Alliance Data Reports Record Third Quarter 2016 Results

DALLAS, Oct. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions, today announced results for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Revenue increased 19 percent to $1.9 billion while adjusted EBITDA, net increased 13 percent to $512 million for the third quarter of 2016. Net income increased 59 percent to $208 million, while EPS increased 71 percent to $3.55 compared to the third quarter of 2015, which included $0.65 in regulatory settlement charges. Core EPS increased 20 percent to $4.74 for the third quarter of 2016, beating guidance of $4.42. 

Ed Heffernan, president and chief executive officer of Alliance Data, commented, "It was the largest quarter in our history with $1.9 billion in revenue and $4.74 in core EPS. The over-performance to guidance was significant and was driven by both underlying strength in the business, which we have passed through to annual guidance, as well as timing, which will reverse in the fourth quarter.

"Looking at the individual segments, LoyaltyOne's revenue and adjusted EBITDA increased 28 percent and 14 percent, respectively, compared to the third quarter of last year. Notably, AIR MILES^® strong results benefitted from higher than expected redemption rates as collectors got ahead of the December 31 expiration date, which was set almost five years ago. We added call center personnel to accommodate the higher traffic to make sure that this unique event after 24 years of activity does not negatively impact the strong brand we have in Canada.

"Epsilon's results were mixed for the third quarter as revenue was a bit lower than expected, but the operating leverage we had been looking for was achieved. Revenue was soft in the large technology platform offering - a function of timing and pricing pressure - while the drag from agency media & services lessened. Importantly, adjusted EBITDA turned from year-over-year declines in the first and second quarters to flat during the third quarter and we expect positive growth in the fourth quarter of 2016.

"Card Services had a terrific quarter with revenue and adjusted EBITDA, net up 26 percent and 14 percent, respectively, compared to the third quarter of last year. There were several positives during the quarter as gross yields, operating expense leverage and principal loss rates were all better than expected. As it relates to principal loss rates, we believe the 20 basis points beat to third quarter guidance is timing related, essentially seasonality, which will flip in the fourth quarter keeping us on-track to full year guidance."

Heffernan continued, "Return of capital to shareholders has always been a priority for Alliance Data. For years, we preferred the flexibility of share repurchases, which could be flexed upwards or downwards based upon market dynamics. Going forward, we believe a combination of share repurchases and dividends offers a more balanced approach. Accordingly, our board of directors today declared a quarterly dividend yielding one percent with a record date of November 3rd.    

SEGMENT REVIEW

LoyaltyOne^®: Revenue increased 28 percent to $384 million, while adjusted EBITDA increased 14 percent to $82 million for the third quarter of 2016. Foreign exchange translation rates had a nominal impact on revenue and adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2016.

AIR MILES^® revenue increased 43 percent on a constant currency basis driven by strong redemption growth. AIR MILES reward miles issued increased 6 percent compared to the third quarter of 2015 due to strength of financial services sponsors. AIR MILES reward miles redeemed increased 74 percent compared to the third quarter of 2015, as redemption activity accelerated ahead of the upcoming year-end expiration date.  

BrandLoyalty revenue increased 5 percent on a constant currency basis. Its North American expansion efforts continue to develop in the United States with the recent signing of supermarket chain Lowes Foods.

Epsilon^®: Revenue increased 2 percent to $543 million, while adjusted EBITDA was flat at $135 million for the third quarter of 2016. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2016 was reduced by approximately $4 million in duplicative payroll costs as the new India office ramps up, and $4 million in severance expense. The duplicative payroll costs are down from approximately $6 million in the second quarter of 2016 and are expected to further abate in the fourth quarter.     

Digital & technology platforms revenue increased 5 percent to $405 million, largely driven by growth in CRM. The backlog for CRM continues to grow as 36 new clients have already been signed in 2016 with an aggregate annual contract value of approximately $80 million. Agency media & services revenue dropped 5 percent from the prior year quarter to $138 million, a substantial improvement from revenue declines of 23 percent and 15 percent in the first and second quarters, respectively, of 2016.

Agency media & services performance has been weak for several quarters and Epsilon continues to adjust the cost structure commensurate with lower revenue expectations. Epsilon is also attempting to redirect digital agency toward mid-size agencies and direct-to-clients and to pivot digital agency towards data-driven marketing and insights, thus offering a CRM 'light' solution for clients.        

Card Services: Revenue increased 26 percent to $966 million and adjusted EBITDA, net increased 14 percent to $331 million for the third quarter of 2016.

Gross yields were 26.8 percent for the third quarter of 2016, down approximately 10 basis points from the prior comparable period. Operating expenses were flat at $330 million for the third quarter of 2016. Excluding $65 million in regulatory settlement charges from the third quarter of 2015, operating expenses increased 24 percent for the third quarter of 2016. Expressed as a percentage of average receivables, operating expenses were 9.1 percent for the third quarter of 2016 compared to 9.4 percent for the third quarter of 2015 excluding the regulatory charges. The loan loss provision increased 46 percent to $251 million for the third quarter of 2016, driven by strong growth in average card receivables and higher principal loss rates. Portfolio funding costs were $54 million for the third quarter of 2016, or 1.5 percent of average credit card receivables, up 20 basis points from the third quarter of 2015. 

Credit sales increased 16 percent to $7.0 billion for the third quarter of 2016, supported by a 3 percent increase in core cardholder spending as tender share gains of approximately 150 basis points continued. Average credit card receivables, excluding amounts reclassified as assets held for sale, increased 23 percent to $14.0 billion compared to the third quarter of 2015, while net principal loss rates for the third quarter of 2016 were 4.7 percent, up 30 basis points from last year. The increase is primarily due to account seasoning. The delinquency rate was 5.0 percent at September 30, 2016, up 50 basis points from the same time last year and tracking consistent with guidance of a 50 basis points increase in principal loss rates for full year 2016.

Guidance

Guidance for 2016 has been raised a second time to $7.2 billion in revenue, an 11 percent increase, and $16.90 in core EPS, a 12 percent increase, both as compared to 2015.

Initial guidance for 2017 is for 10 percent growth in both revenue and core EPS.  

Financial Measures

In addition to the results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, the Company may present financial measures that are non-GAAP measures, such as constant currency financial measures, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted EBITDA, net of funding costs and non-controlling interest, core earnings and core earnings per diluted share (core EPS). The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, viewed in addition to and not in lieu of the Company's reported GAAP results, provide useful information to investors regarding the Company's performance and overall results of operations. Constant currency excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. The Company calculates constant currency by converting our current period local currency financial results using the prior period exchange rates. These metrics are an integral part of the Company's internal reporting to measure the performance of reportable segments and the overall effectiveness of senior management. Reconciliations to comparable GAAP financial measures are available in the accompanying schedules and on the Company's website. The financial measures presented are consistent with the Company's historical financial reporting practices. Core earnings and core earnings per diluted share represent performance measures and are not intended to represent liquidity measures. The non-GAAP financial measures presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies, and are not identical to corresponding measures used in other various agreements or public filings.

Conference Call

Alliance Data will host a conference call on Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the Company's third-quarter 2016 results. The conference call will be available via the Internet at www.alliancedata.com. There will be several slides accompanying the webcast. Please go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary software. The recorded webcast will also be available on the Company's website.

If you are unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available. To access the replay, please dial (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 and enter "87014237". The replay will be available at approximately 11:45 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, October 20, 2016.

About Alliance Data

Alliance Data^® (NYSE: ADS) is a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions serving large, consumer-based industries. The Company creates and deploys customized solutions, enhancing the critical customer marketing experience; the result is measurably changing consumer behavior while driving business growth and profitability for some of today's most recognizable brands. Alliance Data helps its clients create and increase customer loyalty through solutions that engage millions of customers each day across multiple touch points using traditional, digital, mobile and emerging technologies. An S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company headquartered in Plano, Texas, Alliance Data consists of three businesses that together employ more than 16,000 associates at approximately 100 locations worldwide.

Alliance Data's Card Services business is a leading provider of marketing-driven branded credit card programs. Epsilon^® is a leading provider of multichannel, data-driven technologies and marketing services, and also includes Conversant^®, a leader in personalized digital marketing. LoyaltyOne^® owns and operates the AIR MILES^® Reward Program, Canada's premier coalition loyalty program, and Netherlands-based BrandLoyalty, a global provider of tailor-made loyalty programs for grocers.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements give our expectations or forecasts of future events and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "project," "plan," "likely," "may," "should" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements.  Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding our expected operating results, future economic conditions including currency exchange rates, future dividend declarations and the guidance we give with respect to our anticipated financial performance. 

We believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking statements, however, are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release, and no assurances can be given that our expectations will prove to have been correct. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, factors set forth in the Risk Factors section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year, which may be updated in Item 1A of, or elsewhere in, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed for periods subsequent to such Form 10-K.

Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, anticipated or unanticipated circumstances or otherwise.

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SOURCE Alliance Data