July 28, 2016

Nicholas Financial Reports 1st Quarter Results

Clearwater, Florida, - July 28, 2016 - Nicholas Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: NICK), announced that for the three months ended June 30, 2016, diluted earnings per share decreased 21% to $0.37 as compared to $0.47 for the three months ended June 30, 2015. Net earnings were $2,903,000 and $3,670,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Revenue increased 4% to $22,915,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2016 as compared to $22,025,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2015.

Our net earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2016 were adversely affected primarily by an increase in the provision for credit losses due to higher charge-offs and a reduction in the gross portfolio yield due to a decrease in the weighted average APR of purchases. Our net earnings were positively affected by a reduction in operating expenses as a percentage of average net receivables from 10.92% to 10.40%, for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2016, respectively.

“During our first quarter, new loan originations were below Company expectations. We experienced a greater number of potential loans, which did not translate into acquired loans because they did not meet the Company’s risk pricing criteria. The market continues to be highly competitive and we have seen some large competitors reduce their originations as a result of tightening underwriting guidelines; however, other large competitors have increased their appetite for new loan acquisitions.” stated Ralph T. Finkenbrink, the Company’s President and CEO.

Nicholas Financial, Inc. is one of the largest publicly traded specialty consumer finance companies in North America. The Company operates branch locations in both the Southeastern and the Midwestern states. The Company has approximately 7,753,000 shares of common stock outstanding. For an index of Nicholas Financial, Inc.’s news releases or to obtain a specific release, visit our web site at www.nicholasfinancial.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including general economic conditions, access to bank financing, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings and reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2016. Such statements are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Company management. Actual events or results may differ materially. All forward-looking statements and cautionary statements included in this document are made as of the date hereby based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward looking statement or cautionary statement.

NICHOLAS FINANCIAL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited, Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Amounts)
     
  Three months ended
June 30,
  2016      2015     
Revenue
Interest and fee income on finance receivables $22,915  $22,025 
     
Expenses
  Operating 8,674  8,423 
  Professional fees 247  448 
  Provision for credit losses 7,026  4,989 
  Interest Expense 2,244  2,166 
  Change in fair value of interest rate swaps 18   44  
  18,209  16,070 
 
Operating income before income taxes 4,706  5,955 
  Income tax expense 1,803  2,285 
    Net income $2,903  $3,670 
 
Earnings Per share:
    Basic $  0.37  $  0.48 
    Diluted $  0.37  $  0.47 
 
Weighted average shares 7,672,000  7,616,000 
 
Weighted average shares & assumed dilution 7,732,000  7,744,000 
 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited, Dollars in Thousands)
  June 30, March 31,
  2016 2016
Cash $   4,520  $   1,849 
Finance receivables, net 312,655  311,837 
Other assets 11,742  11,623 
     
  Total assets $328,917  $325,309 
     
Line of credit $209,000  $211,000 
Other Liabilities 14,053  11,460 
 
  Total Liabilities 223,053  222,460 
 
Shareholders' equity 105,864  102,849 
 
Total Liabilities and shareholders' equity $328,917   $325,309  
 

Portfolio Summary

Three months ended
June 30,
(In Thousands)

  2016  2015 
Average finance receivables, net of unearned interest (1) $343,185  $324,951 
Average indebtedness (2) $210,407  $201,086 
Interest and fee income on finance receivables $  22,915  $  22,025 
Interest Expense 2,244  2,166 
Net Interest and fee income on finance receivables $20,671  $19,859 
Weighted average contractual rate (3) 22.67%  22.88% 
Average cost of borrowed funds (2) 4.27%  4.31% 
Gross portfolio yield (4) 26.71% 27.11% 
Interest expense as a percentage of average finance
  receivables, net of unearned interest		 2.62%  2.67% 

Provision for credit losses as a percentage of average
  finance receivables, net of unearned interest		 8.19%  6.14% 
Net portfolio yield (4) 15.90%  18.30%
Marketing, salaries, employee benefits, depreciation and administrative, & professional
  fees as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest		 10.40%  10.92% 
Pre-tax yield as a percentage of average finance  receivables, net of unearned interest (5) 5.50%  7.38% 
Write-off to liquidation (6) 9.41%  6.99% 
Net charge-off percentage (7) 7.51%  5.83% 
 
Note:  All three key performance indicators expressed as percentages have been annualized.
(1)     Average finance receivables, net of unearned interest, represents the average of gross finance receivables, less unearned
           interest throughout the period.
(2)     Average indebtedness represents the average outstanding borrowings under the Line. Average cost of borrowed funds
           represents interest expense as a percentage of average indebtedness.
(3)     Weighted average contractual rate represents the weighted average annual percentage rate ("APR") of all Contracts and Direct
           Loans as of the period ending date.

(4)     Gross portfolio yield represents interest and fee income on finance receivables as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of
            unearned interest. Net portfolio yield represents interest and fee income on finance receivables minus (a) interest expense and (b) the
            provision for credit losses as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest.

(5)     Pre-tax yield represents net portfolio yield minus administrative expenses (marketing, salaries, employee benefits, depreciation,
            administrative, and professional fees) as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest.
(6)     Write-off to liquidation percentage is defined as net charge-offs divided by liquidation. Liquidation is defined as beginning
           receivable balance plus current period purchases minus voids and refinances minus ending receivable balance.
(7)     Net charge-off percentage represents net charge-offs divided by average finance receivables, net of unearned interest,
            outstanding during the period.
 

The following tables present certain information regarding the delinquency rates experienced by the Company with respect to automobile finance installment contracts ("Contracts") and direct consumer loans ("Direct Loans"), excluding any Chapter 13 bankruptcy accounts:
 
  (In thousands, except percentages)
Contracts  Gross Balance
Outstanding		 31 - 60 days 61 - 90 days Over 90 Total
June 30, 2016 $484,027 $25,445 $8,027 $3,576 $37,048
    5.26% 1.66% 0.74% 7.66%
   
June 30, 2015 $463,396 $18,879 $4,799 $1,899 $25,577
    4.07% 1.04% 0.41% 5.52%
Direct Loans  Gross Balance
Outstanding		 31 - 60 days 61 - 90 days Over 90 Total
June 30, 2016 $11,062 $ 178 $ 55 $ 42 $ 275
    1.61% 0.50% 0.38% 2.49%
   
June 30, 2015 $11,372 $156 $35 $24 $215
    1.37% 0.31% 0.21% 1.89%
           

The following table presents selected information on Contracts purchased by the Company,
net of unearned interest:
     
  Three months ended
June 30,
Contracts 2016      2015     
Purchases $40,830  $52,375 
Weighted APR 22.39%  22.67% 
Average Discount 7.15%  7.54% 
Weighted average term (months) 57  56 
Average Loan $   11,609  $   11,381 
Number of contracts 3,517  4,602