America’s Car-Mart Reports Diluted Earnings per Share of

ROGERS, Ark., Nov. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — America’s Car-Mart, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRMT) in the present day introduced its working outcomes for the second quarter of fiscal yr 2022.

“We continue to see solid productivity improvement and market share gains in an operating environment with historic supply and demand imbalances. Unit sales were up almost 6%, the average retail sales price was up 21% and interest income was up 39%, resulting in top line growth of 29% for the quarter. We believe productivity would have been even better had availability of vehicles at lower price points been at more normal levels,” mentioned Jeff Williams, President and CEO. “The investments we are making in our inventory procurement area have allowed us to consistently offer better quality vehicles to our customers and keep our dealerships sufficiently stocked during this difficult supply period. We anticipate ongoing and continuous improvements in this crucial area of our business with the ultimate goal being to increase the amount of field time allocated to operational efficiencies, unit volume productivity and growing customer counts.”

“We ended the quarter with over 93,000 active customers, up almost 9,300 or 11% from this time last year. We are making good progress with our online loan origination system which will streamline the consumer application process allowing us to increase the funnel of potential Car-Mart customers,” mentioned Mr. Williams. “Our investments in digital customer experience are resulting in higher traffic to our website and improving our sales to repeat customers, which, at the end of the second quarter, were over 50%. We aim to continue to increase sales potential by reaching more consumers and then earn their repeat business by delivering a unique and superior customer experience.”

“Our new service contracts, which include longer terms, oil changes and roadside assistance, have been well received by the market. These new products were designed to keep our customers on the road while centralizing administrative activities to increase efficiencies and productivity at the dealership level,” added Mr. Williams. “We have many opportunities for positive interactions with our customers after the sale and the initiatives we have in place are directed at providing legendary service in this high touch business.”

“Once again, we believe that most of our dealerships can support 1,000 or more active customers at some point in the future. We ended the quarter with an average of 613 active customers per dealership, up 5% in the first six months of fiscal 2022. In recent years, we have shifted to focusing on the total cost of ownership for our offering which is, in most cases, significantly lower than competitive offerings, with our lower interest rates and shorter terms,” mentioned Mr. Williams. “Additionally, when considering the work we do and the relationships we form through various touchpoints after the sale, we believe we have an obligation to keep customers in the Car-Mart family for life. The demand for our offering is high and we can deliver a level of service that we believe cannot be matched.”

“We believe our highest and best use of capital is to grow market share from the existing dealership base. We will continue to open new dealerships as we move forward, and we are very excited to be opening our Norman, Oklahoma, dealership in the next couple of weeks. We opened our El Reno, Oklahoma, location during the second quarter and are very excited about extending our reach in the Oklahoma market,” mentioned Mr. Williams. “We will also continue to look for acquisition opportunities and believe there are several excellent operators who would like to join our Car-Mart family. The cost of operating in our industry continues to increase at a very high rate, and we believe we can provide an owner an attractive exit strategy. In addition, we believe our conservative balance sheet will allow us to increase our available financing for future growth through accessing the securitization market, which will facilitate our ability to serve more customers. We anticipate participating in that market at some point as we move forward.”       
     
“As Jeff mentioned, revenues increased 29% for the quarter driven by higher sales volumes, higher average retail prices and significantly higher interest income. Interest income increased over $10 million for the quarter as our average finance receivables increased to $929 million. Gross profit per retail unit sold increased to $6,349 compared to $5,705 from the same period in the prior year. Even with the significant investments we are making in the areas of associate recruiting, training and retention, inventory procurement management, customer experience and information technology, we saw significant leveraging of our cost structure with SG&A costs at 14.8% of sales compared to 16.5% for the same prior year quarter,” mentioned Vickie Judy, CFO. “Total collections were strong and improved 6.8% per average customer. Principal collections were in line with expectations and reflect an increase in the weighted average contract term of 40 months compared to 35 months for the prior year quarter. Net charge offs remained relatively stable compared to last year, despite the increase in the average retail sales price, as our customers continue to perform well and our service levels and the investments we have made to keep customers on the road provide a higher level of service and are most certainly showing up in the numbers.”

“Our balance sheet is extremely healthy, with debt, net of cash, to receivables of 33% at the end of the quarter. Our cash flows and the significant availability of debt financing to the automobile finance market will allow us to continue to grow at a rate that we can support our customers at a very high level,” mentioned Vickie Judy. “During the first six months of fiscal 2022, we grew finance receivables by $157 million, increased inventory by $27 million, repurchased $20 million of our common stock and funded $7 million in capital expenditures. We are very excited about our future, and we have the balance sheet to grow and take advantage of market opportunities.”    

Conference Call and Investor Presentation

Management shall be holding a convention name on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to debate quarterly outcomes. A stay audio of the convention name shall be accessible to the general public by calling (877) 776-4031, convention ID #1075918. International callers dial (631) 291-4132. Callers ought to dial in roughly 10 minutes earlier than the decision begins. A convention name replay shall be obtainable two hours following the decision for thirty days and could be accessed by calling (855) 859-2056 (home) or (404) 537-3406 (worldwide), convention name ID #1075918.

In addition, on Friday, November 19, 2021, the Company intends to publish to our company web site an up to date investor presentation and video that can cowl matters together with overviews of our business mannequin and business, our working actions and initiatives, administration’s business outlook and development methods, and associated issues. The presentation shall be obtainable for viewing at https://www.car-mart.com below the Company and Investors tabs. The Company undertakes no obligation to replace or revise any data offered within the presentation, whether or not in consequence of new data, future occasions or in any other case.

About America’s Car-Mart

America’s Car-Mart, Inc. operates automotive dealerships in twelve states and is one of the most important publicly held automotive retailers within the United States centered completely on the “Integrated Auto Sales and Finance” section of the used automotive market. The Company emphasizes superior customer support and the constructing of sturdy private relationships with its prospects. The Company operates its dealerships primarily in smaller cities all through the South-Central United States promoting high quality used autos and offering financing for considerably all of its prospects. For extra details about America’s Car-Mart, together with investor displays, please go to our web site at www.car-mart.com.

This press launch incorporates “forward-looking statements” inside the that means of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements deal with the Company’s future aims, plans and targets, in addition to the Company’s intent, beliefs and present expectations relating to future working efficiency and might usually be recognized by phrases akin to “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” and different related phrases or phrases. Specific occasions addressed by these forward-looking statements could embody, however usually are not restricted to:

• new dealership openings;        
• efficiency of new dealerships;
• identical dealership income development;
• future income development;
• receivables development as associated to income development;
• buyer development;
• gross revenue per retail unit offered;
• rates of interest;
• future credit score losses;
• the Company’s assortment outcomes, together with however not restricted to collections throughout earnings tax refund intervals;
• seasonality;
• technological investments and initiatives; and
• the Company’s business, working and development methods.

These forward-looking statements are primarily based on the Company’s present estimates and assumptions and contain varied dangers and uncertainties. As a outcome, you’re cautioned that these forward-looking statements usually are not ensures of future efficiency, and that precise outcomes may differ materially from these projected in these forward-looking statements. Factors which will trigger precise outcomes to vary materially from the Company’s projections embody, however usually are not restricted to:

• normal financial circumstances within the markets during which the Company operates, together with however not restricted to fluctuations in gasoline costs, grocery costs and employment ranges;
• business and financial disruptions and uncertainty which will outcome from the present outbreak of the Delta variant or any future hostile developments with the COVID-19 pandemic and any efforts to mitigate the monetary impression and well being dangers related to such developments, together with the lately proposed federal vaccine and testing mandate for employers of 100 or extra workers;
• the expiration of current financial stimulus measures or different authorities help applications applied in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or the adoption of additional such stimulus measures or help applications;
• the provision of credit score amenities to assist the Company’s business;
• the Company’s skill to underwrite and gather its contracts successfully;
• competitors;
• dependence on current administration;
• skill to draw, develop and retain certified normal managers;
• availability of high quality autos at costs that shall be inexpensive to prospects;
• modifications in client finance legal guidelines or laws, together with however not restricted to guidelines and laws which have lately been enacted or could possibly be enacted by federal and state governments;
• skill to maintain tempo with technological advances and modifications in client habits affecting our business;                
• safety breaches, cyber-attacks, or fraudulent exercise; and
• the flexibility to efficiently establish, full and combine new acquisitions.

Additionally, dangers and uncertainties which will have an effect on future outcomes embody these described every now and then within the Company’s SEC filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to replace or revise any forward-looking statements, whether or not in consequence of new data, future occasions or in any other case. You are cautioned to not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which communicate solely as of the dates on which they’re made.

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Contacts:        Jeffrey A. Williams, President and CEO (479) 464-9944 or Vickie D. Judy, CFO (479) 464-9944