ATLANTA - Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, today announced revenues and earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

For the third quarter of 2014, revenues increased 32% to $707.6 million compared to $537.2 million for the same period in 2013.  Net earnings were $9.3 million versus $21.1 million a year ago.  Diluted earnings per share were $.13 compared to $.28 per share last year. The $170.3 million increase in revenue was due to $189.8 million in revenue from Progressive, partially offset by a decrease in revenue from Aaron's core business.

"We are making significant progress on the strategic initiatives outlined earlier this year to strengthen our core business," said Gilbert L. Danielson, interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Aaron's, Inc.  "Improving the customer's experience is a priority and through meeting their needs in all areas of our operations, including e-commerce and the personal relationship at Aaron's stores, we believe our overall customer reach will expand."

"Progressive once again exceeded expectations and is rapidly growing its business," Mr. Danielson continued. "The number of customers entering into Progressive lease ownership transactions continues to grow through both existing and new retailer relationships. We are also well on our way to capturing significant synergy opportunities for the overall Company resulting from the April acquisition."

"While our core business continues to experience challenges in the current economic environment, we believe consumers still need and want the household furnishings we offer. With our strengthened omni-channel platform, we are removing obstacles to doing business by meeting our customers where they want to do business with us, which we expect will increase demand and customer satisfaction."

"We continue to expect that approximately $50 million in annual cost savings will be achieved by the end of 2015.  Among other actions, during the third quarter we closed 44 under-performing stores and restructured our home office and field support to more closely align with current business conditions. Overall, we believe we are on the right path in transforming Aaron's," Mr. Danielson concluded.

Financial Summary

For the first nine months of 2014, revenues increased 17% to $1.965 billion compared to $1.681 billion for the same period of 2013.  Net earnings were $56.1 million versus $98.0 million last year.  Diluted earnings per share for the first nine months were $.77 for 2014 compared to $1.28 in 2013.

During the third quarter of 2014, pre-tax earnings were negatively impacted by $9.1 million of expenses pertaining to the retirement of both the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, $6.9 million in restructuring charges resulting from store closings and the realignment of operations in the Aaron's core business and $11.3 million in amortization expense related to the Progressive acquisition, partially offset by a $1.2 million reduction in previously recognized regulatory expense upon the resolution of the regulatory investigation by the California Attorney General into Aaron's leasing, marketing and privacy practices. In addition, during the second quarter of 2014, pre-tax earnings were negatively impacted by $9.7 million in amortization expense and $5.5 million in transaction costs related to the Progressive acquisition. The Company also incurred $12.4 million in financial advisory and legal costs related to addressing strategic matters, including proxy contests, and $2.3 million in restructuring charges during the second quarter of 2014.

Included in 2013 pre-tax earnings was a third quarter $13.4 million accrual related to the then-pending regulatory investigation by the California Attorney General, and, in the second quarter, a $15.0 million accrual related to the same investigation and $4.9 million of retirement expenses and a change in the Company's vacation policies.

On a non-GAAP basis, excluding the special charges, costs and expenses described above from all periods, net earnings for the third quarter of 2014 would have been $28.2 million compared to $30.8 million for the same period in 2013, and earnings per share assuming dilution would have been $.39 compared to $.40 a year ago. Net earnings for the first nine months of 2014 would have been $93.6 million compared to $119.6 million in 2013, and earnings per share assuming dilution would have been $1.29 versus $1.56 last year.

Adjusted EBITDA for the Company, adjusted to exclude the aforementioned special fees and expenses, was $60.0 million and $201.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as the Company's earnings before interest, depreciation on property, plant and equipment, amortization of intangible assets, income taxes and special fees and expenses.

Same store revenues (revenues earned in Company-operated stores open for the entirety of the quarter) decreased 2.8% during the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013, and customer count on a same store basis was down 3.9%. For Company-operated stores open over two years at the end of September 2014, same store revenues decreased 3.7% during the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013. The Company had 1,072,000 customers and its franchisees had 574,000 customers at the end of the most recent quarter, a 3.8% decrease in total customers over the number at the end of the third quarter a year ago (customers of franchisees, however, are not customers of Aaron's, Inc.).

The effective tax rate increased in the third quarter of 2014 to 29.6% compared to 28.2% in the third quarter of 2013. The effective tax rate also increased for the first nine months of 2014 to 35.8% compared to 35.0% in the same period a year ago. The increase in the tax rate for both the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2014 is primarily the result of decreased tax benefits related to the Company's furniture manufacturing operations and the loss of federal credits that have not been renewed by Congress. It is anticipated that the effective tax rate for the entire year 2014 will be approximately 36.0%.

The Company reacquired 1,000,952 shares during the first quarter of 2014 at the completion of the previously announced accelerated share repurchase program. The Company has authorization to purchase an additional 10,496,421 shares.

Division Results

Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership division revenues decreased $14.4 million, or 3%, in the third quarter of 2014 to $501.7 million compared to $516.1 million in revenues in the third quarter of 2013. Sales and lease ownership revenues for the first nine months of 2014 decreased 2% to $1.584 billion compared to $1.614 billion for the same period a year ago.

Revenues of the HomeSmart division were $15.6 million in the third quarter of 2014, a 5% increase over the $14.8 million in revenues in the third quarter of 2013. HomeSmart revenues for the first nine months of 2014 were $48.9 million versus $47.6 million for the same period a year ago, a 3% increase.

As noted above, the Company recorded a $6.9 million restructuring charge in the third quarter related to the closing of 44 Company-operated stores and the realignment of home office and field support operations.

The Progressive division generated revenues of $189.8 million and a pre-tax profit of $1.7 million in the third quarter, and for the period from the April 14, 2014 acquisition date recorded $328.7 million in revenues and a pre-tax profit of $1.4 million. Progressive's EBITDA included in the Company's results during the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $18.6 million and $32.5 million, respectively.

Components of Revenue

Consolidated lease revenues and fees for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 increased 42% and 22%, respectively, over the comparable prior year periods. In addition, franchise royalties and fees decreased 4% and 3% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 compared to the same periods in 2013, respectively.  The decreases in the Company's franchise royalties and fees are the result of a decrease in revenues of the Company's franchisees, which collectively had revenues of $240.1 million during the third quarter and $754.1 million for the first nine months of 2014, decreases of 2% and 1% from the comparable 2013 periods, respectively. Same store revenues and customer counts for franchised stores were down 2.5% and 4.1%, respectively, for the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same quarter last year (revenues and customers of franchisees, however, are not revenues and customers of Aaron's, Inc.). Non-retail sales, which are primarily sales of merchandise to Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership franchisees, decreased 7% for the third quarter and 3% for the first nine months compared to the same periods last year.

Store Count

During the third quarter of 2014, the Company closed 43 Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership stores and one HomeSmart store, and opened nine Company-operated Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership stores and six franchised stores. The Company also acquired two Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership franchised stores. Five Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership franchised stores and one HomeSmart franchised store were closed during the quarter. Through the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company awarded area development agreements to open six and 23 additional franchised stores, respectively. At September 30, 2014, there were area development agreements outstanding for the opening of 142 franchised stores over the next several years.

At September 30, 2014, the Company had 1,234 Company-operated Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership stores, 783 franchised Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership stores, 82 Company-operated HomeSmart stores, and two franchised HomeSmart stores.  The total number of stores open at September 30, 2014 was 2,101.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014 Outlook

The Company is updating its guidance for the fourth quarter and full year 2014.  Diluted earnings per share is presented both on a GAAP basis and on a non-GAAP adjusted basis that excludes transaction-related amortization and special fees and expenses. The Company currently expects to achieve the following:

• Consolidated fourth quarter revenues (excluding revenues of franchisees) of approximately $740 million, including Progressive revenues of approximately $205 million.
• Fiscal year 2014 revenues (excluding revenues of franchisees) of approximately $2.71 billion, including Progressive revenues of approximately $534 million since the April 14 acquisition.
• Fourth quarter and fiscal year adjusted EBITDA in the range of approximately $57 million to $62 million and $257 million to $262 million, respectively, including Progressive EBITDA in the range of $15 million to $18 million and $47 million to $50 million, respectively.
• Fourth quarter and fiscal year GAAP diluted earnings per share in the range of $.24 to $.29 and $1.01 to $1.06, respectively.
• Fourth quarter and fiscal year 2014 non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share in the range of $.34 to $.39 and $1.62 to $1.67, respectively.
• EPS guidance does not assume any significant repurchases of the Company's common stock.
• The Company expects for the full year 2014 no new store growth in Company-operated Aaron's stores, on a net basis after store closings.

Conference Call

Aaron's will hold a conference call to discuss its quarterly financial results on Friday, October 24, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The public is invited to listen to the conference call by webcast accessible through the Company's Investor Relations website, investor.aarons.com. The webcast will be archived for playback at that same site.

About Aaron's, Inc.

Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, currently has more than 2,100 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Aaron's was founded in 1955, is headquartered in Atlanta and has been publicly traded since 1982. Progressive Leasing, a wholly-owned subsidiary and leading virtual lease-to-own company, provides lease-purchase solutions through over 15,000 retail locations in 46 states.  Aaron's, Inc. includes the Aarons.com, ShopHomeSmart.com and ProgLeasing.com brands.  For more information, visit www.aarons.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information:

This press release presents the Company's net earnings and diluted earnings per share in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") and in a format that is not in accordance with GAAP that excludes third quarter 2014 charges of (i) $11.3 million in Progressive-related amortization expense, (ii) $9.1 million in expenses pertaining to the retirement of both the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, (iii) $6.9 million of restructuring expenses, (iv) a $1.2 million reduction of previously recognized regulatory expense upon the resolution of a regulatory investigation and second quarter 2014 charges of (v) $9.7 million in amortization expense and $5.5 million in transaction costs related to the Progressive acquisition, (vi) $12.4 million of financial advisory and legal costs related to addressing strategic matters, including proxy contests, and (vii) $2.3 million of restructuring expenses. Excluded from prior year net earnings and diluted earnings per share are (viii) third quarter 2013 charges of $13.4 million related to a then-pending regulatory investigation, (ix) second quarter 2013 charges of $15.0 million related to the same regulatory investigation and (x) second quarter 2013 retirement and vacation-related charges of $4.9 million. In addition, this press release presents the adjusted EBITDA of the Company and its operating segments. Adjusted EBITDA is also not a measure in accordance with GAAP. 

Management regards the circumstances of the special charges mentioned above as not arising out of the ordinary course of business. The adjustments include matters that are not entirely susceptible to prediction or effective management, and consequently management believes that presentation of net earnings and diluted earnings per share excluding these adjustments is useful because it gives investors supplemental information to evaluate and compare the performance of the Company's underlying core business from period to period. Management believes presenting the Company's adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors because it provides some indication of what the results of Progressive would have been absent the effects of the Company's acquisition of Progressive, which arise principally from the debt financing of the transaction and acquisition-related accounting for intangible assets. It also provides additional information on what the results of the Company would have been absent the Progressive acquisition and the aforementioned special charges.