First Cash Financial Services reports record quarterly net earnings

Wed. July 22, 2009; Posted: 01:36 AM

Jul 22, 2009 (Fort Worth Star-Telegram - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- FCFS | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- First Cash Financial Services, the Arlington-based pawn and payday lending chain operator, on Tuesday reported record quarterly net earnings of 31 cents per share, beating analysts' expectations by almost a penny.

"Despite a difficult economy in both the United States and Mexico, which has particularly dampened short-term/payday loan revenues and profits, we beat or exceeded our first-half earnings targets because of cost controls and the continued strength of our core pawn businesses in the U.S. and Mexico," CEO Rick Wessel said.

The Nasdaq-traded company reaffirmed its guidance for 2009 earnings of $1.36 to $1.38 per share.

Mexican pawn revenue grew by 31 percent in the second quarter, ending June 30, to total $40.2 million, while the more mature U.S. operations expanded by 4 percent to total $30.1 million.

First Cash will open 55 to 60 stores in Mexico, where same-store sales climbed 8 percent, but only a "limited number" in the United States.

Same-store sales for payday loans in the United States declined by 16 percent, and First Cash said it expects to leave Michigan, selling eight locations during the third quarter and closing the remaining three. That would leave it operating storefronts in Texas, Illinois and California.

Shares of First Cash (ticker: FCFS | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) rose 13 cents Tuesday to close at $16.99.

BARRY SHLACHTER, 817-390-7718

To see more of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, or to subscribe to the newspaper,
go to http://www.dfw.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email
tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax
to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave.,
Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

For full details on First Cash Financial Svc (FCFS) click here. First Cash Financial Svc (FCFS) has Short Term PowerRatings of 5. Details on First Cash Financial Svc (FCFS) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

More News: Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index

Archives

Feedback

Email Article Link

Close X

RELATED SITES

Please call 1-213-955-5858 ext. 1

Tax Relief Bank Levy Wage Garnishment

Disclaimer:

The Connors Group, Inc. ("Company") is not an investment advisory service, nor a registered investment advisor or broker-dealer and does not purport to tell or suggest which securities or currencies customers should buy or sell for themselves. The analysts and employees or affiliates of Company may hold positions in the stocks, currencies or industries discussed here. You understand and acknowledge that there is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities and/or currencies. The Company, the authors, the publisher, and all affiliates of Company assume no responsibility or liability for your trading and investment results. Factual statements on the Company's website, or in its publications, are made as of the date stated and are subject to change without notice.

It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable or that they will not result in losses. Past results of any individual trader or trading system published by Company are not indicative of future returns by that trader or system, and are not indicative of future returns which be realized by you. In addition, the indicators, strategies, columns, articles and all other features of Company's products (collectively, the "Information") are provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Examples presented on Company's website are for educational purposes only. Such set-ups are not solicitations of any order to buy or sell. Accordingly, you should not rely solely on the Information in making any investment. Rather, you should use the Information only as a starting point for doing additional independent research in order to allow you to form your own opinion regarding investments. You should always check with your licensed financial advisor and tax advisor to determine the suitability of any investment.

HYPOTHETICAL OR SIMULATED PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS. UNLIKE AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RECORD, SIMULATED RESULTS DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL TRADING AND MAY NOT BE IMPACTED BY BROKERAGE AND OTHER SLIPPAGE FEES. ALSO, SINCE THE TRADES HAVE NOT ACTUALLY BEEN EXECUTED, THE RESULTS MAY HAVE UNDER- OR OVER-COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPACT, IF ANY, OF CERTAIN MARKET FACTORS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIQUIDITY. SIMULATED TRADING PROGRAMS IN GENERAL ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN.

The Connors Group, Inc.
10 Exchange Place, Suite 1800
Jersey City, NJ 07302

All analyst commentary provided on TradingMarkets.com is provided for educational purposes only. The analysts and employees or affiliates of TradingMarkets.com may hold positions in the stocks or industries discussed here. This information is NOT a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Your use of this and all information contained on TradingMarkets.com is governed by the Terms and Conditions of Use. Please click the link to view those terms. Follow this link to read our Editorial Policy.