Nicholas Financial Reports 3rd Quarter Fiscal Year 2020 Results

• Originations year-over-year on new Contracts purchased for the three months ended December 31, 2019 increased by 15.2% compared to prior year third quarter, which included a bulk portfolio purchase of $1.1 million
• Originations year-over-year on Direct Loans for the three months ended December 31, 2019 increased by 49.7% compared to prior year third quarter
• Accounts 60+ days delinquent decreased to 4.0%, excluding Chapter 13 bankruptcy accounts, compared to 5.7% as of the prior year third quarter
• Gross Portfolio Yield for the three months ended December 31, 2019 increased to 27.3% compared to 25.7% during the prior year third quarter
• Interest and fee income on finance receivables for the three months ended December 31, 2019 decreased 10.6% due to a 15.9% decrease in average finance receivables, compared to prior year third quarter
• Average APR on new Contracts purchased for the three months ended December 31, 2019 decreased to 23.3% compared to 23.5% during the prior year third quarter
• Average APR on Direct Loan originations for the three months ended December 31, 2019 increased to 28.4% compared to 25.9% during the prior year third quarter

CLEARWATER, Fla., Feb. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nicholas Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: NICK) announced net income for the three months ended December 31, 2019 of $0.3 million compared to net loss of $0.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Diluted net income per share was $0.04 for the three months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to net loss per share of $0.12 for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Revenue decreased 10.6% to $15.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to $16.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The Company reported income before income taxes for the three months ended December 31, 2019 of $0.5 million compared to net loss of $1.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The Company recorded an income tax expense of approximately $0.2 million during the three months ended December 31, 2019 compared to an income tax benefit of $0.4 million during the three months ended December 31, 2018.

Net income for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 of $1.2 million compared to $1.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2018. Diluted net income per share was $0.15 for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to $0.14 for the nine months ended December 31, 2018. Revenue decreased 14.0% to $47.2 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to $54.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2018. The Company reported income before income taxes for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 of $1.7 million compared $1.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2018. The Company recorded an income tax expense of approximately $0.5 million during the nine months ended December 31, 2019 compared to $0.3 million during the nine months ended December 31, 2018.

“We are very pleased with the progress we have been making overall, and particularly pleased with the progress in our 3rd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2020. On both new indirect contract purchases and direct loan volume we have outpaced year over year results for the 3rd Quarter and Year to Date,” Said Doug Marohn, CEO and president of Nicholas Financial, Inc. “Our targeted efforts to improve same store sales, rollout our Direct Loan product to more states, continue new market expansion and be open to other strategic partnerships is yielding positive results.”

“In the 3rd Quarter we saw more than a 15% increase on Indirect purchases and nearly 50% increase on the Direct Loan production,” Marohn continued. “We also added an additional $1.1 million by way of a bulk portfolio purchase from another company in our space. Our expansion efforts are underway in Las Vegas, Nevada in addition to the other areas previously identified. We are in the process of initiating expansion in Salt Lake City, Utah; Boise, Idaho; and Des Moines, Iowa; just to name a few.”

*Each average included in the tables is calculated as a simple average.
^Average amount financed is calculated as a single loan amount.
#Bulk portfolio purchase excluded for period-over-period comparability

Nicholas Financial, Inc. is a publicly-traded specialty consumer finance company, operating branch locations in both Southeastern and Midwestern U.S. states. The Company has approximately 7.9 million shares of voting common stock outstanding. For an index of Nicholas Financial, Inc.’s news releases or to obtain a specific release, visit our web site at www.nicholasfinancial.com.

Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including risk relating to competition and our ability to increase and maintain yield and profitability at desirable levels, as well as risks relating to general economic conditions, access to bank financing, our ability to expand the geographical scope of, and otherwise continue growing, our Direct Loan operations, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings and reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2019. When used in this document, the words “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “will”, “may”, “plan,” “believe”, “intend” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on the beliefs of Company management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Company management. Actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or expect. All forward-looking statements and cautionary statements included in this document are made as of the date hereof based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or cautionary statement.

Nicholas Financial, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited, Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited, In Thousands)

Note: All three-month and nine-month statement of income performance indicators expressed as percentages have been annualized.

The following tables present certain information regarding the delinquency rates experienced by the Company with respect to automobile finance installment contracts (“Contracts”) and direct consumer loans (“Direct Loans”), excluding any Chapter 13 bankruptcy accounts:

(In thousands, except percentages)

As of March 2019, the Company changed its charge-off policy from 181 days past due to 121 days past due, which aligned with industry standards and the sub-prime nature of the customers. In the event of repossession, the charge-off will occur in the month in which the vehicle is repossessed. Based on these actions, improved servicing, and stricter underwriting policies, management has seen improvements in the delinquency rates.

The following table presents selected information on Contracts purchased and Direct Loans originated by the Company:

The following table presents selected information on the entire Contract and Direct Loan portfolios of the Company: