FirstCash (NASDAQ:FCFS) Sets New 1-Year High Following Earnings Beat

Shares of FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCFS) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The stock traded as high as $176.36 and last traded at $176.3760, with a volume of 60060 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $171.92.

The company reported $2.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.54 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $1.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.01 billion. FirstCash had a net margin of 9.02% and a return on equity of 17.99%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 19.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.12 EPS.

FirstCash Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 18th will be issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 18th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. FirstCash’s dividend payout ratio is 24.24%.

FirstCash declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Thursday, October 30th that permits the company to repurchase $150.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to reacquire up to 2.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Key Headlines Impacting FirstCash

Here are the key news stories impacting FirstCash this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat estimates — FirstCash reported $2.64 EPS vs. $2.54 consensus and revenue of $1.06B vs. $1.01B expected; revenue rose ~19.8% year‑over‑year and the company posted record quarterly and full‑year operating results. These beats and strong margins support near‑term upside for the stock. View Press Release
• Positive Sentiment: Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.42/share (ex‑dividend Feb 18; pay Feb 27) — the payout provides income support for shareholders and may attract income‑oriented investors; the reported yield is roughly 0.9%. Press Release: Dividend & Results
• Positive Sentiment: Retail footprint growth — the company added 28 new pawn locations in Q4 through acquisitions and openings, supporting revenue diversification and same‑store growth potential going forward. Business Insider: Expansion Details
• Neutral Sentiment: Elevated trading volume — today’s volume is above the stock’s recent average, indicating higher investor attention but not directional proof by itself. (Background market data.)
• Neutral Sentiment: Short interest data appears anomalous — a published February entry shows short interest listed as zero shares (no change from prior), which likely reflects a reporting/data issue rather than meaningful short covering. Monitor future filings for clarity.
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage and previews — outlets published earnings previews and Q4 snapshots following the release; these provide context but contain no new material surprises beyond the company release. Houston Chronicle: Q4 Snapshot Benzinga: Earnings Preview

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on FCFS. Zacks Research downgraded shares of FirstCash from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 2nd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of FirstCash in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen downgraded FirstCash from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, January 10th. Canaccord Genuity Group set a $217.00 target price on FirstCash in a research note on Friday. Finally, TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating on shares of FirstCash in a research report on Friday, October 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, FirstCash has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $169.40.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other FirstCash news, CFO R Douglas Orr sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.37, for a total transaction of $701,480.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 111,289 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $19,516,751.93. This represents a 3.47% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, COO Thomas Brent Stuart sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.97, for a total value of $1,599,700.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 127,724 shares in the company, valued at $20,432,008.28. This trade represents a 7.26% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 50,500 shares of company stock worth $8,150,640 in the last three months. 2.93% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of FirstCash

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FCFS. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of FirstCash during the 2nd quarter valued at about $336,000. Drive Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in FirstCash in the second quarter valued at approximately $230,000. Squarepoint Ops LLC grew its position in FirstCash by 685.2% in the second quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 37,896 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,121,000 after acquiring an additional 33,070 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in shares of FirstCash by 1.7% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 388,635 shares of the company’s stock valued at $52,520,000 after purchasing an additional 6,633 shares during the period. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of FirstCash by 26.0% during the second quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 33,462 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,522,000 after purchasing an additional 6,907 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.30% of the company’s stock.

FirstCash Stock Up 2.4%

The firm has a market capitalization of $8.03 billion, a PE ratio of 24.52 and a beta of 0.49. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $164.93 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $154.06. The company has a quick ratio of 3.72, a current ratio of 4.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97.

About FirstCash

FirstCash, Inc (NASDAQ: FCFS) is a leading integrated operator of pawn stores and provider of short-term consumer loan services in the United States and Mexico. Through its retail pawn outlets, FirstCash offers collateral-based loans secured by personal property, enabling customers to access liquidity without a credit history or traditional bank account. The company also purchases, trades and sells a broad range of secondhand merchandise, including electronics, jewelry and power tools, through its network of conveniently located stores.

In addition to its pawn-broking activities, FirstCash provides unsecured consumer loans designed to meet urgent cash needs.