Credit Acceptance(US:CACC)2026-01-29 23:02Financial 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 [15] - 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 [15] 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 [14] - 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 [16] 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 [16] - The loan portfolio increased by 1% year over year on an adjusted basis [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to generate dealer and consumer demand by deepening relationships within the dealer network and leveraging data-driven insights [9] - The strategic objectives include empowering dealers through preferred channels and delivering world-class servicing and processing [9] - The CEO emphasized a focus on removing friction for customers and enhancing servicing capabilities through artificial intelligence [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management acknowledged the impact of high inflation on subprime consumers and expressed a conservative approach to lending [19] - The CEO highlighted the importance of being customer-focused rather than competitive-focused, aiming to build solutions for large independent and franchise dealers [26] - The management believes the company is well-positioned to serve subprime customers across various economic cycles [37] 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 CEO plans to layer technology and a data-informed approach on the company's strong foundation to enhance customer experience [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: How will the new CEO manage credit lending and underwriting? - The CEO plans to take a long-term and conservative approach to lending while continuously improving credit scoring models [19] Question: What is driving the increase in the provision for new originations? - The increase is attributed to the mix between the portfolio and purchase program, with the initial provision on the purchase program being significantly higher [21][22] Question: What is the competitive environment like, given the decline in market share? - The CEO noted that the competitive environment is evolving, with a focus on customer needs rather than competition [26] Question: How does the company view its leverage and capital distributions? - The company maintains its strategy regarding capital allocation and leverage, ensuring sufficient capital for new originations [33] Question: What is the perspective on affordability issues and used car prices? - The CEO believes the company is well-positioned to serve subprime customers regardless of economic cycles, focusing on a frictionless experience [37] Question: What is the outlook on prepayments in the portfolio? - There has been a decline in prepayments, which may indicate customers are staying in their vehicles longer [44]