Nicholas Financial Reports Record 1st Quarter Results

Annual Shareholders Meeting August 9, 2011


CLEARWATER, Fla., July 27, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nicholas Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq:NICK) announced that for the three months ended June 30, 2011 net earnings increased 48% to $5,303,000 as compared to $3,576,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2010. Per share diluted net earnings increased 47% to $0.44 as compared to $0.30 for the three months ended June 30, 2010. Revenue increased 11% to $16,634,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2011 as compared to $14,952,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2010.

"Our strong growth in earnings per share for the first quarter ended June 30, 2011 were favorably impacted by an increase in the average finance receivables and a reduction in the net charge-off rate," stated Peter L. Vosotas, Chairman and CEO. "We recently opened our 57th branch location in Charleston, SC and continue to develop additional markets. The Company will also continue to evaluate new markets for future branch locations and we remain open to acquisitions should an opportunity present itself," added Vosotas.

The Company will hold its Annual Shareholders Meeting at the Innisbrook Resort Island Course Club House in Palm Harbor, Florida on Tuesday, August 9th at 10:00am.  

Nicholas Financial, Inc. is one of the largest publicly traded specialty consumer finance companies based in the Southeastern states. The Company presently operates 57 branch locations in both the Southeastern and the Midwestern states. The Company has approximately 12,000,000 shares of 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.

The Nicholas Financial, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6776

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including general economic conditions, access to bank financing, 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, 2011. Such statements are based on the beliefs of the Company's management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Company management. Actual events or results may differ materially. All forward looking statements and cautionary statements included in this document are made as of the date hereby 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)
     
  Three months ended
June 30, 
  2011 2010
Revenue:    
Interest and fee income on finance receivables $ 16,624 $ 14,943
Sales 10 9
  16,634 14,952
Expenses:    
Operating 6,701 6,249
Provision for credit losses 73 1,596
Interest expense 1,229 1,539
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps --  (244)
  8,003 9,140
     
Operating income before income taxes 8,631 5,812
Income tax expense 3,328 2,236
Net income 5,303 $3,576
     
Earnings per share:    
Basic $ 0.46 $ 0.31
Diluted $ 0.44 $ 0.30
     
Weighted average shares 11,651,000 11,555,000
     
Weighted average shares and assumed dilution 11,965,000 11,807,000
     
     
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited, In Thousands)
     
  June 30, March 31,
  2011 2011
Cash $ 2,989 $ 2,018
Finance receivables, net 234,688 230,164
Other assets 12,223 11,461
     
Total assets $ 249,900 $ 243,643
     
Line of credit $ 116,000 $ 118,000
Other liabilities 12,574 10,430
     
Total liabilities 128,574 128,430
     
Shareholders' equity 121,326 115,213
     
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 249,900 $ 243,643
     
     
   Three months ended
June 30,
Portfolio Summary 2011 2010
     
Average finance receivables, net of unearned interest (1) $ 269,138,821 $ 238,314,417
Average indebtedness (2) $ 117,500,000 $ 108,246,360
Interest and fee income on finance receivables (3) $ 16,623,588 $ 14,942,905
Interest expense 1,228,978 1,539,373
Net interest and fee income on finance receivables $ 15,394,610 $ 13,403,532
Weighted average contractual rate (4) 23.88% 23.54%
Average cost of borrowed funds (2) 4.18% 5.69%
Gross portfolio yield (5) 24.71% 25.08%
Interest expense as a percentage of average finance
receivables, net of unearned interest
1.83% 2.58%
Provision for credit losses as a percentage of average finance
receivables, net of unearned interest 
0.12% 2.68%
Net portfolio yield (5) 22.76% 19.82%
Marketing, salaries, employee benefits, depreciation and
administrative expenses as a percentage of average finance
receivables, net of unearned interest (6)
9.86% 10.39%
Pre-tax yield as a percentage of average finance receivables,
net of unearned interest (7)
12.90% 9.43%
Write-off to liquidation (8) 4.72% 6.49%
Net charge-off percentage (9) 3.62% 4.59%
     
Note: All three month key performance indicators expressed as percentages have been annualized.
(1) Average finance receivables, net of unearned interest, represents the average of gross finance receivables, less unearned
interest throughout the period. 
(2) Average indebtedness represents the average outstanding borrowings under the Line. Average cost of borrowed funds
represents interest expense as a percentage of average indebtedness.
(3) Interest and fee income on finance receivables does not include revenue generated by Nicholas Data Services, Inc., ("NDS")
the wholly-owned software subsidiary of Nicholas Financial, Inc. 
(4) Weighted average contractual rate represents the weighted average annual percentage rate (APR) of all automobile finance
installment contracts purchased and direct consumer loans originated during the period. 
(5) Gross portfolio yield represents interest and fee income on finance receivables as a percentage of average finance receivables,
net of unearned interest. Net portfolio yield represents interest and fee income on finance receivables minus (a) interest
expense and (b) the provision for credit losses as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest. 
(6) Administrative expenses included in the calculation above are net of administrative expenses associated with NDS which
approximated $60,000 and $58,000 for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
(7) Pre-tax yield represents net portfolio yield minus operating expenses as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of
unearned interest. 
(8) Write-off to liquidation percentage is defined as net charge-offs divided by liquidation. Liquidation is defined as beginning
receivable balance plus current period purchases minus voids and refinances minus ending receivable balance. 
(9) Net charge-off percentage represents net charge-offs divided by average finance receivables, net of unearned interest,
outstanding during the period.
 
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"):
           
    Delinquencies
Contracts Gross Balance
Outstanding

30 – 59 days

60 – 89 days

90 + days

Total
June 30, 2011 $ 375,073,481 $ 9,690,976 $ 2,286,127 $ 607,566 $ 12,584,669
    2.59% 0.61% 0.16% 3.36%
           
June 30, 2010 $ 335,892,581 9,381,762 2,728,739 754,662 12,865,163
    2.79% 0.81% 0.23% 3.83%
Direct Loans Gross Balance
Outstanding

30 – 59 days

60 – 89 days

90 + days

Total
           
June 30, 2011 $ 5,151,901 $ 53,069 $ 17,219 $ 92 $ 70,380
    1.03% 0.34% 0.00% 1.37%
           
June 30, 2010 $ 4,845,178 68,939 27,950 16,014 112,903
    1.42% 0.58% 0.33% 2.33%
           
           
The following table presents selected information on Contracts purchased by the Company, net of unearned interest:
  Three months ended
June 30,
Contracts 2011 2010
Purchases $ 36,462,440 $ 35,574,106
Weighted APR 23.78% 23.44%
Average discount 8.51% 8.91%
Weighted average term (months) 49 49
Average loan $ 9,879 $ 9,860
Number of contracts 3,691 3,608

            

Contact Data