CW
Camping World Holdings, Inc. (CWH)·Q4 2024 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 2024 revenue rose 8.6% year-over-year to $1.20B on combined unit growth (+9.6%), while diluted EPS was $(0.56); gross margin expanded 33 bps to 31.3% as used margins recovered and F&I grew .
- Positive surprises included used vehicle gross margin up 368 bps and F&I gross profit up $17.1M, offset by new vehicle margin pressure (-372 bps) and higher SG&A (+9.1%), including ~$6M elevated health insurance claims .
- Management reaffirmed 2025 “guideposts”: 10–15% used unit growth, low single-digit new growth, new gross margin 13.5–14%, used gross margin ~19%, and 600–700 bps SG&A improvement; expects “explosive” Q1 EBITDA (3–4x last year’s $8M) and >130,000 units sold for 2025, targeting 12% market share .
- Strategic catalysts: $2.150B floor plan facility extension (+$300M) to fund used procurement and M&A , and a $0.125 Q1 dividend declaration ; watch tariff-related pricing and a newly identified internal control material weakness (tax deferred asset measurement) disclosed in the 8-K .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- Combined new/used same-store unit sales increased for the second straight quarter; total units +9.6% YoY to 22,148 and revenue +8.6% YoY to $1.20B .
- Used margin recovery (+368 bps) and F&I strength (+$17.1M) drove gross profit +$33.5M YoY, and adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed to $(2.5)M from $(8.9)M .
- Management confidence: “We have 2 goals for the year. It’s very simple, sell more RVs and make more money.” and expects “explosive EBITDA growth” in Q1 (3–4x YoY) .
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What Went Wrong
- New vehicle gross margin fell 372 bps on lower manufacturer incentives, mix shift to motorized units, and slightly higher cost of 2025 models .
- SG&A rose 9.1% YoY (+$30.7M), driven by compensation (incl. ~$6M health insurance claims) and +$6.3M advertising; SG&A ex-SBC +9.3% .
- Accounting/internal controls: revisions for immaterial errors and a new material weakness identified related to measurement of an outside basis deferred tax asset in CWGS, LLC; prior-period corrections detailed in 8-K .
Financial Results
Segment revenue mix (Q4 2024 vs Q4 2023):
Key KPIs across quarters:
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We have 2 goals for the year. It’s very simple, sell more RVs and make more money.”
- “It’s my expectation that our company will experience explosive EBITDA growth in the first quarter compared to the prior year… no less than 3x, 3 to 4x on that number.”
- “We are reaffirming our guidepost to deliver 10%-to-15%-unit growth on used, low single-digit growth on new… and a 600 to 700 basis point improvement in SG&A.”
- “We expect to set a new record at 12% [market share], selling over 130,000 units, up from 121,500 in 2024.”
- “Manufacturers will probably be looking at raising prices… maybe about 3%… that enables us to further pivot into the used marketplace… the spread between new and used is going to be that much more substantial.”
Q&A Highlights
- ASPs and rates: Lower retail finance rates vs a year ago (~50–100 bps) improve affordability and ASPs seasonally; ASP targets $40k new / $32k used for 2025 .
- SG&A improvement: Plan includes reductions in force and ongoing tightening; committed to 600–700 bps improvement in SG&A vs gross profit “come hell or high water” .
- Green shoots: Better foot traffic, lead conversion, cleaner inventory across industry; used values rising suggest consumers holding units, supporting margins .
- Margin expectations: New GM 13.5–14%; used GM ~19% for full year; manufacturer support lower YoY vs Q4’23 .
- M&A and leverage: Expect each 2025 acquisition to be EBITDA accretive; strong balance sheet liquidity; priority to reduce leverage by year-end 2025 .
Estimates Context
- We attempted to retrieve S&P Global consensus for Q4 2024 revenue and EPS but were unable to access due to daily request limits. As a result, we cannot formally assess beats/misses vs Wall Street consensus for Q4 2024 at this time [GetEstimates errors].
- Management reaffirmed that guideposts (new/used growth, margin expectations, SG&A improvement) align with “where the Street is,” but did not provide explicit numeric EPS/EBITDA guidance .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Sequential improvement set-up: Used margin recovery and F&I strength, coupled with SG&A discipline, positions Q1 2025 for material EBITDA expansion (3–4x YoY) .
- Volume-led story: Same-store unit growth now broadening, with early 2025 momentum and >130k units targeted; combined market share goal of 12% is a visible KPI .
- Mix and pricing: New margin headwinds offset by stronger used economics and F&I; focus on affordability and exclusive brands supports share gains .
- Balance sheet capacity: $2.150B floor plan facility adds runway for used procurement and M&A, with an explicit deleveraging goal in 2025 .
- Income return: $0.125 dividend declared for Q1 2025 offers cash yield amid earnings recovery trajectory .
- Risk monitoring: Track tariff impacts on OEM pricing, potential pass-throughs, and the newly disclosed material weakness in tax-related controls .
- Tactical positioning: The company’s scale and contract manufacturing provide cost advantages likely to widen spreads between new and used, aiding margin and conversion .