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FirstCash Holdings, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 12 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter revenue passed $1 billion: Fourth quarter revenue rose 20% to about $1.06 billion. The company reports it as the first fiscal quarter in its history with consolidated revenue above $1 billion. Source
  • Same-store receivables up 12%, tenth quarter: U.S. same-store pawn receivables rose 12% at year end and 24% on a two-year stacked basis. This was the tenth consecutive quarter of double-digit same-store growth. Source
  • Receivables up 23% in local currency: Total and same-store pawn receivables rose 38% in U.S. dollars and 23% in constant currency at year end. Source
  • First full quarter of H&T results: U.K. fourth quarter revenue was $96 million. It was the first full quarter of results after the H&T acquisition closed in August 2025. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow up 17%: Operating cash flow was $586 million for 2025, up 9%. Adjusted free cash flow was $307 million, up from $262 million. Source

“Driven by strong fourth quarter revenue growth of 20%, the Company marked its first fiscal quarter in history in which consolidated revenues exceeded $1 billion, resulting in a 26% increase in fourth quarter earnings per share.”

Mr. Rick Wessel, chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
U.S. pawn fee revenue Source2026low double-digit growthNew
U.S. retail merchandise sales Source2025 as written, in the 2026 section8% to 10% growthNew
U.S. retail margin Source202642%
U.S. store operating expenses Source2026mid to high single-digit growthNew
Latin America retail sales Source2026 compared with 2025high single-digit growth; retail margin 35%New
Latin America operating expenses (U.S. dollar basis) Source20268% to 10% increaseNew
U.K. pawn segment income Sourcefull year 2026$115 million to $125 millionNew
Pawn share of total earnings Source2026almost 90%New
AFF lease and loan originations Source2026 compared with 20255% to 10% increaseNew
AFF net revenue Sourcefirst half 202610% to 15% declineNew
AFF net revenue Sourcefull year 20265% to 10% declineNew
Corporate administrative expenses Source2026run rate similar to fourth quarter of 2025New
Interest expense Sourcefull year 2026 compared with 20255% to 10% increaseNew
Consolidated effective income tax rate Source202625% to 26% of net incomeKept
Mexican peso exchange rate sensitivity Sourceannualabout $0.10 per share per full pointKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full 2026 guidance is issued. The prior release covered only the remainder of 2025. Source
  • Ended: The $200 million share repurchase program authorized in July 2023 was completed in the fourth quarter. Source
  • New: The company gained its first significant presence in Nebraska through fourth quarter acquisitions of U.S. stores. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth quarter revenue passed $1 billion: Fourth quarter revenue rose 20% to about $1.06 billion. The company reports it as the first fiscal quarter in its history with consolidated revenue above $1 billion. Source
  • Diluted EPS up 26% in the quarter: Fourth quarter GAAP diluted EPS rose 26% and adjusted diluted EPS rose 25% from the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Full-year net income rose 28%: Full-year GAAP net income was $330 million, up 28%. Adjusted net income was $390 million, up 29%. Source
  • Net revenue grew faster than revenue: Net revenue rose 13% for the year and 22% in the fourth quarter, faster than revenue growth. The company describes this as accelerating margin expansion. Source

U.S. pawn segment

  • Same-store receivables up 12%, tenth quarter: U.S. same-store pawn receivables rose 12% at year end and 24% on a two-year stacked basis. This was the tenth consecutive quarter of double-digit same-store growth. Source
  • Quarterly segment income up 15%: Segment pre-tax operating income rose 15% in the fourth quarter and 14% for the full year, both against prior-year periods. Source
  • Pawn fees grew 10%: Pawn loan fees rose 10% in the quarter and for the full year. Same-store fees rose 10% in the quarter and 9% for the year. Source
  • Aged inventory remained low: Inventories aged over one year were 1.8% of total U.S. inventories at year end. Source

“We remain extremely excited about the recent H&T acquisition in the U.K. that to date is generating revenue and earnings growth ahead of our expectations.”

Mr. Rick Wessel, chief executive officer

Latin America pawn segment

  • Receivables up 23% in local currency: Total and same-store pawn receivables rose 38% in U.S. dollars and 23% in constant currency at year end. Source
  • Quarterly segment income up 36% in dollars: Fourth quarter segment pre-tax operating income rose 36% in U.S. dollars and 27% in local currency, compared with the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Retail margin held at 35%: Retail margin was 35% for the fourth quarter and the full year, similar to prior-period results. Source

U.K. pawn segment (H&T)

  • First full quarter of H&T results: U.K. fourth quarter revenue was $96 million. It was the first full quarter of results after the H&T acquisition closed in August 2025. Source
  • U.K. segment margin 36% in quarter: Segment pre-tax operating income was $35 million in the fourth quarter, a 36% segment pre-tax operating margin. Source
  • U.K. receivables up 25% in local currency: Pawn receivables were $214 million at year end, up 25% in total and 24% same-store, both in local currency. Source

“We believe these additions, coupled with continued growth in same-store earning assets, position us well for continued revenue and earnings growth in 2026.”

Mr. Rick Wessel, chief executive officer

AFF payment solutions segment

  • AFF segment income down 16% in quarter: AFF fourth quarter segment pre-tax income was $33 million, down 16%, mainly from runoff of lease portfolios from American Freight and Conn's. Full-year segment income rose 31%. Source
  • Originations down 3%, up 8% excluding bankruptcies: Fourth quarter lease and loan originations fell 3%, primarily from merchant bankruptcies. Excluding prior-year volume from those retailers, originations rose about 8%. Source
  • Combined loss provision rate rose: Combined lease and loan loss provision was 27.7% of gross transaction volume in the fourth quarter, against 26.5% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating expenses down 32% in quarter: AFF fourth quarter operating expenses fell 32%, and full-year operating expenses fell 31%. Source
  • Merchant partner locations up 21%: AFF had about 16,400 active retail and e-commerce merchant partner locations at year end, up 21% from a year earlier. Source

Pawn store base and acquisitions

  • Fourth quarter added 28 pawn locations: Fourth quarter additions were 17 U.S. stores acquired in three transactions and 11 Latin American openings, bringing the total to 3,330 locations. Source
  • 2025 additions largest since merger: The company added 344 retail pawn locations in 2025 through acquisitions and openings, the most in any year since the Cash America merger. Source
  • Acquisitions cost $475 million in 2025: 309 pawn stores were acquired in 2025 for a combined cash price of $475 million, including the 286-store H&T acquisition. Source

Cash flow, debt and returns to shareholders

  • Adjusted free cash flow up 17%: Operating cash flow was $586 million for 2025, up 9%. Adjusted free cash flow was $307 million, up from $262 million. Source
  • Net debt 3.0x adjusted EBITDA at year end: Net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 3.0x at year end, or 2.7x including pro forma EBITDA from 2025 acquisitions and lender-allowed adjustments. Source
  • $71 million dividends, $115 million buybacks: Full-year 2025 dividends and stock repurchases totaled $186 million. Repurchases were 912,000 shares at an average of about $126. Source
  • $150 million repurchase program available: A $150 million program authorized in October 2025 is fully available. The $200 million program from July 2023 was completed in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Return on equity 15% in 2025: The company reported a 7% return on assets for 2025. Adjusted return on equity was 18%. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 February 2026

  • Quarterly dividend payable February 2026: The $0.42 per share first quarter dividend is payable February 27, 2026, to holders of record on February 18, 2026. Source
  • More pawn store additions planned for 2026: Three new U.K. stores opened in January 2026. Management expects to add stores in each pawn segment during 2026 through openings and possible acquisitions. Source
  • Further U.S. real estate investment planned: Management expects to make further investments in its strategic real estate portfolio supporting U.S. retail pawn operations. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales SourceU.S. same-store retail merchandise sales +8% (fourth quarter), +6% (full year)
Inventory aged over one year Source3.4% of total pawn inventories
Store openings Source11 new locations in Latin America (fourth quarter)
Store closings (consolidations) Source9 in fourth quarter; 40 in 2025
Gross margin (retail sales margin) Source43% (U.S., fourth quarter)
Average ticket (average pawn loan) Source$259 across pawn segments at year end

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Merchant partner bankruptcies in late 2024 are cited as the main reason AFF gross revenues fell in 2025. Source
  • Demand: Management assumes Latin America comparable growth could moderate over the course of 2026. Source
  • Financial: A higher share of finance product originations, which carry slightly higher loss rates, is cited as a driver of the combined provision rate. Source
  • Operational: Management expects efficiencies and synergies over time as H&T moves onto FirstCash technology platforms. Source
  • Financial: The U.S. revolving credit line balance was $559 million at year end, against a $700 million facility. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management states H&T is generating growth ahead of the company's expectations. Source
  • Met: Management states charge-off rates for both lease and loan products remained within targeted ranges. 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.