The Aaron’s Company Reports Full Year and Fourth Quarter Revenues and Earnings

Full Year 2020 Highlights

– Full Year 2020 Revenues of $1.735 Billion
– Diluted EPS of ($7.85); Non-GAAP Diluted EPS of $3.02, Up 43.8%
– Adjusted EBITDA of $208.9 Million, Up 26.4%
– Same Store Revenues Up 1.8%; E-commerce Lease Revenues Up 41%

Fourth Quarter 2020 Highlights

– Fourth Quarter Revenues of $430 Million
– Diluted EPS of $0.08; Non-GAAP Diluted EPS $0.79, Up 11.3%
– Adjusted EBITDA of $53.7 Million, Up 4.8%
– Same Store Revenues Up 3.4%; E-commerce Lease Revenues Up 39%

The Aaron’s Company, Inc. (“Aaron’s” or the “Company”), a leading technology-enabled omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions, today announced financial results for the full year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020.

“We are pleased to announce another quarter of solid financial results to conclude a strong year for Aaron’s,” said Douglas Lindsay, Chief Executive Officer of The Aaron’s Company. “I am proud of the dedication of our team members who continue to provide exceptional customer service during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We believe our investments in customer servicing platforms, decisioning technologies, new store formats and fast-growing e-commerce channel are delivering positive momentum in financial performance and lease portfolio growth. We remain focused on executing our key strategic priorities: simplifying and digitizing the customer experience; aligning our store footprint to the customer opportunity; and promoting the Aaron’s value proposition of low payments, high approval rates, and best-in-class service.”

Results of Operations – Full Year 2020

For the full year 2020, consolidated revenues were $1.735 billion, a decline of 2.8% compared to the full year 2019. This decline is the result of a reduction of 253 company-operated stores in 2019 and 2020, partially offset by a 1.8% increase in same store revenues for the full year 2020.

Adjusted EBITDA for the full year 2020 was $208.9 million, an increase of $43.6 million or 26.4% compared to the full year of 2019. As a percentage of revenues, adjusted EBITDA margin was 12.0% compared to 9.3% in 2019, an increase of 270 basis points. The increase in adjusted EBITDA is primarily due to an improvement in customer payment activity, fewer lease merchandise returns and efficiencies in store operations. Write-offs were 4.2% of lease revenues in 2020, a 200 basis point improvement over 2019.

Non-GAAP EPS for the full year 2020 was $3.02, an increase of 43.8% compared to the $2.10 reported for the full year 2019.

The Company generated $355.8 million in cash from operations during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and ended the year with $76.1 million in cash. Total available liquidity was $311.4 million and total debt was less than $1 million as of December 31, 2020.

Results of Operations – Fourth Quarter 2020

For the fourth quarter of 2020, consolidated revenues were $430.2 million compared with $435.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, a decrease of 1.1%. The decrease in consolidated revenues was primarily due to the net reduction of 75 company-operated stores during 2020, partially offset by strength in customer payment activity. On a same store revenue basis, revenues increased 3.4% in the fourth quarter compared to the prior year quarter, the sixth quarter of positive same store revenue growth in the last eight quarters, and the third consecutive quarter in a row.

Adjusted EBITDA for the Company was $53.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared with $51.2 million for the same period in 2019, an increase of $2.5 million, or 4.8%. As a percentage of revenues, adjusted EBITDA was 12.5% in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared with 11.8% for the same period in 2019, an improvement of 70 basis points. The improvement in adjusted EBITDA margin was primarily due to a 300 basis point reduction in write-offs to 4.3% of lease revenues, partially offset by the impact of one-time benefits related primarily to real estate sale and leaseback transactions and other miscellaneous items in the fourth quarter of 2019. Before the impact of these one-time items in the fourth quarter of 2019, adjusted EBITDA margin in the fourth quarter of 2020 would have improved 250 basis points.

Net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2020 were $2.9 million compared to net earnings of $20.5 million in the prior year period. Net earnings in the fourth quarter of 2020 included $12.1 million in pre-tax spin-related retirement charges, $9.2 million in pre-tax restructuring charges and $7.0 million in pre-tax spin-related separation charges. Net earnings in the fourth quarter of 2019 included $2.5 million in pre-tax restructuring charges.

Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2020 were $0.08 compared with diluted earnings per share of $0.61 in the year ago period. On a non-GAAP basis, diluted earnings per share were $0.79 in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared with non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.71 for the same quarter in 2019, an increase of $0.08 or 11.3%.

Franchise Performance

Franchisee revenues totaled $405.1 million for the full year of 2020, a decrease of 6.4% from the full year of 2019 primarily due to a reduction in franchise locations. Franchisee revenues totaled $97.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, a decrease of 4.1% from the fourth quarter of 2019 primarily due to a reduction in franchise locations. Same-store revenues for franchised stores increased 6.1% for the fourth quarter of 2020 compared with the same quarter in 2019. Revenues and customers of franchisees are not revenues and customers of the Company.

2021 Outlook

For the full-year 2021, we expect consolidated revenues between $1.65 billion and $1.70 billion, and adjusted EBITDA of between $155 million and $170 million. In addition, we have assumed an effective tax rate for 2021 of approximately 25%, depreciation and amortization of between $70 million and $75 million, and a diluted weighted average share count of approximately 35 million shares. This outlook assumes no significant deterioration in the current retail environment or in the state of the U.S. economy as compared to its current condition, a gradual improvement in global supply chain conditions, and no incremental government stimulus or supplemental unemployment benefits in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Basis of Presentation

The financial statements and related results discussed herein for periods prior to and through the date of the separation and distribution, November 30, 2020, were prepared on a combined standalone basis and were derived from the consolidated financial statements and accounting records of PROG Holdings, Inc. The financial statements for the period from December 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 are consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, each of which is wholly-owned, and is based on the financial position and results of operations of the Company as a standalone company.

The combined financial statements prepared through November 30, 2020 include all revenues and costs directly attributable to the Company and an allocation of expenses from PROG Holdings, Inc. related to certain corporate functions and actions. These costs include executive management, finance, treasury, tax, audit, legal, information technology, human resources and risk management functions and the related benefit cost associated with such functions, including stock-based compensation. These expenses have been allocated to the Company based on direct usage or benefit where specifically identifiable, with the remaining expenses allocated primarily on a pro rata basis using an applicable measure of revenues, headcount or other relevant measures.

For the full fourth quarter results, click here.

About The Aaron’s Company Inc.

Headquartered in Atlanta, The Aaron’s Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), is a leading, technology-enabled omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions. The Aaron’s Company engages in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, appliances, consumer electronics and accessories through its approximately 1,300 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform, Aarons.com. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com and Aarons.com.

Source: The Aaron’s Company, Inc.