Metris Junk
Standard & Poor’s yesterday cut the ratings on some of Metris/Direct Merchants Bank credit card-backed bonds to junk status. Metris stock is now hovering at $3.75 per share, down nearly 87% from its 52-week high. Metris, a sub-prime credit card specialist, reported a charge-off rate of 16.56% and a delinquency rate of 11.63% for the latest performance cycle. The increased charge-off rate has negatively affected excess spread rates, causing excess spread levels to fall from their two-year average of 7.18% to a current three-month average of 5.93%. S&P says the performance trends have deteriorated during the past two years with more pronounced deterioration during the past six months, as the Metris Trust has reported increased delinquency and charge-off rates. While the Metris Master Trust-related transactions continue to benefit from a lower interest rate environment, the lower base rate costs have not wholly offset the trust’s increased charge-off rates. As a result, despite having a lower cost of funds, the excess spread levels for the trust continue to drop.