Despite the challenges in the quarter, we saw an improvement in our same store sales trend, generated cash flow from operations of more than $87 million and made significant progress on our store consolidation plan
Mark E. Speese, Rent-A-Center Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Rent-A-Center (RCII) today announced revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 of $573.5 million, a $3.9 million increase from $569.6 million for the same period in the prior year. This increase of 0.7% in revenues was primarily driven by incremental revenues generated in new and acquired stores, offset by a decrease in same store sales of 0.4%.

Net earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 were $26.0 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, when excluding the expenses for restructuring and the impact of the hurricanes discussed below, representing a decrease of 25.5% from the $0.47 per diluted share, or net earnings of $37.6 million for the same period in the prior year, when excluding the litigation and finance charges discussed below. The decrease in earnings per diluted share is primarily attributable to the decrease in same store sales as well as increases in operating expenses related to new store openings, acquisitions and normal operating costs such as utility and fuel costs, offset by a reduction in the number of the Company's outstanding shares.

Reported net earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 were $11.3 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, when including the $0.20 effect of restructuring expenses and the impact of the hurricanes. Also, as a result of the hurricanes impact, the Company estimates that revenue in the third quarter was lower by approximately $1.7 million.

Total reported revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 increased to $1.756 billion, a 1.6% increase from $1.728 billion for the same period in the prior year. Same store revenues for the nine month period ending September 30, 2005 decreased 2.8%. Net earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 were $108.3 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, when excluding the restructuring expenses, the impact of the hurricanes and the credits for the litigation reversion and tax audit reserve discussed below, representing a decrease of 16.8% from the $1.73 per diluted share, or net earnings of $141.0 million for the same period in the prior year, when excluding the litigation and finance charges discussed below. Reported net earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 were $100.7 million, or $1.34 per diluted share, when including the $0.10 effect of restructuring expenses and the impact of the hurricanes as well as the credits for the tax audit reserve and litigation.

"This quarter, as well as the past year and a half, have been challenging for our customer and for our company due, we believe, to the macroeconomic environment, and more specifically the higher energy prices," commented Mark E. Speese, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Despite the challenges in the quarter, we saw an improvement in our same store sales trend, generated cash flow from operations of more than $87 million and made significant progress on our store consolidation plan, having closed 100 of the identified stores," Speese continued. "As we prepare to enter 2006, our strategic objectives will continue to be to enhance store level operations, open new stores, pursue opportunistic acquisitions in rent-to-own and other businesses that serve our customer demographic, and enhance stockholder value by repurchasing additional shares of our common stock, while maintaining a solid balance sheet," Speese stated.

During the third quarter of 2005, the Company opened 17 new store locations, acquired two stores as well as accounts from 15 additional locations, consolidated 114 stores into existing locations, sold two stores and closed eight stores. Since September 30, 2005, the Company has opened three new stores, acquired accounts from one location, consolidated seven stores into existing locations, sold 15 stores and closed five stores. For the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2005, the Company intends to open between 20 and 25 new store locations as well as pursue opportunistic acquisitions.

Through the nine month period ended September 30, 2005, the Company generated cash flow from operations of approximately $143.7 million, while ending the quarter with $52.8 million of cash on hand. On August 22, 2005, the Company announced that its Board of Directors increased the authorization for stock repurchases under the Company's common stock repurchase program to $400 million. Through the nine month period ended September 30, 2005, the Company repurchased 4,084,600 shares for $84.1 million in cash under the program and has utilized a total of $321.6 million of the total amount authorized by its Board of Directors since the inception of the plan.

During the third quarter of 2005, the Company recorded a pre-tax restructuring expense of approximately $13.0 million as part of the store consolidation plan announced on September 6, 2005. The costs with respect to these store closings relate primarily to lease terminations of approximately $6.5 million, goodwill impairment of approximately $4.5 million and fixed asset disposals of approximately $1.8 million. This restructuring expense reduced diluted earnings per share in the third quarter of 2005 by $0.12 and for the nine month period ended September 30, 2005 by $0.12.

Also, during the third quarter of 2005, the Company recorded a pre-tax expense of approximately $7.7 million related to the damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These costs relate primarily to goodwill impairment of approximately $3.7 million and inventory losses of approximately $3.6 million. The hurricanes affected approximately 180 stores in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama, of which 14 stores in Louisiana and one store in Mississippi have been permanently closed. These expenses reduced diluted earnings per share in the third quarter of 2005 by $0.08 and for the nine month period ended September 30, 2005 by $0.08.

In addition, during 2005, the Company recorded a $2.0 million tax audit reserve credit in the second quarter associated with the examination and favorable resolution of the Company's 1998 and 1999 federal tax returns. Also in 2005, the Company recorded an $8.0 million pre-tax credit in the first quarter associated with the settlement of the Griego/Carrillo litigation. The litigation reversion credit in the first quarter, combined with the $2.0 million tax audit reserve credit in the second quarter, increased diluted earnings per share for the nine month period ended September 30, 2005 by $0.10.

During the third quarter of 2004, the Company recorded $47.0 million in pre-tax charges associated with the aforementioned Griego/Carrillo litigation and $4.2 million in pre-tax charges associated with the refinancing of its senior credit facility. These charges reduced diluted earnings per share in the third quarter of 2004 by $0.40, $0.37 for the litigation charge and $0.03 for the refinancing charge, from $0.47 per diluted earnings per share to the reported diluted earnings per share of $0.07. Additionally, these charges reduced diluted earnings per share for the nine month period ended September 30, 2004 by $0.39 to the reported diluted earnings per share of $1.34.

Rent-A-Center will host a conference call to discuss the third quarter financial results on Tuesday morning, October 25, 2005, at 10:45 a.m. EST. Audio of the call will be broadcast live. A link to the live webcast will be available from My RTO Portfolio.

Rent-A-Center operates 2,763 company-owned stores nationwide and in Canada and Puerto Rico.

FOURTH QUARTER 2005 GUIDANCE:

Revenues

-- The Company expects total revenues to be in the range of $575 million to $583 million.

-- Store rental and fee revenues are expected to be between $521 million and $526 million.

-- Total store revenues are expected to be in the range of $565 million to $573 million.

-- Same store sales are expected to be in the (1.0%) to (2.0%) range.

-- The Company expects to open 20-25 new store locations.

Expenses

-- The Company expects cost of rental and fees to be between 21.7% and 22.1% of store rental and fee revenue and cost of goods merchandise sales to be between 75% and 80% of store merchandise sales.

-- Store salaries and other expenses are expected to be in the range of 59.5% to 61.0% of total store revenue.

-- General and administrative expenses are expected to be between 3.5% and 3.7% of total revenue.

-- Net interest expense is expected to be approximately $11.5 million, depreciation of property assets to be approximately $13.5 million and amortization of intangibles is expected to be approximately $1.3 million.

-- The effective tax rate is expected to be in the range of 37.0% to 37.5% of pre-tax income.

-- Diluted earnings per share are estimated to be in the range of $0.43 to $0.47.

-- Diluted shares outstanding are estimated to be between 71.3 million and 72.3 million.

FISCAL 2006 GUIDANCE:

Revenues

-- The Company expects total revenues to be in the range of $2.37 billion and $2.40 billion.

-- Store rental and fee revenues are expected to be between $2.105 billion and $2.130 billion.

-- Total store revenues are expected to be in the range of $2.332 billion and $2.362 billion.

-- Same store sales are expected to be flat.

-- The Company expects to open 60-80 new store locations.

Expenses

-- The Company expects cost of rental and fees to be between 21.7% and 22.1% of store rental and fee revenue and cost of goods merchandise sales to be between 70% and 75% of store merchandise sales.

-- Store salaries and other expenses are expected to be in the range of 58.0% to 59.5% of total store revenue.

-- General and administrative expenses are expected to be between 3.5% and 3.7% of total revenue.

-- Net interest expense is expected to be between $42.0 million and $47.0 million, depreciation of property assets is expected to be between $53.0 million and $58.0 million and amortization of intangibles is expected to be approximately $3.3 million.

-- The effective tax rate is expected to be in the range of 36.75% to 37.25% of pre-tax income.

-- Diluted earnings per share, when including stock option expense, are estimated to be in the range of $2.00 to $2.10, and $2.04 to $2.14, excluding stock option expense.

-- Diluted shares outstanding are estimated to be between 72.0 million and 73.5 million.