Atlanticus (NASDAQ:ATLC) reported record second-quarter profit and revenue as the consumer-credit company continued to expand its legacy businesses and integrate the Mercury acquisition. Atlanticus recorded changes in fair value of negative $396 million, compared with negative $217 million in the prior-year quarter. Year over year, delinquency and loss rates improved due to stronger underlying portfolio performance and the lower-loss Mercury portfolio. In private-label retail credit, Howard said receivables grew by roughly 27%, driven largely by ongoing expansion with the company’s five or six largest merchant partners. Howard said Atlanticus expects earnings growth and returns on equity at or above its long-term 20% target, while prioritizing disciplined credit management, funding flexibility and returns over growth for its own sake.