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Note C - Finance Receivables, Net
6 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2018
Notes to Financial Statements  
Financing Receivables [Text Block]
C – Finance Receivables, Net
 
The Company originates installment sale contracts from the sale of used vehicles at its dealerships. These installment sale contracts, which carry an interest rate of
15%
or
16.5%
per annum (based on the Company’s contract interest rate as of the contract origination date), are collateralized by the vehicle sold and typically provide for payments over periods ranging from
18
to
42
months. The weighted average interest rate for the portfolio was approximately
16.4%
at
October 31, 2018.
The Company’s finance receivables are defined as
one
segment and
one
class of loans in sub-prime consumer automobile contracts. The level of risks inherent in the Company’s financing receivables is managed as
one
homogeneous pool.
 
The components of finance receivables are as follows:
 
(In thousands)   October 31, 2018   April 30, 2018
Gross contract amount   $
621,498
    $
584,682
 
Less unearned finance charges    
(85,656
)    
(83,244
)
Principal balance    
535,842
     
501,438
 
Less allowance for credit losses    
(126,128
)    
(117,821
)
Finance receivables, net   $
409,714
    $
383,617
 
 
 
Changes in the finance receivables, net are as follows:
 
    Six Months Ended
October 31,
(In thousands)   2018   2017
Balance at beginning of period   $
383,617
    $
357,161
 
Finance receivable originations    
269,883
     
239,007
 
Finance receivable collections    
(135,471
)    
(118,609
)
Provision for credit losses    
(76,064
)    
(72,906
)
Losses on claims for payment protection plan    
(7,903
)    
(7,980
)
Inventory acquired in repossession and payment protection plan claims    
(24,348
)    
(20,096
)
                 
Balance at end of period   $
409,714
    $
376,577
 
 
Changes in the finance receivables allowance for credit losses are as follows:
 
    Six Months Ended
October 31,
(In thousands)   2018   2017
Balance at beginning of period   $
117,821
    $
109,693
 
Provision for credit losses    
76,064
     
72,906
 
Charge-offs, net of recovered collateral    
(67,757
)    
(66,681
)
                 
Balance at end of period   $
126,128
    $
115,918
 
 
The factors which influenced management’s judgment in determining the amount of the current period provision for credit losses are described below.
 
The level of charge-offs, net of recovered collateral, is the most important factor in determining the provision for credit losses. This is due to the fact that once a contract becomes delinquent the account is either made current by the customer, the vehicle is repossessed or the account is written off if the collateral cannot be recovered. Net charge-offs as a percentage of average finance receivables decreased to
13.0%
for the
six
months ended
October 31, 2018,
compared to
13.8%
for the prior year period.
 
Macro-economic factors, the competitive environment on the funding side, and more importantly, proper execution of operational policies and procedures have a significant effect on additions to the allowance charged to the provision. Higher unemployment levels, higher gasoline prices and higher prices for staple items can potentially have a significant effect. The Company continues to focus on operational improvements within the collections area.
 
Credit quality information for finance receivables is as follows:
 
(Dollars in thousands)   October 31, 2018   April 30, 2018   October 31, 2017
    Principal   Percent of   Principal   Percent of   Principal   Percent of
    Balance   Portfolio   Balance   Portfolio   Balance   Portfolio
Current   $
426,905
     
79.67
%   $
424,511
     
84.67
%   $
381,557
     
77.48
%
 3 - 29 days past due    
90,726
     
16.93
%    
59,544
     
11.87
%    
90,776
     
18.43
%
30 - 60 days past due    
14,015
     
2.62
%    
12,448
     
2.48
%    
14,485
     
2.94
%
61 - 90 days past due    
2,684
     
0.50
%    
3,331
     
0.66
%    
3,832
     
0.78
%
> 90 days past due    
1,512
     
0.28
%    
1,604
     
0.32
%    
1,845
     
0.37
%
Total   $
535,842
     
100.00
%   $
501,438
     
100.00
%   $
492,495
     
100.00
%
 
Accounts
one
and
two
days past due are considered current for this analysis, due to the varying payment dates and variation in the day of the week at each period end. Delinquencies
may
vary from period to period based on the average age of the portfolio, seasonality within the calendar year, the day of the week and overall economic factors. The above categories are consistent with internal operational measures used by the Company to monitor credit results.
 
Substantially all of the Company’s automobile contracts involve contracts made to individuals with impaired or limited credit histories, or higher debt-to-income ratios than permitted by traditional lenders; such contracts generally entail a higher risk of delinquency, default, repossession, and losses than contracts made with buyers with better credit. The Company monitors contract term length, down payment percentages, and collections as credit quality indicators.
 
    Six Months Ended
October 31,
    2018   2017
Principal collected as a percent of average finance receivables    
26.0
%    
24.6
%
Average down-payment percentage    
6.0
%    
6.0
%
Average originating contract term
(in months
)
   
29.5
     
29.6
 
 
    October 31, 2018   October 31, 2017
Portfolio weighted average contract term, including modifications
(in months
)
   
32.1
     
32.5
 
 
The increase in collections as a percentage of average finance receivables resulted primarily from improved efforts in the collections process. The contract term decreased slightly despite the increased average selling price, as we work to improve our underwriting and at the same time keep payments affordable and to continue to work with our customers when they experience financial difficulties. As the average selling price increases and in order to remain competitive, term lengths
may
increase.