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EX-99.2 - EXHIBIT 99.2 - Discover Financial Servicesa6863997ex99-2.htm
8-K - DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES 8-K - Discover Financial Servicesa6863997.htm
Exhibit 99.1
 
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DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES REPORTS THIRD QUARTER NET INCOME OF $649 MILLION OR $1.18 PER DILUTED SHARE

SECOND CONSECUTIVE QUARTER OF RECORD NET INCOME

Riverwoods, IL, Sept. 22, 2011 – Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) today reported net income of $649 million for the third quarter of 2011, as compared to $261 million for the third quarter of 2010.

Third Quarter Highlights

 
Discover card sales volume was an all-time record of $26.3 billion in the quarter, up 9% from the prior year.

 
Total loans grew 8% from the prior year to $54.1 billion and were up 3% from the prior quarter, with credit card loans up 2% from the prior year and 3% from the prior quarter.

 
The delinquency rate for credit card loans over 30 days past due continued to decline reaching a new record low of 2.43%.  The credit card net charge-off rate declined to 3.85%.

 
Payment Services pretax income was $38 million. Transaction volume for the segment was $45 billion in the quarter, an increase of 15% from the prior year.

 
The company repurchased 8.4 million shares in the third quarter for $198 million.
 
“We achieved record results again this quarter as a result of further improvements in credit performance and record sales volume,” said David Nelms, chairman and chief executive officer of Discover. “In addition, we are very pleased to report the reemergence of year-over-year growth in Discover card receivables and continued strong growth in our personal loan and private student loan businesses. Our strong capital position has allowed us to continue to invest in growth. We also repurchased more than 8 million shares in the quarter."
 
Segment Results:

Direct Banking

Direct Banking pretax income of $1.0 billion in the third quarter of 2011 was a $614 million improvement from the third quarter of 2010.  Pretax income included $24 million related to The Student Loan Corporation.

Discover card sales volume grew 9% from the prior year to a record $26.3 billion.  The increase was driven by growth in spending from both new and existing customers, along with increased gas prices.  Credit card loans grew year-over-year for the first time since the second quarter of 2009, up 2% from the prior year.

Total loans ended the quarter at $54.1 billion, up 8% compared to the prior year.  Private student loans increased $3.8 billion, including the acquisition of $3.1 billion in loans in the first quarter of 2011, and personal loans increased $732 million.  This was partially offset by the sale of $1.5 billion in federal student loans driven by last years announced decision to exit this business.

Net interest margin was 9.26%, up 10 basis points from the prior year and 11 basis points from the second quarter of 2011.  Credit card yield was 12.46%, a decrease of 40 basis points from the prior year and 11 basis points from the prior quarter.  The decline in credit card yield reflects the impacts of the CARD Act, an increase in promotional rate balances, and an increase in customers who pay their balance in full, partially offset by lower interest charge-offs.  Interest expense as a percent of total loans decreased 40 basis points from the prior year and 20 basis points from the prior quarter as the company continued to take advantage of available low rate funding.

 
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Net interest income increased $90 million, or 8%, from the prior year, primarily driven by an increase in loan balances related to the student loan acquisition and lower interest expense. This was partially offset by a decrease in interest income on credit cards due to the lower yield.

The delinquency rate for credit card loans over 30 days past due continued to decline from the prior quarter to another all-time low of 2.43%, an improvement of 196 basis points from the prior year, and 36 basis points from the prior quarter.  The credit card net charge-off rate decreased to 3.85% for the third quarter of 2011, down 388 basis points from the prior year and 116 basis points from the prior quarter.

Provision for loan losses of $100 million decreased $613 million, or 86%, from the prior year, driven by lower charge-offs and a reduction in the allowance for loan losses.  Principal charge-offs decreased $441 million from the prior year, as a result of the continued decline in delinquencies in 2011. In addition, improvement in the outlook for credit performance resulted in a reserve release of $359 million in the third quarter of 2011, versus a release of $187 million in the third quarter of 2010.

Other income decreased $15 million, or 3%, from the prior year. The third quarter of 2010 included a $20 million gain related to the liquidation of the company’s Golden Key investment.  An increase in net discount and interchange was offset by a decline in late fee income.
 
Expenses were up $74 million, or 14%, from the prior year, reflecting increased compensation costs, expenses related to The Student Loan Corporation, and investments in growth initiatives.

Payment Services

Payment Services pretax income of $38 million in the quarter was up $1 million, or 3%, from the prior year driven principally by a $3 million increase in revenues partially offset by a $2 million increase in expenses.  The increase in revenue was primarily driven by an increase in transactions on the PULSE network and higher margins.  The increase in expenses reflects investments related to enhancing infrastructure.

Payment Services dollar volume was $45 billion for the third quarter, up 15% from the prior year, driven by higher PULSE, Diners Club International and third-party issuer volume.  The number of transactions on the PULSE network increased 8%.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

The company will host a conference call to discuss its third quarter results on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. Central time.  Interested parties can listen to the conference call via a live audio webcast at http://investorrelations.discoverfinancial.com.

About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company operates the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers personal and student loans, online savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its Discover Bank subsidiary. Its payment businesses consist of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discoverfinancial.com.
 
 
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Contacts:
 
Investors:
Craig Streem, 224-405-3575
craigstreem@discover.com
 
Media:
Jon Drummond, 224-405-1888
jondrummond@discover.com
 
A financial summary follows. Financial, statistical, and business related information, as well as information regarding business and segment trends, is included in the financial supplement filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Both the earnings release and the financial supplement are available online at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) and the company’s website (http://investorrelations.discoverfinancial.com).

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, which speak to our expected business and financial performance, among other matters, contain words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “likely,” and similar expressions. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and there is no undertaking to update or revise them as more information becomes available.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: changes in economic variables, such as the availability of consumer credit, the housing market, energy costs, the number and size of personal bankruptcy filings, the rate of unemployment and the levels of consumer confidence and consumer debt, and investor sentiment; the impact of current, pending and future legislation, regulation and regulatory and legal actions, including new laws and rules related to financial regulatory reform, new laws and rules limiting or modifying certain credit card or student lending practices, new laws and rules affecting securitizations, funding and liquidity, and bank holding company regulations and supervisory guidance on the company's ability to execute its business strategies; the actions and initiatives of current and potential competitors; the company’s ability to manage its expenses; the company’s ability to successfully achieve card acceptance across its networks and maintain relationships with network participants; the company’s ability to sustain and grow its private student loan business; the company’s ability to manage its credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, operational risk, legal and compliance risk, and strategic risk; the availability and cost of funding and capital; access to deposit, securitization, equity, debt and credit markets; the impact of rating agency actions; the level and volatility of equity prices, commodity prices and interest rates, currency values, investments, other market fluctuations and other market indices; losses in the company’s investment portfolio; restrictions on the company’s operations resulting from financing transactions; the company’s ability to increase or sustain Discover card usage or attract new customers; the company’s ability to attract new merchants and maintain relationships with current merchants; the effect of political, economic and market conditions, geopolitical events and unforeseen or catastrophic events; fraudulent activities or material security breaches of key systems; the company’s ability to introduce new products or services; the company’s ability to sustain its investment in new technology and manage its relationships with third-party vendors; the company’s ability to collect amounts for disputed transactions from merchants and merchant acquirers; the company’s ability to attract and retain employees; the company’s ability to protect its reputation and its intellectual property; difficulty obtaining regulatory approval for, financing, closing, transitioning, integrating or managing the expenses of acquisitions of or investments in new businesses, products or technologies; and new lawsuits, investigations or similar matters or unanticipated developments related to current matters. The company routinely evaluates and may pursue acquisitions of or investments in businesses, products, technologies, loan portfolios or deposits, which may involve payment in cash or the company's debt or equity securities. The company’s upcoming acquisition of the mortgage origination business of Tree.com, Inc. is subject to closing conditions including, among others, approvals of regulators and Tree.com, Inc. stockholders. The company’s upcoming acquisition of private student loans from Citibank, N.A. is subject to customary closing conditions.  For additional information regarding the pending acquisitions, see the company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 12, 2011 and September 1, 2011.
 
Additional factors that could cause the company’s results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found under “Risk Factors,” “Business – Competition,” “Business – Supervision and Regulation” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2010 and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended February 28, 2011 and May 31, 2011, which are filed with the SEC and available at the SEC's internet site (http://www.sec.gov).
 
 
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DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES
             
(unaudited, in millions, except per share statistics)
 
   
Quarter Ended
   
Aug 31, 2011
 
May 31, 2011
 
Aug 31, 2010
EARNINGS SUMMARY
                 
    Interest Income
    $1,599       $1,573       $1,536  
    Interest Expense
    362       380       389  
Net Interest Income
    1,237       1,193       1,147  
                         
Discount/Interchange Revenue
    517       489       468  
Rewards
    234       223       194  
Discount and Interchange Revenue, net
    283       266       274  
Fee Products Revenue
    108       105       104  
Loan Fee Income
    84       81       92  
Transaction Processing Revenue
    44       45       40  
Other Income
    33       47       54  
Total Other Income
    552       544       564  
                         
Revenue Net of Interest Expense
    1,789       1,737       1,711  
                         
Provision for Loan Losses
    100       176       713  
                         
    Employee Compensation and Benefits
    242       230       204  
    Marketing and Business Development
    133       124       131  
    Information Processing & Communications
    64       66       62  
    Professional Fees
    106       105       85  
    Premises and Equipment
    18       18       18  
    Other Expense
    79       92       66  
Total Other Expense
    642       635       566  
                         
Income Before Income Taxes
    1,047       926       432  
Tax Expense
    398       326       171  
Net Income
    $649       $600       $261  
                         
Net Income Allocated to Common Stockholders   
    $642       $593       $258  
                         
                         
PER SHARE STATISTICS
                       
Basic EPS
    $1.18       $1.09       $0.47  
Diluted EPS
    $1.18       $1.09       $0.47  
Common Stock Price (period end)
    $25.16       $23.84       $14.51  
Dividend declared per share
    $0.06       $0.06       $0.02  
Book Value per share
    $14.88       $13.79       $11.22  
                         
SEGMENT- INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
Direct Banking
    $1,009       $883       $395  
Payment Services
    38       43       37  
Total
    $1,047       $926       $432  
                         
BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY
Total Assets
    $65,726       $63,438       $60,058  
Total Liabilities
    $57,720       $55,915       $53,947  
Total Equity
    8,006       7,523       6,111  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    $65,726       $63,438       $60,058  
                         
TOTAL LOAN RECEIVABLES STATISTICS
         
Ending Loans   1, 2
    $54,082       $52,510       $50,131  
Average Loans 1, 2
    $53,013       $51,727       $49,687  
                         
Interest Yield
    11.83 %     11.93 %     12.16 %
Net Principal Charge-off Rate
    3.43 %     4.42 %     7.18 %
Net Principal Charge-off Rate Excluding PCI Loans  3
    3.63 %     4.69 %     7.18 %
Delinquency Rate (over 30 days)   3
    2.35 %     2.68 %     4.16 %
Delinquency Rate (over 90 days)   3
    1.17 %     1.44 %     2.19 %
Net Charge-off Dollars
    $459       $577       $900  
Loans Delinquent Over 30 Days   3
    $1,203       $1,329       $2,083  
Loans Delinquent Over 90 Days   3
    $599       $715       $1,099  
                         
Allowance for Loan Loss (period end)
    $2,273       $2,632       $3,744  
Change in Loan Loss Reserves
    ($359 )     ($401 )     ($187 )
Reserve Rate  4
    4.20 %     5.01 %     7.47 %
Reserve Rate Excluding PCI Loans   3, 4
    4.44 %     5.31 %     7.47 %
                         
CREDIT CARD LOANS STATISTICS
Ending Loans
    $46,178       $44,961       $45,248  
Average Loans
    $45,343       $44,288       $44,905  
                         
Interest Yield
    12.46 %     12.57 %     12.86 %
Net Principal Charge-off Rate
    3.85 %     5.01 %     7.73 %
Delinquency Rate (over 30 days)
    2.43 %     2.79 %     4.39 %
Delinquency Rate (over 90 days)
    1.22 %     1.51 %     2.35 %
Net Charge-off Dollars
    $440       $559       $875  
Loans Delinquent Over 30 Days
    $1,121       $1,256       $1,986  
Loans Delinquent Over 90 Days
    $565       $681       $1,062  
                         
Allowance for Loan Loss (period end)
    $2,154       $2,519       $3,647  
Change in Loan Loss Reserves
    ($365 )     ($420 )     ($179 )
Reserve Rate
    4.66 %     5.60 %     8.06 %
                         
Total Discover Card Volume
    $28,455       $26,927       $25,553  
Discover Card Sales Volume
    $26,271       $24,844       $23,993  
                         
NETWORK VOLUME
                       
PULSE Network
    $35,109       $36,719       $30,582  
Third-Party Issuers
    1,984       1,838       1,794  
Diners Club International   5
    7,660       7,380       6,542  
     Total Payment Services
    44,753       45,937       38,918  
Discover Network - Proprietary  
    27,133       25,684       24,880  
Total
    $71,886       $71,621       $63,798  
 
1  Total Loans includes mortgages and other loans.
 
           
2 Purchased Credit Impaired ("PCI") loans were acquired in The Student Loan Corporation transaction on December 31, 2010. PCI loans are loans for which a deterioration in credit quality occurred between the origination date and the acquisition date.  These loans were initially recorded at fair value and accrete interest income over the estimated lives of the loans as long as cash flows are reasonably estimable, even if the loans are contractually past due. PCI loans are private student loans and are included in total loan receivables.
           
3 Excludes PCI loans (described above) that were acquired as part of The Student Loan Corporation transaction which are accounted for on a pooled basis.  Since a pool is accounted for as a single asset with a single composite interest rate and aggregate expectation of cash flows, the past-due status of a pool, or that of the individual loans within a pool, is not meaningful.  Because the company is recognizing interest income on a pool of loans, it is all considered to be performing.
           
4 The Reserve Rate includes federal student loans held for sale.
   
           
5 Volume is derived from data provided by licensees for Diners Club branded cards issued outside of North America and is subject to subsequent revision or amendment.
           
  Note:  See Glossary for definitions of financial terms in the financial supplement which is available online at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov) and the company's website (http://investorrelations.discoverfinancial.com).
 
 
 
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