Capital One reported strong auto loan origination growth but fierce competition as it and other major publicly traded auto lenders shared third-quarter results.
Capital One’s auto loan originations surged during the third quarter compared with the prior year, rising 29 percent to $11.6 billion.
CEO Richard Fairbank credited the company’s digital capabilities and dealer relationship strategy for the growth. He also noted that “there’s like four or five planets that aligned in the auto business,” which fueled results.
“It’s been a very strong thing,” he said during an earnings call in October.
But Capital One has kept an eye on competitive pressures, Fairbank said, arguing that the company’s auto lending business was more prone to disruption than its credit card interests.
“The auto business, again, has the dealer in the middle of the whole exchange, and the dealer is driving an auction,” Fairbank said.
Capital One saw increased auto lending competition from all segments, including large banks, credit unions and smaller independents, according to Fairbank. It played out in pricing, loan terms and underwriting standards. Lenders also were expanding beyond their “pre-pandemic credit box,” Fairbank said.
In contrast, Capital One would continue to stay disciplined and focus on resilience and “taking what the market gives us,” Fairbank said. He said the bank is conservative and underwrites loans using an assumption of rapid vehicle value normalization.
Though the company was “leaning in” on auto, it would be cautious, Fairbank said.
“At some point, those planets won’t be as aligned as they have been,” he said.
Among other major publicly traded lenders reporting third-quarter earnings:
• Ally posted $12.3 billion in auto loan and lease originations, up 2.5 percent from a year earlier.
• GM Financial reported $11.6 billion in retail auto loan and lease originations, down 9.2 percent from a year earlier. The decline could be attributed to nearly $1.7 billion fewer new lease originations, according to the company.
• JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said his company’s auto loan and lease originations remained at “historically high levels” during the third quarter, at $11.5 billion, up 1 percent from the prior year. That amount was second only to the $12.4 billion in new loans and leases seen during the second quarter, Dimon said on an earnings call last month. The company said net revenue from auto loans and leases in the third quarter rose 12 percent over the prior year, though operating lease income fell.
• Wells Fargo auto loan originations climbed to $9.2 billion, up 70 percent from the prior year.
• Santander Consumer USA Holdings reported originations fell 7 percent to $7.8 billion. Santander said the decline was fueled by a drop in business from Chrysler Capital, including a 27 percent decrease in loan originations from Stellantis’ financial program.