MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO - (Marketwired - Feb. 18, 2015) - easyhome Ltd. (TSX:EH) ("easyhome" or the "Company"), the Canadian leader in providing goods and financial services to the cash and credit constrained consumer, today announced its results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2014. The Company also announced it is increasing its quarterly dividend from $0.085 to $0.10 per share.
Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2014 increased to $70.0 million, an increase of 21.2% from $57.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. Total same store sales growth in the quarter was 20.8%. The growth was driven primarily by the expansion of easyfinancial and the related growth of its consumer loans receivable portfolio which grew by $26.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2014 compared with growth of $17.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. The gross consumer loans receivable as at December 31, 2014 was $192.2 million compared with $110.7 million as at December 31, 2013, an increase of 74%.
Net income for the quarter was $7.1 million, an increase of 64% compared with $4.3 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2013. Diluted earnings per share for the quarter increased by $0.18 or 55% to $0.51 compared to $0.33 for the fourth quarter of 2013. Included in net income and earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2014 was an after-tax gain of $1.1 million or $0.08 per share related to the wind down of the Company's U.S. operations. Excluding this non-recurring item, net income and earnings per share were $6.0 million and $0.43, respectively and increased 38% and 30%, respectively.
"We are proud to report that we concluded 2014 with a strong fourth quarter which resulted in record revenues and record earnings," said David Ingram, easyhome's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our continued growth has been driven by the expansion of easyfinancial as consumers look for alternative lenders that can fill the void between mainstream banks who have more restrictive credit conditions and payday lenders who charge excessive fees with onerous repayment terms for short term loans. Our goeasy master brand has supported the record level of loan originations by increasing applications online by 181% compared to the fourth quarter of 2013 for easyfinancial and has provided the leasing business with access to a larger customer base which resulted in a 15% increase in new customer growth during the quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2013."
Other highlights for the fourth quarter of 2014 include:
easyfinancial Services
easyhome Leasing
For the full year, easyhome recorded revenues of $259.2 million, up 18.4% compared with $218.8 million in 2013. Operating income for the year was $34.6 million compared with $25.0 million in 2013, an increase of 38.6%. Excluding restructuring and other items in 2014, operating income increased 33.7% to $33.4 million.
Net income for 2014 was $19.7 million compared to net income of $14.2 million for 2013, an increase of 39.2%. Diluted earnings per share increased from $1.15 to $1.42 cents. On a per share basis and excluding unusual items in 2014, earnings per share increased from $1.15 to $1.34, an increase of 16.5%.
In addition to the strong financial performance during 2014, the Company also made significant progress on its strategic initiatives.
"My thanks go out to our entire team who worked tirelessly to satisfy the needs of many cash and credit constrained consumers in Canada who required financial solutions but who have been largely neglected by the mainstream lenders," said Mr. Ingram. "I am particularly pleased by the results of our independent customer survey results that solicit customer feedback on every transaction and provides the information live to our websites for transparency. Since our launch of goeasy, our customers have scored the Company with a 96% satisfaction rating. This focus on meeting the needs of our customers helped us to achieve our thirteenth consecutive year of revenue growth and profitability. We enter 2015 with confidence."
easyhome's strategic focus continues to evolve its delivery channels to better meet the needs of its customers, expand the size and scope of easyfinancial and execute with efficiency and effectiveness.
"In addition, the leading macro indicators that influence our customers' financial health are progressively improving," continued Mr. Ingram. "The price of gas has reduced, food and clothing inflation is minimal and employment levels are returning to pre-recession levels."
Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company increased its disclosure on the composition and performance of its leasing and consumer finance portfolios. This increased disclosure will help investors to better understand the quality of its portfolios and their trends and reflects the Company's commitment to transparency in its disclosures.
The Company included targets for 2015 in its previous press release announcing its results for the third quarter of 2014. Certain of these targets were revised in January 2015 due to the acquisition of 45 retail locations from the Cash Store.
The Company has established the following revised targets for 2015:
Based on these assumptions, the Company is targeting total revenue growth of 18 - 22%. The achievement of these targets by the Company is predicated on a number of factors, including the pace of expansion of easyfinancial and the availability of capital.
In consideration of the improved earnings achieved in 2014 compared to the prior year and the Company's confidence of its continued growth and access to capital going forward, the Board of Directors has approved an increase to the quarterly dividend from $0.085 per share to $0.10 per share. As such, the Board of Directors has approved a quarterly dividend payment of $0.10 per share payable on April 10, 2015 to the holders of common shares of record as at the close of business on March 27, 2015.
As at December 31, 2014, easyhome Ltd. operated 192 easyhome leasing stores (including six consolidated franchise locations and 23 other franchise locations) and 154 easyfinancial locations.
easyhome Ltd. is the Canadian leader in providing goods and financial services to the cash and credit constrained consumer. easyhome Ltd. serves its customers under the master brand goeasy through its two key operating divisions, easyhome Leasing and easyfinancial. easyhome Leasing is Canada's largest merchandise leasing Company, offering top quality, brand-name household furnishings, appliances and home electronic products to consumers under weekly or monthly leasing agreements through both corporate and franchise stores. easyfinancial is a leading provider of consumer loans as an alternative to traditional banks and payday lenders. easyhome Ltd. is listed on the TSX under the symbol 'EH'. For more information, visit www.easyhome.ca.
The above analysis refers to certain financial measures, including same store revenue growth and gross consumer loans receivable which are not determined in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). These measures do not have standardized meanings and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. These measures are defined in our Management's Discussion and Analysis for the period which is available on SEDAR or on the Company's website at www.easyhome.ca or can be determined by reference to our financial statements. We discuss these measures as we believe that they facilitate the understanding of the results of our operations and financial position.
This news release includes forward-looking statements about easyhome Ltd., including its business operations, strategy and expected financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or include words such as 'expects', 'anticipates', 'intends', 'plans', 'believes' or negative versions thereof and similar expressions. In addition, any statement that may be made concerning future financial performance (including revenue, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects about future events is also a forward-looking statement. Forward- looking statements are based on certain factors and assumptions, including expected growth, results of operations and business prospects and are inherently subject to, among other things, risks, uncertainties and assumptions about our operations, economic factors and the industry generally. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by us, due to, but not limited to important factors such as our ability to enter into new lease and/or financing agreements, collect on existing lease and/or financing agreements, open new locations on favourable terms, secure new franchised locations, purchase products which appeal to our customers at a competitive rate, cope with changes in legislation, react to uncertainties related to regulatory actions, raise capital under favourable terms, manage the impact of litigation (including shareholder litigation), control costs at all levels of the organization and maintain and enhance our system of internal controls. We caution that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully and not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which may not be appropriate for other purposes. We are under no obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law.
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SOURCE easyhome
David Ingram
easyhome Ltd.
President & Chief Executive Officer
(905) 272-2788
Steve Goertz
easyhome Ltd.
Executive Vice President
Chief Financial Officer
(905) 272-2788
goeasy Ltd. is a full service provider of goods and alternative financial services that improve the lives of everyday Canadians.