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Pagaya Technologies Ltd. (PGY)·Q4 2024 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q4 delivered record operating metrics: total revenue and other income $279M (+28% YoY), FRLPC $117M (+55% YoY; 4.5% of volume), and adjusted EBITDA $64M (+88% YoY), all above company outlook, while network volume hit $2.6B (+9% YoY) .
  • GAAP results were dominated by non‑cash credit‑related fair value charges tied to 2021–2023 risk‑retention assets: $156M portfolio mark‑down, $79M OCI reclassification, and $229M total credit‑related impairments, driving a GAAP net loss of $(238)M; management says these vintages should not materially impact future performance .
  • 2025 outlook introduced: GAAP profitability targeted in Q2’25; Q1’25 guide network volume $2.5–$2.7B, revenue $280–$295M, adjusted EBITDA $65–$75M, GAAP NI $(20)M to breakeven; FY’25 GAAP NI $(10)M to +$40M, with FRLPC % expected within 3.5–4.5% toward mid‑point .
  • Strategic catalysts: diversified, lower‑cost funding (AAA personal loan ABS, pass‑throughs, and a new $2.4B Blue Owl forward flow) and strong product momentum (POS volumes +170% q/q; auto run‑rate near $1B), supporting monetization and capital efficiency without equity issuance needs according to management .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Monetization and operating leverage improved: FRLPC reached a record 4.5% of volume (top of H2 range) and core opex fell to 49% of FRLPC, both company records, underscoring pricing power and cost discipline .
  • Funding strength/efficiency: executed 6th AAA‑rated ABS in Q4, a $100M pass‑through, and announced a $2.4B Blue Owl forward flow, with non‑ABS channels expected to be 25–50% of 2025 funding, reducing risk retention and cost of capital .
  • Product momentum: POS network volume grew >170% sequentially; personal loans FRLPC % at 6.3%; auto exit run‑rate near $1B with ~40% q/q growth, supporting mix and medium‑term growth .

Quote: “We do not expect to need any equity capital moving forward…along with high‑quality liquid securities…this paves the way to positive cash flow” — CEO Gal Krubiner .

What Went Wrong

  • Large non‑cash fair value adjustments: $156M mark‑down and $79M OCI reclassification led to $(238)M GAAP net loss; ~90% of losses tied to sensitive 2023 vintages executed in a high cost‑of‑capital environment .
  • Impairments higher than expected: management acknowledged Q4 losses were bigger than anticipated but reiterated most legacy vintage impairments are behind them .
  • Estimate benchmarking unavailable: S&P Global consensus retrieval failed; while results exceeded company outlook, third‑party estimate comparisons were not accessible this cycle (see Estimates Context).

Financial Results

Core P&L and KPIs (YoY and sequential)

MetricQ4 2023Q2 2024Q3 2024Q4 2024
Network Volume ($B)$2.380 $2.331 $2.351 $2.604
Total Revenue & Other Income ($M)$218.044 $250.344 $257.234 $279.394
FRLPC ($M)$75.946 $96.992 $100.318 $117.465
FRLPC % of Volume3.2% 4.2% 4.3% 4.5%
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)$34.219 $50.305 $56.085 $64.173
Adjusted EBITDA Margin %21.8% 23.0%
GAAP Net Income ($M)$(14.418) $(74.785) $(67.476) $(237.922)
GAAP Diluted EPS ($)$(0.24) $(1.04) $(0.93) $(3.20)
Adjusted Net Income ($M)$12.389 $7.188 $33.122 $13.225
Adjusted Diluted EPS ($)$0.20 $0.10 $0.44 $0.17

Notes: Adjusted figures exclude share‑based comp, fair value adjustments, and other specified items . Q4 GAAP results reflect $229M credit‑related impairments and a $79M OCI reclassification .

Product/Vertical KPIs and Operating Efficiency

KPIQ4 2024
Personal Loans share of network volume~60%
Personal Loans FRLPC %6.3%
Auto sequential volume growthjust under 40% q/q; ~$1B annualized exit run‑rate
POS sequential volume growth>170% q/q; >$1B annualized exit run‑rate
Applications processed$197B applications in Q4; <1% funded (prudence)
Core opex as % of FRLPC49% (record low)
Cash & Cash Equivalents$227M at YE
Investments in loans & securities$764M at YE
Net cash required to fund volume~1.5%–2.5% overall; 2%–3% personal loans

Q4 2024 Actuals vs Company Outlook (proxy for “vs estimates”)

MetricQ4 OutlookQ4 ActualResult
Network Volume ($B)~$2.4–$2.6 $2.6 At high‑end
Total Revenue & Other Income ($M)~$257–$272 $279 Beat
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)~$49–$59 $64 Beat
FRLPC %3.5%–4.5% (H2 range) 4.5% At high‑end

Why: Strong partner monetization, product mix (PL and accelerating POS), and improved funding costs/structures lifted fee yields and operating leverage; GAAP loss driven by legacy vintages’ fair‑value marks and accounting reclassification .

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Network Volume ($B)Q1 2025$2.5–$2.7 New
Total Revenue & Other Income ($M)Q1 2025$280–$295 New
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)Q1 2025$65–$75 New
GAAP Net Income ($M)Q1 2025$(20) to breakeven New
Network Volume ($B)FY 2025$10.25–$11.75 New
Total Revenue & Other Income ($B)FY 2025$1.15–$1.275 New
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)FY 2025$265–$315 New
GAAP Net Income ($M)FY 2025$(10) to +$40; GAAP NI profitable in Q2’25 New
FRLPC %FY 2025H2’24 guide 3.5%–4.5% 3.5%–4.5% toward mid‑point for FY Maintained range, updated context

Commentary: Guidance assumes disciplined growth across PL, Auto, POS; improved funding mix and lower interest expense; and minimal incremental investment, with potential impairment scenarios outlined in the supplement .

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q2’24, Q3’24)Current Period (Q4’24)Trend
Funding diversification & costQ2: First AAA PL ABS; $1B forward flow; capital‑efficiency step‑change . Q3: Risk retention down to 2–3% by end‑Q3; structural ABS improvements .6th AAA PL ABS in Q4; $100M pass‑through; $2.4B Blue Owl forward flow; non‑ABS 25–50% of 2025 funding .Improving, broadening
Credit/vintage performanceQ3: Improving FRLPC, de‑risking; PLL/ABS structural strength .2023 PL CNLs 20–35% below 2021 peaks; Auto 30–50% below 2022 peaks; legacy vintages largely addressed .Better credit, legacy drag abating
POS momentumQ3: POS +67% YoY; Elavon live .POS >170% q/q; >$1B exit run‑rate; strong partner pipeline .Accelerating
GAAP profitability visibilityQ3: “Well on the way” to GAAP profitability in 2025 .First‑ever GAAP NI guide: profitable in Q2’25; FY $(10)M to +$40M .Visibility increased
Equity needs & liquidityQ2/Q3: Balance sheet optimization, refinancing actions .Self‑funded model; no equity raise expected per mgmt; $227M cash, improved asset mix .Liquidity strengthened

Management Commentary

  • Strategy and operating leverage: “FRLPC as a percent of volume at a record 4.5%…Core operating expenses were 49% of our FRLPC, the lowest in our public history” — CFO .
  • Funding breadth: “Forward flow…with Blue Owl…up to $2.4B…third pass‑through securitization…$100M…non‑ABS funding channels to represent 25–50% of our 2025 funding sources” — CFO .
  • Equity and cash: “We do not expect to need any equity capital moving forward…this paves the way to positive cash flow” — CEO .
  • Product momentum: “POS…over 170% sequential growth…year‑end exit rate >$1B” — President .
  • Legacy vintages: “We believe we have taken the majority of our losses related to historical vintages…do not expect them to have a material impact, if any” — CFO .

Q&A Highlights

  • Fair‑value framework and residual risk: ~90% of Q4 losses tied to 2023 vintages; 2023 marks were sensitive due to high cost of capital; management included potential impairments in 2025 guidance scenarios and does not expect material legacy drag going forward .
  • Guidance conservatism: Scenario A in the supplement embeds an additional $100–$150M potential impairment for FY’25 guidance; base case assumes no further losses on existing portfolio .
  • Growth range drivers: Range reflects pace of new partner ramps; operating environment stable (PL delinquencies down; auto stable; no rate cuts assumed) .
  • Mix outlook: Higher POS could reduce risk retention; focus on Auto and POS for higher ROI growth; Elavon contribution modeled conservatively .

Estimates Context

  • Wall Street consensus (S&P Global) was not retrievable due to an API limit during this session; as a result, beat/miss versus third‑party consensus cannot be presented here. Values would normally be retrieved from S&P Global.
  • As a proxy, results versus company outlook showed beats on revenue ($279M vs $257–$272M) and adjusted EBITDA ($64M vs $49–$59M), and FRLPC % at the top of guidance (4.5%) .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Operating engine is inflecting: monetization (FRLPC %) and operating leverage (core opex/FRLPC) reached records, positioning for stronger flow‑through as volume scales .
  • 2025 set up: initial GAAP profitability targeted for Q2’25; FY guide implies continued adjusted EBITDA growth with a more efficient funding mix and lower interest expense tailwinds .
  • Funding diversification lowers capital intensity and risk: non‑ABS channels (forward flows, pass‑throughs) expected to represent 25–50% of 2025 funding, reducing risk‑retention requirements .
  • Product mix tailwinds: rapid POS and improving Auto augment steady PL, supporting medium‑term growth and pricing power (PL FRLPC 6.3%) .
  • Legacy vintage overhang addressed: management believes the majority of vintage 2021–2023 impairments are now recognized; GAAP losses were non‑cash and tied to marks/OCI reclassification .
  • Execution watch‑items: track FRLPC progression toward mid‑range in 2025, partner ramp cadence (new bank/POS relationships), and any residual fair‑value adjustments in 2025 relative to guidance scenarios .
  • Near‑term trading implication: potential for relief as investors refocus on operating metrics/guidance and non‑cash nature of Q4 GAAP loss; funding announcements (e.g., Blue Owl) and POS momentum are likely sentiment positives .