PRA Group Inc (PRAA) shares soared 7.22% in Monday's trading session, surprising many investors given the company's reported Q3 net loss. The debt collection firm's stock rally comes on the heels of its latest earnings report, which revealed a mix of challenges and promising indicators.
The company reported a Q3 net loss of $403.966 million, primarily due to a significant $413 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge related to a European acquisition. This resulted in a dramatic earnings per share (EPS) figure of -$10.43. However, investors appear to be looking beyond these headline numbers to focus on more positive aspects of the report.
Despite the net loss, PRA Group showcased strong operational performance in key areas. Cash collections increased by 14% year-over-year to $542.2 million, driven by recent portfolio purchases and robust European performance. Notably, investments in the U.S. legal collections channel led to a substantial 27% increase in cash collections from this segment. Furthermore, when excluding the goodwill impairment, the company's adjusted net income for Q3 reached a positive $21 million.
Investors seem particularly encouraged by PRA Group's forward-looking statements. The company has set an ambitious target of $1.2 billion in portfolio purchases for 2025 and reported $297.8 million in estimated forward flow commitments over the next 12 months. This positive outlook, combined with the company's strategic investments in growth channels, appears to be outweighing the short-term impact of the impairment charge in investors' minds, thus driving the stock's significant upward movement.
Comments