Credit Acceptance(US:CACC)2026-01-29 23:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported growth in adjusted earnings per share despite declines in loan performance and loan volume [14] - Loan unit volume improved to a decline of 9.1% this quarter, compared to a decline of 16.5% last quarter, while loan dollar volume improved to a decline of 11.3% this quarter, versus a decline of 19.4% last quarter [16] - Changes to the forecast of future net cash flows improved, with the rate of decline narrowing from $58.6 million (0.5%) in Q3 2025 to $34.2 million (0.3%) in Q4 2025 [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company financed nearly 72,000 contracts for dealers and consumers, collecting $1.3 billion overall [14] - The underperformance of the 2024 vintage was primarily related to loans originated prior to the scorecard change during Q3 2024 [15] - The number of active dealers declined by 2.8% year over year, and the average unit volume per active dealer declined by 6.4% year over year [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company's market share in the core segment of used vehicles financed by subprime consumers was 4.5% for the first two months of Q4, down from 5.4% for the same period in 2024 [17] - The loan portfolio increased by 1% year over year on an adjusted basis [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to deepen relationships within its dealer network, support dealers in acquiring new consumers, and leverage data-driven insights [8] - The strategic objectives include generating dealer and consumer demand, empowering dealers through preferred channels, and delivering world-class servicing and processing [9] - The company is investing in artificial intelligence to enhance customer service and improve efficiency [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The CEO emphasized a long-term conservative approach to lending and credit scoring, focusing on improving customer experience [20] - The management believes the company is well-positioned to serve subprime customers and will continue to focus on making the experience frictionless [37] - The CEO expressed excitement about building a customer-obsessed company while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation [13] Other Important Information - The company was named one of America's top 100 Most Loved Workplaces for the second consecutive year, ranking number 6 [12] - The new contract origination experience was rolled out to better meet the needs of franchise and large independent dealers [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: How will the new CEO manage credit lending and underwriting? - The CEO stated that the approach towards lending and credit scoring will be conservative and long-term focused, with ongoing improvements to credit scoring models [20] Question: What drove the increase in provision for new originations? - The CFO explained that the provision is influenced by the mix between the portfolio and purchase program, with the purchase program having a higher initial provision [22][23] Question: What is the competitive environment like, given the decline in market share? - The CEO noted that the competitive environment is evolving, and the company is focused on being customer-centric rather than competitive-centric [26] Question: How does the company view affordability issues and high used car prices? - The CEO mentioned that the company is well-positioned to serve subprime customers and will continue to take a conservative approach regardless of economic cycles [36] Question: Will there be any changes in capital returns or buyback strategies? - The CEO confirmed that the company will stay the course regarding capital allocation and buyback strategies [38]