Q4 2025 Upbound Group Inc Earnings Call

February 19, 2026

Speaker #1: Good day and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Upbound Group, Inc 4th quarter 2025 earnings conference call. At this time, all participants are on a listen-only mode.

Operator: Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Upbound Group, Inc. Q4 2025 Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. After the speaker's presentation, there'll be a question-and-answer session. To ask a question during the session, you'll need to press star one one on your telephone. You will then hear an automated message advising your hand is raised. To withdraw your question, please press star one one again. Please be advised that this conference is being recorded. I would now like to hand the conference over to your speaker today, Steven Koss, Upbound Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: After the speaker's presentation, there'll be a question-and-answer session. To ask a question during the session, you'll need to press star 11 on your telephone.

Speaker #1: You will then hear an automated message advising your hand is raised. To withdraw your question, please press star 11 again. Please be advised that these conferences are being recorded.

Operator: You will then hear an automated message advising your hand is raised. To withdraw your question, please press star one one again. Please be advised that this conference is being recorded. I would now like to hand the conference over to your speaker today, Steven Koss, Upbound Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: I would now like to end the conference over to your speaker today, Stephen Cost, Upbound Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Speaker #2: Good morning, and thank you all for joining us to discuss the company's performance for the fourth quarter and full year of 2025 and our outlook for 2026.

Steven Kos: Good morning, and thank you all for joining us to discuss the company's performance for the Q4 and full year of 2025, and our outlook for 2026. We issued our earnings release this morning before the market opened, and the release and all related materials, including a link to the live webcast, are available on our website at investor.upbound.com. On the call today from Upbound Group, we have Fahmi Karam, our Chief Executive Officer, and Hal Khouri, our Chief Financial Officer. As a reminder, some of the statements provided on this call are forward-looking and are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from our expectations. These factors are described in our earnings release, as well as in the company's Form 10-K and other SEC filings.

Speaker #2: We issued our earnings release this morning before the market opened, and the release and all related materials, including a link to the live webcast, are available on our website at investor.upbound.com.

Steven Kos: On the call today from Upbound Group, we have Fahmi Karam, our Chief Executive Officer, and Hal Khouri, our Chief Financial Officer. As a reminder, some of the statements provided on this call are forward-looking and are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from our expectations. These factors are described in our earnings release, as well as in the company's Form 10-K and other SEC filings.

Speaker #2: On the call today from Upbound Group, we have Fahmi Karam, our Chief Executive Officer, and Hal Qudri, our Chief Financial Officer. As a reminder, some of the statements provided on this call are forward-looking and are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from our expectations.

Speaker #2: These factors are described in our earnings release as well as in the company's Form 10-K and other SEC filings. Upbound Group undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Steven Kos: Upbound Group undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by law. This call will also include references to non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to today's earnings release, which can be found on our website, for a description of the non-GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP financial measures. Finally, Upbound Group is not responsible for and does not edit or guarantee the accuracy of our earnings release teleconference transcripts provided by third parties. Please refer to our website for the only authorized webcast. With that, I'll turn the call over to Sammy.

Speaker #2: This call will also include references to non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to today's earnings release, which can be found on our website, for a description of the non-GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.

Steven Kos: ]Finally, Upbound Group is not responsible for and does not edit or guarantee the accuracy of our earnings release teleconference transcripts provided by third parties. Please refer to our website for the only authorized webcast. With that, I'll turn the call over to Sammy.

Speaker #2: Finally, Upbound Group is not responsible for, and does not edit or guarantee the accuracy of, our earnings release teleconference transcripts provided by third parties.

Speaker #2: Please refer to our website for the only authorized webcasts. With that, I'll turn the call over to Fahmi.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Stephen, and good morning, everyone. I'll begin with a review of key highlights from 2025, and then I'll hand it off to Hal for a more detailed review of our financial results and our financial outlook.

Fahmi Karam: Thank you, Steven, and good morning, everyone. I'll begin with a review of key highlights from 2025, and then I'll hand it off to Hal for a more detailed review of our financial results and our financial outlook. After that, we'll take some questions. As we reflect on the past year, it is clear that 2025 marked a period of significant progress for Upbound as we execute against our strategic priorities. Since taking on the CEO role in June, following my tenure as CFO, I have been eager to build upon our recent momentum and to steer Upbound through our ongoing transformation into a leading digital and data-driven platform of financial solutions for underserved consumers. In 2025, across all of our brands, we served over 3.5 million customers.

Speaker #3: After that, we'll take some questions. As we reflect on the past year, it is clear that 2025 marked a period of significant progress for Upbound as we execute against our strategic priorities.

Speaker #3: Since taking on the CEO role in June, following my tenure as CFO, I have been eager to build upon our recent momentum and to steer Upbound through our ongoing transformation into a leading digital and data-driven platform of financial solutions for underserved consumers.

Speaker #3: In 2025, across all of our brands, we served over three and a half million customers. Over the past eight months, my optimism about what's possible and the opportunity in front of us has only grown.

Fahmi Karam: Over the past 8 months, my optimism about what's possible and the opportunity in front of us has only grown. Our team's dedication and shared vision have driven key achievements that we believe strongly position Upbound for continued success and long-term growth. During 2025, we expanded our business by adding a new segment, Brigit, a leading subscription-based financial health technology company, further diversifying our complementary offerings and strengthening our ability to serve our core customer. In addition, we welcomed two accomplished executives to our leadership team. I'll start with Hal, our new CFO, who is on his first Upbound earnings call with us this morning. Hal brings extensive experience to the CFO role and is a member of our executive team, including over 30 years in consumer-based banking, financial services, leasing, retail, consulting, and government service.

Speaker #3: Our team's dedication and shared vision have driven key achievements that we believe strongly position Upbound for continued success and long-term growth. During 2025, we expanded our business by adding a new segment, Bridget.

Speaker #3: A leading subscription-based financial health technology company, further diversifying our complementary offerings and strengthening our ability to serve our core customer. In addition, we welcome two accomplished executives to our leadership team.

Fahmi Karam: In addition, we welcomed two accomplished executives to our leadership team. I'll start with Hal, our new CFO, who is on his first Upbound earnings call with us this morning. Hal brings extensive experience to the CFO role and is a member of our executive team, including over 30 years in consumer-based banking, financial services, leasing, retail, consulting, and government service.

Speaker #3: I'll start with Hal, our new CFO who is on his first Upbound earnings call with us this morning. Hal brings extensive experience to the CFO role and is a member of our executive team, including over 30 years in consumer-based banking, financial services, leasing, retail, consulting, and government service.

Speaker #3: I'll let Hal introduce himself shortly, but I'll add that his insights and strategic vision have already proven valuable to our organization. We also welcomed Rebecca Wooders as our Chief Growth Officer, a newly created role for Upbound.

Fahmi Karam: I'll let Hal introduce himself shortly, but I'll add that his insights and strategic vision have already proven valuable to our organization. We also welcomed Rebecca Wooters as our Chief Growth Officer, a newly created role for Upbound. As mentioned during our last earnings call, Rebecca's role integrates under one team, key strategic functions for our organization. Rebecca will lead digital transformation and initiatives and implement data-driven solutions across all three major segments of the company, promoting growth, innovation, and synergy within our omnichannel model. We have confidence in Rebecca and her team to deliver both short-term and long-term value as we continue to invest in digital products, personalized marketing, customer experience, and leveraging data as intelligence throughout our organization.

Speaker #3: As mentioned during our last earnings call, Rebecca's role integrates, under one team, key strategic functions for our organization. Rebecca will lead digital transformation and initiatives, and implement data-driven solutions across all three major segments of the company, promoting growth, innovation, and synergy within our omnichannel model.

Fahmi Karam: Rebecca will lead digital transformation and initiatives and implement data-driven solutions across all three major segments of the company, promoting growth, innovation, and synergy within our omnichannel model. We have confidence in Rebecca and her team to deliver both short-term and long-term value as we continue to invest in digital products, personalized marketing, customer experience, and leveraging data as intelligence throughout our organization.

Speaker #3: We have confidence in Rebecca and her team to deliver both short-term and long-term value as we continue to invest in digital products, personalized marketing, customer experience, and leveraging data as intelligence throughout our organization.

Speaker #3: Adding these experienced leaders to our already strong management team with years of operating experience inside of our brands, I believe is a powerful combination that positions Upbound for long-term value creation.

Fahmi Karam: Adding these experienced leaders to our already strong management team with years of operating experience inside of our brands, I believe, is a powerful combination that positions Upbound for long-term value creation. While these key additions help to build the foundation for growth in the years ahead, we also delivered strong operational and financial performance last year, achieving results within our expectations that we shared at the beginning of 2025. Now, let's dive deeper into some of the achievements across the enterprise that made 2025 successful. We are proud of the progress we have made executing on our focus areas during the year as we continue to invest in serving our customers with innovative solutions. In January of 2025, we welcomed a new high-growth business into our ecosystem through the successful closing of the Brigit acquisition.

Speaker #3: While these key additions help to build the foundation for growth in the years ahead, we also delivered strong operational and financial performance last year, achieving results within our expectations that we shared at the beginning of 2025.

Speaker #3: Now let's dive deeper into some of the achievements across the enterprise that made 2025 successful. We are proud of the progress we have made executing on our focus areas during the year, as we continue to invest in serving our customers with innovative solutions.

Speaker #3: In January of 2025, we welcomed a new high-growth business into our ecosystem through the successful closing of the Bridget acquisition. This milestone marked the beginning of an exciting combination whose value became increasingly evident throughout Bridget. We were impressed by the team's vision, culture, and technical expertise for developing relevant digital financial products that help users build a brighter financial future.

Fahmi Karam: This milestone marked the beginning of an exciting combination whose value became increasingly evident throughout the year. From our very first conversations with Brigit, we were impressed by the team's vision, culture, and technical expertise for developing relevant digital financial products that help users build a brighter financial future, a mission that closely aligns with Upbound's.... With a relatively small team, Brigit has already achieved remarkable growth and delivered significant value to its users. As we evaluated the acquisition, confidence grew in the potential to unlock even greater value by combining Brigit's technology and rapidly expanding user base with Upbound scale and similar target consumer, to meet a wider range of financial needs for underserved consumers and evolve our business in a changing competitive landscape. I'm pleased to 2025, Brigit's performance validated our enthusiasm for the growth opportunities from the transaction.

Speaker #3: A mission that closely aligns with Upbound's. With a relatively small team, Bridget has already achieved remarkable growth and delivered significant value to its users.

Speaker #3: As we evaluated the acquisition, confidence grew in the potential to unlock even greater value by combining Bridget's technology and rapidly expanding user base with Upbound's scale and similar target consumer to meet a wider range of financial needs for underserved consumers and evolve our business in a changing competitive landscape.

Fahmi Karam: As we evaluated the acquisition, confidence grew in the potential to unlock even greater value by combining Brigit's technology and rapidly expanding user base with Upbound scale and similar target consumer, to meet a wider range of financial needs for underserved consumers and evolve our business in a changing competitive landscape. I'm pleased to 2025, Brigit's performance validated our enthusiasm for the growth opportunities from the transaction.

Speaker #3: I'm pleased to. 2025, Bridget's performance validated our enthusiasm for the growth opportunities from the transaction. When introducing Bridget in the first quarter of 2025, we outlined three strategic priorities for the year.

Fahmi Karam: When introducing Brigit in Q1 of 2025, we outlined three strategic priorities for the year: maintaining growth momentum, launching new products, and cross-marketing collaboration with our Upbound brands that already serve millions of customers each year. Brigit demonstrated momentum throughout the year, with sequential improvements in year-over-year revenue growth each quarter. Top-line performance was fueled by an increase in new users and higher average revenue per user, stemming from greater expedited transfer revenue for our earned wage access product, deeper engagement with Brigit Marketplace offers, and continued upsell from Brigit's Plus membership to its premium tier membership, demonstrating the value provided to customers by Brigit's range of products and price points. Brigit also made strides in developing new products, notably piloting a line of credit offering in late 2025.

Speaker #3: Maintaining growth momentum, launching new products, and cross-marketing collaboration with our Upbound brands that already serve millions of customers each year. Bridget demonstrated momentum throughout the year with sequential improvements in year-over-year revenue growth each quarter.

Speaker #3: Top-line performance was fueled by an increase in new users and higher average revenue per user, stemming from greater expedited transfer revenue for our earned wage access product, deeper engagement with Bridget Marketplace offers, and continued upsell from Bridget's Plus membership to its premium tier membership, demonstrating the value provided to customers by Bridget's range of products and price points.

Fahmi Karam: Top-line performance was fueled by an increase in new users and higher average revenue per user, stemming from greater expedited transfer revenue for our earned wage access product, deeper engagement with Brigit Marketplace offers, and continued upsell from Brigit's Plus membership to its premium tier membership, demonstrating the value provided to customers by Brigit's range of products and price points. Brigit also made strides in developing new products, notably piloting a line of credit offering in late 2025.

Speaker #3: Bridget also made strides in developing new products, notably piloting a line of credit offering in late 2025. This product leverages Bridget's powerful cash flow underwriting capabilities to provide qualified customers with up to $500 of liquidity for recent or upcoming purchases.

Fahmi Karam: This product leverages Brigit's powerful cash flow underwriting capabilities to provide qualified customers with up to $500 of liquidity for recent or upcoming purchases, bridging the gap between smaller-ticket BNPL offerings and larger-ticket lease-to-own solutions. The pilot has yielded promising preliminary results, and we are planning a broader rollout in 2026. Finally, Brigit launched a number of cross-selling initiatives, marketing its product to Acima and Rent-A-Center customers. These efforts included targeted email campaigns and in-store promotional material at Rent-A-Center and Acima staff locations, expanded throughout the year, and have shown promising early results. Now let's turn to Acima, where our strategic priorities for 2025 included driving repeat business through an even greater focus on the customer and leveraging digital advancements to grow merchant relationships.

Speaker #3: Bridging the gap between smaller ticket BNPL offerings and larger ticket lease-to-own solutions. The pilot has yielded promising preliminary results, and we are planning a broader rollout in 2026.

Speaker #3: Finally, Bridget launched a number of cross-selling initiatives, marketing its product to a SEMA and Rent-A-Center customers. These efforts included targeted email campaigns and in-store promotional material at Rent-A-Center and a SEMA staff locations, expanded throughout the year, and have shown promising early results.

Fahmi Karam: These efforts included targeted email campaigns and in-store promotional material at Rent-A-Center and Acima staff locations, expanded throughout the year, and have shown promising early results. Now let's turn to Acima, where our strategic priorities for 2025 included driving repeat business through an even greater focus on the customer and leveraging digital advancements to grow merchant relationships.

Speaker #3: Now let's turn to ASEMA, where our strategic priorities for 2025 included driving repeat business through an even greater focus on the customer and leveraging digital advancements to grow merchant relationships.

Speaker #3: In 2025, the team successfully delivered on these priorities, which resulted in revenue and adjusted EBITDA growing low double digits and adjusted EBITDA margins improving 10 basis points year over year despite a tougher macro environment that saw demand pressure and elevated losses in the second half of the year.

Fahmi Karam: In 2025, the team successfully delivered on these priorities, which resulted in revenue and Adjusted EBITDA growing low double digits and Adjusted EBITDA margins improving 10 basis points year-over-year, despite a tougher macro environment that saw demand pressure and elevated losses in the second half of the year. Acima demonstrated the power of its customer focus through the expansion of its direct-to-consumer marketplace. Over the years, Acima has built connections with millions of customers by facilitating transactions at more than 35,000 merchant locations nationwide. Increasingly, and especially over the past year, Acima's innovative team is leveraging these relationships and data to empower its customers with additional choice and flexibility. Through its direct-to-consumer channels, Acima enables customers to start new leasing experiences with top national retailers or at virtually any durable goods retailer across the country using the Acima Virtual Lease Card.

Speaker #3: A SEMA demonstrated the power of its customer focus through the expansion of its direct-to-consumer marketplace. Over the years, a SEMA has built connections with millions of customers by facilitating transactions at more than 35,000 merchant locations nationwide.

Fahmi Karam: Over the years, Acima has built connections with millions of customers by facilitating transactions at more than 35,000 merchant locations nationwide. Increasingly, and especially over the past year, Acima's innovative team is leveraging these relationships and data to empower its customers with additional choice and flexibility. Through its direct-to-consumer channels, Acima enables customers to start new leasing experiences with top national retailers or at virtually any durable goods retailer across the country using the Acima Virtual Lease Card.

Speaker #3: Increasingly, and especially over the past year, a SEMA's innovative team is leveraging these relationships and data to empower its customers with additional choice and flexibility.

Speaker #3: Through its direct-to-consumer channels, a SEMA enables customers to start new leasing experiences with top national retailers, who have or at virtually any durable goods retailer across the country using the a SEMA Virtual Lease Card.

Speaker #3: At the beginning of 2025, SEMA's direct-to-consumer marketplace represented a small but promising addition to SEMA's established channels. By the end of 2025, the marketplace had experienced substantial growth, with GMV growing more than 100% year over year in 2025.

Fahmi Karam: At the beginning of 2025, Acima's direct-to-consumer marketplace represented a small but promising addition to Acima's established channels. By the end of 2025, the marketplace had experienced substantial growth, with GMV growing more than 100% year-over-year in 2025. The marketplace now accounts for nearly 10% of Acima's GMV and continues to be a strategic focus as we enter 2026. Its ability to strengthen relationships with existing customers and to provide the ability to shop at a broader range of top retailers, including those without integrated lease-to-own solutions, makes the marketplace a valuable asset for driving repeat business, increasing the lifetime value of Acima customers, and driving incremental revenue opportunities for our retailers. Moving on to Rent-A-Center. Throughout 2025, the segment concentrated on digital evolution and disciplined underwriting.

Speaker #3: The marketplace now accounts for nearly 10% of a SEMA's GMV and continues to be a strategic focus as we enter 2026. Its ability to strengthen relationships with existing customers and to provide the ability to shop at a broader range of top retailers including those without integrated lease-to-own solutions makes the marketplace a valuable asset for driving repeat business, increasing the lifetime value of a SEMA customers, and driving incremental revenue opportunities for our retailers.

Fahmi Karam: Its ability to strengthen relationships with existing customers and to provide the ability to shop at a broader range of top retailers, including those without integrated lease-to-own solutions, makes the marketplace a valuable asset for driving repeat business, increasing the lifetime value of Acima customers, and driving incremental revenue opportunities for our retailers. Moving on to Rent-A-Center. Throughout 2025, the segment concentrated on digital evolution and disciplined underwriting.

Speaker #3: Moving on to Rent-A-Center. Throughout 2025, the segment concentrated on digital evolution and disciplined underwriting. The segment made significant progress in elevating the customer experience and strengthening its digital presence, including upgrading the infrastructure of the Rent-A-Center.com website to improve its scalability and reliability as a segment continues to focus on growing its e-commerce channel.

Fahmi Karam: The segment made significant progress in elevating the customer experience and strengthening its digital presence, including upgrading the infrastructure of the rentacenter.com website to improve its scalability and reliability as the segment continues to focus on growing its e-commerce channel. In addition, the Rent-A-Center team developed new tools to improve the approval process for certain applicants who might not meet our more stringent online underwriting criteria. The website now invites these select online applicants, who may previously have been declined, to visit their nearest store to complete the process in person. This approach exemplifies Rent-A-Center's ability to harness both expanding digital channels and its robust retail footprint to drive customer acquisition. By balancing digital innovation with the strength of its physical locations, Rent-A-Center is well-positioned to identify and capitalize on further synergies between channels, which will be critical to the segment's growth moving forward.

Speaker #3: In addition, the Rent-A-Center team developed new tools to improve the approval process for certain applicants who might not meet our more stringent online underwriting criteria.

Speaker #3: The website now invites these select online applicants who may previously have been declined to visit their nearest store to complete the process in person.

Fahmi Karam: The website now invites these select online applicants, who may previously have been declined, to visit their nearest store to complete the process in person. This approach exemplifies Rent-A-Center's ability to harness both expanding digital channels and its robust retail footprint to drive customer acquisition. By balancing digital innovation with the strength of its physical locations, Rent-A-Center is well-positioned to identify and capitalize on further synergies between channels, which will be critical to the segment's growth moving forward.

Speaker #3: This approach exemplifies Rent-A-Center's ability to harness both expanding digital channels and its robust retail footprint to drive customer acquisition. By balancing digital innovation with the strength of its physical locations, Rent-A-Center is well positioned to identify and capitalize on further synergies between channels, which will be critical to the segment's growth moving forward.

Speaker #3: Enhancements to Rent-A-Center's referrer-friend campaign, the revitalization of its loyalty reward program, and successful marketing efforts that drove strong customer demand in the second half of the year all provided additional support to top-line performance.

Fahmi Karam: Enhancements to Rent-A-Center's Refer a Friend campaign, the revitalization of its loyalty reward program, and successful marketing efforts that drove strong customer demand in the second half of the year, all provided additional support to top-line performance, reinforcing Rent-A-Center's commitment to new customer acquisition, customer engagement, and retention. As a result of these efforts, Rent-A-Center's trends improved through the second half of the year, and the segment finished 2025 with year-over-year same-store sales growth in Q4 of 80 basis points, improving 440 basis points sequentially, paving the way for a sustainable path as we enter the new year. Now let's go to slides 5 and 6 and recap how these achievements across our enterprise drove strong consolidated financial results.

Speaker #3: Reinforcing Rent-A-Center's commitment to new customer acquisition, customer engagement, and retention. As a result of these efforts, Rent-A-Center's trends improved through the second half of the year, and the segment finished 2025 with year-over-year same-store sales growth in the fourth quarter of 80 basis points.

Fahmi Karam: As a result of these efforts, Rent-A-Center's trends improved through the second half of the year, and the segment finished 2025 with year-over-year same-store sales growth in Q4 of 80 basis points, improving 440 basis points sequentially, paving the way for a sustainable path as we enter the new year. Now let's go to slides 5 and 6 and recap how these achievements across our enterprise drove strong consolidated financial results.

Speaker #3: Improving 440 basis points sequentially, paving the way for a sustainable path as we enter the new year. Now let's go to slides 5 and 6 and recap how these achievements across our enterprise drove strong consolidated financial results.

Speaker #3: I am pleased to share that our full-year financial results exceeded the midpoint for each of the figures we provided on our third-quarter call. Our revenue grew 8.7% to approximately $4.7 billion, representing the highest full-year revenue on record for upbound, surpassing the previous record in fiscal year 2021, which, of course, benefited from stimulus and the pandemic-related pull forward in the furniture sector.

Fahmi Karam: I am pleased to share that our full year financial results exceeded the midpoint for each of the figures we provided on our Q3 call. Our revenue grew 8.7% to approximately $4.7 billion, representing the highest full-year revenue on record for Upbound, surpassing the previous record in fiscal year 2021, which of course, benefited from stimulus and the pandemic-related pull forward in the furniture sector. Adjusted EBITDA for the year was nearly $510 billion, which was up 7.5% from the prior year. Our non-GAAP diluted EPS was $4.13, compared to $3.83 in 2024, a 7.8% improvement and near the high end of our guidance last quarter.

Speaker #3: Adjusted EBITDA for the year was nearly $510 million, which was up 7.5% from the prior year. Our non-GAAP diluted EPS was $4.13 compared to $3.83 in 2024, a 7.8% improvement and near the high end of our guidance last quarter.

Fahmi Karam: Adjusted EBITDA for the year was nearly $510 billion, which was up 7.5% from the prior year. Our non-GAAP diluted EPS was $4.13, compared to $3.83 in 2024, a 7.8% improvement and near the high end of our guidance last quarter.

Speaker #3: Finally, our cash flow generation was particularly strong in 2025, with free cash flow of $180 million increasing over $130 million year over year, and net cash provided by operating activities increasing over $200 million to approximately $306 million, the highest full-year figure since 2022.

Fahmi Karam: Finally, our cash flow generation was particularly strong in 2025, with free cash flow of $180 million, increasing over $130 million year-over-year, and net cash provided by operating activities increasing over $200 million to approximately $306 million, the highest full year figure since 2022. Year-over-year improvement was due in part to the benefits associated with tax legislation, allowing for accelerated recognition of tax depreciation. Turning to the Q4 on slide 7, consolidated revenue was $1.2 billion, a 10.9% increase from a year-ago period, driven primarily by the addition of the Brigit segment, in addition to 8.6% year-over-year revenue growth at Acima.

Speaker #3: Year-over-year improvement was due in part to the benefits associated with tax legislation allowing for accelerated recognition of tax depreciation. Turning to the fourth quarter on slide 7, consolidated revenue was $1.2 billion, a 10.9% increase from a year-ago period, driven primarily by the addition of the Bridget segment in addition to $8.6% year-over-year revenue growth at a SEMA.

Fahmi Karam: Year-over-year improvement was due in part to the benefits associated with tax legislation, allowing for accelerated recognition of tax depreciation. Turning to the Q4 on slide 7, consolidated revenue was $1.2 billion, a 10.9% increase from a year-ago period, driven primarily by the addition of the Brigit segment, in addition to 8.6% year-over-year revenue growth at Acima.

Speaker #3: Upbound delivered $126 million of adjusted EBITDA, which was a lift of 2.6% year-over-year, and adjusted EBITDA margins of 10.5%, down 90 basis points from last year.

Fahmi Karam: Upbound delivered $126 million of Adjusted EBITDA, which was a lift of 2.6% year-over-year, and Adjusted EBITDA margins of 10.5%, down 90 basis points from last year. Non-GAAP Diluted EPS was $1.01, down 4% from the year-ago quarter. Overall, I'm pleased with the financial and operational performance that our team delivered in 2025. Throughout the year, in addition to completing a transformational acquisition, the company executed on key priorities while also proactively implementing targeted risk management adjustments for the increasing pressures that our consumers face. Our core consumer continues to navigate a challenging environment, including the cumulative effects of inflation and elevated prices for essentials like groceries, rent, and utilities, which weigh on their purchasing power and wages that have not kept pace with their cost of living.

Speaker #3: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.01, down 4% from the year-ago quarter. Overall, I'm pleased with the financial and operational performance that our team delivered in 2025.

Speaker #3: Throughout the year, in addition to completing a transformational acquisition, the company executed on key priorities while also proactively implementing targeted risk management adjustments for the increasing pressures that our consumers face.

Fahmi Karam: Throughout the year, in addition to completing a transformational acquisition, the company executed on key priorities while also proactively implementing targeted risk management adjustments for the increasing pressures that our consumers face. Our core consumer continues to navigate a challenging environment, including the cumulative effects of inflation and elevated prices for essentials like groceries, rent, and utilities, which weigh on their purchasing power and wages that have not kept pace with their cost of living.

Speaker #3: Our core consumer continues to navigate a challenging environment, including the cumulative effects of inflation and elevated prices for essentials like groceries, rent, and utilities, which weigh on their purchasing power, and wages that have not kept up pace with their cost of living.

Speaker #3: Both of our lease-to-own segments took actions to reflect the evolving macroeconomic landscape and we are pleased with the outcome of these efforts and the health of our portfolio entering 2026.

Fahmi Karam: Both of our lease-to-own segments took actions to reflect the evolving macroeconomic landscape, and we are pleased with the outcome of these efforts and the health of our portfolio entering 2026. At Brigit, as I mentioned, the segment's growth in 2025 has further demonstrated the growth potential we anticipated when we acquired the business a little over a year ago, and its opportunities for additional expansion make us excited for the future. On that note, as we look ahead to 2026, our priorities remain focused on positioning Upbound for sustainable, profitable growth as we continue to execute our strategic transformation. We will continue investing in our people, data, and technology, including advanced analytics and AI capabilities, to better serve our customers and merchants while strengthening our competitive advantages.

Speaker #3: At Bridget, as I mentioned, the segment's growth in 2025 has further demonstrated the growth potential we anticipated when we acquired the business a little over a year ago.

Speaker #3: And its opportunities for additional expansion make us excited for the future. On that note, as we look ahead to 2026, our priorities remain focused on positioning upbound for sustainable, profitable growth as we continue to execute our strategic transformation.

Fahmi Karam: On that note, as we look ahead to 2026, our priorities remain focused on positioning Upbound for sustainable, profitable growth as we continue to execute our strategic transformation. We will continue investing in our people, data, and technology, including advanced analytics and AI capabilities, to better serve our customers and merchants while strengthening our competitive advantages.

Speaker #3: We will continue investing in our people, data, and technology, including advanced analytics and AI capabilities, to better serve our customers and merchants while strengthening our competitive advantages.

Speaker #3: By leveraging our proprietary data more effectively, we aim to deepen customer personalization, improve satisfaction and retention, drive repeat business, and realize the full benefits of our scale, while pursuing increased cross-sell opportunities across our platform of brands.

Fahmi Karam: By leveraging our proprietary data more effectively, we aim to deepen customer personalization, improve satisfaction and retention, drive repeat business, and realize the full benefits of our scale while pursuing increased cross-sell opportunities across our platform of brands. These efforts will also support continued enhancements to underwriting, allowing us to optimize risk-adjusted returns against our targets. We also remain focused on operational excellence by leveraging technology and the core competencies of each of our brands, taking proven best practices and scaling them across the organization. In parallel, we are driving targeted efficiency and cost initiatives, including enhancing coworker efficiency across store operations and customer service, while simplifying processes to favorably impact the overall cost of doing business. We believe these efforts will improve execution, scalability, and discipline across the enterprise while supporting margins and long-term value creation.

Speaker #3: These efforts will also support continued enhancements to underwriting, allowing us to optimize risk-adjusted returns against our targets. We also remain focused on operational excellence by leveraging technology in the core competencies of each of our brands, taking proven best practices and scaling them across the organization.

Fahmi Karam: We also remain focused on operational excellence by leveraging technology and the core competencies of each of our brands, taking proven best practices and scaling them across the organization. In parallel, we are driving targeted efficiency and cost initiatives, including enhancing coworker efficiency across store operations and customer service, while simplifying processes to favorably impact the overall cost of doing business. We believe these efforts will improve execution, scalability, and discipline across the enterprise while supporting margins and long-term value creation.

Speaker #3: In parallel, we are driving targeted efficiency and cost initiatives, including enhancing coworker efficiency across store operations and customer service while simplifying processes to favorably impact the overall cost of doing business.

Speaker #3: We believe these efforts will improve execution, scalability, and discipline across the enterprise, while supporting margins and long-term value creation. Over the last few months, as I've transitioned into my new role, I've had the opportunity to assess our business across various key aspects, focused on serving our customers, growth opportunities, risk management, and synergies between the brands.

Fahmi Karam: Over the last few months, as I've transitioned into my new role, I've had the opportunity to assess our business across various key aspects, focused on serving our customers, growth opportunities, risk management, and synergies between the brands. While our overall strategic vision and focus areas will remain fairly consistent, we are in the early stages of our transformation and must continue to evolve to the ever-changing business environment. I'm excited about the opportunities in front of us, and together with our new and existing leaders, I'm even more confident in our ability to execute on our strategic goals. Our goals for the long term are clear: deliver responsible and profitable growth through disciplined risk management, while pursuing operational excellence through data and technology, and effectively manage capital to ensure appropriate returns. With that, I'll hand it over to Hal to cover the financials in more detail.

Speaker #3: While our overall strategic vision and focus areas will remain fairly consistent, we are in the early stages of our transformation and must continue to evolve to the ever-changing business environment.

Speaker #3: I'm excited about the opportunities in front of us, and together with our new and existing leaders, I'm even more confident in our ability to execute on our strategic goals.

Fahmi Karam: I'm excited about the opportunities in front of us, and together with our new and existing leaders, I'm even more confident in our ability to execute on our strategic goals. Our goals for the long term are clear: deliver responsible and profitable growth through disciplined risk management, while pursuing operational excellence through data and technology, and effectively manage capital to ensure appropriate returns. With that, I'll hand it over to Hal to cover the financials in more detail.

Speaker #3: Our goals for the long term are clear. Deliver a responsible and profitable growth through disciplined risk management while pursuing operational excellence through data and technology, and effectively manage capital to ensure appropriate returns.

Speaker #3: With that, I'll hand it over to Hal to cover the financials in more detail.

Speaker #2: Thank you, Sammy. And good morning, everyone. Before reviewing segment results, I'd like to start by expressing how excited I am to be joining the upbound organization as the company's CFO and the opportunity to be part of its future success.

Hal Khouri: Thank you, Sammy, and good morning, everyone. Before reviewing segment results, I'd like to start by expressing how excited I am to be joining the Upbound organization as the company's CFO and the opportunity to be part of its future success. I joined Upbound in November, drawn by the company's durable foundation and scale, paired with its compelling growth profile. I am confident that together we are poised for exceptional times ahead. Let's now turn to a review of the segment results and then discuss our outlook for fiscal year 2026, after which we will take questions. Starting on Slide 9, Acima recorded another quarter of GMV growth in the fourth quarter, an increase of approximately 40 basis points year-over-year. At nearly $550 million, fourth quarter GMV was the highest it's been since we added Acima five years ago.

Speaker #2: I joined upbound in November, drawn by the company's durable foundation and scale, paired with its compelling growth profile. I am confident that together we are poised for exceptional times ahead.

Hal Khouri: I am confident that together we are poised for exceptional times ahead. Let's now turn to a review of the segment results and then discuss our outlook for fiscal year 2026, after which we will take questions. Starting on Slide 9, Acima recorded another quarter of GMV growth in the fourth quarter, an increase of approximately 40 basis points year-over-year. At nearly $550 million, fourth quarter GMV was the highest it's been since we added Acima five years ago.

Speaker #2: Let's now turn to a review of the segment results and then discuss our outlook for fiscal year 2026, after which we will take questions.

Speaker #2: Starting on slide 9, a SEMA recorded another quarter of GMV growth in the fourth quarter. An increase of approximately 40 basis points year over year.

Speaker #2: At nearly $550 million, fourth-quarter GMV was the highest it's been since we added a SEMA five years ago. A SEMA's continued growth is due to a few factors, including the performance that's marketplace as Sammy mentioned earlier, in addition to its exceptional sales force continuously onboarding new retailers and servicing existing retailers.

Hal Khouri: Acima's continued growth is due to a few factors, including the performance of its marketplace, as Fahmi mentioned earlier, in addition to its exceptional sales force continuously onboarding new retailers and servicing existing retailers. Furthermore, we continue to diversify our product lineup with furniture, our largest product category, representing approximately 40% of rental revenue in the fourth quarter, compared to 43% in the prior year period. Acima revenue grew 8.6% year-over-year, which was its ninth consecutive quarter of revenue growth, and adjusted EBITDA, $87 million, was up 7.3% from a year ago. EBITDA margins were down 10 basis points from Q4 of 2024. However, they were up 180 basis points compared to the prior quarter.

Speaker #2: Furthermore, we continue to diversify our product lineup, with furniture, our largest product category, representing approximately 40% of rental revenue in the fourth quarter, compared to 43% in the prior year period.

Hal Khouri: Acima revenue grew 8.6% year-over-year, which was its ninth consecutive quarter of revenue growth, and adjusted EBITDA, $87 million, was up 7.3% from a year ago. EBITDA margins were down 10 basis points from Q4 of 2024. However, they were up 180 basis points compared to the prior quarter.

Speaker #2: SEMA revenue grew 8.6% year over year, which was its ninth consecutive quarter of revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA 87 million, was up 7.3% from a year ago.

Speaker #2: EBITDA margins were down 10 basis points from Q4 of 2024. However, they were up 180 basis points compared to the prior quarter. The SEMA's loss rate of 10.1% for the fourth quarter was up 110 basis points year over year and up 40 basis points sequentially.

Hal Khouri: Acima's loss rate of 10.1% for Q4 was up 110 basis points year-over-year and up 40 basis points sequentially. While Acima's losses finished the year elevated relative to recent levels and our targeted longer-term range, our Q4 loss rate was consistent with the guidance we had shared during our Q3 call, where we discussed how certain challenging vintages underwritten earlier in 2025 would temporarily impact Acima losses as they flowed through the portfolio. Key performance indicators, including early payment and delinquency trends, give us confidence that the adjustments we've made will drive loss rate improvements from here. I'll cover our expectations for 2026 in more detail shortly. Let's move to Slide 10 and review Brigit's results for Q4.

Speaker #2: While the SEMA's losses finished the year elevated relative to recent levels and our targeted longer-term range, our fourth-quarter loss rate was consistent with the guidance we had shared during our third-quarter call, where we discussed how certain challenging vintages underwritten earlier in 2025 would temporarily impact the SEMA losses as they flowed through the portfolio.

Hal Khouri: Key performance indicators, including early payment and delinquency trends, give us confidence that the adjustments we've made will drive loss rate improvements from here. I'll cover our expectations for 2026 in more detail shortly. Let's move to Slide 10 and review Brigit's results for Q4.

Speaker #2: Key performance indicators, including early payment and delinquency trends, given us confidence that the adjustments we've made will drive loss rate improvements from here. I'll cover expectations for 2026 in more detail shortly.

Speaker #2: Let's move to slide 10 and review Bridget's results for the fourth quarter. Bridget finished the quarter with approximately 1.6 million paid subscribers. Which was a nearly 30% increase from the year-ago period and a 7.4% increase sequentially.

Hal Khouri: Brigit finished the quarter with approximately 1.6 million paid subscribers, which was a nearly 30% increase from the year ago period, and a 7.4% increase sequentially. ARPU, or Average Revenue Per User, was $14.15 on a monthly basis, and nearly 10% increase from the fourth quarter in 2024, and a 3% lift sequentially. Brigit originated approximately $405 million in cash advances in the fourth quarter. That's up 19% year-over-year and nearly 4% sequentially, reflecting the value that consumers are discovering with not only the product offerings, but also the transparent subscription-based pricing model.

Speaker #2: HARPU, or average revenue per user, was $14.15 on a monthly basis, a nearly 10% increase from the fourth quarter in 2024 and a 3% lift sequentially.

Speaker #2: Bridget originated approximately $405 million in cash advances in the fourth quarter. That's up 19% year over year and nearly 4% sequentially. Reflecting the value that consumers are discovering with not only the product offerings, but also the transparent subscription-based pricing model.

Hal Khouri: That's up 19% year-over-year and nearly 4% sequentially, reflecting the value that consumers are discovering with not only the product offerings, but also the transparent subscription-based pricing model.

Speaker #2: For the fourth quarter, Bridget's instant cash loss rate was 3.5%, which was up 70 basis points from the year-ago period, primarily due to expansion into new, profitable user segments and the impact of a consumer that remains under pressure.

Hal Khouri: For the Q4, Brigit's instant cash loss rate was 3.5%, which was up 70 basis points from the year ago period, primarily due to expansion into new, profitable user segments and the impact of a consumer that remains under pressure. Brigit recorded $64.6 million of revenue for the Q4, which represents an increase of 41.5% from the year ago quarter. Subscriptions were 68% of Brigit's Q4 revenue, with expedited transfer fees and marketplace income representing the balance. Brigit Adjusted EBITDA was $11.1 million for the Q4, representing an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.2%, an increase of 110 basis points sequentially. Let's move to the Rent-A-Center results, starting on page 11.

Speaker #2: Bridget recorded 64.6 million of revenue for the fourth quarter, which represents an increase of 41.5% from the year-ago quarter. Subscriptions were 68% of Bridget's fourth-quarter revenue, with expedited transfer fees and marketplace income representing the balance.

Speaker #2: Bridget adjusted EBITDA was $11.1 million for the fourth quarter, representing an adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.2%, an increase of 110 basis points sequentially. Let's move to the Rent-A-Center results, starting on page 11.

Speaker #2: As you'll recall, in late 2024, Rent-A-Center tightened underwriting standards while strategically limiting certain product categories that typically experience higher risk metrics in challenging environments.

Hal Khouri: As you'll recall, in late 2024, Rent-A-Center tightened underwriting standards while strategically limiting certain product categories that typically experience higher risk metrics in challenging environments. While these changes weighed on top-line performance in 2025, especially in the first half of the year, the segment proved its resiliency and the success of these adjustments in the second half of the year. In Q3, we guided that same-store sales would return to flat to positive in Q4, and we're pleased that the team achieved this goal. Same-store sales increased 80 basis points in Q4, which was the first positive quarter of same-store sales since 2024. Rent-A-Center recorded nearly $480 million of revenue in Q4, which was flat compared to the year-ago quarter, an improvement of 4.7% year-over-year, decrease in Q3.

Speaker #2: While these changes weighed on top-line performance in 2025, especially in the first half of the year, the segment proved its resiliency and the success of these adjustments in the second half of the year.

Speaker #2: In the third quarter, we guided that same source sales would return to flat to positive in the fourth quarter, and we're pleased that the team achieved this goal.

Hal Khouri: In Q3, we guided that same-store sales would return to flat to positive in Q4, and we're pleased that the team achieved this goal. Same-store sales increased 80 basis points in Q4, which was the first positive quarter of same-store sales since 2024. Rent-A-Center recorded nearly $480 million of revenue in Q4, which was flat compared to the year-ago quarter, an improvement of 4.7% year-over-year, decrease in Q3.

Speaker #2: Same store sales increased 80 basis points in the fourth quarter, which was the first positive quarter of same store sales since 2024. Rent-A-Center recorded nearly $480 million of revenue in the fourth quarter, which was flat compared to the year-ago quarter and an improvement over the 4.7% year-over-year decrease in the third quarter.

Speaker #2: Ultimately, those adjustments from late 2024 helped manage rent-to-center's loss rate. Which improved year over year in both the third and the fourth quarters as a portfolio flowed through.

Hal Khouri: Ultimately, those adjustments from late 2024 helped manage Rent-A-Center's loss rate, which improved year-over-year in both Q3 and Q4 as the portfolio flowed through. The loss rate for Q4 finished at 4.9%, down 10 basis points from the year-ago period, in line with the guidance given on our prior call. Rent-A-Center's Adjusted EBITDA was $69.2 million, down approximately 13% from Q4 2024. While Rent-A-Center's Adjusted EBITDA margin was 14.4%, down 230 basis points year-over-year, due primarily to the impact of certain expense benefits that positively impacted operating expenses in the prior year period. For Rent-A-Center, 2025 represented a year of stabilization that sets the segment on a promising path moving forward. Next, let's cover our liquidity and capital allocation priorities on Slide 12.

Speaker #2: The loss rate for the fourth quarter finished at 4.9%, down 10 basis points from the year-ago period, in line with the guidance given on our prior call.

Speaker #2: Rent-to-center's adjusted EBITDA was 69.2 million, down approximately 13% from the fourth quarter of 2024. While rent-to-center's adjusted EBITDA margin was 14.4%, down 230 basis points year over year, due primarily to the impact of certain expense benefits that positively impacted operating expenses in the prior year period.

Hal Khouri: While Rent-A-Center's Adjusted EBITDA margin was 14.4%, down 230 basis points year-over-year, due primarily to the impact of certain expense benefits that positively impacted operating expenses in the prior year period. For Rent-A-Center, 2025 represented a year of stabilization that sets the segment on a promising path moving forward. Next, let's cover our liquidity and capital allocation priorities on Slide 12.

Speaker #2: For Rent-to-Center, 2025 represented a year of stabilization that sets the segment on a promising path moving forward. Next, let's cover our liquidity and capital allocation priorities on slide 12.

Speaker #2: Our business has a proven and long track record of delivering strong adjusted EBITDA to cash flow conversion. In recent years, accelerating growth at a SEMA produced a ramp-up in networking capital requirements, which temporarily put a strain on free cash flow.

Hal Khouri: Our business has a proven and long track record of delivering strong Adjusted EBITDA cash flow conversion. In recent years, accelerating growth at Acima produced a ramp-up in net working capital requirements, which temporarily put a strain on free cash flow. The accelerated growth trajectory led to 2024 free cash flow landing well below historic levels. We are pleased that in 2025, our cash flow generation trended closer to historic norms, finishing the year with approximately $180 million of free cash flow, above the midpoint of our guidance. This represents an increase of $132 million year-over-year and exceeds even 2023 levels by over $30 million.

Speaker #2: The accelerated growth trajectory led to 2024 free cash flow landing well below historic levels. We are pleased that in 2025, our cash flow generation trended closer to historic norms, finishing the year with approximately $180 million of free cash flow, above the midpoint of our guidance.

Hal Khouri: We are pleased that in 2025, our cash flow generation trended closer to historic norms, finishing the year with approximately $180 million of free cash flow, above the midpoint of our guidance. This represents an increase of $132 million year-over-year and exceeds even 2023 levels by over $30 million.

Speaker #2: This represents an increase of 132 million year over year and exceeds even 2023 levels by over 30 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $306 million.

Hal Khouri: Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $306 million, an increase of over $200 million year-over-year, and due in part to benefits associated with the bonus depreciation provision and the tax legislation last year. I'll say more about our expectations for 2026 in a moment, but we anticipate cash flow to continue to improve in the year ahead. Regarding liquidity, as you'll recall, the company leveraged its balance sheet to address the upfront cash portion of the consideration for the Brigit acquisition in January 2025. This decreased the company's ABL availability and resulted in approximately $312 million of liquidity at the end of Q1. We are pleased that liquidity improved by year-end, reflecting in part the company's refinancing its Term Loan B in Q3.

Speaker #2: An increase of over $200 million year over year, and due in part to benefits associated with the bonus depreciation provision in the tax legislation last year.

Speaker #2: I'll say more about our expectations for 2026 in a moment. But we anticipate cash flow to continue to improve in the year ahead. Regarding liquidity, as you'll recall, the company leveraged its balance sheet to address the upfront cash portion of the consideration for the Bridget acquisition in January of 2025.

Hal Khouri: Regarding liquidity, as you'll recall, the company leveraged its balance sheet to address the upfront cash portion of the consideration for the Brigit acquisition in January 2025. This decreased the company's ABL availability and resulted in approximately $312 million of liquidity at the end of Q1. We are pleased that liquidity improved by year-end, reflecting in part the company's refinancing its Term Loan B in Q3.

Speaker #2: This decreased the company's ABL availability and resulted in approximately $312 million of liquidity at the end of the first quarter. We are pleased that liquidity improved by year-end, reflecting in part the company's refinancing of its Term Loan B in the third quarter.

Speaker #2: As of December 31st, between our cash on hand and revolver availability, liquidity was $358 million. Next, let's take a moment to reiterate our capital allocation priorities, which include reinvesting in the business and funding organic growth, deleveraging debt on the balance sheet, and supporting our shareholder dividend distributions.

Hal Khouri: As of 31 December, between our cash on hand and revolver availability, liquidity was $358 million. Next, let's take a moment to reiterate our capital allocation priorities, which include reinvesting in the business and funding organic growth, delevering debt on the balance sheet, and supporting our shareholder dividend distributions. The company will also consider executing opportunistic share buybacks based on market conditions and funding constraints. And while we continue to remain open to strategic corporate development opportunities as they arise, our current expectation is to focus on organic growth in the near term through our expanded portfolio of products and services across the enterprise. These remain our main priorities entering the new year, and I'll now expand on our approach to each.

Hal Khouri: The company will also consider executing opportunistic share buybacks based on market conditions and funding constraints. And while we continue to remain open to strategic corporate development opportunities as they arise, our current expectation is to focus on organic growth in the near term through our expanded portfolio of products and services across the enterprise. These remain our main priorities entering the new year, and I'll now expand on our approach to each.

Speaker #2: The company will also consider executing opportunistic share buybacks based on market conditions and funding constraints. And while we continue to remain open to strategic corporate development opportunities as they arise, our current expectation is to focus on organic growth in the near term, through our expanded portfolio of products and services across the enterprise.

Speaker #2: These remain our main priorities entering the new year and I'll now expand on our approach to each. First, in 2025, we made investments that should bolster our availability to serve our millions of customers efficiently and at an increasing scale.

Hal Khouri: First, in 2025, we made investments that should bolster our availability to serve our millions of customers efficiently and at an increasing scale, representing a meaningful growth engine for our business. This included approximately $67 million of CapEx, reflecting investment in our technological infrastructure, data modernization initiatives, and improvements to our omni-channel customer experience. As we look ahead towards 2026, we expect to continue deploying capital towards investments in our enterprise technology and digital capabilities across segments. Additionally, Upbound's robust free cash flow allows us to sustain a strong dividend alongside other business priorities. Our dividend remains integral to our strategy for returning capital to shareholders.

Speaker #2: Representing a meaningful growth engine for our business. This included approximately $67 million of capex, reflecting investment in our technological infrastructure, data modernization initiatives, and improvements to our omnichannel customer experience.

Speaker #2: As we look ahead towards 2026, we expect to continue deploying capital towards investments in our enterprise technology and digital capabilities across segments. Additionally, Upbound’s robust free cash flow allows us to sustain a strong dividend alongside other business priorities.

Speaker #2: Our dividend remains integral to our strategy for returning capital to shareholders. Turning to leverage, at year-end, our net leverage ratio was approximately 2.9 times above our leverage ratio of 2.7 times at the end of the prior year due to the acquisition of Bridget in January of 2025.

Hal Khouri: Turning to leverage, at year-end, our net leverage ratio was approximately 2.9 times above our leverage ratio of 2.7 times at the end of the prior year, due to the acquisition of Brigit in January 2025, but slightly below our recent peak of 3.3 times at the end of Q2. With higher free cash flow and adjusted EBITDA growth expected in 2026, as well as consistent focus on deleveraging, we are targeting a leverage ratio in the 2 times range over the long term, with additional progress expected throughout 2026. We're also frequently asked about share repurchases, especially given our strong cash position, free cash flow generation, and recent trading levels. Our team has evaluated share repurchases over the past few months, and while compelling, we have today opted to prioritize our commitment to leverage reduction.

Speaker #2: But slightly below our recent peak of three times at the end of the second quarter. With higher free cash flow and adjusted EBITDA growth expected in 2026, as well as consistent focus on deleveraging, we are targeting a leverage ratio in the two times range over the long term, with additional progress expected through 2026.

Hal Khouri: We're also frequently asked about share repurchases, especially given our strong cash position, free cash flow generation, and recent trading levels. Our team has evaluated share repurchases over the past few months, and while compelling, we have today opted to prioritize our commitment to leverage reduction.

Speaker #2: We're also frequently asked about share repurchases, especially given our strong cash position, free cash flow generation, and recent trading levels. Our team has evaluated share repurchases as compelling; we have to date opted to prioritize our commitment to leverage reduction.

Speaker #2: That said, we'll continue to evaluate opportunistic share repurchases in the year ahead. And it's worth noting that our expectations for leverage ratio improvement over the coming quarters should enhance the company's ability to return additional capital to shareholders, depending on other opportunities to deploy that capital.

Hal Khouri: That said, we'll continue to evaluate opportunistic share repurchases in the year ahead, and it's worth noting that our expectations for leverage ratio improvement over the coming quarters should enhance the company's ability to return additional capital to shareholders, depending on other opportunities to deploy that capital. And finally, following the Brigit acquisition and our focus on integration, we do not currently have any near-term plans for M&A. But our capital structure is flexible and will be ready at the right combination of value and strategic fit arises. Before turning to 2026 guidance, I would like to provide an update on the progress we have made regarding a number of our legal and regulatory matters. At year-end 2025, our estimated legal accrual on the balance sheet was $72 million.

Speaker #2: And finally, following the Bridget acquisition and our focus on integration, we do not currently have any near-term plans for M&A. But our capital structure is flexible and will be ready if the right combination of value and strategic fit arises.

Hal Khouri: And finally, following the Brigit acquisition and our focus on integration, we do not currently have any near-term plans for M&A. But our capital structure is flexible and will be ready at the right combination of value and strategic fit arises. Before turning to 2026 guidance, I would like to provide an update on the progress we have made regarding a number of our legal and regulatory matters. At year-end 2025, our estimated legal accrual on the balance sheet was $72 million.

Speaker #2: Before turning to 2026 guidance, I would like to provide an update on the progress we've made regarding a number of our legal and regulatory matters.

Speaker #2: At year-end 2025, our estimated legal accrual on the balance sheet was $72 million. This accrual is primarily tied to previously disclosed matters, where we are now expecting a near-term resolution and reflects what we believe are the ultimate cash amounts that we expect to pay as part of the settlement of those matters.

Hal Khouri: This accrual is primarily tied to previously disclosed matters, where we are now expecting a near-term resolution and reflects what we believe are the ultimate cash amounts that we expect to pay as part of the settlement of those matters. The McBurnie class action is awaiting a final court approval on the settlement, and for the multi-state attorneys general matter that has been ongoing since 2021, we believe we are nearing a non-binding agreement in principle with the executive committee regarding the primary monetary and injunctive terms of potential settlement. We are actively engaged in discussions with the objective of finalizing the multi-state settlement agreement in the near term, although any final binding settlement cannot be assured. Our 10-K filing will provide more details on both matters. Let's shift to our financial outlook.

Speaker #2: The McBurney Class Action is awaiting a final court approval on the settlement. And for the multi-state attorneys general matter that has been ongoing since 2021, we believe we are nearing a non-binding agreement in principle with the executive committee regarding the primary monetary and injunctive terms of potential settlement.

Speaker #2: We are actively engaged in discussions with the objective of finalizing the multi-state settlement agreement in the near term, although any final binding settlement cannot be assured.

Hal Khouri: We are actively engaged in discussions with the objective of finalizing the multi-state settlement agreement in the near term, although any final binding settlement cannot be assured. Our 10-K filing will provide more details on both matters. Let's shift to our financial outlook.

Speaker #2: Our 10-K filing will provide more details on both matters. Let's shift to our financial outlook. In this external operating environment, we expect the near to mid-term horizon will continue to be challenging and characterized by continued evolving domestic economic and monetary policies.

Hal Khouri: In this external operating environment, we expect the near- to mid-term horizon will continue to be challenging and characterized by continued evolving domestic, economic, and monetary policies, uneven macro factors that pressure our core consumer discretionary income and demand levels, but also tend to make our range of flexible financial solutions even more relevant to these consumers. This outlook also assumes a normalized tax season and maintaining our conservative underwriting posture throughout the year. At Acima, we expect continued growth and opportunity. Our team is committed to profitably expanding GMV through several avenues, including by acquiring new retail accounts through a robust business development pipeline, as well as enhancing productivity among our existing merchant base. Acima will also focus on leveraging its customer relationships and data to deepen connections while boosting engagement of lifetime value.

Speaker #2: Uneven macro factors that pressure our core consumer discretionary income and demand levels, but also tend to make our range of flexible financial solutions even more relevant to these consumers.

Speaker #2: This outlook also assumes a normalized tax season and maintaining our conservative underwriting posture throughout the year. At SEMA, we expect continued growth and opportunity.

Hal Khouri: At Acima, we expect continued growth and opportunity. Our team is committed to profitably expanding GMV through several avenues, including by acquiring new retail accounts through a robust business development pipeline, as well as enhancing productivity among our existing merchant base. Acima will also focus on leveraging its customer relationships and data to deepen connections while boosting engagement of lifetime value.

Speaker #2: Our team is committed to profitably expanding GMV through several avenues, including by acquiring new retail accounts, through a robust business development pipeline, as well as enhancing productivity amongst our existing merchant base.

Speaker #2: SEMA will also focus on leveraging its customer relationships and data to deepen connections while boosting engagement and lifetime value. We'll do this by expanding our direct-to-consumer marketplace and our virtual lease card as Fahmi described earlier.

Hal Khouri: We'll do this by expanding our direct-to-consumer marketplace and our virtual lease card, as Fahmi described earlier. Finally, Acima's loss rate is expected to benefit from continued disciplined and targeted underwriting and the flow-through of those challenging 2025 customer vintages I mentioned earlier. Taken together, we expect 2026 GMV and revenue to increase mid-single digits year-over-year, while Adjusted EBITDA margins should remain in line with 2025 and losses stabilizing in the 9.5% area for the year. Turning to Brigit, we expect the segment to maintain a strong growth trajectory in the new year. Brigit's value proposition is especially relevant in today's economy, with more consumers appreciating the flexibility and value of Brigit's instant cash product and its other financial wellness tools.

Speaker #2: Finally, SEMA's loss rate is expected to benefit from continued disciplined and targeted underwriting and the flow-through of those challenging 2025 customer vintages I mentioned earlier.

Hal Khouri: Taken together, we expect 2026 GMV and revenue to increase mid-single digits year-over-year, while Adjusted EBITDA margins should remain in line with 2025 and losses stabilizing in the 9.5% area for the year. Turning to Brigit, we expect the segment to maintain a strong growth trajectory in the new year. Brigit's value proposition is especially relevant in today's economy, with more consumers appreciating the flexibility and value of Brigit's instant cash product and its other financial wellness tools.

Speaker #2: Taken together, we expect 2026 GMV and revenue to increase mid-single digits year over year, while adjusted EBITDA margins should remain in line with 2025 and losses stabilizing in the 9.5% area for the year.

Speaker #2: Turning to Bridget, we expect to segment to maintain a strong gross trajectory in the new year. Bridge's value proposition is especially relevant in today's economy, with more consumers appreciating the flexibility and value of Bridget's instant cash product and its other financial wellness tools.

Speaker #2: That's why the segment remains focused on refining its marketing efforts and rolling out new products and features that further meet the evolving needs of its users.

Hal Khouri: That's why the segment remains focused on refining its marketing efforts and rolling out new products and features that further meet the evolving needs of its users. Through continued innovation in financial health and liquidity tools, Brigit aims to serve its customers more frequently and with even more relevance, strengthening the business's long-term competitive positioning, while reinforcing the segment's role as a high-growth engine with an Upbound portfolio. As a result of these efforts, we expect Brigit to deliver annualized revenue growth of over 30% in the $265 to 285 million range, and an Adjusted EBITDA in the $50 to 60 million range.

Speaker #2: Through continued innovation, financial health, and liquidity tools, Bridget aims to serve its customers more frequently and with even more relevance, strengthening the business's long-term competitive positioning, while reinforcing the segment's role as a high-growth engine with an upbound portfolio.

Speaker #2: As a result of these efforts, we expect Bridget to deliver annualized revenue growth of over 30% in the $265 to $285 million range and an adjusted EBITDA in the $50 to $60 million range.

Speaker #2: Although the figures are trailing our initial estimates from the 2024 acquisition announcement, this variance is impacted by the extended timeline required for launching new products and obtaining necessary underwriting and product insights for iteration and improving in a challenging macroeconomic environment.

Hal Khouri: Although the figures are trailing our initial estimates from the 2024 acquisition announcement, this variance is impacted by the extended timeline required for launching new products and obtaining necessary underwriting and product insights for iteration and improving in a challenging macroeconomic environment. Despite these factors, we remain optimistic about Brigit's future financial performance. We continue to support product design, marketing, and infrastructure development to drive growth. Brigit is committed to ongoing product innovation and will prudently manage the scale and timing of new rollouts to navigate the current economic uncertainties, while testing additional marketing initiatives to showcase the anticipated levels of economic performance of the portfolio. At Rent-A-Center, 2026 priorities will include a focus on customer-driven growth, as well as improvements that modernize and unify the digital customer experience.

Speaker #2: Despite these factors, we remain optimistic about Bridget's future financial performance. We continue to support product design, marketing, and infrastructure development to drive growth. Bridget is committed to ongoing product innovation and will prudently manage the scale and timing of new rollouts to navigate the current economic uncertainties.

Hal Khouri: We continue to support product design, marketing, and infrastructure development to drive growth. Brigit is committed to ongoing product innovation and will prudently manage the scale and timing of new rollouts to navigate the current economic uncertainties, while testing additional marketing initiatives to showcase the anticipated levels of economic performance of the portfolio. At Rent-A-Center, 2026 priorities will include a focus on customer-driven growth, as well as improvements that modernize and unify the digital customer experience.

Speaker #2: While testing additional marketing initiatives to showcase the anticipated levels of economic performance of the portfolio. At Rent-a-Center, 2026 priorities will include a focus on customer-driven growth, as well as improvements that modernize and unify the digital customer experience.

Speaker #2: The business will leverage the force of its expanded digital presence and its national store footprint to focus on driving productivity, all while continuing to focus on capital efficiency and disciplined cost management.

Hal Khouri: The business will leverage the force of its expanded digital presence and its national store footprint to focus on driving productivity, all while continuing to focus on capital efficiency and disciplined cost management. As a result of the Rent-A-Center team's efforts over the past year, we believe that trends have stabilized, and the business is poised for modest top-line growth in the coming year, with full-year 2026 revenue expected to be flat to positive relative to 2025 and with Adjusted EBITDA margins in line with 2025. At the Upbound level, our corporate costs are expected to be roughly flat to 2025 as a percentage of revenue at approximately 4%. We expect the tax rate to be slightly higher than 2025 in the 26% range, with an average diluted share count for the year of approximately 59.4 million shares.

Speaker #2: As a result of the Rent-a-Center team's efforts over the past year, we believe that trends of stabilized and the business is poised for modest top-line growth in the coming year, with full-year 2026 revenue expected to be flat to positive relative to 2025 and with adjusted EBITDA margins in line with 2025.

Hal Khouri: As a result of the Rent-A-Center team's efforts over the past year, we believe that trends have stabilized, and the business is poised for modest top-line growth in the coming year, with full-year 2026 revenue expected to be flat to positive relative to 2025 and with Adjusted EBITDA margins in line with 2025. At the Upbound level, our corporate costs are expected to be roughly flat to 2025 as a percentage of revenue at approximately 4%. We expect the tax rate to be slightly higher than 2025 in the 26% range, with an average diluted share count for the year of approximately 59.4 million shares.

Speaker #2: At the Upbound level, our corporate costs are expected to be roughly flat through 2025 as a percentage of revenue, at approximately 4%. We expect the tax rate to be slightly higher than 2025, in the 26% range, with an average diluted share count for the year of approximately 59.4 million shares.

Speaker #2: Taken together, our consolidated outlook for 2026 includes a revenue range of $4.7 to $4.95 billion, an adjusted EBITDA range of $500 to $535 million, and fully diluted non-GAAP earnings per share of $4 to $4.35.

Hal Khouri: Taken together, our consolidated outlook for 2026 includes a revenue range of $4.7 to 4.95 billion, an adjusted EBITDA range of $500 to 535 million, and fully diluted non-GAAP earnings per share of $4 to 4.35. The company expects to increase free cash flow to approximately $200 million in 2026. This growth is expected to be primarily driven by enhanced profitability and the accelerated tax depreciation benefits from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, projected to augment the company's cash flow by around $100 million. This guidance is inclusive of a payment outflow of $72 million in non-ordinary course legal and regulatory settlements, as previously discussed, including the largest portion of that amount for the multi-state matter, and it assumes relatively flat CapEx spend to support business growth initiatives.

Speaker #2: The company expects to increase free cash flow to approximately $200 million in 2026. This growth is expected to be primarily driven by enhanced profitability and the accelerated tax depreciation benefits from the one big beautiful bill act projected to augment the company's cash flow by around $100 million.

Hal Khouri: This growth is expected to be primarily driven by enhanced profitability and the accelerated tax depreciation benefits from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, projected to augment the company's cash flow by around $100 million. This guidance is inclusive of a payment outflow of $72 million in non-ordinary course legal and regulatory settlements, as previously discussed, including the largest portion of that amount for the multi-state matter, and it assumes relatively flat CapEx spend to support business growth initiatives.

Speaker #2: This guidance is inclusive of a payment outflow of $72 million in non-ordinary course legal and regulatory settlements, as previously discussed, including the largest portion of that amount for the multi-state matter.

Speaker #2: And it assumes relatively flat cap expense to support business growth initiatives. These factors position upbound favorably to advance its capital allocation priorities as we focus on delivering compelling and sustainable returns for shareholders.

Hal Khouri: These factors position Upbound favorably to advance its capital allocation priorities as we focus on delivering compelling and sustainable returns for shareholders. In regards to Q1, each of our segments will navigate seasonal and macro factors, including the start of the tax season. Based on what we've seen to this point, we expect consolidated revenue to be $1.16 to 1.26 billion and Adjusted EBITDA to be $120 million to $130 million. We expect non-GAAP EPS to range from $1.05 to $1.15, compared to $1 a year ago. With respect to loss rates, we expect Rent-A-Center's lease charge-off rate to remain flat to slightly higher sequentially.

Speaker #2: In regards to the first quarter, each of our segments will navigate seasonal and macro factors, including the start of tax season. Based on what we've seen to this point, we expect consolidated revenue to be $1.16 to $1.26 billion and adjusted EBITDA to be $120 million to $130 million.

Hal Khouri: Based on what we've seen to this point, we expect consolidated revenue to be $1.16 to 1.26 billion and Adjusted EBITDA to be $120 million to $130 million. We expect non-GAAP EPS to range from $1.05 to $1.15, compared to $1 a year ago. With respect to loss rates, we expect Rent-A-Center's lease charge-off rate to remain flat to slightly higher sequentially.

Speaker #2: We expect non-GAAP EPS to range from $1.05 to $1.15, compared to $1.00 a year ago. With respect to loss rates, we expect Rent-A-Center's lease charge-off rate to remain flat to slightly higher sequentially.

Speaker #2: As SEMA's lease charge-offs should improve sequentially, finishing the first quarter in the mid-9% area and remaining in that range over the course of the year.

Hal Khouri: Acima's lease charge-offs should improve sequentially, finishing the first quarter in the mid-9% area and remaining in that range over the course of the year, while first quarter GMV should be relatively flat to the prior year, reflecting the tightening we've undertaken to keep lease charge-offs in our target range. Brigit's net advance loss rate should remain in the 3 to 3.5% range in the first quarter. Now, as we wrap up, I'd like to emphasize a couple of points that Fahmi mentioned earlier. In 2025, we made substantial progress on our key strategic priorities. For over five decades, we've provided accessible and flexible lease-to-own solutions to millions of underserved consumers.... In 2021, we added further scale by significantly expanding into higher growth digital, technology-driven, lease-to-own channels through our Acima acquisition.

Speaker #2: While first quarter GMV should be relatively flat to the prior year. Reflecting the tightening we've undertaken to keep lease charge-offs in our target range, Bridget's net advanced loss rate should remain in the 3 to 3.5% range in the first quarter.

Speaker #2: Now, as we wrap up, I'd like to emphasize a couple of the points that Fannie mentioned earlier. In 2025, we made substantial progress on our key strategic priorities for over five decades.

Hal Khouri: Now, as we wrap up, I'd like to emphasize a couple of points that Fahmi mentioned earlier. In 2025, we made substantial progress on our key strategic priorities. For over five decades, we've provided accessible and flexible lease-to-own solutions to millions of underserved consumers.... In 2021, we added further scale by significantly expanding into higher growth digital, technology-driven, lease-to-own channels through our Acima acquisition.

Speaker #2: We've provided accessible and flexible lease-to-own solutions to millions of underserved consumers. In 2021, we added further scale by significantly expanding into higher-growth digital, technology-driven lease-to-own channels through our SEMA acquisition.

Speaker #2: Now, with Bridget, we've added in-demand scalable digital financial health and liquidity tools that expand our growth opportunities even further and our ability to support our core customer when and where they need us most.

Hal Khouri: Now, with Brigit, we've added in-demand, scalable digital financial health and liquidity tools that expand our growth opportunities even further and our ability to support our core customer when and where they need us most. These expanding complementary products and capabilities make our platform even more relevant, especially in today's economy, when consumers are looking for innovative solutions that improve their financial lives. Our consumers' needs and expectations are always evolving, and in 2025, we enhanced our ability to meet those needs today and in the future. In 2026, we will continue to prudently introduce relevant solutions with scalable growth opportunities, both online through expanded digital capabilities and in-store at our over 2,200 retail locations across the United States and Mexico.

Speaker #2: These expanding complementary products and capabilities make our platform even more relevant, especially in today's economy. When consumers are looking for innovative solutions that improve their financial lives, our consumers' needs and expectations are always evolving, and in 2025, we enhanced our ability to meet those needs today and in the future.

Hal Khouri: Our consumers' needs and expectations are always evolving, and in 2025, we enhanced our ability to meet those needs today and in the future. In 2026, we will continue to prudently introduce relevant solutions with scalable growth opportunities, both online through expanded digital capabilities and in-store at our over 2,200 retail locations across the United States and Mexico.

Speaker #2: In 2026, we will continue to prudently introduce relevant solutions with scalable growth opportunities both online, through expanded digital capabilities, and in-store at our over 2,200 retail locations across the United States and Mexico.

Speaker #2: For our stakeholders, we remain committed to creating long-term sustainable value by building off of our strong financial foundation allocating capital thoughtfully and responsibly growing our business through our platform of connected financial products and services.

Hal Khouri: For our stakeholders, we remain committed to creating long-term, sustainable value by building off of our strong financial foundation, allocating capital thoughtfully, and responsibly growing our business through our platform of connected financial products and services. We look forward to delivering on our goals again in 2026 and continuing the momentum we've built across our brands. Thank you for your time this morning. Operator, you may now open the line for questions.

Speaker #2: We look forward to delivering on our goals again in 2026 and continuing the momentum we've built across our brands. Thank you for your time this morning.

Speaker #2: Operator, you may now open the line for questions.

Speaker #1: Thank you. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. If you have a question or a comment at this time, please press star 1-1 on your telephone.

Operator: Thank you. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. If you have a question or a comment at this time, please press star one one on your telephone. If your question has been answered or you wish to remove yourself from the queue, please press star one one again. We'll pause for a moment while we compile our Q&A roster. Our first question comes from Bobby Griffin with Raymond James. Your line is open.

Speaker #1: If your question has been answered, you wish to move yourself from the queue, please press star 11 again. We'll pause for a moment while we compile our Q&A roster.

Speaker #1: Our first question comes from Bobby Griffin with Raymond James. Your line is open.

Speaker #2: Good morning, guys. Thank you for taking my question. I guess the first part of the question is just trying to unpack maybe the guidance a little differently or look at it a little differently and understand it.

Bobby Griffin: Good morning, guys. Thank you for taking my question. I guess, first, first part of the question is just trying to unpack maybe the guidance a little differently or look, look at it a little differently to understand it. If you take the Q1 guidance midpoint, you're up in, you know, call it 10% in EPS, but then the year is only up 1% at the midpoint. So what's happening from, like, the seasonality of the year or something that's driving that? Some, there's some cost pressures developing or I'm just trying to figure out kind of how the year is playing out. Does that make sense?

Speaker #2: If you take the one Q guidance midpoint, you're up in call it 10% in EPS, but then the year's only up 1% at the midpoint.

Speaker #2: So, what's happening from the seasonality of the year, or is there something that's driving that? Are there some cost pressures developing, or—I'm just trying to figure out kind of how the year is playing out.

Speaker #2: Does that make sense?

Speaker #3: Good morning, Bobby. Yeah, thanks for the question. It makes sense. The first thing I would say is you have the benefit of a full quarter of Bridget being in the numbers.

Fahmi Karam: Good morning, Bobby. Yeah, thanks for the question. It makes sense. First thing I would say is, you know, you have a full benefit of a full quarter of Brigit being in the numbers. So that's last year in 2025. You recall, we closed the acquisition at the end of January. And so you only had two-thirds of the quarter with Brigit on our books. So that's first and foremost. And then, yeah, the benefit of coming into the year with a stronger portfolio, both on the Rent-A-Center side and still growing on the Acima side, should flow into our EBITDA numbers for Q1.

Speaker #3: So that's last year in 2025, recall, we closed the acquisition at the end of January. And so you only had two-thirds of the quarter with Bridget on our books.

Speaker #3: So that's first and foremost. And then, yeah, the benefit of coming into the year with a stronger portfolio both on the Rent-a-Center side and still growing on the SEMA side should flow into our EBITDA numbers for the first quarter.

Speaker #3: So, nothing that I really want to point to in the second, third, or fourth quarter that we would say is surprising or unusual, I guess, for the rest of the year.

Fahmi Karam: So nothing that I really want to point to in Q2, Q3, Q4 that we would say is surprising or unusual, I guess, for the rest of the year. But the big thing is for Q1, I think, is the Brigit acquisition being, you know, for the full three months.

Speaker #3: But the big thing is for the first quarter, I think, is the Bridget acquisition being fulfilled the full three months.

Speaker #2: So oh, go ahead. I'm sorry.

Hal Khouri: So, hey, Bobby-

Bobby Griffin: Oh, go ahead, I'm sorry.

Speaker #3: Yeah, no worries. It's Hal here. Just to also tack on there a little bit as well—so we've got some seasonality happening through the course of the full year.

Hal Khouri: Yeah, no worries. It's Hal here. Just to also, you know, tack on there a little bit as well. So, you know, we've got some seasonality happening through the course of the full year. So, you know, Q1, typically a bit stronger, and then Q2, Q3, you know, we've got some seasonality that brings that down a little bit. So just a little bit of movement there at play.

Speaker #3: So Q1 is typically a bit stronger, and then Q2 and Q3—we've got some seasonality that brings that down a little bit. So, just a little bit of movement there at play.

Speaker #2: Okay. And then Fannie, to dive into the second part, it's a good call out on the one month of the Bridget, but the strong portfolio momentum coming into the year, I mean, do you see anything today from the customer base or something that would imply that that wouldn't continue to build, or you wouldn't continue to be successful?

Bobby Griffin: Okay. And then Sammy, to dive into the second part, you know, it's a good call out on the one month of the Brigit, but, like, the strong portfolio momentum coming into the year, I mean, do you see anything today from the customer base or something that would, you know, imply that that wouldn't continue to build or, or you wouldn't continue to be successful? And I understand the, you know, the idea of keeping some conservatism baked in the guide, and I, I truly appreciate that. But just, you know, I'm trying to, I'm trying to gauge between the strong momentum entering the year and then if, has something slowed? It doesn't seem like something has slowed for that part of the equation to actually not be as powerful in the remaining nine months.

Speaker #2: And I understand the idea of keeping some conservatism baked in the guide, and I truly appreciate that. But I'm just trying to gauge between the strong momentum entering the year, and then if something slowed—it doesn't seem like something has slowed for that part of the equation to actually not be as powerful in the remaining nine months.

Bobby Griffin: And I understand the, you know, the idea of keeping some conservatism baked in the guide, and I, I truly appreciate that. But just, you know, I'm trying to, I'm trying to gauge between the strong momentum entering the year and then if, has something slowed? It doesn't seem like something has slowed for that part of the equation to actually not be as powerful in the remaining nine months.

Speaker #3: Yeah, hey, Bobby, maybe I'll play in a towel here. So we did, as you might recall, tighten up credit prudently towards the back half of the year.

Hal Khouri: Yeah. Hey, hey, Bobby, maybe I'll play in a towel here. So, you know, we did, as you might recall, tighten up credit prudently towards the back half of the year. You know, one, just kind of given experience that we were undertaking there, prominently in our Acima business, I would say, as well as what we were seeing in terms of broader macroeconomic environment. So that credit tightening likely will continue to manifest itself through, you know, the first quarter or two of this year.

Speaker #3: One, just kind of given the experience that we were undertaking there, predominantly in our SEMA business, I would say, as well as what we were seeing in terms of the broader macroeconomic environment.

Speaker #3: So that credit tightening likely will continue to manifest itself through the first quarter or two of this year. And then subject to environmental conditions at that time, loosening up the portfolio towards the back end of the year as some of that credit tightening would have allowed itself to kind of flow through the business in the earlier part of the year, notwithstanding the jump-off point that you're referencing.

Hal Khouri: and then, you know, subject to, you know, environmental conditions at that time, you know, loosening up the portfolio towards the back end of the year as some of that credit tightening would have allowed itself to kind of flow through the business, in the earlier part of the year, notwithstanding the jump-off point that you're referencing.

Speaker #2: Okay, that makes sense. I appreciate it. Sorry to be so granular, but it was just the shape that was kind of giving me some questions.

Bobby Griffin: Okay, that makes sense. I appreciate it. Sorry to be so granular, but it was just the shape was kind of giving me some questions. I guess secondly for me, it's just on Brigit. You know, you kind of trimmed a little bit of the outlook from original expectations, talked about the delay in new products. Can you maybe just expand on that, and kind of what's driving that? Has stuff changed regulatory-wise? Is it just, you know, just something that maybe we didn't quite fully understand or get, fully kind of take into account originally? And then the second part of it on Brigit is just the positive side has been kind of the underwriting and what that, how that's different from your core business. And I've asked this before, but just-...

Speaker #2: I guess, secondly, for me, it's just on Bridget. You kind of trimmed a little bit of the outlook from original expectations, talked about the delay in new products.

Speaker #2: Can you maybe just expand on that and kind of what's driving that? Is stuff changed regulatory-wise? Is it just something that maybe we didn't quite fully understand or get fully kind of taken into account originally?

Bobby Griffin: Has stuff changed regulatory-wise? Is it just, you know, just something that maybe we didn't quite fully understand or get, fully kind of take into account originally? And then the second part of it on Brigit is just the positive side has been kind of the underwriting and what that, how that's different from your core business. And I've asked this before, but just-...

Speaker #2: And then the second part of it on Bridget is just the positive side has been kind of the underwriting and how that's different from your core business.

Speaker #2: And I've asked this before, but just curious on that integration and where that can go and where you can when you can start seeing that kind of benefits across the enterprise more.

Bobby Griffin: Curious on, you know, that integration and where that can go and, you know, when you can start seeing that kind of benefits across the enterprise more?

Speaker #3: Yeah, Bobby, I'll just Fannie. I'll touch on Bridget generally and try to touch on both of your questions. First and foremost, obviously very pleased with the performance throughout the year, as we've highlighted really every quarter this year, including in the fourth quarter where we expanded revenue by 41% year over year, subscriber growth of 29%, and then ARPU up almost 10% in the quarter.

Fahmi Karam: Yeah, well, I'll just, I'll touch on, on Brigit generally and try to touch on both of your, your questions. First and foremost, you know, obviously very pleased with the performance throughout the years. As we've highlighted, really every, every quarter this year, including in the fourth quarter, where we expanded revenue by 41% year-over-year, subscriber growth of, of 29%, and then ARPU up almost 10% in the quarter. And for the year, you know, coming in above our expectations, really from an EBITDA contribution standpoint. So really, really strong performance. And as I said in our prepared remarks, we're still very excited about the future with Brigit.

Fahmi Karam: And for the year, you know, coming in above our expectations, really from an EBITDA contribution standpoint. So really, really strong performance. And as I said in our prepared remarks, we're still very excited about the future with Brigit.

Speaker #3: And for the year, coming in above our expectations really from an EBITDA contribution standpoint, so really, really strong performance. And as I said in our prepared remarks, we're still very excited about the future with Bridget.

Fahmi Karam: As far as the, you know, guide for 2026, revenue of $265 to 285, there's a couple things that are driving that. First, I would highlight just the lower year-end subscribers kind of coming into the year. You know, as we saw that little softness in the Q4, so we kind of budgeted that through the forecast. We talked about, you know, a little bit of a delay in some of our new products that we rolled out started late in 2025. We were hoping to get that out sooner in the year, and by now have that kind of fully launched into 2026. So a little bit delayed on the new product front.

Speaker #3: As far as the guide for 2026 revenue of $265 to $285 million, there's a couple of things that are driving that. First, I would highlight just the lower year-end subscribers kind of coming into the year.

Speaker #3: As we saw that little softness in the fourth quarter, so we kind of bled that through the forecast. We talked about a little bit of a delay in some of our new products that we rolled out, started late in 2025.

Speaker #3: We were hoping to get that out sooner in the year. And by now, have that kind of fully launched into 2026, so we're a little bit delayed on the new product front.

Speaker #3: As well as, our marketing dollars didn't stretch as far as we had hoped to stretch in the fourth quarter. And then, as we also said, the macro uncertainty.

Fahmi Karam: As well as our marketing dollar didn't stretch as far as we had hoped to stretch in the Q4. And then, as we also said, the macro uncertainty. Let me touch on the macro piece of it. You know, that uncertain market landscape or the macro landscape does give us some pause to really aggressively roll out some of these new products, or our existing products to new audiences. We want to be very cautious, just like we are in Rent-A-Center and Acima, around our loss profile and kind of judging where the consumer is. And so really focused around being very disciplined, and profitable in our growth objectives for 2026 across the board. We'd love to maximize EBITDA dollars.

Speaker #3: And let me touch on the macro piece of it. That uncertain market landscape, or the macro landscape, did give us some pause—and does give us some pause—to really aggressively roll out some of these new products or our existing products to new audiences.

Speaker #3: We want to be very cautious, just like we are in Rent-A-Center and the SEMA, around our lost profile and kind of judging where the consumer is.

Fahmi Karam: We want to be very cautious, just like we are in Rent-A-Center and Acima, around our loss profile and kind of judging where the consumer is. And so really focused around being very disciplined, and profitable in our growth objectives for 2026 across the board. We'd love to maximize EBITDA dollars.

Speaker #3: And so really focused around being very disciplined and profitable in our growth objectives for 2026 across the board. We'd love to maximize EBITDA dollars.

Speaker #3: We're focused on maximizing EBITDA dollars on all of our segments. But at the same time, we're really focused around profitable and responsible growth. So on the new product side, as I mentioned, the line of credit we were hoping to have it rolled out a little bit faster if we had some back and forth around getting our bank partners to approve the product.

Fahmi Karam: We're focused on maximizing EBITDA dollars on all of our segments, but at the same time, we're really focused around, you know, profitable and responsible growth. So, you know, on the new product side, as I mentioned, line of credit, we were hoping to have it rolled out a little bit faster. You know, we had some back and forth around getting our bank partners to approve the product. I think, you know, it's been well documented last year around some of the very public bankruptcy around bank partners and, you know, our bank partner, even though that wasn't who we were dealing with, it's not our bank partner, but there was a domino effect across the industry and really around Fintechs generally around slowdown of new product rollouts, just given some of that uncertainty with the bank partners.

Speaker #3: I think it's been well documented, last year, around some of the very public bankruptcies around bank partners. And our bank partner—even though that wasn't who we were dealing with, it's not our bank partner—there was a domino effect across the industry, and really around fintechs generally, around a slowdown of new product rollouts, just given some of that uncertainty with the bank partners.

Fahmi Karam: I think, you know, it's been well documented last year around some of the very public bankruptcy around bank partners and, you know, our bank partner, even though that wasn't who we were dealing with, it's not our bank partner, but there was a domino effect across the industry and really around Fintechs generally around slowdown of new product rollouts, just given some of that uncertainty with the bank partners.

Speaker #3: So the good news is we rolled it out. We've been able to put in some new features in December and in January, and now that product—Line of Credit product—because it's a little bit longer, a 10-year product, and our Instant Cash product, 6 to 9 months.

Fahmi Karam: So, the good news is we rolled it out. We've been able to put in some new features in December and in January, and now, that product, a line of credit product, you know, because it's a little bit longer tenure product than our instant cash product, 6 to 9 months. Now it's a matter of just seeing how performance comes in, tweaking it, and then making sure that we're ready for the rollout. So, a combination of things that it's caused us to slow down, but it is a shift, I would say, from 26 to 27. The opportunity is still very much in front of us. We still see a lot of opportunity with the cashflow underwriting, and maybe that's a good segue into your other question around where we are from an integration standpoint.

Speaker #3: Now it's a matter of just seeing how performance comes in, tweaking it, and then making sure that we're ready for the rollout. So, a combination of things has caused us to slow down, but it is a shift, I would say, from 2026 to 2027.

Fahmi Karam: Now it's a matter of just seeing how performance comes in, tweaking it, and then making sure that we're ready for the rollout. So, a combination of things that it's caused us to slow down, but it is a shift, I would say, from 26 to 27. The opportunity is still very much in front of us. We still see a lot of opportunity with the cashflow underwriting, and maybe that's a good segue into your other question around where we are from an integration standpoint.

Speaker #3: The opportunity is still very much in front of us. We still see a lot of opportunity with the cash flow underwriting, and maybe that's a good segue into your other question around where we are from an integration standpoint.

Fahmi Karam: I'd point you back to, you know, at the beginning of when we announced the acquisition, we said that we were gonna have a pretty light touch around integration, and that has been the case. We bought Brigit for their innovation, for their product roadmap and their pipeline of new product rollouts. And the last thing we wanted to do was slow them down through the acquisition. And so that's still the case. We've done some things around, you know, cross-selling, around some of the marketing, and some of the email campaigns, and some of the text campaigns, but I would say it's been fairly light touch. We haven't done any of the data integrations that we plan to do. We haven't really done any system integrations outside of some of the accounting things.

Speaker #3: I'd point you back to at the beginning of when we announced the acquisition, we said that we were going to have a pretty light touch around integration and that has been the case.

Speaker #3: We bought Bridget for their innovation, for their product roadmap, and their pipeline of new product rollouts. And the last thing we wanted to do was slow them down through the acquisition.

Speaker #3: And so that's still the case. We've done some things around cross-selling, around some of the marketing and some of the email campaigns and some of the text campaigns, but I would say it's been fairly light touch.

Fahmi Karam: And so that's still the case. We've done some things around, you know, cross-selling, around some of the marketing, and some of the email campaigns, and some of the text campaigns, but I would say it's been fairly light touch. We haven't done any of the data integrations that we plan to do. We haven't really done any system integrations outside of some of the accounting things.

Speaker #3: We haven't done any of the data integrations that we plan to do. We haven't really done any system integrations outside of some of the accounting things.

Fahmi Karam: And so all that is on the come. None of that is in our forecast for 2026. We'll start making real plans for that by the end of the year, so hopefully kind of build that foundation for growth in 2027. So I would say very early stages, but an intentional, you know, integration plan.

Speaker #3: And so, all that is on the come. None of that is in our forecast for 2026. We'll start making real plans for that by the end of the year.

Speaker #3: So, hopefully, kind of build that foundation for growth in 2027. So, I would say very early stages, but an intentional integration plan.

Speaker #2: Thank you. Appreciate it. Best of luck here in 2026. Thanks, Ian.

Bobby Griffin: Thank you. Appreciate it. Best of luck here in 2026.

Fahmi Karam: Thanks, Bobby. Thank you.

Speaker #1: One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from Vincent Kantik with BTIG. Your line's open.

Operator: One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from Vincent Kentik with BTIG. Your line's open.

Speaker #4: Hey, good morning. Thank you for taking my questions—a lot of great detail already. First, I wanted to focus on SEMAs, so I appreciate the guidance for, I think, full-year GMV, mid-single-digit year-over-year growth.

Vincent Caintic: Hey, good morning. Thank you for taking my questions. A lot of great detail already. First, I wanted to focus on Acima. So appreciate the guidance for, I think, full year GMV, mid-single digit year-over-year growth, and I think the first quarter is flat. So I'm sort of wondering if you could maybe help us with the cadence of that growth. It sounds like maybe the second half of the year, we should be expecting even greater acceleration. And then if you could talk about, if I remember correctly, it was a particular cohort of GMV that you had to tighten up on. Is there any sense that you could give us if you were to exclude that cohort where underlying GMV has been growing so far? Thank you.

Speaker #4: And I think the first quarter is flat. So I'm sort of wondering if you could maybe help us with the cadence of that growth.

Speaker #4: It sounds like maybe the second half of the year, we should be expecting even greater acceleration. And then if you could talk about if I remember correctly, it was a particular cohort of GMV that you had to tighten up on.

Vincent Caintic: It sounds like maybe the second half of the year, we should be expecting even greater acceleration. And then if you could talk about, if I remember correctly, it was a particular cohort of GMV that you had to tighten up on. Is there any sense that you could give us if you were to exclude that cohort where underlying GMV has been growing so far? Thank you.

Speaker #4: Is there any sense that you could give us if you were to exclude that cohort where you were underlying GMV has been growing so far?

Speaker #4: Thank you.

Speaker #3: Good morning, Vincent. Thanks for the questions. I'll start, and Fahmi's welcome to chime in. As far as the GMV trends, let me answer your question directly, then I want to take a step back and highlight a couple of things that we saw really throughout the year, and then in the quarter.

Fahmi Karam: Morning, Vincent. Thanks for the questions. I'll start, and Hal is welcome to chime in. You know, as far as the GMV trends, let me answer your question directly, then I want to take a step back and highlight a couple things that we saw really throughout the year and in the quarter. But I think as far as the cadence goes for GMV, I think the first half of the year will be relatively flat, consistent with what we guided for the first quarter. Then we kind of get back to a seamless norm as we lap some of the changes that we made in the second half of the year, and that kind of evens out into the mid-single digits for the year.

Speaker #3: But I think, as far as the cadence goes for GMV, I think the first half of the year will be relatively flat, consistent with what we guided for the first quarter.

Speaker #3: And then we kind of get back to a seamless norm as we lapse some of the changes that we made in the second half of the year, and that kind of evens out into the mid-single digits for the year.

Speaker #3: So, from a cadence standpoint, I think we'll lap the changes we made sometime in the third quarter, and then obviously in the fourth quarter.

Fahmi Karam: So from a cadence standpoint, I think we'll lap the changes we made sometime in Q3, and then obviously in Q4. So you'll see an uptick, and hopefully return back to the low double-digit growth in the second half of the year. But that's how you get to kind of the mid-single digits for the year. As far as just maybe some highlights go for Acima, I want to point out two things around GMV that were really fantastic developments. One, we talked about, which was the direct-to-consumer channel for us. When we talked about some of the strategic objectives coming into 2025, we talked about shifting and adding focus into the customer, not just merchants.

Speaker #3: So you'll see an uptick in, hopefully, a return back to the low double-digit growth in the second half of the year. But that's how you get to kind of the mid-single digits for the year.

Fahmi Karam: As far as just maybe some highlights go for Acima, I want to point out two things around GMV that were really fantastic developments. One, we talked about, which was the direct-to-consumer channel for us. When we talked about some of the strategic objectives coming into 2025, we talked about shifting and adding focus into the customer, not just merchants.

Speaker #3: As far as just maybe some highlights go for SEMA, I want to point out two things. Around GMV, there were really fantastic developments.

Speaker #3: One we talked about, which was the direct-to-consumer channel for us. When we talked about some of the strategic objectives coming into 2025, we talked about shifting and adding focus into the customer, not just merchants.

Speaker #3: Merchants are always going to be part of our—we also wanted to take a look at the consumer and make sure that we viewed it kind of from both lenses.

Fahmi Karam: Merchants are always going to be part of our bread and butter strategy with Acima, but we also wanted to take a look at the consumer and make sure that we viewed it kind of from both lenses. Growing the direct-to-consumer channel by 100% this year was fantastic, leveraging our AI leaseability engine and getting it to be 10% of our GMV in Q4 with still plenty of room for upside there. We're just now getting started with our virtual lease card program, where pilot phase is there, and that should continue to benefit us going forward. Returning customers. You know, as we talked about, focusing on the customer and the direct-to-consumer channel is a returning customer channel for us.

Speaker #3: And growing the direct-to-consumer channel by 100% this year was fantastic, leveraging our AI leasability engine. And getting it to be 10% of our GMV in the fourth quarter would still leave plenty of room for upside there.

Fahmi Karam: We're just now getting started with our virtual lease card program, where pilot phase is there, and that should continue to benefit us going forward. Returning customers. You know, as we talked about, focusing on the customer and the direct-to-consumer channel is a returning customer channel for us.

Speaker #3: We're just now getting started with our virtual lease card program. We're in pilot phases there, and that should continue to benefit us going forward.

Speaker #3: And then returning customers. As we talked about, focusing on the customer and the direct-to-consumer channel is a returning customer channel for us. Our returning customers are up to 45% of our GMV.

Fahmi Karam: Our returning customers are up to 45% of our GMV in the fourth quarter, which is up from kind of the mid-30s last year. So we're able to generate more GMV from customers that we know well. GMV per customer in the calendar year 2025 was up 5.5%, and the number of transactions that our returning customers interacted with us was up 15%. So the direct-to-consumer channel really gives us a lot of LTV, a lifetime value for our consumers, and should really help us, you know, continue to grow as we add more and more merchants to the lineup. As far as normalizing for underwriting changes, that's a tough one to answer, Vincent.

Speaker #3: In the fourth quarter, which is up from kind of the mid-30s last year. So we're able to generate more GMV from customers that we know well.

Speaker #3: GMV per customer in the calendar year 2025 was up 5.5%. And the number of transactions that our returning customers interacted with us on was up 15%.

Speaker #3: So, the direct-to-consumer channel really gives us a lot of LTV—a lifetime value for our consumers—and should really help us continue to grow as we add more and more merchants to the lineup.

Fahmi Karam: So the direct-to-consumer channel really gives us a lot of LTV, a lifetime value for our consumers, and should really help us, you know, continue to grow as we add more and more merchants to the lineup. As far as normalizing for underwriting changes, that's a tough one to answer, Vincent.

Speaker #3: As far as normalizing for underwriting changes, that's a tough one to answer, Vincent. We're constantly making changes to underwriting day in and day out.

Fahmi Karam: You know, we're constantly making changes to underwriting on day in, day out. Obviously, what we did through the Q2 and Q3 last year was a little bit more broad-based than we typically would do. But it is hard to quantify how much of, of the guide is because of, of the changes that we made, just, just given mix shifts, consumer mix shifts, and uncertainty in the market. But as you can tell, I mean, we've been on a really good run with Acima growing GMV and being, you know, growing in the Q4, but at a different clip, is a, is a big function of, of the underwriting changes, as well as just consumer deterioration and, and continued consumer stress. So hard to really normalize for the changes that we made.

Speaker #3: Obviously, what we did through the second and third quarter last year was a little bit more broad-based than we typically would do. But it is hard to quantify how much of the guide is because of the changes that we made, just given mixed shifts, consumer mixed shifts, the uncertainty in the market.

Speaker #3: But as you can tell, I mean, we've been on a really good run with a SEMA growing GMV and being growing in the fourth quarter, but at a different clip is a big function of the underwriting changes as well as just consumer deterioration and continued consumer stress.

Fahmi Karam: But as you can tell, I mean, we've been on a really good run with Acima growing GMV and being, you know, growing in the Q4, but at a different clip, is a, is a big function of, of the underwriting changes, as well as just consumer deterioration and, and continued consumer stress. So hard to really normalize for the changes that we made.

Speaker #3: So hard to really normalize for the changes that we made.

Speaker #4: And maybe I'll just bolt on here, Vincent. So, we continue to invest overall in the business, but as it relates to SEMA in particular, as Fahmi had referenced, we continue to put dollars into digital technology and transformation and enhancing that customer and merchant experience. So, certainly, those are going to be key initiatives for us in 2026 as well.

Hal Khouri: Maybe I'll just bolt on here, Vincent. So, you know, we continue to invest overall in the overall business. But, you know, as it relates to Acima in particular, as Fahmi had referenced, continue to put dollars into digital technology and transformation and enhancing that customer and merchant experience. So certainly, you know, those are gonna be key initiatives for us in 2026 as well.

Speaker #2: Okay, that's very helpful detail. Thank you. Switching to Bridget—so you're at your one-year anniversary of acquisition. You talked about product rollout and so forth while you're expecting 2026.

Vincent Caintic: Okay. That's very helpful detail. Thank you. Switching to Brigit. So you're at your one-year anniversary of acquisition. You talked about product rollout and so forth, what you're expecting in 2026. I'm sort of wondering, you know, from that initial 2025, when you put the deck out on your expectations, kind of where are we in terms of the roadmap of what you're expecting from Brigit? How much more can you do? You say you have a light touch in terms of the integration. Perhaps, you know, where could you see that over time? Maybe not putting it necessarily just on 2026, but your kind of the evolution of your view for the long term. Thank you.

Speaker #2: I'm sort of wondering, from that initial 2025, when you put the deck out on your expectations—kind of where are we in terms of the roadmap of what you're expecting from Bridget? How much more can you do?

Vincent Caintic: How much more can you do? You say you have a light touch in terms of the integration. Perhaps, you know, where could you see that over time? Maybe not putting it necessarily just on 2026, but your kind of the evolution of your view for the long term. Thank you.

Speaker #2: You say you have a light touch in terms of the integration. Perhaps, where could you see that over time? Maybe not putting it necessarily just on 2026, but your kind of evolution—your view for the long term.

Speaker #2: Thank you.

Speaker #3: Sure, Vincent. Yeah. No, look, as I said, everything that we talked about when we made the acquisition in December of 2024, and everything that we highlighted since then, is still very much part of the plan.

Fahmi Karam: Sure, Vincent. Yeah, no, look, as I said, everything that we talked about when we made the acquisition in December of 2024, and everything that we highlighted since then is still very much part of the plan. And us integrating their data insights, their technology, even just their processes, you know, some of the things that we're doing now with our growth organization really mimics a lot of the Brigit model and, and how we go around thinking about innovation. But the cash flow underwriting attributes that they generate and they look at are gonna be game-changing for Rent-A-Center and Acima at the appropriate time. You know, we are doing things to, again, light touch, but we are doing things to try to learn as best we can on how do we approve more customers?

Speaker #3: And us integrating their data insights, their technology, even just their processes—some of the things that we're doing now with our growth organization really mimic a lot of the Bridget model.

Speaker #3: And how we go around thinking about innovation. But the cash flow underwriting attributes that they generate and they look at are going to be game-changing for Rent-A-Center and ASEMA at the appropriate time.

Fahmi Karam: But the cash flow underwriting attributes that they generate and they look at are gonna be game-changing for Rent-A-Center and Acima at the appropriate time. You know, we are doing things to, again, light touch, but we are doing things to try to learn as best we can on how do we approve more customers?

Speaker #3: We are doing things—again, light touch—but we are doing things to try to learn as best we can on how do we improve, bring in more customers?

Speaker #3: How do we market to our customers more effectively, given some of the insights that we have? And we think about what we're trying to do really across all of our segments around personalization.

Fahmi Karam: How do we market to our customers more effectively, given some of the insights that we have? And we think about what we're trying to do really across all of our segments around personalization. I mean, that's gonna be the future for us, is to really be smart around personalizing our offers, personalizing our inventory purchases on RAC, and putting those promos in front of the right customers at the right time. And I think a lot of the data insights that we get from the Brigit model are gonna allow us to do that. So, you know, even though the product rollout and the pipeline is a little bit delayed, given the things that I mentioned earlier, they're still on the come. You know, the line of credit product, as we said, is in pilot phase.

Speaker #3: I mean, that's going to be the future for us—to really be smart around personalizing our offers, personalizing our inventory purchases on rack, and putting those promos in front of the right customers at the right time.

Speaker #3: And I think a lot of the data insights that we get from the Bridget model are going to allow us to do that. So even though the product rollout and the pipeline is a little bit delayed, given the things that I mentioned earlier, they're still on the come.

Fahmi Karam: And I think a lot of the data insights that we get from the Brigit model are gonna allow us to do that. So, you know, even though the product rollout and the pipeline is a little bit delayed, given the things that I mentioned earlier, they're still on the come. You know, the line of credit product, as we said, is in pilot phase.

Speaker #3: The line of credit product, as we said, is in pilot phase. There's a lot of demand for that product. We just want to make sure that we don't over-extend on losses and we understand kind of the performance of that product before we really launch it.

Fahmi Karam: There's a lot of demand for that product. We just wanna make sure that we don't overextend on losses, and we understand kind of the performance of that product before we really launch it. So a little bit delayed, but still very much excited about the opportunity. If you think about the midpoint of the revenue guidance that we just gave, you're up, you know, 25% on a full year basis, up 30% from a contribution standpoint. So in generating, you know, high teens to low 20% EBITDA margins. So the business is definitely performing. Some of the higher growth items are shifted between 2026 and 2027, but we're building a foundation for long-term growth, and we're still very excited about the acquisition.

Speaker #3: So, a little bit delayed, but still very much excited about the opportunity. If you think about the midpoint of the revenue guidance that we just gave, you're up 25% on a full-year basis, up 30% from a contribution standpoint.

Speaker #3: So, in generating high teens to low 20% EBITDA margin, the business is definitely performing. Some of the higher growth items are shifted between 2026 and 2027, but we're building a foundation for long-term growth, and we're still very excited about the acquisition.

Fahmi Karam: So in generating, you know, high teens to low 20% EBITDA margins. So the business is definitely performing. Some of the higher growth items are shifted between 2026 and 2027, but we're building a foundation for long-term growth, and we're still very excited about the acquisition.

Speaker #2: Perfect. Very helpful. Thank you.

Brad Thomas: Perfect. Very helpful. Thank you.

Vincent Caintic: Perfect. Very helpful. Thank you.

Speaker #1: One moment before our next question. Our next question comes from Kyle Joseph with Stevens. Your line is open.

Operator: One moment before our next question. Our next question comes from Kyle Joseph with Stevens. Your line is open.

Speaker #5: Hey, good morning, guys. Thanks for taking my questions. Just want to kind of walk through tax refund expectations. I know it's early in the season.

Kyle Joseph: Hey, good morning, guys. Thanks for taking my questions. Just wanna kind of walk through tax refund expectations. I know it's early in the season. We've seen a lot of headlines about, refunds being elevated this year, but kind of walk us through the assumptions you have for Q1, really on the Acima and, and Brigit side of things. Obviously, we know, we know well how that-- how tax refunds and potentially, an outsized refund season impacts RAC and, Acima, but kind of walk us through your assumptions on, on Brigit for the Q1 in particular.

Speaker #5: We've seen a lot of headlines about refunds being elevated this year, but can you kind of walk us through the assumptions you have for the first quarter, really on the SEMA and Bridget side of things?

Speaker #5: Obviously, we know well how tax refunds and potentially an outsized refund season impact RAC and SEMA, but can you walk us through your assumptions on Bridget for the first quarter in particular?

Speaker #3: Sure. Happy to, Kyle. Good morning. Thanks for the question. So, as you said, it's still very early on in tax season. They're a little bit delayed.

Fahmi Karam: Sure. Happy to, Kyle. Good morning. Thanks for the question. So as you said, still very early on tax season. They're a little bit delayed, I would say, from typical years, but we're right around the corner. So the guide assumes more of a normalized tax season. As you referenced, the range of people I've said is they're going to be up 10 to I've seen 30% range, and I think if they're in the lower end of that 5, 10% increase, it'll have some impact, but not a lot. But if it's, you know, up 30% or so, then I do think it will have a meaningful impact to us and really across the board, between all three segments.

Speaker #3: I would say from typical years, but right around the corner. So the guide assumes more of a normalized tax season. As you referenced, the range of people—I've said that they're going to be up 10 to, I've seen, 30% range.

Speaker #3: And I think if they're in the lower end of that, 5% or 10% increase, it'll have some impact, but not a lot. But if it's up 30% or so, then I do think it will have a meaningful impact to us.

Speaker #3: And really, across the board, between all three segments, generally speaking, when you put more cash in our consumers' pockets, it's going to be a good thing for all of us.

Fahmi Karam: Generally speaking, when you put more cash in our consumers' pockets, it's gonna be a good thing for all of us. But in the short term, what I would say is if we do see that big tax refund, you will see higher revenue in Q1 for both Rent-A-Center and Acima, but it will come at a lower gross profit margin. So even though you definitely will clean up credit and will be positive, you will have to replenish that portfolio. And so it puts a little bit more pressure on us to make sure that we convert some of those payouts into new leases. But generally speaking, you'll see higher revenue and lower gross profit impact.

Speaker #3: But in the short term, what I would say is if we do see that big tax refund, you will see higher revenue in the first quarter for both Rent-A-Center and Acima.

Speaker #3: But it will come at a lower gross profit margin. So, even though you definitely will clean up credit and will be positive, you will have to replenish that portfolio.

Fahmi Karam: So even though you definitely will clean up credit and will be positive, you will have to replenish that portfolio. And so it puts a little bit more pressure on us to make sure that we convert some of those payouts into new leases. But generally speaking, you'll see higher revenue and lower gross profit impact.

Speaker #3: And so it puts a little bit more pressure on us to make sure that we convert some of those payouts into new leases. But generally speaking, you'll see higher revenue and lower gross profit impact.

Speaker #3: And with Bridget, typically in the first quarter, just seasonally speaking, you'll have lower subscriber growth given people are flush with cash. You'll see higher profitability levels.

Fahmi Karam: With Brigit, you know, typically in Q1, just seasonally speaking, you'll have lower subscriber growth, given people are flush with cash. You'll see higher profitability levels in Q1 and lower losses. So very similar from that standpoint. And then kind of post-tax season, you'll start seeing a ramp up both in subscriber growth as well as our marketing spend to kind of match the seasonality there. So early on, but look, if it ends up being a lot higher than what we guided to, then that's great for our consumers, and we'll be ready to market to them on getting their second, third, and fourth leases.

Speaker #3: In the first quarter and lower losses. So very similar from that standpoint. And then, kind of post-tax season, you'll start seeing a ramp-up both in subscriber growth as well as our marketing spend to kind of match the seasonality there.

Speaker #3: So, early on, but look, if it ends up being a lot higher than what we guided to, then that's great for our consumers, and we'll be ready to market to them on getting their second, third, and fourth leases.

Fahmi Karam: So early on, but look, if it ends up being a lot higher than what we guided to, then that's great for our consumers, and we'll be ready to market to them on getting their second, third, and fourth leases.

Speaker #2: Great, really helpful. And then just a follow-up for me in terms of the outlook for rack. We understand that the second half benefited. Obviously, it lacks some underwriting changes.

Kyle Joseph: Great. Really helpful. And then just the follow-up for me, in terms of the outlook for RAC, you know, we understand that the second half benefited, you know, obviously, lapped some underwriting changes, and it sounds like, you know, some successful marketing efforts, you know. But talk about some of the macro puts and takes on the RAC business and how that's influencing your outlook into 2026 and beyond. Thanks.

Speaker #2: And it sounds like some successful marketing efforts. But talk about some of the macro puts and takes on the RACK business and how that's influencing your outlook into 2026 and beyond.

Speaker #2: Thanks.

Speaker #3: Thanks, Kyle. Yeah, look, Renisenter has had a really strong end to the year from a pretty volatile first half of the year. If you think about the sequence and SameSource sales being down 4% in the second quarter, down 3.6% in the third quarter, and then really challenging the team to make it flat.

Fahmi Karam: Thanks, Kyle. Yeah, look, Rent-A-Center's had a really strong end to the year from a pretty volatile first half of the year. If you think about, you know, the sequence and same-store sales being down 4% in the Q2, down 3.6% in the Q3, and then really challenging the team to make it flat, and they ended up grew the portfolio and grew the same-store sales by 80 basis points. So quite a turnaround from the first half of the year, and we feel like, you know, on a same-store sales basis, we're poised to be flat to slightly positive in 2026. And we were able to do that with losses coming in slightly better year over year down 10 basis points.

Speaker #3: And they ended up growing the portfolio and grew the same-store sales by 80 basis points. So quite a turnaround from the first half of the year.

Fahmi Karam: So quite a turnaround from the first half of the year, and we feel like, you know, on a same-store sales basis, we're poised to be flat to slightly positive in 2026. And we were able to do that with losses coming in slightly better year over year down 10 basis points.

Speaker #3: And we feel like, on a same-store sales basis, we're poised to be flat to slightly positive in 2026. And we were able to do that with losses coming in slightly better year over year, down 10 basis points.

Speaker #3: Delinquencies are stable under 3.5%. EBITDA margins normalized in the fourth quarter this year compared to where they were last year, but still hit our 15%—our mid-teens number—for the year.

Fahmi Karam: Delinquencies are stable under 3.5 percent. EBITDA margins normalized in the Q4 this year compared to where they were last year, but still hit our 15 percent, our mid-teens number for the year, and we expect that to continue into 2026. So very pleased with the team's execution in a very difficult environment. We talked about, you know, the consumer and kind of where that is, but we feel really, really good about where we are from an inventory standpoint, from a supply chain standpoint, from a you know e-commerce standpoint. We got a lot of things in the works with the growth organization around being smarter about how we interact with our customers. They're all in the future, so we feel really good about that segment.

Speaker #3: And we expect that to continue into 2026, so very pleased with the team's execution in a very difficult environment. We talked about the consumer and kind of where that is.

Fahmi Karam: So very pleased with the team's execution in a very difficult environment. We talked about, you know, the consumer and kind of where that is, but we feel really, really good about where we are from an inventory standpoint, from a supply chain standpoint, from a you know e-commerce standpoint. We got a lot of things in the works with the growth organization around being smarter about how we interact with our customers. They're all in the future, so we feel really good about that segment.

Speaker #3: But we feel really, really good about where we are from an inventory standpoint, from a supply chain standpoint, from an e-commerce standpoint. We've got a lot of things in the works with the growth organization around being smarter about how we interact with our customers.

Speaker #3: They're all in the future, so we feel really good about that segment. It really turned the business around throughout 2025. And if you look at the portfolio value ending the year, it was up almost 11% year over year.

Fahmi Karam: It really turned the business around throughout 2025. And if you look at the portfolio value, ending the year, it was up almost 11% year-over-year. So again, a really strong Q4 and really strong execution on the Rent-A-Center side.

Speaker #3: So again, a really strong fourth quarter and really strong execution on the Rent-A-Center side.

Speaker #2: Great. Thanks for taking my questions.

Kyle Joseph: Great. Thanks for taking my questions.

Speaker #3: Thanks, Kyle.

Fahmi Karam: Thanks, Kyle.

Speaker #1: One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from Brad Thomas with KeyBanc Capital Markets. Your line is open.

Operator: One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from Brad Thomas with KeyBank Capital Markets. Your line is open.

Speaker #6: Good morning. Thanks for taking my question. I wanted to follow up on the SEMA parts of the business and the GMV outlook. And Fahmi, just wondering if you could talk a little bit more about category performance, how much that's played a role, and how you think about the opportunity ahead to continue to add new merchants going forward.

Brad Thomas: Good morning. Thanks for taking my question. I wanted to follow up on the Acima parts of the business and the GMV outlook. Sammy, just wondering if you could talk a little bit more about category performance, how much that's played a role, and how you think about the opportunity ahead to continue to add new merchants going forward? Thanks.

Speaker #6: Thanks.

Speaker #3: Good morning, Brad. Thanks for the question. So yeah, as I kind of take a step back and look at a SEMA's performance, I think it's important to kind of maybe look back to 2024.

Fahmi Karam: Morning, Brad. Thanks for the good question. So yeah, to kind of take a step back and look at, you know, Acima's performance, you know, it's I think it's important to kind of maybe look back to 2024. You know, we grew that business 17% that year, and on top of that, now we're growing it low double digits this year. So really strong performance across the board over the last two years. And in 2025, you know, applications were up 9%. Our approval rate was down 120 basis points. Average ticket was relatively flat. Our customers were up. As I mentioned before, we interacted with 1.3 million customers throughout the year. So very, very pleased in a pretty challenging environment with Acima's performance, as well.

Speaker #3: We grew that business 17% that year. And on top of that, now we're growing it low double digits this year. So really strong performance across the board over the last two years.

Speaker #3: And in 2025, applications were up 9%. Our approval rate was down 120 basis points. Average ticket was relatively flat. Our customers were up, as I mentioned before.

Fahmi Karam: And in 2025, you know, applications were up 9%. Our approval rate was down 120 basis points. Average ticket was relatively flat. Our customers were up. As I mentioned before, we interacted with 1.3 million customers throughout the year. So very, very pleased in a pretty challenging environment with Acima's performance, as well.

Speaker #3: We interacted with a million three customers throughout the year. So very, very pleased in a pretty challenging environment with the SEMA's performance as well.

Speaker #3: As far as the categories go, I would say furniture, which is still our largest category, is still very much under pressure. Looking at it, really all year has been flat to slightly down year over year.

Fahmi Karam: As far as the categories, go, I would say furniture, which is still our largest category, is still very much under pressure. Looking at it really all year has been flat to slightly down, year over year. So offsetting that, we've done a really great job of diversifying where the GMV comes from. We talked a little bit earlier around the direct-to-consumer channel, but as I look at the, just the broader categories, you know, jewelry was up over 20%. The, the auto business and wheel, and tire was up mid-single digits. Now, jewelry, we talked about last quarter around some of these, cohorts that were underperforming. So Q4 was actually flat in jewelry, but still a strong year in 2025 that positions us for, for growth next year.

Speaker #3: And so offsetting that, we've done a really great job of diversifying where the GMV comes from. We talked a little bit earlier around the direct-to-consumer channel.

Fahmi Karam: We talked a little bit earlier around the direct-to-consumer channel, but as I look at the, just the broader categories, you know, jewelry was up over 20%. The, the auto business and wheel, and tire was up mid-single digits. Now, jewelry, we talked about last quarter around some of these, cohorts that were underperforming. So Q4 was actually flat in jewelry, but still a strong year in 2025 that positions us for, for growth next year.

Speaker #3: But as I look at just the broader categories, jewelry was up over 20%. The auto business and wheel and tire was up mid-single digits.

Speaker #3: Now, jewelry, we talked about last quarter around some of these cohorts that were underperforming. So fourth quarter was actually flat in jewelry. But still a strong year in 2025 that positions us for growth next year.

Speaker #3: And as far as the pipeline goes, look, very bullish around our ability to continuously add merchants and locations into our network. We've done really, really well in the small and medium-sized businesses throughout the year.

Fahmi Karam: And as far as the pipeline goes, look, very bullish around our ability to continuously add merchants and locations into our network. We've done really, really well in the small, medium-sized businesses throughout the year. We do have, you know, some RFPs in the works that we hope that we win our fair share, as we always do, on the regional side throughout the year. So, yeah, very confident in our sales team's execution, our business development team's execution around continuously adding to our network and continuously diversifying where the GMV comes from.

Speaker #3: We do have some RFPs in the works that we hope that we win our fair share as we always do. I'm a regional side throughout the year.

Speaker #3: So yeah, very confident in our sales team's execution and our business development team's execution around continuously adding to our network and continuously diversifying where the GMV comes from.

Brad Thomas: That's really helpful. And if I could just squeeze in a follow-up regarding AI. You did touch on it in your prepared remarks, and I know there are going to be a number of opportunities. But at this stage, if you tried to maybe rank, where do you think it could first be, you know, most impactful for you? Is it what you're seeing on the revenue, or new customer side of things, or the efficiency side, or the underwriting discipline? You know, where do you see the biggest bright spots for the impact of AI for you all?

Speaker #6: That's really helpful. And if I could just squeeze in a follow-up regarding AI—you did touch on it in your prepared remarks. I know there are going to be a number of opportunities.

Speaker #6: But at this stage, if you tried to maybe rank where you think it could first be most impactful for you, is it what you're seeing on the revenue, or new customer side of things, or the efficiency side, or the underwriting discipline?

Speaker #6: Where do you see the biggest bright spots for the impact of AI for you all?

Speaker #3: Brad, so it's all of the above. I think you touched on it almost in the right order. I think the biggest thing that I could point to is the leasability engine out of SEMA.

Fahmi Karam: Brad, so it's all of the above. I think you touched on it almost in the right order. I think, you know, we are. You know, the biggest thing that I could point to is that, the leasability engine out of Acima. I mean, we talked about the direct-to-consumer channel, that what unlocked that GMV for us would be, being able to basically, in real time, determine if the product in the cart is lease eligible or not, and AI is the one, is the feature to do that. So very much integrated in our innovation strategy. It's the core of our innovation strategy. We're trying to do it around the consumer.

Speaker #3: I mean, we talked about the direct-to-consumer channel that went unlocked that GMV for us would be being able to basically in real time determine if the product in the cart is lease eligible or not.

Speaker #3: And AI is the feature to do that. So very much integrated in our innovation strategy is the core of our innovation strategy. We're trying to do it around the consumer and we're already doing that both through the Renisenter business and the SEMA business and Bridget for that matter, just through generative and agentic AI.

Fahmi Karam: And we're already doing that, both through the Rent-A-Center business, the Acima business, and Brigit, for that matter, just through, you know, generative and agentic AI. We are, you know, establishing different tests and pilots and use cases around how do we interact with customers, how do we understand where the customers are shopping and what they're interested in. And so as we think about kind of rank ordering where it is, it's around growth, revenue growth, and customer interactions. Then, you know, underwriting, I think we're already doing a lot in the machine learning space, and talked a little bit about integrating what Brigit's doing into our other businesses. So that will also be, you know, driven by AI functionality and automation. And then probably last in that order is probably around efficiency.

Speaker #3: We are establishing different tests and pilots and use cases around how do we interact with customers? How do we understand where the customers are shopping and what they're interested in?

Speaker #3: And so, as we think about kind of rank ordering where it is, it's around growth, revenue growth, and customer interactions. Then underwriting—I think we're already doing a lot in the machine learning space, and talked a little bit about integrating what Bridget's doing into our other businesses.

Fahmi Karam: And so as we think about kind of rank ordering where it is, it's around growth, revenue growth, and customer interactions. Then, you know, underwriting, I think we're already doing a lot in the machine learning space, and talked a little bit about integrating what Brigit's doing into our other businesses. So that will also be, you know, driven by AI functionality and automation. And then probably last in that order is probably around efficiency.

Speaker #3: So that will also be driven by AI functionality and automation. And then probably last in that order is probably around efficiency. We are rolling that out to all of our coworkers and dabbling with that.

Fahmi Karam: We are rolling that out to all of our coworkers and dabbling with that, but it probably starts with revenue growth and then ends with the efficiency piece.

Speaker #3: But it probably starts with revenue growth and then ends with the efficiency piece.

Speaker #6: Very helpful. Thanks so much.

Brad Thomas: Very helpful. Thanks so much.

Speaker #1: One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from Hangwen with TD Cowen. Your line is open.

Operator: One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from Huang Wen with TD Cowen. Your line is open.

Speaker #2: Thanks, guys. I just have a question on Bridget. So I think at the beginning, when you guys announced the deal, you guys were calling for an acceleration in revenue growth this year versus '25.

Hoang Nguyen: Thanks, guys. I just have a question on Brigit. So I think at the beginning, when you guys announced the deal, you guys were calling for an acceleration in revenue growth this year versus 25. Given some of the delays that you mentioned, as well as I guess maybe subscribers coming in maybe a little bit below what you had previously expected, should we expect Brigit to accelerate this year? And if so, what would be the cadence throughout the year as you guys continue with your cross-sell efforts? And then, one of our competitors also recently launched a I guess a cash advance feature as well, and has seen some success. So how do you go about the competitive landscape for Brigit's offering at this moment? Thank you.

Speaker #2: Given some of the delayed that you mentioned, as well as, I guess, maybe subscribers coming in maybe a little bit below what you had previously expected, should we still expect Bridget to accelerate this year?

Speaker #2: And if so, what would be the cadence throughout the year as you guys continue with your cross-sell efforts? And then one of our competitors also recently launched a, I guess, a cash advance feature as well.

Hoang Nguyen: And if so, what would be the cadence throughout the year as you guys continue with your cross-sell efforts? And then, one of our competitors also recently launched a I guess a cash advance feature as well, and has seen some success. So how do you go about the competitive landscape for Brigit's offering at this moment? Thank you.

Speaker #2: And I've seen some success. So, how do they pull out the competitive landscape for Bridget's offering at this moment? Thank you.

Speaker #3: Hang, you broke up a little bit. Who did you say launched a product?

Fahmi Karam: Huang, you broke up a little bit. Who did you say launched the product?

Speaker #2: Oh, one of our competitors. Yeah, they also have a new cash advance app. So yeah.

Hoang Nguyen: One of your competitors today. Yeah, they also have a new cash advance app, so.

Fahmi Karam: Yeah. I'll just touch a little bit around just the competitive landscape, I guess, first, and then I'll move on to the revenue and subscriber growth for 2026. Yeah, look, I think there are people who are announcing different versions of EWA products and instant cash-like products. And honestly, I'm not surprised by that. There's a lot of demand for the product. People are seeing the same thing that we're seeing, that consumers, especially in this environment, need liquidity solutions. And so it's not surprising that others are jumping along and developing or acquiring similar products like Brigit. Like, we saw, you know, all the same rationale and merits that we saw, others are seeing the same thing.

Speaker #3: I'll just touch on—I'll touch a little bit around, just the competitive landscape, I guess, first, and then I'll move over to the revenue and subscriber growth for 2026.

Speaker #3: Yeah, look, I think there are people who are announcing different versions of EWA products and instant cash-like products. And honestly, I'm not surprised by that.

Speaker #3: There's a lot of demand for the product. People are seeing the same thing that we're seeing, that consumers especially in this environment need liquidity solutions.

Fahmi Karam: People are seeing the same thing that we're seeing, that consumers, especially in this environment, need liquidity solutions. And so it's not surprising that others are jumping along and developing or acquiring similar products like Brigit. Like, we saw, you know, all the same rationale and merits that we saw, others are seeing the same thing.

Speaker #3: And so it's not surprising that others are jumping along and developing or acquiring similar products like Bridget. We saw all the same rationale and merits that we saw.

Speaker #3: Others are seeing the same thing. So what we need to do is make sure that we continue to differentiate our products and continue to add value to our bundle to make sure that we retain the customers that we get from Bridget.

Fahmi Karam: So, what we need to do is make sure that we continue to differentiate our products and continue to add value to our bundle, to make sure that we retain the customers that we get from Brigit. And I think we've done that, and we'll continue to do that with the product roadmap and the line of credit. Some of the other things that we've talked about, really giving consumers more choice around the different pricing and different tiers that we have. That's the way that we'll be able to differentiate Brigit and hopefully maintain the growth that we expect. As far as the cadence goes, for 2026, as I mentioned, still very healthy top line growth year over year.

Speaker #3: And I think we've done that. And we're going to continue to do that with the product roadmap and the line of credit, some of the other things that we've talked about, really giving consumers more choice around the different pricing and different tiers that we have.

Fahmi Karam: Some of the other things that we've talked about, really giving consumers more choice around the different pricing and different tiers that we have. That's the way that we'll be able to differentiate Brigit and hopefully maintain the growth that we expect. As far as the cadence goes, for 2026, as I mentioned, still very healthy top line growth year over year.

Speaker #3: That's the way that we'll be able to differentiate Bridget and hopefully maintain the growth that we expect. As far as the cadence goes for 2026, as I mentioned, still very healthy, top-line growth year over year.

Speaker #3: We are delayed on some of the new products. And again, being very cautious from a new audience and new product rollout given the uncertainty in the market.

Fahmi Karam: We are delayed on some of the new products. And again, being very cautious from a, you know, new audience and new product rollout, given the uncertainty in the market. I think the acceleration, you know, seasonally is generally, in subscriber growth, is going to be back-end loaded. I think the faster we are able to roll out the new line of credit will also have a big impact on subscriber growth, and all those things are kind of pointed to the second half of the year as we get performance data around that product.

Speaker #3: I think the acceleration seasonally is generally in subscriber growth is going to be backend loaded. I think the faster we are able to roll out the new line of credit will also have a big impact on subscriber growth and all those things that are kind of pointed to the second half of the year as we get performance data around that product.

Speaker #2: Got it. Thank you.

Operator: Got it. Thank you. One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from Yuna Song with Jefferies. Your line is open.

Speaker #1: One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from Yunasong with Jefferies. Your line is open.

Speaker #4: Hello. Thank you for taking my question. And congratulations, Paul, on joining the team. My question was around the margin across the segment. You mentioned there was some comp effect in the fourth quarter '24, but looking at the gross margin per segment, it is still trending downward compared to past quarters.

Yuna Sohn: Hello, thank you for taking my question, and congratulations, Paul, on joining the team. My question was around the margin across the segment. You mentioned there was some comp effect in Q4 2024, but looking at the growth margin per segment, it is still trending downward, compared to past quarters and Q4 2024 in REC segment. Could you give a little color around if that's driven by any changes in, product mix shift, consumer behavior, or is it more so on the inventory side? Any color will be great. Thank you.

Speaker #4: And fourth quarter '24 in the REC segment, and could you give a little color around if that's driven by any changes in product mix shift, consumer behavior, or is it more so on the inventory side?

Speaker #4: Any color will be great. Thank you.

Speaker #3: Yeah, sure. It's Hal here. Maybe I can touch on that. In terms of the first piece of that, we did actually, in Q4 of last year, experience some in-period benefits on the labor cost lines associated with our workers' compensation.

Hal Khouri: Yeah, sure. It's Hal here. Maybe I can touch on that. You know, in terms of the first piece of that, we did actually in Q4 of last year experience some in-period benefits on the labor cost lines associated with our workers compensation numbers. So that was an in-period benefit last year. And as we look at the comp year-over-year, obviously this year, we wouldn't have realized some of those in-period benefits. In terms of the margins overall, you know, certainly the competitive landscape, I think, is putting pressure across the board on margins, on the top line perspective. But also, as you think about our gross profit margins, certainly the cost of goods as well.

Speaker #3: So that was an in-period benefit last year. And as we look at the comp year over year, obviously, this year we wouldn't have realized some of those in-period benefits.

Hal Khouri: And as we look at the comp year-over-year, obviously this year, we wouldn't have realized some of those in-period benefits. In terms of the margins overall, you know, certainly the competitive landscape, I think, is putting pressure across the board on margins, on the top line perspective. But also, as you think about our gross profit margins, certainly the cost of goods as well.

Speaker #3: In terms of the margins overall, certainly the competitive landscape, I think, is putting pressure across the board on margins on the top-line perspective. But also, as you think about our gross profit margins, certainly the cost of goods as well.

Hal Khouri: You know, we are experiencing some cost shifts there, you know, with tariffs certainly playing into the equation, as well. You know, our furniture category has been impacted by that as well. So, you know, those in concert, you know, collectively, top line pressure competitively, us trying to garner additional volume, and being competitive with our pricing, tightening up on the credit side as well, I would say. So on the margin, you know, perhaps reducing some of the customers that would have been a bit higher in terms of the overall margin contribution as well on a top line perspective, that and the overall cost of goods actually increasing period over period.

Speaker #3: We are experiencing some cost shifts there, with tariffs certainly playing into the equation. As well, our furniture category has been impacted by that as well.

Speaker #3: And so those in concert collectively top-line pressure competitively, us trying to garner additional volume and being competitive with our pricing, tightening up on the credit side as well.

Speaker #3: I would say so on the margin, perhaps reducing some of the customers that would have been a bit higher in terms of the overall margin contribution as well on a top-line perspective.

Hal Khouri: So on the margin, you know, perhaps reducing some of the customers that would have been a bit higher in terms of the overall margin contribution as well on a top line perspective, that and the overall cost of goods actually increasing period over period.

Speaker #3: That and the overall cost of goods actually increasing period over period. So all of that being said, as we think about the outlook going into 2026, as Fannie had mentioned, generally positive outlook in that respect, being more efficient I would say in terms of how we operate, looking at areas as some of those historical vintages flow through, we would expect some improvement through the back end of the year.

Hal Khouri: So, you know, all of that being said, as we think about the outlook going into 2026, as Sammy had mentioned, you know, generally positive outlook in that respect, being more efficient, I would say, in terms of how we operate, looking at areas as some of those historical vintages flow through, we would expect, you know, some improvement through the back end of the year, and expansion in overall margin and contribution there as well.

Speaker #3: An expansion in overall margin and contribution there as well.

Speaker #4: Great. That's really helpful. And in regards to some of the tightening actions throughout 2025, how should we think about the cadence of that unfolding in terms of credit or growth throughout 2026?

Yuna Sohn: Great. That's really helpful. In regards to some of the tightening actions, throughout 2025, how should we think about the cadence of that unfolding in terms of credit or growth throughout 2026? Thank you.

Speaker #4: Thank you.

Speaker #3: So yeah, I think we answered some of this as far as the cadence goes from a GMV standpoint. But look, on the underwriting side and losses, and I touched on it a little bit earlier, delinquencies on both Renacenter and Acima are in line with years past.

Fahmi Karam: So, yeah, I think we answered some of this as far as the cadence goes from a GMV standpoint, but you know, look, on the underwriting side and losses, and I touched on it a little bit earlier, you know, delinquencies on both Rent-A-Center and Acima are in line with years past and a very acceptable level. The changes that we made at Acima seem to be working as intended. The early performance indicators of the more recent vintages are much more in line with historical years. And so, that's why we felt confident in guiding Q1 and really the year for Acima to be in that 9.5% range.

Fahmi Karam: So, yeah, I think we answered some of this as far as the cadence goes from a GMV standpoint, but you know, look, on the underwriting side and losses, and I touched on it a little bit earlier, you know, delinquencies on both Rent-A-Center and Acima are in line with years past and a very acceptable level. The changes that we made at Acima seem to be working as intended.The early performance indicators of the more recent vintages are much more in line with historical years. And so, that's why we felt confident in guiding Q1 and really the year for Acima to be in that 9.5% range.

Speaker #3: And a very acceptable level of the changes that we made at Acima seem to be working as intended. The early performance indicators are the more recent vintages are much more in line with historical years.

Speaker #3: And so that's why we felt confident in guiding the first quarter and really the year for Acima to be in that nine and a half percent range.

Speaker #3: And so we feel good about peaking like we said we would in the fourth quarter at 10% and coming back into a more normalized range really throughout the year.

Fahmi Karam: And, so we feel good about, you know, peaking, like we said we would in Q4 at 10% and coming back into a more normalized range, really throughout the year. Now, it does come at a cost of GMV growth, and, you know, that will be impacting GMV for the first half of the year, and then hopefully we rebound into more normalized levels in the second half of the year. And with Rent-A-Center, I think the same thing. A pretty stable environment from our consumer standpoint. You know, no major changes that we see on the horizon from an underwriting standpoint other than our normal, you know, pull push-pull on some of the levers that we would do, and it's been stable.

Speaker #3: Now, it does come at a cost of GMV growth. And that will be impacting GMV for the first half of the year and then hopefully we rebound into more normalized levels in the second half of the year.

Speaker #3: And with Renacenter, I think the same thing. Pretty stable environment from our consumer standpoint. No major changes that we see on the horizon from an underwriting standpoint other than our normal push-pull on some of the levers that we would do.

Fahmi Karam: And with Rent-A-Center, I think the same thing. A pretty stable environment from our consumer standpoint. You know, no major changes that we see on the horizon from an underwriting standpoint other than our normal, you know, pull push-pull on some of the levers that we would do, and it's been stable.

Speaker #3: And it's been stable. We're very comfortable operating in that 4.5% to 5% zip code from a loss perspective, and generating mid-teens margin on that business.

Fahmi Karam: We're very comfortable operating in that 4.5 to 5% ZIP code from a loss perspective and generating, you know, mid-teens margin on that business and with the Acima kind of the low to mid-teens EBITDA margin. So, losses seem to be stable, obviously a very uncertain macro that we're dealing with here. But for now, we feel really good about our portfolio and the health of the portfolio coming into the year.

Speaker #3: And with Acima, kind of the low to mid-teens, EBITDA margin. So losses seem to be stable. Obviously, very uncertain macro that we're dealing with here but for now, we feel really good about our portfolio and the health of the portfolio coming into the year.

Operator: Thank you. One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from Anthony Chikumba with Loop Capital Markets. Your line is open.

Speaker #1: Thank you. One moment for our next question. Our next question comes from Anthony Chacumba with Loop Capital Markets. Your line is open.

Speaker #5: Good morning. I'll keep this short so you guys can get back to actually mention your business. You've touched on this a few times, but I just wanted to clarify.

Anthony Chukumba: Good morning. I'll keep this short so you guys can get back to actually managing your business. You've touched on this a few times, but I just wanted to clarify. The slowdown in Acima GMV, was that solely due to the credit tightening, or was there... or, you know, was there, were there any other factors, like on just like slow, any kind of type of slowdown in underlying demand for, you know, furniture and appliances? Thank you.

Speaker #5: The slowdown in Acima GMV, was that solely due to the credit tightening, or were there any other factors, like any kind of slowdown in underlying demand for furniture and appliances?

Speaker #5: Thank you.

Speaker #3: Good morning, Anthony. Thanks for the question. Yeah, I would say the majority of it was probably just intentional from our underwriting standards there was some softness in demand going into the year or into the fourth quarter, I should say.

Fahmi Karam: Good morning, Anthony. Thanks for the question. Yeah, I would say the majority of it was probably just intentional from our underwriting standards. There was some softness in demand going into the year or into the fourth quarter, I should say, in the holiday season. So there's a part of it is the macro. There's no doubt that furniture continues to be under pressure. You know, I don't think that's unique to us at all, either Rent-A-Center or Acima. And I think that did, you know, have some headwinds in the fourth quarter. But as I said, we're very optimistic about our ability to continue to add merchants and add locations on the Acima side.

Speaker #3: And in the holiday season, there was a part of it that is the macro. There's no doubt that furniture continues to be under pressure.

Fahmi Karam: You know, I don't think that's unique to us at all, either Rent-A-Center or Acima. And I think that did, you know, have some headwinds in the fourth quarter. But as I said, we're very optimistic about our ability to continue to add merchants and add locations on the Acima side.

Speaker #3: I don't think that's unique to us at all, either Renacenter or Acima. And I think that did have some headwinds in the fourth quarter.

Speaker #3: But as I said, we're very optimistic about our ability to continue to add merchants and add locations on the Acima side. And when furniture does come back, we'll still have all of those furniture retailers on our network.

Fahmi Karam: And when furniture does come back, you know, we'll still have all of those furniture retailers on our network. We'll have all the diversification that we've talked about, and we can then, you know, use that to feed the marketplace and direct-to-consumer channels. So, you know, right now we're managing losses the best we can, managing the underwriting in a pretty difficult environment, also through demand pressures, especially in our largest category. But once all that kind of clears, we'll be in a really good position to have a lot of tailwinds, especially when you think about our ability to generate repeat business on the Acima side that I went through earlier on the call. That gives us a lot of confidence to continue to grow GMV.

Speaker #3: We'll have all the diversification that we've talked about. And we can then use that to feed the marketplace. And direct-to-consumer channels. So right now, we're managing losses the best we can, managing the underwriting in a pretty difficult environment.

Speaker #3: Also, through demand pressures, especially in our largest category. But once all that kind of clears, we'll be in a really good position and have a lot of tailwinds, especially when you think about our ability to generate repeat business on the Acima side that I went through earlier on the call.

Fahmi Karam: But once all that kind of clears, we'll be in a really good position to have a lot of tailwinds, especially when you think about our ability to generate repeat business on the Acima side that I went through earlier on the call. That gives us a lot of confidence to continue to grow GMV.

Speaker #3: That gives us a lot of confidence to continue to grow GMV.

Speaker #5: Got it. Thanks so much.

Anthony Chukumba: Got it. Thanks so much.

Speaker #3: Thanks, Anthony.

Fahmi Karam: Thanks, Anthony.

Speaker #1: And I'm not showing any further questions. I'd like to turn the call back over to Fannie for any further remarks.

Operator: I'm not showing any further questions. I'd like to turn the call back over to Fahmi for any further remarks.

Speaker #3: Thanks, Kevin. Thank you, everyone, who joined us today for an update on our Q4 performance and our outlook for 2026. I'm thankful for the collective efforts of our exceptionally talented and dedicated coworkers.

Fahmi Karam: Thanks, Kevin. Thank you, everyone, who joined us today for an update on our Q4 performance and our outlook for 2026. I'm thankful for the collective efforts of our exceptionally talented and dedicated coworkers and our merchants who helped us deliver 2025 strong results while setting us up for another transformational year ahead. We're grateful for your interest and support. We look forward to updating you all again next quarter on our continued progress. Have a great day, everyone.

Speaker #3: And our merchants who helped us deliver 2025 strong results. While setting us up for another transformational year ahead. We're grateful for your interest and support.

Speaker #3: We look forward to updating you all again next quarter on our continued progress. Have a great day, everyone.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today's presentation. We thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect and have a wonderful day.

Q4 2025 Upbound Group Inc Earnings Call

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