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Store Base and Platform Growth

• Pawn Stores:

  • The Company added 47 new pawn locations in the second quarter through acquisitions and new store openings. Year-to-date, a total of 67 pawn locations have been added.

  • 26 U.S. stores were added in the second quarter through three separate acquisitions in the states of North Carolina, Texas and Florida. Additionally, one new store opened in the Las Vegas, Nevada market.

  • There were 20 new store openings in Latin America in the second quarter which included 13 locations in Mexico, five locations in Guatemala and two locations in El Salvador. For the first six months of 2024, a total 39 new locations have opened in Latin America.

  • Over the last twelve months, the Company has opened and acquired a combined 188 locations. As of June 30, 2024, the Company has 3,018 locations, comprised of 1,201 U.S. locations and 1,817 locations in Latin America.

  • The Company also purchased the underlying real estate at 10 of its existing pawn stores during the second quarter, bringing the number of owned properties to over 360 locations.

• Retail POS Payment Solutions Merchant Partnerships:

  • At June 30, 2024, there were approximately 12,800 active retail and e-commerce merchant partner locations, representing a 22% increase in the number of active merchant locations compared to a year ago.

  • Since the Company’s acquisition of AFF in December 2021, the number of active merchant locations has almost doubled.
    

U.S. Pawn Segment Operating Results

• Segment pre-tax operating income in the second quarter of 2024 was a record $91 million, an increase of $18 million, or 25%, compared to the prior-year quarter. The resulting segment pre-tax operating margin increased to 24% for the second quarter of 2024, an improvement over the 23% margin for the prior-year quarter. Year-to-date segment pre-tax operating income increased by $34 million, or 22%, compared to the prior-year period. The pre-tax operating margin increased to 25% for the year-to-date period, as compared to the 24% margin for the prior-year period.

• Pawn loan fees increased 22% for the second quarter and 21% year-to-date, while on a same-store basis, pawn loan fee revenue increased 12% for both the quarter and year-to-date periods compared to the respective prior-year periods. The increased pawn loan fee revenue reflected both store growth and continued growth in demand for pawn loans.

• Pawn receivables continued to grow to record levels, increasing 22% in total at June 30, 2024 compared to the prior year. The increase in total pawn receivables was driven by a 9% increase in the U.S. store count coupled with an impressive 11% same-store increase. The same-store increase was driven by a 7% increase in average loan size and a 3% increase in the number of loans outstanding.

• Retail merchandise sales increased 17% in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the prior-year quarter. Same-store retail sales increased 7% compared to the prior-year quarter, which was a meaningful sequential improvement from the 4% increase in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to the prior-year quarter.

• Retail sales margins were 42% for the second quarter, improving sequentially over the first quarter and in line with target margins of 41% to 43%. Year-to-date margins were also 42% which compared to 43% in the prior-year period.

• Annualized inventory turnover was 2.8 times for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2024, which equaled the prior-year annualized inventory turnover. Inventories aged greater than one year at June 30, 2024 decreased to 1% compared to 2% at June 30, 2023.

• Operating expenses for the second quarter increased 16% in total, due primarily to the 9% weighted-average store growth over the past year. Same-store expenses increased 5% compared to the prior-year quarter.
  

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 2024 was 17.2 pesos / dollar, a favorable change of 3% versus the comparable prior-year period, and for the six month period ended June 30, 2024 was 17.1 pesos / dollar, a favorable change of 6% versus the prior-year period.

• Second quarter segment pre-tax operating income totaled $37 million, a marginal 2% decline compared to the prior year, which resulted in a pre-tax operating margin of 18% compared to 20% in the prior-year quarter. Year-to-date segment pre-tax operating income totaled $69 million, a 2% decline compared to the prior-year period, resulting in a pre-tax operating margin of 17% compared to 19% in the prior-year period. On a constant currency basis, segment income decreased 4% for the quarter and 7% for the year-to-date period due primarily to increased costs related to wage inflation and store expansion as described further below.

• Both total and same-store pawn loan fees increased 10%, or 7% on a constant currency basis, in the second quarter of 2024 as compared to the prior-year quarter. Total and same-store year-to-date pawn loan fees increased 13%, or 6% on a constant currency basis, compared to the prior-year period.

• While total receivables at June 30, 2024 were flat on U.S. dollar basis, they increased 8% on a constant currency basis compared to the prior year. Same-store pawn receivables increased 1% on a U.S. dollar basis and increased 8% on a constant currency basis.
  

• Both total and same-store retail merchandise sales in the second quarter of 2024 increased 6%, or 3% on a constant currency basis, compared to the prior-year quarter. Year-to-date retail merchandise sales increased 8%, or 2% on a constant currency basis, while same-store retail merchandise sales increased 7%, or 1% on a constant currency basis.
  

• Retail margins improved to 36% for the second quarter of 2024 compared to 35% in the prior-year quarter. Annualized inventory turnover was 4.3 times for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2024, which equaled the prior-year annualized inventory turnover, while inventories aged greater than one year at June 30, 2024 remained extremely low at 1%.

• Operating expenses increased 14% in total and 12% on a same-store basis compared to the prior-year quarter. On a constant currency basis, they increased 11% in total and 9% on a same-store basis. The increase in total expenses from all stores reflected increased store counts, accelerated store opening activity and higher labor costs (due primarily to further increases in the federal minimum wage and other mandated benefit programs), along with other inflationary impacts.
  

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

• Second quarter segment pre-tax operating income totaled $26 million which equaled the prior-year quarter. Year-to-date segment pre-tax operating income totaled $59 million, an increase of 20% over the prior-year period.

• Segment revenues for the quarter, comprised of lease-to-own (“LTO”) fees and interest and fees on finance receivables, increased 1% compared to the prior-year quarter, and increased 6% year-to-date.

• Gross transaction volume from originated LTO and POS financing transactions totaled $252 million for the second quarter and $508 million year-to-date. 2024 origination activity represented a 1% increase from the first half of last year and a 2% decrease from the second quarter of 2023 as originations from new merchants offset most of the 20% decrease in second quarter same-door originations. Most of the same-door origination decrease was in AFF’s significant furniture category as many furniture, appliance and electronics retailers experienced continued contraction in retail sales activity during the second quarter of 2024. AFF realized significant year-over-year increases in both door counts and transaction volumes in other growing verticals, including automotive products and services, jewelry and elective medical services.

• Combined gross leased merchandise and finance receivables outstanding at June 30, 2024 decreased 2% compared to the June 30, 2023 balances, which is consistent with the second quarter of 2024 origination activity.

• The combined lease and loan loss provision as a percentage of the total gross transaction volume originated was 31% for the second quarter of 2024, materially in-line with the 32% provisioning rate in the second quarter of 2023. The resulting allowance on leased merchandise and finance receivables at June 30, 2024 was 45% of the gross receivables, which was consistent with the prior year.

• The average monthly net charge-off (“NCO”) rate for combined leased merchandise and finance receivable products was 5.0% for the second quarter of 2024 and 5.1% for the year-to-date period. While slightly above the prior year, charge-offs remain within the range of forecasted expectations.

• Operating expenses decreased 5% compared to the prior-year quarter and decreased 1% year-to-date, which was reflective of second quarter origination activity and continued realization of operating synergies.
  

Cash Flow and Liquidity

• Each of the Company’s business segments generated significant operating cash flows during the twelve month period ended June 30, 2024. Consolidated operating cash flows for the twelve month period ended June 30, 2024 totaled $439 million and adjusted free cash flows (a non-GAAP measure) were $220 million. The cash flows helped fund significant growth in earning assets and continued investments in the store platform over the past twelve months, which included acquisitions of pawn stores totaling $241 million and investments in real estate of $57 million.

• The majority (over $1.5 billion) of the Company’s long-term financing remains fixed rate debt with favorable interest rates ranging from 4.625% to 6.875% and maturity dates that do not begin until 2028 and continue into 2032.

• Based on trailing twelve month results, the Company’s net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio was 2.89x at June 30, 2024.
  

Shareholder Returns

• The Board of Directors declared a $0.38 per share third quarter cash dividend, which will be paid on August 30, 2024 to stockholders of record as of August 15, 2024.

• On an annualized basis, the dividend is now $1.52 per share, representing a 9% increase over the previous annualized dividend of $1.40 per share. Any future dividends are subject to approval by the Company’s Board of Directors.

• The Company repurchased 721,000 shares of common stock during the second quarter at an aggregate cost of $85 million. The Company has $115 million available under the $200 million share repurchase program authorized in July 2023. Future share repurchases are subject to expected liquidity, acquisitions and other investment opportunities, debt covenant restrictions, market conditions and other relevant factors.

• The Company generated a 12% return on equity and a 6% return on assets for the twelve months ended June 30, 2024. Using adjusted net income for the twelve months ended June 30, 2024, the adjusted return on equity was 15% while the adjusted return on assets was 7%.

2024 Outlook

The Company’s outlook for 2024 continues to be highly positive, with expected year-over-year growth in consolidated revenue and earnings driven by the continued growth in earning asset balances coupled with recent store additions. Anticipated conditions and trends for the remainder of 2024 include the following:

Pawn Operations:

• Pawn operations are expected to remain the primary earnings driver in 2024 as the Company expects segment income from the combined U.S. and Latin America pawn segments to be over 80% of total segment level pre-tax income for the full year.

• The Company continues to target the addition of approximately 90 to 100 total pawn locations for 2024 through a combination of new store openings and acquisitions.

U.S. Pawn

• U.S. pawn operations are expected to benefit in 2024 from full year revenue and earnings contributions from the 87 stores acquired in the second half of 2023 coupled with further growth from the 27 stores acquired in the first half of 2024.

• Total pawn receivables, which drive future pawn fees and sellable inventories, were up 22% at June 30, 2024 compared to a year ago, with July balances to date up similarly. Although as a reminder, these growth rates for the balance of 2024 are expected to moderate as the Company begins to lap the significant growth in pawn receivables in the second half of 2023.

• Retail sales are expected to follow similar trends to pawn fees with retail margins expected to remain steady.

• Store operating expenses are expected to increase in line with store additions.

Latin America Pawn

• Latin America pawn loan growth to-date in July is up 7% on a constant currency basis and flat on a dollar basis as compared to the prior-year period. Full year 2024 fee growth is anticipated to remain in a mid-single digit range or better assuming foreign exchange rates remain steady.

• Retail sales in Latin America are also expected to grow, although at a slightly slower rate than pawn fees given current inventory levels, which remain below historical levels as a percentage of pawn receivables. Retail margins are anticipated to remain in a 35% to 36% range.

• Store operating expenses in Latin America this year are expected to rise in a range of 7% to 10% on a constant currency basis for the full year compared to last year due to increased store counts along with continued inflationary impacts primarily related to further minimum wage increases in Latin America. Even with increased operating expenses, the Company still anticipates earnings growth from the Latin America segment over the remainder of the year.
  

Retail POS Payment Solutions (AFF) Operations:

• While retail sales for many of AFF’s furniture, appliance and electronics merchant partners were down during the first half of 2024, the Company is still projecting its full year and second half gross transaction volumes for 2024 to exceed 2023 results. Resulting gross revenues for the second half of 2024 are expected to be flat to down slightly compared to the prior year due to lower second quarter origination activity and resulting receivable balances.

• The origination and revenue outlook contemplates the recently announced bankruptcy filing of Conn’s Home Plus and assumes minimal originations going forward from this merchant relationship. The Company does not expect that Conn’s bankruptcy filing will have a material impact on expected second half earnings.

• The second half lease and loan loss provision expense for 2024 is expected to increase given an improving second half origination forecast, with anticipated provision rates (combined provision for lease and loan losses as a percentage of the total gross transaction volume originated) ranging between 26% and 30% in the second half of the year.

• Combined operating and administrative expenses for AFF for the full year are expected to be approximately 1% to 3% below the prior year through cost saving initiatives and continued realization of operating synergies with FirstCash.

Interest Expense, Tax Rates and Currency:

• Net interest expense is expected to increase for full year 2024 compared to 2023, with most of the increase expected in the first half of 2024 due primarily to higher year-over-year interest rates for the comparative periods.

• For the full year of 2024, the effective income tax rate under current tax codes in the U.S. and Latin America is expected to range from 25% to 26%.

• Each full point change in the exchange rate of the Mexico peso represents an annual earnings impact of approximately $0.10 per share.
  

Additional Commentary and Analysis

Mr. Wessel provided additional insights on the Company’s second quarter results and outlook for the remainder of 2024, “Our second quarter and year-to-date operating results were outstanding and the outlook for the remainder of 2024 is highly positive. In addition, we continue to utilize our balance sheet and strong cash flows to further invest in the long-term growth of our core pawn operations and provide shareholder returns through the increased dividend and stock repurchases.

“Pawn demand continues to be extremely strong as evidenced by outstanding second quarter results in our U.S. pawn segment. This represents the fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in same-store pawn receivables and pawn fees. Pawn retail metrics in the U.S. were also impressive, with a 7% increase in same-store merchandise sales and sequential gross margin improvement. Store growth in the U.S. also remains robust as we completed three separate acquisitions which added 26 domestic locations during the quarter and have acquired a total of 114 locations over the past 12 months. Given the store growth coupled with the strong same-store increases, our total U.S. pawn receivables are up 22% over last year as we begin the second half of 2024.

“In Latin America, we continued to see improving pawn demand in the second quarter combined with strong retail sales and margins. Additionally we have opened an impressive 39 locations in just the first six months of this year and continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities and look to further expand our market leading position in Latin America. With the current momentum, we believe that we are well positioned for segment revenue and earnings growth in the second half as well.

“We also remain positive on the long-term growth prospects for the retail POS payment solutions segment. AFF has developed a diversified merchant base representing almost 30 different retail and services verticals, with no single relationship accounting for more than approximately 15% of total merchant contribution. AFF continues to grow relationships and portfolios within each of the verticals served, providing additional stability and diversification. Based on the most recent trends in June and July, we expect growth in total originations in the second half driven by increased door counts and an influx of higher quality applicants resulting from a noticeable pullback in approvals from certain upstream lenders.

“The Company’s cash flows and balance sheet remain extremely strong. In addition to the investments in acquisitions, new locations and real estate, we repurchased $85 million of Company stock during the quarter. Furthermore, we again increased our quarterly cash dividend to an annualized payout of $1.52 per share in order to further bolster shareholder returns,” 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 3,000 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 12,800 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”), including the Company’s outlook for 2024. 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 “outlook,” “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 that 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 and risks 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 the Company’s acquisitions 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, if at all; potential changes in consumer behavior and shopping patterns which could impact demand for the Company’s pawn loan, retail, lease-to-own (“LTO”) and retail finance products; 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, elevated interest rates and higher gas prices, 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; contraction in sales activity at AFF’s merchant partners; 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.

The Company’s reportable segments are as follows:

• U.S. pawn

• Latin America pawn

• Retail POS payment solutions (AFF)
  

The Company provides revenues, cost of revenues, operating expenses, pre-tax operating income and earning assets by segment. Operating expenses include salary and benefit expenses of pawn store-level employees, occupancy costs, bank charges, security, insurance, utilities, supplies and other costs incurred by the pawn stores. Additionally, costs incurred in operating AFF have been classified as operating expenses, which include salary and benefit expenses of certain operations-focused departments, merchant partner incentives, bank and other payment processing charges, credit reporting costs, information technology costs, advertising costs and other operational costs incurred by AFF. Administrative expenses and amortization expense of intangible assets related to the purchase of AFF are not included in the segment pre-tax operating income.

U.S. Pawn Segment Results

U.S. Pawn Operating Results and Margins (dollars in thousands)

⁽¹⁾ Includes $1.1 million and $1.8 million of retail merchandise sales from intersegment transactions for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to the Company offering AFF’s LTO payment solution in its U.S. pawn stores that are eliminated upon consolidation. Excluding these intersegment sales, consolidated U.S. retail merchandise sales for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 totaled $229.0 million and $194.3 million, respectively.

⁽²⁾ Includes $0.6 million and $0.9 million of cost of retail merchandise sold from intersegment transactions for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to the Company offering AFF’s LTO payment solution in its U.S. pawn stores that are eliminated upon consolidation. Excluding these intersegment sales, consolidated U.S. cost of retail merchandise sold for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 totaled $131.9 million and $110.6 million, respectively.

⁽¹⁾ Includes $2.1 million and $3.5 million of retail merchandise sales from intersegment transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to the Company offering AFF’s LTO payment solution in its U.S. pawn stores that are eliminated upon consolidation. Excluding these intersegment sales, consolidated U.S. retail merchandise sales for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 totaled $465.0 million and $403.3 million, respectively.

⁽²⁾ Includes $1.1 million and $1.8 million of cost of retail merchandise sold from intersegment transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to the Company offering AFF’s LTO payment solution in its U.S. pawn stores that are eliminated upon consolidation. Excluding these intersegment sales, consolidated U.S. cost of retail merchandise sold for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 totaled $271.2 million and $231.6 million, respectively.

Latin America Pawn Segment Results

Constant currency results are non-GAAP financial measures, which exclude the effects of foreign currency translation and are calculated by translating current-year results at prior-year average exchange rates. See the “Constant Currency Results” section below for additional discussion of constant currency operating results.

Latin America Pawn Operating Results and Margins (dollars in thousands)

Retail POS Payment Solutions Segment Results

Retail POS Payment Solutions Operating Results (dollars in thousands)