Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Ally Financial reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.99 and core pretax income of $418 million, reflecting double-digit year-over-year growth in both metrics [6][21] - The net interest margin (NIM), excluding core OID, was 3.45%, expanding 10 basis points quarter-over-quarter, despite a 20 basis point drag from the sale of the credit card business [6][25] - Core return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) was 13.6%, with a core ROTCE of 10% when excluding the benefit from accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) [7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the auto finance segment, consumer originations reached $11 billion, driven by 3.9 million applications, marking the highest quarterly application volume ever [13] - The retail auto origination yield was 9.82%, slightly up from the prior quarter but down 77 basis points year-over-year [14] - The insurance business saw total written premiums of $349 million, up $5 million year-over-year, although down $36 million sequentially [39] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Ally's digital bank serves an all-time high of 3.4 million customers, marking 65 consecutive quarters of net customer growth [17] - Overall deposit balances decreased by approximately $3 billion quarter-over-quarter, attributed to seasonal tax outflows [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on transforming into a stronger, more profitable institution through a sharp strategic focus and disciplined execution [8] - Ally aims to capitalize on significant opportunities ahead, with a strategy that emphasizes customer-centric culture and brand loyalty [8][10] - The company is committed to prudent expense management, with controllable expenses down for the seventh consecutive quarter [23][50] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the financial trajectory and ability to deliver sustainable returns, despite macroeconomic uncertainties [6][7] - The company remains cautious about credit performance due to potential economic headwinds, while also noting improvements in delinquency rates [32][44] - Ally anticipates a normalized effective tax rate in the range of 22% to 23% moving forward [24] Other Important Information - The CET1 ratio was reported at 9.9%, representing over $4 billion of excess capital above regulatory minimums [30] - The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share for Q3 2025, consistent with the prior quarter [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: What could lead to outperforming or underperforming the NIM expectation? - Management indicated that NIM expansion in Q2 was strong, but future contributions to NIM expansion may be limited due to various factors, including the impact of the credit card sale [55][56] Question: Is it time to lean more towards growth given improved credit performance? - Management remains disciplined and data-informed regarding growth, acknowledging the current uncertainties in the environment [63][64] Question: What would it take to move the charge-off rate range down? - Continued improvement in delinquency levels, strong flow to loss rates, and stable used car prices are necessary for a downward adjustment in the charge-off rate range [81][84] Question: How is the strategy on deposits evolving? - The company is managing for flat deposit balances and has seen a shift towards a more engaged customer base, which is viewed positively for deposit stability [88][92]

Core Viewpoint - The automotive finance industry is experiencing significant changes, with a shift in leadership among major players as SAIC General Motors Financial has seen a substantial decline in asset scale, overtaken by Mercedes-Benz Automotive Finance and Chery Huayin Automotive Finance [1][2][3] Industry Overview - The automotive finance sector is primarily composed of licensed non-bank financial institutions, with 25 companies approved by regulatory authorities, although one has entered bankruptcy [2] - The main products offered by automotive finance companies include retail and dealer auto loans, with a focus on retail loans for individual consumers [2] Performance Metrics - The overall asset scale of automotive finance companies has been declining since 2022, with a total reduction of approximately 90 billion yuan, nearly a 10% decrease [2] - SAIC General Motors Financial's asset scale dropped to 67.6 billion yuan, a 40% decrease from the beginning of the year, while BMW Automotive Finance (China) also saw a decline to 56.33 billion yuan [2][3] - Mercedes-Benz Automotive Finance, despite a reduction of over 15 billion yuan, maintained an asset scale above 83 billion yuan, surpassing SAIC General Motors Financial [3] Revenue and Profit Trends - In 2024, 18 comparable automotive finance companies reported a total revenue of 39.43 billion yuan, an 8.5% year-on-year decrease, with only 8 companies achieving positive growth [4] - SAIC General Motors Financial's revenue and net profit fell by 30.8% and 28.5%, respectively, but it still led the industry with revenues of approximately 4.62 billion yuan and net profits of 2.31 billion yuan [4] - Chery Huayin Automotive Finance reported a revenue increase of 35.8% to 3.98 billion yuan and a net profit growth of 25.2% to 1.71 billion yuan [4] Asset Quality - Automotive finance companies generally maintain stable asset quality, with a high proportion of secured loans and mature processes for handling defaults [5] - While some companies have experienced fluctuations in non-performing loans and overdue loans, the overall situation remains manageable [5] Future Outlook - The trend of asset scale contraction is expected to continue, influenced by the decline in traditional fuel vehicle ownership and the competitive landscape of the automotive industry [6][7] - The growth in production and sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) is projected to enhance the profitability of automotive finance companies with strong competitiveness in the NEV sector, although asset quality management remains a concern [6][7]

Core Viewpoint - The leadership in the automotive finance sector has shifted, with SAIC General Automotive Finance experiencing a significant decline in asset scale, overtaken by Mercedes-Benz Automotive Finance and Chery Huayin Automotive Finance [1][3]. Group 1: Industry Overview - The automotive finance industry is primarily composed of licensed non-bank financial institutions, with 25 companies approved by regulatory authorities, including manufacturer-affiliated finance companies [3]. - The main products offered by automotive finance companies include retail auto loans and dealer auto loans, focusing on retail loan services for individual consumers purchasing new or used vehicles [3]. Group 2: Performance Metrics - In 2022, the total asset scale of 21 automotive finance companies decreased by approximately 90 billion yuan, a decline of nearly 10%, with SAIC General Automotive Finance's assets shrinking by 40% to 67.6 billion yuan [3][4]. - Despite the decline in asset scale, SAIC General Automotive Finance maintained the highest annual operating revenue and net profit in the industry, with revenues of approximately 4.62 billion yuan and net profits of 2.31 billion yuan [2][5]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Mercedes-Benz Automotive Finance's asset scale, although reduced by over 15 billion yuan, remained above 83 billion yuan, surpassing SAIC General Automotive Finance [4]. - Chery Huayin Automotive Finance experienced a significant asset scale increase of nearly 42%, reaching over 72 billion yuan, making it the second-largest after Mercedes-Benz [4][6]. Group 4: Economic Impact - The automotive finance sector is facing pressure on operating performance, with 18 comparable companies reporting a combined operating revenue of 39.43 billion yuan in 2024, a year-on-year decrease of 8.5% [5]. - The overall asset quality of automotive finance companies remains stable, with a high proportion of secured loans and mature models for handling default loans [6]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The automotive finance companies are expected to continue shrinking in asset scale due to the declining ownership of traditional fuel vehicles, despite the growth in new energy vehicle production and sales [7][8]. - The profitability of automotive finance companies with strong competitiveness in the new energy vehicle sector is anticipated to improve, although the control of asset quality remains a concern [8].