FirstCash Reports Second Quarter Earnings Results; Completes Share Repurchase Plan and Adds New $200 Million Authorization; Increases Quarterly Dividend to $0.35 per Share

FORT WORTH, Texas, July 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (“FirstCash” or the “Company”) ( FCFS), the leading international operator of retail pawn stores and a leading provider of retail point-of-sale (“POS”) payment solutions through American First Finance (“AFF”), today announced operating results for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2023. The Company also announced that the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.35 per share, an increase of 6% compared to the previous quarterly dividend of $0.33 per share, which will be paid in August 2023. Additionally, the Company completed its share repurchase plan and the Board of Directors authorized a new $200 million plan.

Mr. Rick Wessel, chief executive officer, stated, “FirstCash posted record second quarter consolidated revenues and generated strong earnings growth from its core pawn operations in both the U.S. and Latin America. Coupled with continued revenue and transaction volume growth in AFF’s retail POS payment solutions business, we have significant earnings momentum entering the second half of 2023.

"FirstCash continues to expand its operating platform as well, with 36 pawn stores added year-to-date and additional store openings and acquisitions expected over the balance of the year, while AFF surpassed 10,000 active merchant door locations in the second quarter. Additionally, our strong balance sheet and cash flows have allowed us to repurchase $114 million of stock this year, through today’s date, and raise the quarterly cash dividend.”

This release contains adjusted financial measures, which exclude certain non-operating and/or non-cash expenses, which are non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to the descriptions and reconciliations to GAAP of these and other non-GAAP financial measures at the end of this release.

Consolidated Operating Highlights

• Consolidated revenues totaled $751 million in the second quarter, an increase of 16% on a GAAP basis and 14% on an adjusted basis compared to the prior-year quarter. Year-to-date consolidated revenues totaled $1.5 billion, an increase of 16% on a GAAP basis and 13% on an adjusted basis compared to the prior-year period.
• On a GAAP basis, the prior-year second quarter earnings included a significant non-cash gain ($1.13 per share, net of tax) on the revaluation of contingent consideration related to the AFF acquisition. As a result, GAAP-basis diluted earnings per share for the second quarter of 2023 decreased 45% over the prior-year quarter and 16% for the year-to-date period. Excluding purchase accounting and certain other adjustments primarily impacting prior-year results, adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 13% compared to the prior-year quarter while year-to-date diluted earnings per share increased 9% on an adjusted basis compared to the prior-year period.
• While GAAP net income for the second quarter decreased 48% over the prior-year quarter primarily due to the non-cash revaluation gain in 2022, adjusted net income, which excludes certain purchase accounting and other adjustments as described herein, increased 9% compared to the prior-year quarter. Year-to-date net income decreased 19% on a GAAP basis and increased 5% on an adjusted basis compared to the prior-year period.
• For the twelve month period ended June 30, 2023, adjusted EBITDA totaled $457 million, an increase of 25% over the comparable prior-year period. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter increased 11% compared to the prior-year quarter.
• Operating cash flows for the twelve month period ended June 30, 2023 were $448 million and adjusted free cash flows (a non-GAAP measure) were $284 million, an increase of 33% and 57%, respectively, compared to the prior-year period.

Store Base and Platform Growth

• Pawn Stores: During the second quarter, 19 pawn locations were added, and year-to-date, a total of 36 stores have been opened, bringing the total number of locations at June 30, 2023 to 2,889 locations. By market, the Company reported the following additions:
  • U.S. Pawn: One store in Oklahoma was acquired and two de novo locations in Las Vegas, Nevada were opened during the second quarter. At June 30, 2023, the Company had 1,101 full-service U.S. pawn locations in 25 states and the District of Columbia.
    
    The Company also purchased the underlying real estate at nine of its existing pawn stores during the second quarter. This brings the total number of owned U.S. locations to 308.
  • Latin America Pawn: A total of 16 de novo locations were opened in Latin America during the second quarter of 2023, which included 14 locations in Mexico and two locations in Guatemala. Year-to-date, 30 locations have been opened in Latin America where the Company now has 1,788 total locations.

• Retail POS Payment Solutions Merchant Partnerships: AFF continued to grow market share with approximately 10,500 active retail and e-commerce merchant partner locations at June 30, 2023, representing a 38% increase in active merchant locations compared to June 30, 2022.

U.S. Pawn Segment Operating Results

• Segment pre-tax operating income in the second quarter of 2023 increased $8 million, or 13%, compared to the prior-year quarter. The resulting segment pre-tax operating margin was 23% for the second quarter of 2023, an improvement over the 21% margin for the prior-year quarter.
• Year-to-date segment pre-tax operating income increased by $16 million, or 12%, compared to the prior-year period. The resulting segment pre-tax operating margin was 24% for the year-to-date period, an improvement over the 22% margin for the comparable prior-year period.
• Pawn fee revenue increased 13% in total and 11% on a same-store basis for the second quarter of 2023 as compared to the prior-year quarter, reflecting continued inflationary pressures driving additional demand and increased portfolio yield driven by improved customer redemption rates.
• Pawn receivables were at a record-level for the end of a second quarter, increasing 7% in total at June 30, 2023 compared to the prior year, while same-store pawn receivables were up 6%. Both increases represented sequential quarterly improvement over the growth rates at March 31, 2023.
• Retail merchandise sales in the second quarter of 2023 were flat compared to the prior-year quarter and decreased 3% on a same-store basis compared to the prior-year quarter, as inventory levels remain relatively constrained due to strong turn rates and lower than normal pawn forfeiture rates.
• Retail sales margins increased to 43% in the second quarter of 2023 compared to 41% in the prior-year quarter, reflecting continued demand for value-priced, pre-owned merchandise and low levels of aged inventory. The resulting gross profit from retail sales increased 4% in the second quarter compared to a year ago.
• Annualized inventory turnover was 2.8 times for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2023, while inventories aged greater than one year at June 30, 2023 remained low at 2%.
• Operating expenses increased 7% in total and 4% on a same-store basis in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the prior-year quarter, primarily reflecting inflationary increases in wages and certain other operating costs.

Latin America Pawn Segment Operating Results

Note: Certain growth rates below are calculated on a constant currency basis, a non-GAAP financial measure defined at the end of this release. The average Mexican peso to U.S. dollar exchange rate for the second quarter of 2023 was 17.7 pesos / dollar, a favorable change of 12% versus the comparable prior-year period, and for the six month period ended June 30, 2023 was 18.2 pesos / dollar, a favorable change of 10% versus the prior-year period.

• Second quarter segment pre-tax operating income increased 13%, or 3% on a constant currency basis, over the prior-year quarter. The resulting pre-tax operating margin was 20% for the second quarter of 2023 compared to 21% in the prior-year quarter.
• Year-to-date segment pre-tax operating income increased 12%, or 5% on a constant currency basis, over the prior-year period. The resulting pre-tax operating margin was 19% for the year-to-date period compared to 20% in the prior-year period.
• Pawn loan fees increased 19%, or 6% on a constant currency basis, in the second quarter of 2023 as compared to the prior-year quarter, both in total and on a same-store basis, reflecting improved yields on pawn receivables.
• Pawn receivables were at record levels at June 30, 2023, increasing 18%, or 1% on a constant currency basis, compared to the prior year. On a same-store basis, pawn receivables increased 17%, or 1% on a constant currency basis, compared to the prior year. The Company believes the recent flattening in local currency pawn balances in part reflects continued increases in government-mandated minimum wage and benefit programs in Mexico which have significantly benefited many cash-constrained consumers.
• Retail merchandise sales in the second quarter of 2023 increased 23%, or 10% on a constant currency basis, compared to the prior-year quarter. Same-store retail merchandise sales in the second quarter of 2023 were up 23%, or 9% on a constant currency basis, compared to the prior-year quarter.
• Retail margins remained within historical norms at 35% for the second quarter of 2023. Annualized inventory turnover was 4.3 times for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2023, while inventories aged greater than one year at June 30, 2023 remained extremely low at 1%.
• Operating expenses increased 24% in total and 23% on a same-store basis compared to the prior-year quarter. On a constant currency basis, they increased 11% in total and 10% on a same-store basis, driven in part by the increased pace of new store openings, higher incentive compensation expense related to growth in net revenue and segment earnings, along with general inflationary impacts and increases in the federally mandated minimum wage and other required benefit programs.
  

Retail POS Payment Solutions Segment - American First Finance (AFF) Operating Results

Note: The reconciliations of GAAP revenues and earnings for this segment to adjusted revenues and earnings are provided and described in more detail in the Retail POS Payment Solutions Segment Results section of this release.

• Segment revenues for the quarter, comprised of lease-to-own (“LTO”) fees and interest and fees on finance receivables, increased 30% on a GAAP basis and 22% on an adjusted basis, which excludes the non-cash impacts of fair value purchase accounting requirements in the 2022 results. Revenues for the year-to-date period increased 27% on a GAAP basis and 18% on an adjusted basis.
• Gross transaction volume from originated LTO and POS financing transactions totaled $256 million for the second quarter and $506 million year-to-date, representing an increase of 24% over the second quarter of last year and 29% year-to-date. The growth was driven by a combination of an approximate 5% quarter-over-quarter increase in transaction volumes at existing merchant door locations coupled with 38% growth in the number of active merchant locations at June 30, 2023 compared to June 30, 2022.
• Combined gross leased merchandise and finance receivables outstanding at June 30, 2023, excluding the impacts of purchase accounting, increased 18% compared to the June 30, 2022 balances.
• The combined provision for lease and loan losses for the quarter increased by $16 million, or 25%, over the prior-year quarter, driven primarily by the 24% increase in quarter-over-quarter origination activity. The year-to-date provision increased by $30 million, or 23%, over the prior-year period, driven primarily by the 29% increase in first half origination activity compared to the prior-year period.
• The average monthly net charge-off (“NCO”) rate for leased merchandise was 4.7% in the second quarter and 4.8% year-to-date, which were both consistent with the respective prior-year periods. The average monthly NCO rate for finance receivable products in the second quarter improved to 4.0% as compared to the prior-year rate of 4.5%, and the year-to-date rate improved to 4.2% as compared to the prior-year rate of 4.4%.
• Operating expenses increased 19% compared to the prior-year quarter, primarily due to an increase in origination-driven variable expenses associated with the 24% quarter-over-quarter increase in gross transaction volume.
• Second quarter segment pre-tax operating income totaled $26 million compared to the prior-year quarter segment earnings of $12 million on a GAAP basis and $25 million on an adjusted basis, which excludes the non-cash impacts of fair value purchase accounting requirements specific to 2022. Upfront loss provisioning and additional operating expenses associated with the increased origination activity ($50 million above the prior-year quarter) caused net earnings drag of approximately $8 million before taxes, or $0.14 per share, net of taxes for the second quarter of 2023.
• Year-to-date segment pre-tax operating income totaled $49 million compared to the prior-year period segment earnings of $17 million on a GAAP basis and $50 million on an adjusted basis. Upfront loss provisioning and additional operating expenses associated with the increased origination activity ($115 million above the prior year-to-date period) caused net earnings drag of approximately $12 million before taxes, or $0.20 per share, net of taxes for the first half of 2023.

Cash Flow and Liquidity

• All of the Company’s operating segments continue to generate significant operating cash flows. For the twelve month period ended June 30, 2023, consolidated operating cash flows totaled $448 million and adjusted free cash flows (a non-GAAP measure) were $284 million, increases of 33% and 57%, respectively, compared to the prior-year period.
• The Company’s strong liquidity position at June 30, 2023 includes cash balances of $105 million and ample borrowing capacity under its bank lines of credit. The majority of the Company’s long-term financing is fixed rate debt with favorable interest rates ranging from 4.625% to 5.625% and maturity dates not until 2028 and 2030.
• The Company’s net debt to trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA ratio improved to 2.9x at June 30, 2023 compared to 3.3x at June 30, 2022.
  

Shareholder Returns

• Through the date of this release, the Company repurchased 1,248,000 shares of common stock in 2023 at an aggregate cost of $114 million and an average cost per share of $91.58. This completes, in less than nine months, the $100 million share repurchase program authorized in October 2022 and the remainder of the previously authorized plan.
• On July 26, 2023, the Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase authorization of up to $200 million, effective immediately. Future share repurchases are subject to expected liquidity, acquisitions and other investment opportunities, debt covenant restrictions, market conditions and other relevant factors.
• The Board of Directors declared a $0.35 per share third quarter cash dividend, which will be paid on August 31, 2023 to stockholders of record as of August 15, 2023. On an annualized basis, the dividend is now $1.40 per share, representing a 6% increase over the previous annualized dividend of $1.32 per share. Any future dividends are subject to approval by the Company’s Board of Directors.
• The Company generated a 13% return on equity during the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 compared to an 11% return for the comparable prior-year period, while the return on assets for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 was 6% compared to 5% in the comparable prior-year period.

2023 Outlook

Based on strong second quarter results and macro trends, the Company’s outlook for the remainder of 2023 remains highly positive, with expected year-over-year growth in revenue and earnings in all segments driven by the continued growth in earning asset balances coupled with recent store additions. Anticipated conditions and trends for the remainder of 2023 include the following:

Pawn Operations:

• Pawn operations are expected to remain the primary earnings driver in 2023 as the Company expects segment income from the combined U.S. and Latin America pawn segments to be approximately 80% of total segment level pre-tax income.
• Inflationary economic environments have historically driven increased customer demand for both pawn loans and value-priced merchandise offered in pawn stores. In addition, credit tightening by competing unsecured lenders typically drives additional demand for pawn products as well.
  • Pawn receivables at June 30, 2023 were up 7% in the U.S. while Latin American balances in U.S. dollars were up 18%. U.S. pawn receivables are trending higher thus far in July compared to last year, up nearly 9% over the same point a year ago and reflecting a strong post tax season recovery. The Company expects similar year-over-year growth in same-store pawn receivables in both the U.S. and Latin America over the balance of the year, assuming exchange rates similar to the first half of 2023.
  • Full year retail sales are expected to grow in both markets as well, with margins anticipated to remain above 40% in the U.S. and in the mid-thirty percent range in Latin America.
  • While operating expenses are expected to rise moderately in both the U.S. and Latin America in 2023 due to increased store counts along with continued inflationary impacts, the Company continues to project robust full year earnings growth from its pawn segments.
• The Company expects to open approximately 60 de novo stores in Latin America and four U.S. de novo locations in 2023. Additionally, four U.S. locations have been acquired year-to-date and management continues to see a pipeline of potential roll-up acquisition targets in both the U.S. and Latin America.

POS Payment Solutions (AFF) Operations:

• Based on the strength of first half results, AFF has raised its guidance for both expected transaction volumes and revenues. Transaction volumes, or originations, are now expected to increase 12% to 16% in the second half of 2023 and 20% to 24% for the full year compared to last year. Resulting adjusted revenues are now forecast to grow in a range of 16% to 20% in both the second half and the full year as compared to the respective prior-year periods.
• Although AFF will incur incremental loss provisioning and decisioning expenses consistent with the increased origination forecast, the Company continues to expect full year-over-year segment earnings growth for AFF based on the increased earning asset portfolio and projected second half transaction volumes.
• The Company expects AFF's estimated lease and loan loss provisioning rates for the remainder of 2023 will continue to reflect a conservative approach with provisioning above historical pre-pandemic loss rates for most vintages. Operating expenses for the full year are expected to increase in 2023 as well, primarily due to the expected increase in origination activity.
  

Additional Commentary and Analysis

Mr. Wessel provided additional insights on the Company’s second quarter operating performance, “Our results reflected the strong momentum in our core pawn business coupled with the meaningful revenue and earnings contribution from AFF. Additionally, we continued to invest significantly in future growth through new stores and acquisitions coupled with increased shareholder returns through stock repurchases and the increased dividend.

“Pawn operations continue to be especially robust with total net revenue from pawn fees and merchandise sales up 13% in the second quarter compared to last year. In the U.S., we are seeing continued growth in demand for pawn loans, with improved sequential year-over-year growth rates compared to a quarter ago, coupled with strong margins from merchandise sales. In Latin America, strong revenue growth from retail sales was coupled with the added tailwind of a stronger Mexican peso. We are also benefiting from higher gold prices thus far in 2023, which have increased scrap margins and provided an opportunity to lock in the higher pricing over the next several quarters.

“FirstCash continues to focus on the growth of its core pawn operations, primarily in U.S. and Latin American markets with favorable demographics and long-term population growth. In 2023, we anticipate opening approximately 60 de novo stores in Latin America plus four new U.S. stores in Las Vegas while also evaluating a pipeline of additional pawn acquisitions. Additionally, we continue to purchase the underlying real estate of our pawn stores and now own approximately 28% of our U.S. locations.

“We are especially pleased with the performance of AFF since the acquisition a year and a half ago as it continues to grow revenues while maintaining stable lease and loan loss metrics. The 29% increase in year-to-date gross transaction volumes reflects growth in merchant base and increased same-door originations which puts them on pace to surpass $1 billion in originations for the full year. With a merchant base that has now grown to approximately 10,500 active doors, AFF continues to diversify and expand the business into additional vertical categories. We continue to believe there are significant long-term growth opportunities ahead for AFF with further synergies achievable.

“Even with the significant investments in the growth of our operations, the focus on shareholder returns has not waned. We have repurchased $114 million in stock this year and paid dividends totaling $61 million over the trailing twelve months. Given the solid cash flow generation, the Board has authorized an additional $200 million share repurchase program and increased the dividend to $1.40 per share on an annualized basis.

“In summary, we continue to focus on growth through new and acquired stores, improving store profitability and increased earnings contributions from AFF. This growth coupled with our strong balance sheet and cash flow generation positions us well to continue driving further shareholder value,” concluded Mr. Wessel.

About FirstCash

FirstCash is the leading international operator of pawn stores and a leading provider of technology-driven point-of-sale payment solutions, both focused on serving cash and credit-constrained consumers. FirstCash’s more than 2,800 pawn stores in the U.S. and Latin America buy and sell a wide variety of jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, musical instruments and other merchandise, and make small non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property. FirstCash, through its wholly owned subsidiary, AFF, also provides lease-to-own and retail finance payment solutions for consumer goods and services through a nationwide network of approximately 10,500 active retail merchant partner locations. As one of the largest omni-channel providers of “no credit required” payment options, AFF’s technology provides its merchant partners with seamless leasing and financing experiences in-store, online, in-cart and on mobile devices.

FirstCash is a component company in both the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index® and the Russell 2000 Index®. FirstCash’s common stock (ticker symbol “FCFS”) is traded on the Nasdaq, the creator of the world’s first electronic stock market. For additional information regarding FirstCash and the services it provides, visit FirstCash’s websites located at http://www.firstcash.com and http://www.americanfirstfinance.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This release contains forward-looking statements about the business, financial condition, outlook and prospects of FirstCash Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (together, the “Company”). Forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “projects,” “expects,” “may,” “estimates,” “should,” “plans,” “targets,” “intends,” “could,” “would,” “anticipates,” “potential,” “confident,” “optimistic,” or the negative thereof, or other variations thereon, or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, objectives, estimates, guidance, expectations, outlook and future plans. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. Rather, forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties.

While the Company believes the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurances such expectations will prove to be accurate. Security holders are cautioned such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Certain factors may cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements made in this release. Such factors may include, without limitation, risks related to the extensive regulatory environment in which the Company operates; risks associated with the legal and regulatory proceedings that the Company is a party to, or may become a party to in the future, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”) lawsuit filed against the Company; risks related to the Company’s acquisitions, including the failure of any material acquisition, including the AFF acquisition, to deliver the estimated value and benefits expected by the Company and the ability of the Company to continue to identify and consummate acquisitions on favorable terms; potential changes in consumer behavior and shopping patterns which could impact demand for the Company’s pawn loan, retail, lease-to-own and retail finance products, including, as a result to, changes in the general economic conditions; labor shortages and increased labor costs; a deterioration in the economic conditions in the United States and Latin America, including as a result of inflation and rising interest rates, which potentially could have an impact on discretionary consumer spending and demand for the Company’s products; currency fluctuations, primarily involving the Mexican peso; competition the Company faces from other retailers and providers of retail payment solutions; the ability of the Company to successfully execute on its business strategies; and other risks discussed and described in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the risks described in Part 1, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” thereof, and other reports filed with the SEC. Many of these risks and uncertainties are beyond the ability of the Company to control, nor can the Company predict, in many cases, all of the risks and uncertainties that could cause its actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date of this release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to report any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited, in thousands)