America's Car-Mart (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:CRMT) reported a revenue increase of 2.8% to $361.6 million in the second quarter of 2024, despite a decrease in sales volume. The company's executives, CFO Vickie Judy and CEO Doug Campbell, discussed the introduction of a simplified reporting format, a new loan origination system, and underwriting guidelines in their earnings call. While unit volumes were down, the company saw an increase in interest income and improvements in gross profit per retail unit sold, which rose by 11.5%. They also noted a reduction in inventory dollars and an improvement in quarterly inventory turns to 7.1. A national provider has been engaged to enhance vehicle quality and reduce costs, set to launch in the third quarter. Despite facing inflationary pressures and increased credit losses, Car-Mart is committed to growth, operational efficiencies, and cost reduction, including a workforce reduction by 10%. The company is also preparing for the acquisition of Central Auto Sales and is evaluating further acquisition opportunities.
Key Takeaways
- Revenue increased by 2.8% to $361.6 million in the second quarter, with gross profit per retail unit sold up by 11.5%.
- Sales volumes decreased, but improvements were noted in interest income and inventory management.
- Car-Mart plans to launch a national reconditioning provider to improve vehicle quality.
- Inflation and credit losses have impacted consumers, leading to increased provision expenses.
- The company is optimizing operations with a new loan origination system and ERP system implementation next year.
- Acquisition of Central Auto Sales is expected to close in December, with further acquisitions in sight.
- Despite a quarterly loss, Car-Mart is focused on long-term profitable growth and share repurchases.
Company Outlook
Car-Mart is poised for the back half of fiscal year 2024 with strategies aimed at enhancing operational efficiencies and reducing costs. The upcoming implementation of an ERP system is expected to streamline processes and contribute to cost savings. The acquisition of Central Auto Sales is anticipated to bolster sales volume, aligning with the company's growth strategy. Car-Mart's focus remains on optimizing its footprint and leveraging technological investments to foster long-term profitable growth.
Bearish Highlights
The company has faced challenges with increased credit losses and delinquencies, attributed in part to the inflationary impact on consumers. Net charge-offs have risen to 7.2%, necessitating a $28 million charge to the provision expense. Sales per store per month have also declined due to the new loan origination system's onboarding and reduced showroom traffic.
Bullish Highlights
Despite the bearish factors, Car-Mart has improved its gross margin through better inventory procurement and remarketing capabilities. The engagement with a national provider to improve vehicle quality and reduce costs is expected to yield positive results in the coming quarters. The company's strategic focus on targeting highly rated customers with higher down payments is designed to lower loss rates and improve recovery rates.
Misses
The company missed sales volume targets this quarter, which has been partly attributed to the onboarding of the new loan origination system and a softer market environment. However, Car-Mart is working to quickly roll out the LOS system and balance customer demand with the right customers in their portfolio.
Q&A Highlights
During the Q&A session, Jefferies analyst Kyle Joseph inquired about credit and reserve levels. CFO Vickie Judy explained that the increased reserves were a response to several factors, including portfolio performance and the current inflationary environment. Early-stage delinquencies were performing well, which could be a positive sign amidst the current consumer environment. CEO Doug Campbell expressed optimism about the future, citing tech investments, efforts to engineer more affordable vehicles, and acquisition opportunities as key drivers for the company's positive outlook.
America's Car-Mart remains committed to prudent financial management and growth, with a clear strategy to navigate the current economic landscape and achieve long-term profitability. The company's cash-generative nature and ongoing share repurchases reflect confidence in their business model and future prospects.
InvestingPro Insights
America's Car-Mart (NASDAQ: CRMT) has been navigating a challenging economic environment, as reflected in their latest earnings report. To provide investors with a more comprehensive view, here are some insights based on real-time data and InvestingPro Tips:
InvestingPro Data highlights include a Market Cap (Adjusted) of $391.31M, signaling a moderate company size in the sector. The P/E Ratio stands at -19.82, which indicates that the market has concerns about the company's profitability. Additionally, the Price / Book ratio as of the last twelve months ending Q2 2024 is 0.82, suggesting that the stock may be undervalued relative to its assets.
Two critical InvestingPro Tips for Car-Mart involve the company's financial health and stock performance. Firstly, Car-Mart operates with a significant debt burden, which could be a concern for investors looking at long-term sustainability. Secondly, the company's stock has taken a big hit over the last week, with a 1 Week Price Total Return of -18.89%. This could be indicative of market sentiment and the challenges that Car-Mart is facing.
For investors seeking a deeper dive into Car-Mart's potential and challenges, there are an additional 18 InvestingPro Tips available. These tips provide valuable insights for a more informed investment decision.
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