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Ezcorp Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 February 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and EPS rose: Diluted EPS rose 38% to $0.55, or 34% on an adjusted basis. Net income rose 43% to $44.3 million, or 38% adjusted to $43.9 million. Source
  • Pawn loans outstanding rose: Pawn loans outstanding rose 14% to $314.4 million, or 11% on a same-store basis, on higher average loan size and improved operations. Source
  • Latin America contribution grew 32%: Latin America Pawn segment contribution rose 32% to $20.1 million, or 24% on a constant currency basis to $19.0 million. Source
  • Jewelry scrap sales more than doubled: Jewelry scrap sales rose 139% to $39.9 million. Scrap gross margin rose from 23% to 34% on higher gold prices and jewelry purchases. Source
  • Gross profit grew with revenue: Gross profit rose 20% to $223.0 million, with revenue up 19%, the company said, reflecting better merchandise, jewelry scrap and pawn service charge results. Source
  • SMG described as accretive: Management described the SMG transaction as immediately accretive and as adding one of the largest pawn platforms in North America. Source

“We are off to an exceptional start to fiscal 2026, delivering record first quarter revenue and PLO, and outstanding organic earnings growth.”

Lachie Given, Chief Executive Officer

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company acquired an 87.7% controlling interest in Founders One on January 2, 2026. Founders One owns 85.1% of Simple Management Group, adding 105 stores in 12 countries. Source
  • New: The company completed the previously announced purchase of 12 pawn stores in Texas for $27.5 million on January 12, 2026. Source
  • New: After the two acquisitions closed, the company reported 1,500 pawn stores across 16 countries. The prior release reported 1,360 stores in five countries at September 30, 2025. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income and EPS rose: Diluted EPS rose 38% to $0.55, or 34% on an adjusted basis. Net income rose 43% to $44.3 million, or 38% adjusted to $43.9 million. Source
  • Pre-tax income and EBITDA grew: Income before taxes rose to $59.2 million from $41.4 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 36% to $70.3 million. Source
  • Store footprint grew by 23: The company added 23 stores net in the quarter: 17 acquired, 7 de novo, and one store consolidated. Source
  • Pawn loans outstanding rose: Pawn loans outstanding rose 14% to $314.4 million, or 11% on a same-store basis, on higher average loan size and improved operations. Source

Segments and regions

  • U.S. Pawn segment contribution rose: U.S. Pawn segment contribution rose 30% to $70.7 million. The segment store count reached 547 after three acquired stores and one consolidation. Source
  • Latin America contribution grew 32%: Latin America Pawn segment contribution rose 32% to $20.1 million, or 24% on a constant currency basis to $19.0 million. Source
  • Currency lowered Latin America growth: Latin America Pawn total revenues rose 28%, or 19% at constant currency. Gross profit rose 33%, or 24% at constant currency. Source
  • Latin America added 21 stores: The Latin America Pawn store count rose by 21 to 836, from 14 acquired stores and 7 de novo openings. Source

“Subsequent to quarter end, we closed two acquisitions that meaningfully expand our footprint.”

Lachie Given, Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • U.S. merchandise sales rose 8%: U.S. Pawn merchandise sales rose 8%, or 7% on a same-store basis, to $139.0 million. Source
  • Latin America merchandise sales rose: Latin America Pawn merchandise sales rose 24%, or 15% at constant currency, to $71.1 million, with same-store sales up 16%. Source
  • Merchandise margin improved: Consolidated merchandise sales gross margin rose to 37%, from 35% a year earlier. Source
  • Jewelry scrap sales more than doubled: Jewelry scrap sales rose 139% to $39.9 million. Scrap gross margin rose from 23% to 34% on higher gold prices and jewelry purchases. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Store expenses rose on labor: Store expenses rose 14%, or 11% on a same-store basis, mainly from labor costs, including minimum wage increases in Latin America. Source
  • G&A rose on pay and deal fees: General and administrative expenses rose 11%, driven by labor costs including higher incentive compensation and professional fees for acquisitions. Source
  • Gross profit grew with revenue: Gross profit rose 20% to $223.0 million, with revenue up 19%, the company said, reflecting better merchandise, jewelry scrap and pawn service charge results. Source

“With a highly liquid balance sheet, we are well positioned to execute on our pawnbroking growth strategy, while remaining disciplined in capital allocation.”

Lachie Given, Chief Executive Officer

Demand and pawn lending

  • Pawn service charges rose 13%: Pawn service charges rose 13% to $131.9 million, as a result of higher average PLO. Source
  • Latin America loans rose 36%: Latin America Pawn PLO rose 36% to $74.4 million, or 23% at constant currency. Source
  • Management cites sustained demand: Management attributed the results to sustained demand for immediate cash solutions and to affordable secondhand goods. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder payments

  • Cash balance rose year on year: Cash and cash equivalents rose to $465.9 million from $174.5 million a year earlier, after the $300.0 million Senior Notes issued in fiscal 2025. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose: Net cash provided by operating activities was $39.1 million, against $26.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Capex and acquisitions cash use: Net capital expenditures were $7.5 million, and acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $9.1 million. Source
  • No buyback, share settlement taxes paid: No treasury stock was repurchased in the quarter, against $3.0 million a year earlier. Taxes paid on net share settlement of equity awards were $6.3 million. Source

Strategy and acquisitions

  • SMG described as accretive: Management described the SMG transaction as immediately accretive and as adding one of the largest pawn platforms in North America. Source
  • SMG revenue and gross profit: SMG reported revenue of $127 million and gross profit of $66 million for the nine months to September 30, 2025, per the release. Source
  • El Bufalo adds Texas position: Management described El Bufalo Pawn in Laredo as one of the largest remaining independent chains in Texas, which further strengthens the company's position there. Source
  • Plan to strengthen core: Management said it will keep strengthening the core, scaling operations, and delivering sustainable, long-term value for shareholders. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 February 2026

  • Integrating the acquired platforms: Management said it is excited to integrate and scale the SMG and El Bufalo platforms. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Same-store merchandise sales (U.S. Pawn) Source+7%
Same-store merchandise sales (Latin America Pawn) Source+16% (8% constant currency)
Net inventory and turnover Source$253.4 million, up 27%; turnover 2.5x from 2.7x
Store openings and closings Source7 de novo, 17 acquired, 1 consolidated; 1,383 stores
Gross margin (merchandise sales) Source37%, up from 35%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Inventory turnover fell to 2.5x from 2.7x as net inventory rose 27% on higher PLO, layaways and purchases. Source
  • Regulatory: Latin America store expenses rose 34%, or 24% on a same-store basis, from labor costs including minimum wage increases. Source
  • External: Currency movements reduced reported revenue by $7.5 million, and revenue rose 17% at constant currency. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The company stated it completed the Texas store acquisition it had previously announced. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.