expenditures totaled $80.9 million, and the Company ended the year with $60.4 million of cash and cash equivalents
• The Company reduced its outstanding debt balance by $74.4 million in 2015 compared to prior year and total debt was $968.4 million as of December 31, 2015
• The Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share payable on April 21, 2016, to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 4, 2016

"Earnings per share for the fourth quarter and the full year 2015, excluding special items, were higher year over year," stated Mr. Robert D. Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Rent-A-Center, Inc. "Same store sales and profitability trends in our Core business improved in 2015. We delivered double digit same store sales and unit growth in our Acceptance Now business, and Acceptance Now gross margins improved sequentially in Q4, demonstrating our focus on profitable growth. There continue to be additional opportunities to unlock further growth in the business and we are committed to improving operational execution and driving toward higher performance.”

“Our results are not where we want them to be, however, the Rent-A-Center team has made significant progress on a number of fronts. We are now two years into our multi-year transformation and we are making the necessary changes to improve our profitability to drive the long-term success of Rent-A-Center. Our goals continue to be delivering improved profitability in our Core rent-to-own business, maximizing the Acceptance Now revenue growth and profit opportunity, and optimizing our Mexico business,” Mr. Davis concluded.

Goodwill Write-Down

Testing of goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level is performed annually, and this testing resulted in the recognition of a $1,170.0 million impairment of goodwill in the Core U.S. business. Substantially all of this goodwill was created as a result of the acquisition growth strategy pursued during the period between 1993 and 2006.

The Company recently obtained an amendment to its credit agreement enabling the Company to make up to $20 million per year in dividend payments when total leverage is between 2.5x and 3.75x. As of December 31, 2015, the Company's total leverage ratio was approximately 3.1x.

The Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share payable on April 21, 2016, to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 4, 2016.

Quarterly Operating Performance

Explanations of performance are excluding special items and compared to the prior year unless otherwise noted.

ACCEPTANCE NOW fourth quarter revenues of $196.9 million increased 16.0 percent driven by same store sales growth, the growth in 90 day option pricing, and an increase in the number of locations. Gross profit as a percent of total revenue increased sequentially by 180 basis points, but declined versus prior year due to lower gross profit margin on merchandise sales and a higher mix of merchandise sales primarily due to the popularity of the 90 day option pricing. Labor and other store expenses, as a percent of store revenue, were positively impacted by improved leverage in the business. Acceptance Now operating profit increased $2.0 million.

CORE U.S. fourth quarter revenues of $573.8 million decreased 4.5 percent year over year primarily due to the continued rationalization of our Core U.S. store base and lower same store sales. Gross profit as a percent of total revenue was negatively impacted by lower gross profit margin on merchandise sales. Labor, as a percent of store revenue, was positively impacted by improved labor productivity, the flexible labor initiative, and lower incentive compensation. Other store expenses, as a percent of store revenue, were negatively impacted by higher advertising expenses, partially offset by lower losses and lower gas prices.

MEXICO fourth quarter revenues decreased 23.3 percent driven by currency fluctuations and store closures, however, operating losses improved by $3.6 million.

FRANCHISING fourth quarter revenues increased 11.7 percent and operating profit increased by $0.7 million.

Same Store Sales (Unaudited)

Table 1		2015												2014
		Core			Acceptance									Core			Acceptance
Period		U.S.			Now			Mexico			Total			U.S.			Now			Mexico			Total
Three months ended December 31,		(2.2	)%		13.7	%		4.4	%		1.7	%		(0.6	)%		28.4	%		17.0	%		4.7	%
Year ended December 31,		0.1	%		25.8	%		9.6	%		5.7	%		(4.0	)%		25.5	%		19.7	%		1.2	%

Note: Same store sales are reported on a constant currency basis beginning in 2015.

Non-GAAP Reconciliation

To supplement the Company's financial results presented on a GAAP basis, Rent-A-Center uses the non-GAAP measures ("special items”) indicated in Tables 2 and 3 below, which exclude charges in 2015 for goodwill impairment in the Core U.S. segment, the write-down of smartphones, the loss on the sale of Core U.S. and Canada stores, restructuring charges related to the closure of Core U.S. and Mexico stores, start-up expenses related to our sourcing and distribution initiative and discrete adjustments to tax reserves. Reported amounts for the prior period have been conformed to the current period presentation. Gains or charges related to sales of stores, store closures, and discrete adjustments to tax reserves will generally recur with the occurrence of these events in the future. The presentation of these financial measures is not in accordance with, or an alternative for, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Rent-A-Center management believes that excluding special items from the GAAP financial results provides investors a clearer perspective of the Company's ongoing operating performance and a more relevant comparison to prior period results.

Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net earnings excluding special items (in thousands, except per share data):

See full Spreadsheet: [http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160201006340/en/Rent-A-Center-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-Year-2015-Results]

2016 Outlook

* The Company expects to deliver growth in earnings per share assuming:

• Core U.S. revenue down 4.0% to 6.0% driven by same store sales decline of 1.0% to 3.0% and the impact of store rationalization efforts
• Acceptance Now revenue of $850 to $900 million

* The Company expects to deliver improved operating profit margin, EBITDA, and free cash flow in both the Core U.S. and Acceptance Now

Guidance Policy

Rent-A-Center, Inc. provides annual guidance as it relates to diluted earnings per share and will only provide updates if there is a material change versus the original guidance. The Company believes providing diluted earnings per share guidance provides investors the appropriate insight into the Company’s ongoing operating performance. Management will not discuss intra-period sales or other key operating results not yet reported as the limited data may not accurately reflect the final results of the period or quarter referenced. Guidance does not include the potential impact of any repurchases of common stock the Company may make, or the potential impact of acquisitions or dispositions that may be completed or occur after February 1, 2016, unless otherwise noted.

Webcast Information

Rent-A-Center, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss the fourth quarter results, guidance and other operational matters on Tuesday morning, February 2, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. ET. For a live webcast of the call, visit http://investor.rentacenter.com. Certain financial and other statistical information that will be discussed during the conference call will also be provided on the same website.

About Rent-A-Center, Inc.

A rent-to-own industry leader, Plano, TX-based, Rent-A-Center, Inc., is focused on improving the quality of life for its customers by providing them the opportunity to obtain ownership of high-quality, durable products such as consumer electronics, appliances, computers, furniture and accessories, and smartphones, under flexible rental purchase agreements with no long-term obligation. The Company owns and operates approximately 2,815 stores in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico, and approximately 1,975 Acceptance Now locations in the United States and Puerto Rico. Rent-A-Center Franchising International, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a national franchiser of approximately 225 rent-to-own stores operating under the trade names of "Rent-A-Center," "ColorTyme," and "RimTyme." For additional information about the Company, please visit our website at www.rentacenter.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release and the guidance above contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "could," "estimate," "should," "anticipate," or "believe," or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are accurate. However, there can be no assurance that such expectations will occur. The Company's actual future performance could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the general strength of the economy and other economic conditions affecting consumer preferences and spending; factors affecting the disposable income available to the Company's current and potential customers; changes in the unemployment rate; difficulties encountered in improving the financial and operational performance of our business segments; failure to manage the Company's store labor and other store expenses; the Company’s ability to develop and successfully execute strategic initiatives; the Company's ability to successfully implement its new store information management system; the Company’s ability to successfully market smartphones and related services to its customers; the Company's ability to develop and successfully implement virtual or e-commerce capabilities; failure to achieve the anticipated profitability enhancements from the changes to the 90 day option pricing program and the development of dedicated commercial sales capabilities; disruptions in our supply chain; limitations of, or disruptions in, our distribution network; rapid inflation or deflation in the prices of the Company's products; the Company's ability to execute and the effectiveness of a store consolidation, including the Company's ability to retain the revenue from customer accounts merged into another store location as a result of a store consolidation; the Company's available cash flow; the Company's ability to identify and successfully market products and services that appeal to its customer demographic; consumer preferences and perceptions of the Company's brand; uncertainties regarding the ability to open new locations; the Company's ability to acquire additional stores or customer accounts on favorable terms; the Company's ability to control costs and increase profitability; the Company's ability to retain the revenue associated with acquired customer accounts and enhance the performance of acquired stores; the Company's ability to enter into new and collect on its rental or lease purchase agreements; the passage of legislation adversely affecting the rent-to-own industry; the Company's compliance with applicable statutes or regulations governing its transactions; changes in interest rates; adverse changes in the economic conditions of the industries, countries or markets that the Company serves; information technology and data security costs; the impact of any breaches in data security or other disturbances to the Company's information technology and other networks and the Company's ability to protect the integrity and security of individually identifiable data of its customers and employees; changes in the Company's stock price, the number of shares of common stock that it may or may not repurchase, and future dividends, if any; changes in estimates relating to self-insurance liabilities and income tax and litigation reserves; changes in the Company's effective tax rate; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the Company's ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls; the resolution of the Company's litigation; and the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect the events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

See full Spreadsheets: [http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160201006340/en/Rent-A-Center-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-Year-2015-Results]

SOURCE Rent-A-Center

Contacts

Maureen Short
Rent-A-Center, Inc.
972-801-1899
Senior Vice President - Finance, Investor Relations and Treasury
maureen.short@rentacenter.com

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