Alliance Data Reports Full-Year 2018 Results

PRNewswire 7-Feb-2019 7:44 AM

PLANO, Texas, Feb. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE:ADS), a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions, today announced results for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Ed Heffernan, president and chief executive officer of Alliance Data, commented, "Pro forma revenue increased 5 percent to $8.1 billion for 2018, below our expectations due to strategic re-positioning at Card Services and softness at Epsilon^®. Conversely, core EPS increased 17 percent to $22.72 for 2018 reaching the middle of our initial guidance range.

"During the third quarter earnings call, we outlined our plan to shift to more attractive growth verticals and clients within our Card Services segment. While this strategic shift creates pressure on credit card receivables growth for 2019, it should over time facilitate higher receivables growth rates and stabilize or improve principal loss and delinquency rates. During the year, we moved aggressively towards that goal as we sold $1.2 billion of credit card receivables and added $925 million to credit card receivables held-for-sale at year-end, both related to non-strategic clients."

Heffernan continued: "Regarding Epsilon, we recently received preliminary bids and the process continues to move forward as expected."

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

FOURTH-QUARTER CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Revenue decreased 2 percent to $2.06 billion for the fourth quarter of 2018. Pro forma revenue - which adjusts for the change to net revenue presentation for AIR MILES^® effective January 1, 2018 - increased 1 percent to $2.13 billion. EPS increased 8 percent to $5.25, while core EPS increased 12 percent to $7.04 for the fourth quarter of 2018. The effective tax rate for EPS was approximately 28 percent, compared to approximately 11 percent for the fourth quarter of 2017, which benefitted from the revaluation of certain deferred tax liabilities as a result of tax reform legislation. Adjusted EBITDA, net increased 18 percent to $608 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, driven by double-digit growth in the Card Services segment.

FULL-YEAR CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Revenue increased 1 percent to $7.79 billion, while pro forma revenue increased 5 percent to $8.08 billion. EPS increased 24 percent to $17.49, while core EPS increased 17 percent to $22.72 for 2018. Adjusted EBITDA, net increased 7 percent to $2.08 billion.

FULL-YEAR SEGMENT RESULTS

LoyaltyOne^®: Pro forma revenue increased 4 percent to $1.35 billion and adjusted EBITDA decreased 1 percent to $254 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. AIR MILES reward miles issued were flat for the year due to a pullback in promotional activity by our sponsors in the fourth quarter of 2018.  BrandLoyalty returned to double-digit revenue growth for the year, but adjusted EBITDA was essentially flat, a result of lower margin programs in key markets and weakened performance in Asia.

Epsilon: Revenue decreased 4 percent to $2.18 billion while adjusted EBITDA was flat at $475 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Revenue decreased $97 million from 2017 due to a decline in lower margin agency and site-based display product offerings. All other product offerings were essentially flat for the year. Adjusted EBITDA margins expanded 100 basis points to 22 percent for the year, due to the favorable shift in revenue mix.

Card Services: Revenue increased 10 percent to $4.6 billion and adjusted EBITDA, net increased 11 percent to $1.5 billion for the year. The loan loss provision decreased 11 percent to $1.02 billion as a result of an approximate 3 percent decline in reservable card receivables and improving principal loss rate trends. Reservable card receivables decreased primarily due to the sale of $1.2 billion in card receivables and a $925 million increase in held-for-sale receivables. Held-for-sale receivables are removed from credit card receivables and the related allowance for loan loss. In addition, no provision expense is recognized after the reclassification to held-for-sale. Rather, the market value of these receivables is continuously adjusted through a charge recorded in operating expenses, which aggregated $102 million in 2018. 

Average credit card receivables increased 8 percent for the year, but decreased 3 percent in the fourth quarter due to both portfolio divestitures and reclassification of non-strategic portfolios to held-for-sale.

2019 Guidance

Revenue of $8.1 billion, representing a 4 percent increase over 2018. Core EPS of $22.00, down 3 percent compared with 2018. The core EPS growth rate is muted - especially in the first-half of 2019 - as the Company completes the divestiture of non-strategic held-for-sale portfolios, which began in the second-half of 2018.

Revenue and core EPS for the first quarter of 2019 are expected to be down mid single-digits and high single-digits, respectively, due to the impact on credit card receivables growth discussed above.

All guidance measures are subject to adjustment due to potential divestiture of Epsilon, any potential gain from divestiture and the related use of proceeds.

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 strategic evaluations, potential transactions and the use of expected proceeds thereof, 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. Further risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the structure and timing of any transaction involving Epsilon, whether and on what terms a transaction will be completed, the possibility that closing conditions for a transaction may not be satisfied or waived, the impact of our strategic evaluations and any transaction on us or our business if a transaction is completed, and whether the benefits of a transaction can be achieved.

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.

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, core earnings and core earnings per diluted share (core EPS). 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. The Company uses adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, net as an integral part of internal reporting to measure the performance and operational strength of reportable segments and to evaluate the performance of senior management. Adjusted EBITDA eliminates the uneven effect across all reportable segments of non-cash depreciation of tangible assets and amortization of intangible assets, including certain intangible assets that were recognized in business combinations, and the non-cash effect of stock compensation expense. Similarly, core earnings and core EPS eliminate non-cash or non-operating items, including, but not limited to, stock compensation expense, amortization of purchased intangibles, strategic transaction costs, amortization of debt issuance and hedging costs. 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.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reconciliations to comparable GAAP financial measures are available in the accompanying schedules, which are posted as part of this earnings release in both the News and Investors sections on the Company's website (www.alliancedata.com). No reconciliation is provided with respect to forward-looking annual guidance for 2019 core EPS as the Company cannot reliably predict all necessary components or their impact to reconcile core EPS to GAAP EPS without unreasonable effort. The events necessitating a non-GAAP adjustment are inherently unpredictable and may have a material impact on the Company's future results.

The financial measures presented are consistent with the Company's historical financial reporting practices. Core earnings and core EPS 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, February 7, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the Company's year-end 2018 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 "9274238". The replay will be available at approximately 11:45 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, February 7, 2019.

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, FORTUNE 500 and FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For company headquartered in Plano, Texas, Alliance Data consists of three businesses that together employ approximately 20,000 associates at more than 100 locations worldwide.

Alliance Data's card services business is a provider of market-leading private label, co-brand, and business 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 most recognized loyalty program, and Netherlands-based BrandLoyalty, a global provider of tailor-made loyalty programs for grocers.

Follow Alliance Data on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Contacts:
Investors/Analysts
Tiffany Louder 
Alliance Data   
214-494-3048
Tiffany.Louder@alliancedata.com

Media
Shelley Whiddon 
Alliance Data  
214-494-3811
Shelley.Whiddon@alliancedata.com

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alliance-data-reports-full-year-2018-results-300791642.html

SOURCE Alliance Data Systems Corporation