Rent-A-Center will consolidate 150 stores

Plano, Texas – Rent-A-Center Inc. reported declining net earnings for first quarter 2014, even as revenues slightly grew. The company said it plans to optimize its U.S. store footprint by consolidating about 150 stores into existing stores by the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2014.



Net earnings fell 37% to $28.9 million from $46.1 million, while total revenues increased 1.8% to $833.7 million from $819.3 million. Same-store sales dropped 0.8%.



Rent-A-Center attributed its declining net earnings performance to a pre-tax charge and a write-off of unamortized financing costs from a previous credit agreement.



"We are generally pleased with our results in the quarter as we reported total revenues of $834 million, an increase of $15 million year-over-year, and our adjusted net earnings per diluted share of $0.57 exceeded expectations," said Robert D. Davis, CEO of Rent-A-Center Inc. "We remain aware of continued challenges in the macro-economic environment but our focus remains on the execution of the strategy communicated in our February investor day to build shareholder value.”