CLEARWATER, Fla. — A look into Nicholas Financial's most recent quarterly performance report showed strong gains in net earnings and revenue, as well as plans to continue the company's expansion.

For the most recent fiscal quarter, the company's net earnings, excluding change in fair value of interest rate swaps, increased by 52 percent to $3.1 million. That total is up from $2.5 million at the close of the same quarter in 2009.

When looking at per share diluted net earnings, excluding change in fair value of interest rate swaps, executives said they climbed by 44 percent to 26 cents. That's compared with 18 cents for the three months that ended March 31 of last year.

In other data from the quarter, Nicholas Financial indicated its revenue increased 8 percent to $14.3 million. That sum is up from $13.3 million.

Company executives also shared its year-end financial performance, and again the gains were substantial.

They revealed net earnings rose by 80 percent to $10.3 million, a jump from the 2009 figure of $5.7 million. Per share diluted net earnings climbed by nearly the same rate, this time at 74 percent. Those earnings moved up to 87 cents from 50 cents per share.

Elsewhere, Nicholas Financial noted its annual revenue edged up 6 percent from the 2009 total. The company said revenue increased from $53.1 million to $56.5 million.

"Our positive results for the fourth quarter and year were favorably impacted by a solid increase in revenues and a reduction in the net charge-off percentage of 41 percent and 26 percent for the three and 12 months that ended March 31, respectively," explained Peter Vosotas, chairman and chief executive officer of Nicholas Financial.

Besides the earnings and revenue performances, the company also revealed favorable trends regarding delinquencies and its amount of contracts.

In all three segments of account delinquencies — contracts 30 to 59 days past due, 60 to 89 days as well as 90 days and higher — Nicholas Financial's percentage amount dropped during its fiscal fourth quarter that ended March 31.

As compared to the same fiscal quarter ending in 2009, delinquencies 59 days or less past due shrank from 2.52 percent to 2.04 percent. Among contracts 60 to 89 days overdue, the percentage remained flat at 0.72 percent. The contracts with the longest delinquency slid down to 0.30 percent from 0.62 percent.

All told, the company's delinquency percentage dropped from 3.86 percent to 3.06 percent.

At the same time, the number of contracts in Nicholas Financial's portfolio grew. Comparing quarter to quarter, the figure climbed from 3,386 to 3,655. Looking at the end of its last two fiscal years, the totals moved from 12,194 to 12,907.

With much positive news to share, Vosotas also gave a glimpse in what the company's future might hold.

"We plan to open three to five new branch locations this year and will continue to evaluate additional markets for future branch locations," he offered.