UPBOUND GRP INC Stock Price, News & Analysis

Upbound Group (NASDAQ: UPBD) has completed its acquisition of Brigit, a financial health technology company, significantly expanding its customer base to approximately four million active customers, including Brigit's over one million active paying subscribers and almost one million free subscribers.

The acquisition enhances Upbound's platform by adding Brigit's all-digital solutions, including earned wage access, credit building products, and financial wellness tools. Brigit's proprietary cash flow underwriting data and technology stack are expected to improve risk management and fraud prevention across Upbound's existing brands, including Acima and Rent-A-Center.

Brigit co-founders Zuben Mathews and Hamel Kothari will continue to lead the Brigit team as a business segment of Upbound. The merger aims to create a more personalized customer experience and deliver targeted financial solutions for underserved consumers.

Upbound Group (NASDAQ: UPBD) has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Brigit, a financial health technology company, for up to $460 million in cash and stock. The transaction includes $325 million payable at closing (75% cash, 25% stock), $75 million in deferred cash over two years, and a potential $60 million earnout based on 2026 performance metrics.

Brigit serves nearly two million monthly active customers, including over one million paying subscribers. The company is projected to generate revenues of $215-230 million in 2025 and $350-400 million in 2026. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to Adjusted EBITDA by $25-30 million in 2025 and $70-80 million in 2026.

The deal is anticipated to close in Q1 2025, expanding Upbound's technology-driven financial solutions and enhancing its risk management capabilities through Brigit's AI/ML models.

Upbound Group (NASDAQ: UPBD), a provider of flexible leasing solutions through brands like Rent-A-Center and Acima, has announced a 5% increase in its quarterly cash dividend. The new dividend of $0.39 per share will be paid on January 7, 2025, to stockholders of record as of December 18, 2024.

Upbound Group (NASDAQ: UPBD) has partnered with Google Cloud to implement advanced AI solutions across its Acima Leasing and Rent-A-Center businesses. The collaboration will utilize Google Cloud's Vertex AI to enhance product accessibility, personalization, and service quality. The AI roadmap focuses on improving customer conversion through website enhancement, expanding leasable goods catalog through real-time identification on retailer websites, and increasing operational efficiency in customer service. The partnership aims to establish a data ecosystem for scaling AI initiatives while ensuring data security and compliance.

Upbound Group (NASDAQ:UPBD) has released its third quarter 2024 financial results, reporting total revenue of $1,069 million. The company achieved GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.55 and Non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.95. Upbound operates through brands like Rent-A-Center® and Acima®, managing over 2,300 retail units across the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. The Non-GAAP EPS includes adjustments for special items such as Acima acquired assets depreciation, legal matters, and accelerated stock compensation.

Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPBD), a leading provider of technology-driven, flexible leasing solutions, has announced the timing for its third quarter 2024 financial results. The company, which operates brands including Rent-A-Center® and Acima®, will release its financial report before the market opens on October 31, 2024. This will be followed by a conference call at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results. Interested parties can access a live webcast of the conference call through a provided link. The webcast and presentation materials will also be available on Upbound's investor relations website. A replay of the call will be available from 1:00 p.m. ET on October 31.

Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPBD), a leading provider of flexible leasing solutions through brands like Rent-A-Center® and Acima®, has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.37 for the fourth quarter of 2024. The dividend is payable on October 22, 2024, to stockholders of record as of October 1, 2024. This announcement demonstrates Upbound's commitment to returning value to shareholders and suggests confidence in the company's financial stability. The consistent dividend payout may attract income-focused investors and potentially support the stock price.

Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPBD) has appointed Charu Jain as a new independent director to its Board, effective September 10, 2024. Ms. Jain, currently serving as the senior vice president of merchandising and innovation at Alaska Air Group (NASDAQ: ALK), brings extensive experience in technology-driven solutions and digital transformation. Her background includes leadership roles at IBM, Pacific Gas & Electric, United Airlines, and PwC. Ms. Jain holds an MBA in International Management and is recognized for her contributions to STEM talent development. Upbound CEO Mitch Fadel expressed excitement about Ms. Jain's potential contributions to the company's technology-driven initiatives in serving retail partners and enhancing customer experiences.

Acima Leasing, a subsidiary of Upbound Group (NASDAQ: UPBD), is facing a lawsuit from the New York Attorney General's office (NYAG) despite ongoing cooperation and settlement discussions. The company plans to vigorously defend against the allegations, many of which relate to periods before Upbound's acquisition of Acima. The NYAG is attempting to recharacterize lease-to-own transactions as lending transactions, which Acima argues is contrary to established law.

Upbound CEO Mitchell Fadel emphasized Acima's commitment to transparency, fairness, and providing value to customers. The company, celebrating its 50th anniversary, has served millions of customers with lease-to-own solutions, particularly those with less-than-perfect credit scores. Upbound remains dedicated to financial inclusion and empowerment for underserved consumers.