Aaron’s, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Revenue and Earnings

Aaron’s, Inc. (“Aaron’s” or the “Company”), a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions, today announced financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2020.

“The Company’s second quarter results significantly exceeded our expectations as we managed the business through the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Progressive’s results were favorably impacted by improving invoice growth throughout the quarter, operating expense management and strong customer payment activity. Similarly, the Aaron’s Business second quarter financial strength is the result of strong customer payment activity, lower write-offs, and operating expense management. We continue to maintain a conservatively capitalized balance sheet and have experienced strong year-to-date operating cash flow. Overall, I am very pleased with our second quarter results and would like to express my deepest gratitude to our team members across all of our businesses for their dedication during these challenging times,” said John Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of Aaron’s, Inc.

Consolidated Results

For the second quarter of 2020, consolidated revenues were $1.03 billion compared with $968.1 million for the second quarter of 2019, an increase of 6.4%. The increase in consolidated revenues was due to an increase in revenues at Progressive partially offset by lower revenues in the Aaron’s Business.

Net earnings for the second quarter of 2020 were $68.4 million compared to net earnings of $42.7 million in the prior year period. Net earnings in the second quarter of 2020 and 2019 included $7.0 million and $18.7 million, respectively, in pre-tax restructuring charges.

Adjusted EBITDA for the Company was $129.8 million for the second quarter of 2020, compared with $107.4 million for the same period in 2019, an increase of $22.4 million, or 20.9%. As a percentage of revenues, Adjusted EBITDA was 12.6% in the second quarter of 2020 compared with 11.1% for the same period in 2019.

Diluted earnings per share for the second quarter of 2020 were $1.01 compared with diluted earnings per share of $0.62 in the year ago period. On a non-GAAP basis, diluted earnings per share were $1.18 in the second quarter of 2020. This compares with non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.93 for the same quarter in 2019, an increase of $0.25 or 26.9%.

The Company generated $360.8 million in cash from operations during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and ended the second quarter with $313.1 million in cash, compared with a cash balance of $57.8 million at the end of 2019. Total available liquidity was approximately $800 million at June 30, 2020.

Progressive Leasing Segment Results

Progressive Leasing’s revenues in the second quarter of 2020 increased 14.2% to a record $589.7 million compared to $516.3 million in the second quarter of 2019. Second quarter invoice volume decreased 2.2% due primarily to the COVID-related closure of many retail partner locations, which have recently begun to reopen. Invoice volume per active door was up 1.7% while active doors were down 3.9% to approximately 19,000. Progressive Leasing had 902,000 customers at June 30, 2020, a 0.8% decrease from June 30, 2019.

Earnings before income taxes for the second quarter of 2020 were $59.8 million compared to $58.4 million in the prior year period. EBITDA for the second quarter of 2020 was $70.7 million compared with $68.2 million for the same period of 2019, an increase of 3.6%. As a percentage of revenues, EBITDA was 12.0% for the second quarter of 2020, a decrease of 120 basis points compared to the second quarter of 2019. Lower SG&A expenses and merchandise write-offs were more than offset by lower year-over-year gross margins resulting from higher 90-day buyout activity in the second quarter.

The provision for lease merchandise write-offs was 6.1% of revenues in the second quarter of 2020 compared with 7.6% in the same period of 2019. The decrease in the provision for lease merchandise write-offs was due primarily to strong customer payment activity and more conservative decisioning.

The Aaron’s Business Segment Results

For the second quarter of 2020, total revenues for the Aaron’s Business decreased 2.8% to $431.0 million from $443.2 million in the second quarter of 2019. The decrease was primarily due to the net reduction of 185 stores during the 15-month period ended June 30, 2020, a lower lease portfolio balance entering the quarter, and the temporary impact of COVID-related showroom closures during the second quarter of 2020, partially offset by strong customer payment activity. Same-store revenues were up 1.4% due primarily to strong customer payment activity including early buyout revenue and retail sales and continued growth in e-commerce revenue. Customer count on a same-store basis was down 6.5% during the second quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. Company-operated Aaron’s stores had 898,000 customers at June 30, 2020, an 8.7% decrease from June 30, 2019.

Lease revenue and fees for the three months ended June 30, 2020 decreased 2.8% compared with the same period in 2019. Non-retail sales, which primarily consist of merchandise sales to the Company’s franchisees, decreased 3.2% for the second quarter of 2020 compared with the same period of the prior year.

Earnings before income taxes for the second quarter of 2020 were $32.0 million which includes the impact of $7.0 million in restructuring charges. Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended June 30, 2020 was $57.1 million, compared to $39.7 million for the same period in 2019, an increase of $17.4 million or 44.0%. The increase in adjusted EBITDA was due primarily to strong customer payment activity, improved merchandise write-offs and lower SG&A expenses, partially offset by the impact of a lower portfolio balance entering the second quarter and the temporary impact of COVID related showroom closures during the second quarter of 2020.

The provision for lease merchandise write-offs was 3.7% of revenues in the second quarter of 2020, compared with 5.6% for the same period last year. Contributing to the year-over-year improvement in write-offs was strong customer payment activity, both in-store and on Aarons.com.

At June 30, 2020, the Aaron’s Business had 1,098 Company-operated stores and 316 franchised stores.

Significant Components of Revenue and Franchise Performance

Consolidated lease revenues and fees for the three months ended June 30, 2020 increased 6.9% over the same period of the prior year. Franchise royalties and fees decreased 60.9% in the second quarter of 2020 compared with the same period a year ago. That decrease resulted from the temporary suspension of franchise royalty fees from early March until late May, as part of the COVID-19 relief the Aaron’s Business offered franchisees, and a lower number of franchised stores. Franchisee revenues totaled $104.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020, a decrease of 3.5% from the same period for the prior year. Same-store revenues for franchised stores increased 6.6% and same-store customer counts declined 7.6% for the second quarter of 2020 compared with the same quarter in 2019. Franchised stores had 216,000 customers at the end of the second quarter of 2020. Revenues and customers of franchisees are not revenues and customers of the Aaron’s Business or the Company.

2020 Outlook

For the third quarter, we expect consolidated revenues between $950 million and $975 million and Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share of between $0.80 and $0.90. This outlook assumes no significant deterioration in the current retail environment, some level of continuing government stimulus, and a gradual improvement in global supply chain conditions.

About Aaron’s, Inc.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), is a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions. Progressive Leasing provides lease-purchase solutions through more than 19,000 retail and e-commerce partner locations in 46 states and the District of Columbia. The Aaron’s Business engages in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, home appliances, consumer electronics and accessories through its approximately 1,400 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform, Aarons.com. Vive Financial (“Vive”, formerly Dent-A-Med, Inc.), provides a variety of second-look credit products that are originated through federally-insured banks. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, Aarons.com, ProgLeasing.com, and ViveCard.com.

Contact:

Michael P. Dickerson – Vice President Corporate Communication & Investor Relations – mike.dickerson@aarons.com – (678) 402-3590

Source: Aaron’s, Inc.