Sign in

You're signed outSign in or to get full access.

UG

UPBOUND GROUP, INC. (UPBD)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q2 delivered steady top-line and EPS growth, with consolidated revenue up 7.5% y/y to $1.16B and non-GAAP diluted EPS up 7.7% y/y to $1.12, finishing above guidance midpoints; Adjusted EBITDA rose 7% y/y to $133.2M, with sequential margin expansion (+80 bps) .
  • Versus S&P Global consensus, revenue and non-GAAP EPS were modest beats, while EBITDA fell below the consensus metric (definition differences vs company-adjusted). Revenue $1,157.5M vs $1,143.9M*, EPS $1.12 vs $1.055*, EBITDA $117.6M* (company Adjusted EBITDA: $133.2M) . Values marked * retrieved from S&P Global.
  • FY25 guidance: midpoint for non-GAAP EPS raised to $4.05–$4.40 (vs $4.00–$4.40 prior); revenue ($4.60–$4.75B) and FCF ($150–$200M) unchanged; Adj. EBITDA ex-SBC range tightened to $515–$535M (midpoint unchanged) .
  • Stock narrative catalysts: sustained double-digit growth and margin lift at Acima, Brigit scaling with new products/marketing, Rent‑A‑Center (RAC) stabilization initiatives, and clarity on legal accruals/settlement progress; Q3 guide implies continued revenue/EPS momentum with non-GAAP EPS $0.95–$1.05 .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well

    • Acima delivered its seventh straight quarter of GMV growth (+16% y/y), with applications up nearly 20% y/y and EBITDA margin +40 bps y/y; returning customers exceeded 40% of GMV, and Marketplace GMV grew >130% y/y .
    • Brigit grew revenue nearly 40% y/y with ARPU +12.5% y/y; paying subscribers +24% y/y; EBITDA margin ~28% on timing of marketing; line-of-credit pilot (up to $500; up to 9 months) adds to product optionality .
    • Guidance quality and execution: Q2 results exceeded midpoint across guided metrics; company raised midpoint of FY25 non-GAAP EPS and added Q3 guidance; non-GAAP EPS benefitted by ~$0.025 from lower SBC due to leadership transition timing .
  • What Went Wrong

    • Consolidated GAAP margins compressed: operating margin 4.4% vs 7.5% y/y, impacted by $65.5M pre-tax special items (notably $31.7M legal accrual) .
    • Rent‑A‑Center revenue declined 7.1% y/y with SSS -4%, reflecting 2024 underwriting tightening, product exits (e.g., mobile phones), and lower deliveries; RAC Adjusted EBITDA margin fell 170 bps y/y to 14.6% .
    • Legal/regulatory overhang: multi-state AG matter accrual increased; $14M McBurnie class action settlement reached in principle after quarter-end (substantially reserved at 6/30); management will update accruals as negotiations progress .

Financial Results

Consolidated performance vs prior year and prior quarter

MetricQ2 2024Q1 2025Q2 2025
Revenue ($M)1,076.5 1,176.4 1,157.5
GAAP Operating Profit ($M)80.7 62.6 50.7
Net Earnings ($M)33.9 24.8 15.5
Net Profit Margin (%)3.2% 2.1% 1.3%
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)124.5 126.1 133.2
Adjusted EBITDA Margin (%)11.6% 10.7% 11.5%
GAAP Diluted EPS ($)0.61 0.42 0.26
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS ($)1.04 1.00 1.12
Free Cash Flow ($M)0.6 127.2 (10.4)

Segment breakdown

SegmentMetricQ2 2024Q1 2025Q2 2025
AcimaGMV ($M)450.1 454.1 522.1
GMV y/y %21.0% 8.8% 16.0%
Revenue ($M)552.8 637.3 619.0
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)81.3 85.0 93.3
Adj. EBITDA Margin (%)14.7% 13.3% 15.1%
Lease Charge-Off Rate (%)9.6% 8.9% 9.3%
60+ Day Past Due Rate (%)12.1% 12.9% 11.8%
Rent‑A‑CenterRevenue ($M)502.8 489.0 467.1
Same Store Sales y/y (%)2.6% (2.0%) (4.0%)
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)82.2 72.1 68.4
Adj. EBITDA Margin (%)16.3% 14.7% 14.6%
Lease Charge-Off Rate (%)4.2% 4.6% 4.7%
30+ Day Past Due Rate (%)2.7% 3.3% 2.7%
BrigitRevenue ($M)31.9 (Feb–Mar) 51.9
Paying Users (#)1,230,158 1,320,272
ARPU ($/mo)12.88 13.45
Net Advance Loss Rate (%)2.4% 2.6%
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)11.4 14.4
MexicoRevenue ($M)20.9 19.6 19.6
Adj. EBITDA ($M)1.9 1.7 2.4

Consensus vs Actual (S&P Global; Q2 2025)

MetricConsensusActualNote
Revenue ($M)1,143.9*1,157.5 Beat
Non-GAAP EPS ($)1.055*1.12 Beat
EBITDA ($M)131.2*117.6*Miss; consensus metric differs from company “Adjusted EBITDA” of $133.2M

Values marked * retrieved from S&P Global.

Non-GAAP adjustments (Q2 2025 EPS, per reconciliation)

Special ItemEPS Impact
Legal matters0.41
Acima acquired assets D&A0.20
Brigit equity vesting0.11
Brigit acquired assets D&A0.08
Brigit replacement awards & other comp0.06
Net (includes minor items)~0.86 to reach $1.12 non-GAAP

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious Guidance (5/1/2025)Current Guidance (7/31/2025)Change
Revenue ($B)FY 20254.60 – 4.75 4.60 – 4.75 Maintained
Adj. EBITDA ex‑SBC ($M)FY 2025510 – 540 515 – 535 Tightened (midpoint unchanged)
Non‑GAAP Diluted EPS ($)FY 20254.00 – 4.40 4.05 – 4.40 Raised midpoint
Free Cash Flow ($M)FY 2025150 – 200 150 – 200 Maintained
Revenue ($B)Q3 20251.05 – 1.15 New
Adj. EBITDA ex‑SBC ($M)Q3 2025120 – 130 New
Non‑GAAP Diluted EPS ($)Q3 20250.95 – 1.05 New

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicQ4 2024Q1 2025Q2 2025Trend
Digital/AI initiativesRAC AI search and chatbot; Acima Marketplace/leaseability engine; DTC expansion Progress on personalization; Cash App integration; Mexico pilot preview for Acima Acima new website/platform; virtual lease card pilot; RAC “agentic AIs” for real‑time sales coaching Accelerating digital tooling and UX across segments
Supply chain/tariffs/macroNeutral to slightly cautious; LTO countercyclical positioning Limited direct tariff exposure; pricing levers ($1–$2/week; term) No tariff-driven price increases yet; poised to protect margins if needed Monitoring; prepared to adjust pricing/terms
Product performance mixAcima GMV +15% in Q4; diversification beyond furniture Acima GMV +8.8% y/y; DTC Marketplace +80% q/q (first quarter) Acima GMV +16% y/y; Marketplace GMV >130% y/y; jewelry strength; returning customer >40% GMV Robust, diversified growth; DTC scaling
Regulatory/legalCFPB matter dismissed in prior period; other matters ongoing Legal items remain; special items in reconciliation $31.7M accrual; McBurnie settlement in principle at $14M post‑quarter (substantially reserved) Progress but overhang persists
Brigit integration & R&DAcquisition closed 1/31; roadmap to cross‑sell and underwriting synergies Early cross‑sell; seasonality; ARPU expansion; CAC discipline Revenue +~40% y/y; line-of-credit pilot (up to $500, 9 months); marketing spend ramp 2H Scaling products/marketing; underwriting data sharing later

Management Commentary

  • “Acima’s growth algorithm continues to deliver sustainable, double-digit GMV growth, and Brigit’s growth curve is powered by its marketing and product innovation efforts.”
  • “The Q2 GMV from Acima's Marketplace was up over 130% y/y... returning customers now exceeds 40% of GMV.”
  • “Brigit's adjusted EBITDA margin was nearly 28%... Our customer acquisition efforts will significantly expand across the balance of the year... we expect EBITDA margins will decrease to the low teens range.”
  • “Rent-A-Center deliveries... stabilized across the quarter... we will roll out new initiatives to spur customer engagement... focus on digital and online capabilities.”
  • “We recorded an additional accrual of $31.7 million in the second quarter... agreement in principle for $14 million to settle the McBurnie matter.”

Q&A Highlights

  • Rent‑A‑Center outlook: Underwriting tightening and removal of low-profit mobile phones impacted top line; without these moves, SSS would have been flat to slightly up; expect lapping benefits in 2H25 and aim to return to positive SSS into 2026 .
  • Brigit strategy: Ramp marketing channels (including social, in‑store/at POS) in 2H; piloting line-of-credit up to $500 with up to 9‑month terms; integration synergies targeted more in 2026 (cash-flow underwriting/data sharing) .
  • Acima loss metrics: Slight sequential uptick driven by mix (jewelry growth), but still within range; margin expanded y/y despite mix .
  • Leverage and capital allocation: YTD FCF $117M supports deleveraging toward ~2x over next couple years; M&A not a focus near-term as internal opportunities are substantial .
  • Legal matters: Majority of accrual relates to multi-state AG matter; McBurnie settlement substantially reserved at quarter-end .

Estimates Context

  • Q2 2025 vs S&P Global consensus: Revenue (actual $1,157.5M) exceeded $1,143.9M*; non-GAAP diluted EPS (actual $1.12) exceeded $1.055*; EBITDA (consensus $131.2M*) below the S&P “actual” $117.6M*, noting definitional differences with company Adjusted EBITDA of $133.2M . Values marked * retrieved from S&P Global.
  • Implications: Street may lift FY25 EPS modestly given raised midpoint and momentum at Acima/Brigit; scrutiny likely on RAC recovery cadence and the level/timing of legal expense normalization .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Mix-led durability: Acima’s double-digit GMV (+16% y/y) with margin expansion and rising returning-customer mix (>40%) underscores sustainable growth even as furniture remains soft .
  • Brigit scaling: Nearly 40% revenue growth with ARPU expansion and a new line‑of‑credit pilot broadens TAM; expect lower H2 EBITDA margins as marketing ramps to drive subscriber growth into holiday season .
  • RAC bridge to stabilization: Underwriting discipline and digital initiatives (pre‑approvals, agentic AIs, referral program) aim to stabilize deliveries and rebuild lease portfolio; comp lapping should aid 2H25/2026 trajectory .
  • Guidance quality: FY25 EPS midpoint raised; Q3 guide implies continued EPS momentum; free cash flow intact ($150–$200M) and leverage targeted to trend toward ~2x over time .
  • Legal overhang manageable: Additional accruals recognized; one class action settled in principle post‑quarter; monitor multi-state AG outcome as a gating factor on multiple expansion .
  • Trading lens: Near‑term upside tied to continued Acima outperformance and Brigit subscriber growth; watch RAC SSS stabilization evidence and legal updates; consensus EPS may drift higher while EBITDA definition differences remain a modeling nuance .

Note: No additional Q2 2025 press releases beyond the 8‑K earnings materials were found in the period searched . All financials and commentary cited from company filings and transcripts as referenced above. Values marked * retrieved from S&P Global.