First Cash Financial Services (FCFS) Tops Q2 EPS by 4c, Revenues Miss

First Cash Financial Services (NASDAQ: FCFS) reported Q2 EPS of $0.62, $0.04 better than the analyst estimate of $0.58. Revenue for the quarter came in at $412.75 million versus the consensus estimate of $437.16 million.

Mr. Rick Wessel, chief executive officer, stated, “In these challenging times, we have been relentless in our efforts to safely serve customers while also protecting our employees. Today, over 99% of the Company’s 2,745 stores in the United States and Latin America are open and providing essential financial services and products in our communities. As always, we are proud and appreciative of the dedication and resilience demonstrated by all of our team members.

“Our second quarter results demonstrated the inherent diversification and uniqueness of the pawnshop business model, which generates revenues from both specialty retail operations and small-dollar, non-recourse lending. Second quarter retail sales were especially robust in the U.S., driven by our ability to remain open and meet the significant customer demand for popular “stay-at-home” products such as consumer electronics and sporting goods. Consistent with the trends being experienced by other consumer lenders, originations of new pawn loans fell significantly in April due to the general economic lock-down and rapid deployment of government stimulus programs. While not fully recovered, lending demand began rebounding in May and continues to date.

“Cash flows were particularly impressive during the quarter, which were used to reduce outstanding debt by $156 million over the last three months, and provide substantial liquidity to fund an anticipated rebound in pawn loan demand. We continued to make long-term investments in store growth as well, as demonstrated by the addition of 91 locations so far this year, including 24 stores in the second quarter. Additionally, we are pleased to report that the Board of Directors has again declared our quarterly cash dividend,” concluded Mr. Wessel.

2020 Outlook

• Due to the uncertainty around COVID-19 and foreign currency volatility, the Company withdrew its initial 2020 earnings guidance on April 22, 2020. Given the ongoing uncertainties regarding the pace of the anticipated recovery and currency volatility, the Company has not reinstated earnings guidance for the balance of the year. However, as the Company continues to evaluate its 2020 earning results, the following factors are expected to impact its comparisons to prior-year results:
  
  • Impact of COVID-19: The extent to which COVID-19 continues to impact the Company’s operations will depend on future developments, which are uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the ongoing duration, severity and scope of the outbreak and its impact on borrowing demand and retail operations. For example, the normalization of demand for pawn loans could be delayed in the short-term by reduced personal spending if schools and other venues remain closed or delayed by additional government stimulus payments and benefit programs. Furthermore, additional store closures or operating restrictions could negatively impact both the Company’s retail sales and pawn fees. In addition, the expected rebound in pawn fee revenue will naturally lag the expected recovery in pawn receivables. Accordingly, pawn fees in the third quarter will be impacted by the lower pawn balances as we begin the quarter. Additionally, retail sales volumes in the second half of the year are expected to be impacted by lower levels of inventory as the third quarter begins.
  • Currency volatility: Global economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened the relative value of the U.S. dollar and negatively impacted developing market currencies, including the Mexican peso, which is the primary currency for the Company’s foreign operations. The current peso to dollar exchange rate of approximately 22.5 to 1 compares to an average rate in the first half of 2020 of 21.6 to 1 and an average rate of 19.3 to 1 during all of 2019. For 2020, the Company estimates that each full Mexican peso change in the exchange rate to the U.S. dollar represents approximately $0.08 to $0.10 per share of annualized earnings impact to the Company.
  • Wind-down of unsecured consumer lending operations: The Company ceased all unsecured consumer lending operations in the U.S. effective June 30, 2020, and expects no material earnings or losses from these operations in the second half of 2020. As a comparison, earnings from consumer lending operations contributed approximately $0.05 per share during the second half of 2019.
  • Income tax rate: The effective income tax rate is expected to range from 26.5% to 28.0% for 2020 compared to the actual rate of 26.7% in 2019.
  • New store openings: In its original 2020 store opening guidance, the Company expected to open approximately 90 to 100 new locations this year. A total of 51 stores were opened in the first half of the year and there is a strong pipeline of additional stores leased and under construction. While currently on pace to meet the lower end of the full year target, future store openings in the second half of the year remain subject to uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to, the ability to continue construction projects and obtain necessary licenses, permits, utility services, store equipment, supplies and adequate staffing.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on First Cash Financial Services (FCFS) click here.

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