FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (FCFS)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- FirstCash delivered record Q3 results with consolidated revenue of $935.6M and adjusted EPS of $2.26, both materially above Wall Street consensus; revenue beat by ~$73.9M and adjusted EPS beat by ~$0.33. The company also declared a $0.42 quarterly dividend and authorized a new $150M share repurchase plan .
- Strength was broad-based: U.S. and LatAm pawn posted double‑digit same-store receivable growth and margin expansion; newly acquired H&T in the U.K. added $55M revenue and a 33% pre‑tax margin for the partial quarter .
- Guidance raised: LatAm revenue outlook increased; AFF full‑year net revenue revised to flat vs prior forecast of −6% to −8%; H&T Q4 accretion guided to $0.18–$0.20 EPS and Q4 U.K. revenue of $85–$90M .
- Near‑term stock catalysts: outsized beat on EPS and revenue, improved guidance (especially AFF and U.K.), and continuing capital returns; initial market reaction was mixed despite the beats, per third‑party coverage .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- Record operating results across all pawn segments; U.S. pawn pre‑tax income rose to $112M with margin up to 26%, LatAm pre‑tax income up 22% to $47M, U.K. pre‑tax income $18M with 33% margin for 6‑week stub period .
- Demand indicators strengthened: local currency same‑store pawn receivables up 13% (U.S.), 18% (LatAm), and 25% (U.K.); retail margins solid at 43% (U.S.) and 36% (LatAm). CEO: “operating results were outstanding, evidenced by accelerating revenue growth, strong margins…” .
- AFF earnings surged 52% YoY to $46M on improved gross margins and lower OpEx; net revenue grew 8% despite gross revenues −14% due to diversified merchant growth and lower provisions .
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What Went Wrong
- AFF gross transaction volume declined 13% YoY on fallout from the American Freight and Conn’s bankruptcies; gross revenues −14% in Q3 despite underlying improvements .
- Inventory aging increased at the consolidated level to 2.6% >1 year (vs 1.5% last year), and AFF delinquency metrics rose vs prior year (leased merchandise delinquency 25.5% vs 23.6%; finance receivables 22.4% vs 19.4%) .
- Elevated interest expense and M&A costs: interest expense rose to $32.2M and merger & acquisition expenses were $9.5M in Q3; net debt increased to $2.1B with revolver usage of $575M post H&T acquisition .
Financial Results
Segment breakdown (Q3):
KPIs:
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Note: Full earnings call transcript could not be retrieved in the document catalog; themes below reflect management’s Q3 press release commentary and prior quarter releases .
Management Commentary
- “FirstCash’s third quarter operating results were outstanding, evidenced by accelerating revenue growth, strong margins and continued earnings growth in both the U.S. and Latin American pawn segments coupled with a strong partial quarter contribution from the recently acquired H&T pawn stores in the U.K.” — CEO Rick Wessel .
- “Driven by the strong third quarter results, we are raising full year revenue growth expectations in the U.S. and Latin America in addition to increasing the projected H&T accretion contribution… funded by our strong balance sheet and cash flows.” — CEO Rick Wessel .
- “Demand for our products and services in each pawn segment are at record levels… we are confident in our prospects for a strong fourth quarter and full year 2025 results.” — CEO Rick Wessel .
- “Even after funding the $392 million cash acquisition of H&T, leverage remains within a normal range and we anticipate further natural deleveraging over the next two quarters.” — CEO Rick Wessel .
Q&A Highlights
The full Q3 2025 earnings call transcript could not be located in our document catalog or via public sources accessed; therefore, specific analyst Q&A themes and clarifications are unavailable at this time .
Estimates Context
How results compared to Wall Street consensus (S&P Global):
Values marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.
Implications: A clear beat on both top and bottom lines should drive upward estimate revisions for Q4 and FY, particularly in pawn segments (strengthening demand/margins) and H&T accretion, with AFF full‑year net revenue now guided to flat, not down .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Broad‑based operational momentum: U.S., LatAm, and U.K. pawn posted strong growth and margins; AFF earnings quality improved despite headline volume headwinds .
- Guidance reset higher: LatAm revenue outlook raised; AFF full‑year net revenue revised to flat; U.K. accretion quantified ($0.18–$0.20 EPS) with Q4 revenue $85–$90M — increases the probability of upward estimate revisions .
- Capital returns and balance sheet: Dividend maintained at $0.42 and new $150M buyback authorization alongside ~$90M YTD repurchases; net debt/adjusted EBITDA ~3.2x TTM (sub‑3.0x pro forma H&T) supports continued returns and M&A flexibility .
- Demand indicators robust: Same‑store receivables growth and retail margins across regions suggest sustained pricing power and transaction volume into holiday seasonality (Q4) .
- Watch AFF delinquency metrics and Q4 net revenue run‑off: expected −15% to −20% YoY in Q4 as prior bankruptcy portfolios lap; earnings still supported by margin/OpEx discipline .
- FX tailwinds emerging: recent MXN strength improves translated results; sensitivity ~$0.10 EPS per 1 peso move provides potential incremental upside if rates hold .
- Near‑term trading setup: A strong beat plus raised guidance and U.K. accretion are positive catalysts; any mixed tape reaction offers a window ahead of Q4 seasonality and acquisition pipeline execution .