Alliance Data Reports First Quarter 2018 Results

PLANO, Texas, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions, today announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.

Ed Heffernan, president and chief executive officer of Alliance Data, commented, "The first quarter's biggest accomplishment was the completion of the process to insource the collection of charged-off accounts. This effort has taken several quarters to complete and required us to absorb lower recovery rates during that period. Nonetheless, this investment was necessary to fully realize the value of this cash flow stream. This significant headwind to earnings and growth rate should become a tailwind as the year progresses."  

Heffernan continued, "This quarter's pro forma revenue growth of 4 percent and core EPS growth of 13 percent should reflect our softest quarter of the year. Specifically, higher reserve levels required to cover the transitory impacts of the internal recovery investment was an approximate $0.60 hit to core EPS for the first quarter. Moving forward, recovery rates should move in our favor."

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Revenue was $1.88 billion for the first quarter of 2018, flat with the prior year. Pro forma revenue − which adjusts for the change to net revenue presentation for AIR MILES^® effective January 1, 2018 − increased 4 percent. EPS increased 14 percent to $2.95 and core EPS increased 13 percent to $4.44 for the first quarter of 2018, both benefitting from lower tax rates and share count. Adjusted EBITDA, net was $437 million for the first quarter of 2018, flat with the prior year.

SEGMENT RESULTS

LoyaltyOne^®: Pro forma revenue decreased 8 percent to $305 million and adjusted EBITDA decreased 8 percent to $54 million for the first quarter of 2018. AIR MILES reward miles issued decreased 1 percent for the first quarter of 2018 − improving from a 4 percent decline in 2017 − and is trending to growth over remainder of 2018. In addition, BrandLoyalty's growing pipeline of programs already provides visibility into approximately 90 percent of its revenue guidance for 2018. 

Epsilon^®: Revenue decreased 4 percent to $509 million, while adjusted EBITDA increased 8 percent to $92 million for the first quarter of 2018. The decline in revenue is due to a 25 percent decrease in lower margin pass-through agency business. The resulting shift in revenue mix contributed to a 2 percentage point increase in adjusted EBITDA margins.

Card Services: Revenue increased 13 percent to $1.16 billion while adjusted EBITDA, net decreased 4 percent to $319 million for the first quarter of 2018. Adjusted EBITDA, net was tempered by a $50 million allowance for loan loss build and an approximate $25 million market adjustment to the carrying value of held-for-sale receivables.

Reiterating 2018 Guidance

• Revenue of $8.35 billion, representing an 8 percent increase, 12 percent on a pro forma basis.
• Core EPS of $22.50 to $23.00, representing a 16 to 19 percent increase over 2017.

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 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.

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, 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 2018 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, April 19, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the Company's first-quarter 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 "82317378". The replay will be available at approximately 11:45 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, April 19, 2018.

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.

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SOURCE Alliance Data Systems Corporation

Related Links

http://www.alliancedata.com