ARM Companies Largely Meeting Expectations in 2012

Nearly 60 percent of accounts receivable management companies are meeting or exceeding expectations for performance in 2012, according to a non-scientific poll of insideARM readers. The poll asked ARM companies to compare their 2012 results so far to expectations heading into the year.

Almost 32 percent of respondents said their firms were performing “a little better than expectations,” the most commonly-selected option. Another 6.4 percent reported 2012 performance was “much better” than expectations.

More than 21 percent of respondents reported results in-line with 2012 expectations.

A little more than 40 percent said that 2012 performance was worse than expectations, with 23.4 percent noting that results were “a little worse” than they expected and 17 percent claiming performance is “much worse” than they anticipated.

Part of the seemingly positive results is probably attributable to diminished expectations heading into 2012.

When companies were making 2012 projections in the fourth quarter of 2011, the national unemployment rate was hovering around 9 percent. It has since declined to 7.9 percent in the most recent report for October 2012. Since November of last year, the economy has created nearly 2 million net new jobs.

In addition, consumer credit has expanded from its doldrums of 2010 and 2011, leading to more work for ARM companies.

How has your company fared so far in 2012 (again, compared to expectations going into the year)? Tell us in the comment section below.