CI
CONNS INC (CONN)·Q4 2024 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 FY2024 total revenues rose 9.3% year over year to $366.1M as Badcock contributed $68.4M; finance charges and other revenues increased 10.7% .
- Diluted EPS was $1.75, benefitting from a $104.9M bargain purchase gain; adjusted net loss was $(1.25) per diluted share after excluding transaction fees and debt extinguishment costs .
- Retail gross margin expanded to 38.3% in Q4 (from 33.7% a year ago), while the retail segment reported a larger operating loss given integration and one-time costs .
- Management guided to year-over-year improvements in retail sales and profitability in FY2025 and outlined ~$50M additional cost synergies and ~$50M revenue synergies over 18 months, following ~$50M cost removal in Q4 .
- Potential stock reaction catalysts: synergy realization from the Badcock integration and liquidity optics after a $259.4M ABS issuance with $252.6M net proceeds; Class A notes were 13x oversubscribed and Class B 9x .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Consolidated revenue growth driven by Badcock contribution: total revenue +9.3% YoY to $366.1M; Badcock added $68.4M .
- Retail gross margin expansion: Q4 retail gross margin reached 38.3% vs. 33.7% prior year, reflecting mix and operational improvements .
- Strategic progress and synergy plan: ~$50M costs removed in Q4; identified ~$50M additional cost synergies and ~$50M revenue synergies expected over 18 months; “we expect to experience year-over-year improvements in both retail sales and profitability throughout fiscal year 2025” .
- Liquidity strengthened: $259.4M ABS completed in Jan 2024, $252.6M net proceeds; Class A 13x and Class B 9x oversubscribed .
Management quotes:
- “We have removed approximately $50 million of combined expenses during the fourth quarter and we have identified over $50 million of additional cost synergies…we expect to drive over $50 million of revenue synergies…” — Norm Miller, President & CEO .
- “I am confident that the Badcock transaction…will position us to emerge stronger…we expect to experience year-over-year improvements in both retail sales and profitability throughout fiscal year 2025.” — Norm Miller .
What Went Wrong
- Same-store sales weakness: Conn’s same-store sales declined 14.4% from lower discretionary spending on home-related products .
- Retail segment losses widened: Q4 retail operating loss was $(38.1)M; adjusted retail operating loss was $(21.8)M .
- Credit costs elevated: Provision for bad debts increased to $52.5M; allowance charge on Conn’s loans rose by $7.8M .
- SG&A intensity: Retail SG&A as percent of revenues was 45.9% in Q4 .
- Interest expense surged: Q4 interest expense was $26.1M, up from $13.1M prior year .
Financial Results
Consolidated and Segment Metrics vs prior quarters
Q4 FY2024 Retail Net Sales by Category and Same-Store Trends
KPIs and Credit Portfolio Statistics
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Note: The Q4 FY2024 earnings call transcript could not be retrieved due to a document access error; themes below leverage Q2–Q4 press releases.
Management Commentary
- “Since completing the transformative transaction with W.S. Badcock…we have removed approximately $50 million of combined expenses during the fourth quarter and…identified over $50 million of additional cost synergies…we expect to drive over $50 million of revenue synergies as we transition Badcock’s credit program to Conn’s in-house loan product, offer Conn’s successful eCommerce capabilities to Badcock’s customers, and pursue shared retail growth strategies.” — Norm Miller, President & CEO .
- “While we expect the macro-environment to remain challenging throughout our fiscal year 2025, I am confident…we expect to experience year-over-year improvements in both retail sales and profitability throughout fiscal year 2025.” — Norm Miller .
- Prior quarter tone: “We remain focused on…turning around our retail performance and better serving our core credit constrained customers…strong year-over-year growth in credit applications and eCommerce sales.” — Norm Miller (Q3) .
- Prior quarter tone: “Strategic initiatives…taking hold…record quarterly eCommerce revenue…credit quality remains stable…” — Norm Miller (Q2) .
Q&A Highlights
The Q4 FY2024 earnings call transcript could not be accessed due to a retrieval error (database inconsistency), so specific Q&A highlights and any clarifications provided during the call are unavailable at this time.
Estimates Context
S&P Global consensus estimates for Q4 FY2024 were unavailable for CONN due to missing CIQ mapping, preventing retrieval of “Primary EPS Consensus Mean” and “Revenue Consensus Mean.” Values retrieved from S&P Global were unavailable for this report [SpgiEstimatesError].
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Integration is the near-term driver: Badcock contributed $68.4M to Q4 revenues, and management targets ~$50M additional cost and ~$50M revenue synergies over 18 months; cost removal of ~$50M already executed in Q4 .
- Margin trajectory improving: Retail gross margin expanded to 38.3% in Q4 and FY2024 retail gross margin rose 189 bps to 35.9% .
- Credit costs and leverage bear watching: Provision for bad debts elevated to $52.7M; interest expense increased to $26.1M; delinquency and re-aged metrics rose vs prior quarters .
- Demand funnel healthier: Applications processed and financing mix indicate continued traction with core credit-constrained customers; in-house financing reached ~63% of retail sales in Q4 .
- Liquidity optics improved: $259.4M ABS transaction generated $252.6M net proceeds; oversubscription suggests market receptivity to receivables-backed financing .
- Near-term setup: Expect FY2025 YoY improvements in sales and profitability; execution on credit program transition at Badcock and eCommerce activation are critical to achieving revenue synergy targets .
- Estimate context: With consensus unavailable, focus on company-communicated synergy milestones and quarterly trajectory vs Q2/Q3 reported results until S&P mapping is restored [SpgiEstimatesError].