Form 8-K Filing

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K


Current Report Pursuant
to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

April 20, 2011
(Date of Report - Date of Earliest Event Reported)

First Cash Financial Services, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

0-19133
 
75-2237318
(Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)



690 East Lamar Blvd., Suite 400, Arlington, Texas
 
76011
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(817) 460-3947
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  


NA
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
  [   ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  [   ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  [   ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  [   ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

First Cash Financial Services, Inc. has issued a press release announcing its financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2011. The Company's press release dated April 20, 2011 announcing the results is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Item 2.02.

The information provided in this Item 2.02 shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by the specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits:

99.1 Press Release dated April 20, 2011 announcing the Company's financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2011.


SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: April 21, 2011   First Cash Financial Services, Inc.
             (Registrant)

  /s/   R. DOUGLAS ORR
R. Douglas Orr
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)



EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number Document

99.1 Press release dated April 20, 2011
First Cash Reports Record First Quarter EPS of $0.50; Operating Income Increases 57%, Same-Store Sales Increase 19%

EXHIBIT 99.1

First Cash Reports Record First Quarter EPS of $0.50; Operating Income Increases 57%, Same-Store Sales Increase 19%

ARLINGTON, Texas, April 20, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Cash Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCFS) today announced record-setting revenue, net income and earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the first quarter were $0.50, an increase of 52% over the prior year. The Company continued to post strong growth in revenue, operating margins and profit based on the strength of its pawn operations in both the U.S. and Mexico.

During the first quarter, the Company added 26 new pawn locations, including 18 de novo openings in Mexico. In the U.S., eight stores were added through the acquisition of six pawn stores and two new store openings. In addition, the Company completed the sale of its Illinois payday lending operation as part of its continuing strategy to focus resources and growth on its core pawn operations.

Earnings Highlights

Revenue Highlights

Key Profitability Metrics

New Store Openings & Acquisitions

Financial Position & Liquidity

Sale of Illinois Payday Lending Operations

2011 Outlook

Commentary & Analysis

Mr. Rick Wessel, First Cash's Chief Executive Officer, commented on the Company's first quarter results, "We are again very pleased with our operating results, as core pawn operations continue to generate record revenue and earnings growth. As we begin the second quarter, the Company continues to see strength in its pawn receivable portfolios, revenue growth and a significant pipeline of new store openings over the balance of the year." 

"During the first quarter, the growth in merchandise sales and pawn receivables continued to reflect strong consumer demand for pawn products. We are well-positioned as a deep-value retailer of quality jewelry, consumer electronics and tools, especially in Mexico, where First Cash is the market leader in full-format pawn retailing. We also believe that the trend of rising demand for micro consumer credit products will continue to benefit us in both the U.S. and Mexico."   

With regard to the Company's expansion activities, Mr. Wessel noted, "First Cash achieved two significant store opening milestones in the first quarter of 2011 with the opening of its 400th location in Mexico and its 500th pawn store overall. Our track record demonstrates our ability to execute a pawn-focused growth strategy through successful store openings and the rapid profitability ramp of the new stores." In addition to the 20 first quarter de novo pawn store openings, the Company completed the first quarter acquisition of a six-store chain of retail pawn locations in Indiana and Missouri. 

Mr. Wessel also commented on the disposition of the Illinois payday lending stores, noting, "The sale of the Illinois operation is a positive transaction for the Company. We received a fair price for the stores, and have taken another step toward moving away from payday lending and focusing on our core pawn operations.  New and significantly different legal and regulatory changes were implemented in Illinois in March.  This disposition allows us to exit the Illinois market without incurring the expense associated with compliance with these new laws and regulations.  A portion of the Illinois payday earnings should be replaced by the addition of pawn earnings from the stores acquired in Indiana and Missouri."

Given the Company's forecast for continued excess cash flows from operations and the proceeds from the Illinois sale, the Company recently announced its intention to resume buybacks of its common stock under its current share repurchase authorization. Net of shares repurchased in March, the Company's current authorization provides for additional repurchases of up to approximately 1.3 million shares of common stock. Mr. Wessel commented, "Reconfirming the share repurchase program reflects our confidence in the long-term future of First Cash. We believe that repurchasing our shares is a productive use of operating cash flows and excess balance sheet capacity."

In summary, Mr. Wessel said, "We believe that First Cash remains well-positioned to deliver continued profitability and earnings growth.  Our business model has proven to be consistent across business cycles and we believe that demand for our pawn products will continue to be strong. Our operating cash flows should continue to support growth through store expansion and acquisition activity. In addition, our significantly under-levered balance sheet provides us tremendous strategic flexibility and will allow us to generate potential additional returns for our shareholders. We are optimistic about our future and remain committed to increasing shareholder value."  

Forward-Looking Information

This release may contain forward-looking statements about the business, financial condition and prospects of the Company. 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 "believes," "projects," "expects," "may," "estimates," "should," "plans," "targets," "intends," "could," or "anticipates," or the negative thereof, or other variations thereon, or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy or objectives. 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. Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, the Company's expectations of earnings per share, earnings growth, expansion strategies, regulatory exposures, store openings, liquidity, cash flow, consumer demand for the Company's products and services, future share repurchases and the impact thereof, completion of disposition transactions and expected gains from the sale of such operations, earnings from acquisitions, and other performance results. These statements are made to provide the public with management's current assessment of the Company's business. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurances that such expectations will prove to be accurate. Security holders are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date of this statement, 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. Certain factors may cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by some of the statements made in this release. Such factors are difficult to predict and many are beyond the control of the Company and may include changes in regional, national or international economic conditions, changes in the inflation rate, changes in the unemployment rate, changes in consumer purchasing, borrowing and repayment behaviors, changes in credit markets, the ability to renew and/or extend the Company's existing bank line of credit, credit losses, changes or increases in competition, the ability to locate, open and staff new stores, the availability or access to sources of inventory, inclement weather, the ability to successfully integrate acquisitions, the ability to hire and retain key management personnel, the ability to operate with limited regulation as a credit services organization, new federal, state or local legislative initiatives or governmental regulations (or changes to existing laws and regulations) affecting short-term/payday loan businesses, credit services organizations and pawn businesses (in both the United States and Mexico), changes in import/export regulations and tariffs or duties, changes in anti-money laundering regulations, unforeseen litigation, changes in interest rates, monetary inflation, changes in tax rates or policies, changes in gold prices, changes in energy prices, cost of funds, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, future business decisions, public health issues and other uncertainties. These and other risks, uncertainties and regulatory developments are further and more completely described in the Company's 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

About First Cash

First Cash Financial Services, Inc. is a leading international specialty retailer and provider of consumer financial services. Its 514 retail pawn locations buy and sell a wide variety of jewelry, electronics, tools and other merchandise, and make small consumer loans secured by pledged personal property. The Company's short-term loan locations provide various combinations of financial services products, including short-term loans, check cashing, and credit services. In total, the Company owns and operates 627 stores in eight U.S. states and 22 states in Mexico. 

First Cash is a component company in both the Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 Index® and the Russell 2000 Index®. First Cash's common stock (ticker symbol "FCFS") is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, which has the highest initial listing standards of any stock exchange in the world based on financial and liquidity requirements.

The First Cash Financial Services, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3365

STORE COUNT ACTIVITY

The following table details store openings and closings for the three months ended March 31, 2011: 

  Pawn Locations Short-Term  
  Large Small Loan Total
  Format (1) Format (2) Locations Locations
United States:        
Total locations, beginning of period  111  24  91  226
New locations opened or acquired  7  1  --   8
Locations closed or consolidated  --   --   (1)  (1)
Discontinued short-term loan operations  --   --   (10)  (10)
Total locations, end of period  118  25  80  223
         
Mexico:        
Total locations, beginning of period  333  20  33  386
New locations opened or acquired  18  --   --   18
Total locations, end of period  351  20  33  404
         
Total:        
Total locations, beginning of period  444  44  124  612
New locations opened or acquired  25  1  --   26
Locations closed or consolidated  --   --   (1)  (1)
Discontinued short-term loan operations  --   --   (10)  (10)
Total locations, end of period  469  45  113  627
         

(1)     The large format locations include retail showrooms and accept a broad array of pawn collateral including  
         electronics, tools and jewelry. At March 31, 2011, 73 of the U.S. large format pawn stores also offered short-
         term loans or credit services products.

(2)     The small format locations typically have limited retail operations and accept only jewelry and small electronic
         items as pawn collateral. At March 31, 2011, all of the Texas and Mexico small format pawn stores also
         offered short-term loans or credit services products.

First Cash is also an equal partner in Cash & Go, Ltd., a joint venture, which owns and operates 39 check cashing and financial services kiosks located inside convenience stores in the United States. 

FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)

  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2011 2010
  (in thousands, except per share amounts)
Revenue:    
Merchandise sales  $78,305  $60,774
Pawn service fees  28,972  22,822
Short-term loan and credit services fees  13,224  10,732
Other  337  332
Total revenue  120,838  94,660
     
Cost of revenue:    
Cost of goods sold  48,242  37,528
Short-term loan and credit services loss provision  2,257  1,811
Other  46  34
Total cost of revenue  50,545  39,373
     
Net revenue  70,293  55,287
     
Expenses and other income:    
Store operating expenses  31,718  26,982
Administrative expenses  11,532  9,603
Depreciation and amortization  2,647  2,518
Interest expense  26  140
Interest income  (99)  (4)
Total expenses and other income  45,824  39,239
     
Income from continuing operations before income taxes  24,469  16,048
     
Provision for income taxes  8,564  5,936
     
Income from continuing operations  15,905  10,112
     
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax  6,651  1,970
Net income  $22,556  $12,082
     
Basic income per share:    
Income from continuing operations (basic)  $0.51  $0.34
Income from discontinued operations (basic)  0.21  0.06
Net income per basic share  $0.72  $0.40
     
Diluted income per share:    
Income from continuing operations (diluted)  $0.50  $0.33
Income from discontinued operations (diluted)  0.20  0.06
Net income per diluted share  $0.70  $0.39
     
Weighted average shares outstanding:    
Basic  31,311  29,981
Diluted  32,062  30,734
     

FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)

  March 31, December 31,
  2011 2010 2010
  (in thousands)
ASSETS      
       
Cash and cash equivalents  $98,169  $47,323  $67,240
Service fees receivable  10,631  8,308  10,446
Pawn receivables  71,580  55,900  70,488
Short-term loan receivables  1,071  946  995
Inventories  48,884  31,435  47,406
Other current assets  10,826  7,487  8,423
Total current assets  241,161  151,399  204,998
       
Property and equipment, net  62,969  51,091  58,425
Goodwill, net  72,214  63,312  68,595
Other non-current assets 2,945 2,116  2,668
Non-current assets of discontinued operations  --   7,760  7,760
Total assets  $379,289  $275,678  $342,446
       
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY      
       
Current portion of notes payable  $472  $3,603  $465
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  27,799  21,210  27,730
Income taxes payable and deferred tax liabilities  12,775  10,000  6,427
Total current liabilities  41,046  34,813  34,622
       
Notes payable, net of current portion  1,265  4,678  1,386
Deferred tax liabilities  10,580  5,225  8,434
Total liabilities  52,891  44,716  44,442
       
Stockholders' equity  326,398  230,962  298,004
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $379,289  $275,678  $342,446
       

FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
OPERATING INFORMATION
(UNAUDITED)

The following table details the components of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2010 (in thousands). Constant currency results exclude the effects of foreign currency translation and are calculated by translating current year results at prior year average exchange rates, which is more fully described elsewhere in this release. 

  Three Months Ended     Increase/(Decrease)
  March 31,     Constant Currency
  2011 2010 Increase/(Decrease) Basis
Domestic revenue:          
Retail merchandise sales  $20,928  $18,458  $2,470 13 % 13 %
Scrap jewelry sales  14,582  10,066  4,516 45 % 45 %
Pawn service fees  12,507  10,772  1,735 16 % 16 %
Credit services fees  11,923  9,561  2,362 25 % 25 %
Short-term loan fees  96  111  (15) (14)% (14)%
Other  337  325  12 4 % 4 %
   60,373  49,293  11,080 22 % 22 %
           
Foreign revenue:          
Retail merchandise sales  33,427  22,310  11,117 50 % 42 %
Scrap jewelry sales  9,368  9,940  (572) (6)% (6)%
Pawn service fees  16,465  12,050  4,415 37 % 29 %
Short-term loan fees  1,205  1,060  145 14 % 7 %
Other  --   7  (7) -- --
   60,465  45,367  15,098 33 % 27 %
           
Total revenue:          
Retail merchandise sales  54,355  40,768  13,587 33 % 29 %
Scrap jewelry sales  23,950  20,006  3,944 20 % 20 %
Pawn service fees  28,972  22,822  6,150 27 % 23 %
Credit services fees  11,923  9,561  2,362 25 % 25 %
Short-term loan fees  1,301  1,171  130 11 % 5 %
Other  337  332  5 2 % 2 %
   $120,838  $94,660  $26,178 28 % 25 %
           

FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
OPERATING INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
(UNAUDITED)

The following table details customer receivables and active CSO loans outstanding from an independent third-party lender as of March 31, 2011, as compared to March 31, 2010 (in thousands).  Constant currency results exclude the effects of foreign currency translation and are calculated by translating current year balances at the prior year end-of-period exchange rate, which is more fully described elsewhere in this release. 

  Balance at       Increase
  March 31,       Constant Currency
  2011 2010 Increase Basis
Domestic customer receivables:            
Pawn receivables  $30,744  $26,161  $4,583   18 % 18 %
CSO short-term loans held             
  by independent third-party (1)  10,523  9,115  1,408   15 % 15 %
Other  36  22  14   64 % 64 %
   41,303  35,298  6,005   17 % 17 %
             
Foreign customer receivables:            
Pawn receivables  40,836  29,739  11,097   37 % 33 %
Other  1,035  924  111   12 % 8 %
   41,871  30,663  11,208   37 % 32 %
             
Total customer receivables:            
Pawn receivables  71,580  55,900  15,680   28 % 26 %
CSO short-term loans held             
  by independent third-party (1)  10,523  9,115  1,408   15 % 15 %
Other  1,071  946  125   13 % 10 %
   $83,174  $65,961  $17,213   26 % 24 %
             
             
Pawn inventories:            
Domestic pawn inventories  $16,985  $13,919  $3,066   22 % 22 %
Foreign pawn inventories  31,899  17,516  14,383   82 % 76 %
   $48,884  $31,435  $17,449   56 % 52 %
             

(1)   CSO short-term loans outstanding are comprised of the principal portion of active CSO loans outstanding from 
       an independent third-party lender, which are not included on the Company's balance sheet, net of the 
       Company's estimated fair value of its liability under the letters of credit guaranteeing the loans.

FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
UNAUDITED NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The Company uses certain financial calculations, such as free cash flow, EBITDA and constant currency, which are not considered measures of financial performance under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Items excluded from the calculation of free cash flow and EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing the Company's financial performance. Since free cash flow and EBITDA are not measures determined in accordance with GAAP and are thus susceptible to varying calculations, free cash flow and EBITDA, as presented, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Free cash flow and EBITDA should not be considered as alternatives to net income, cash flow provided by or used in operating, investing or financing activities or other financial statement data presented in the Company's consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Non-GAAP measures should be evaluated in conjunction with, and are not a substitute for, GAAP financial measures. 

EBITDA

EBITDA is commonly used by investors to assess a company's leverage capacity, liquidity and financial performance. The following table provides a reconciliation of income from continuing operations to EBITDA (in thousands): 

  Trailing Twelve Months Ended
  March 31,
  2011 2010
     
Income from continuing operations  $57,167  $40,089
Adjustments:    
Income taxes  31,296  23,972
Depreciation and amortization  10,580  10,118
Interest expense  277  669
Interest income  (192)  (21)
Earnings from continuing operations before interest, taxes,     
  depreciation and amortization  $99,128  $74,827
     
EBITDA margin calculated as follows:    
Total revenue from continuing operations  $449,440  $371,834
Earnings from continuing operations before interest, taxes,     
  depreciation and amortization  99,128  74,827
EBITDA as a percent of revenue 22% 20%
     

FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
UNAUDITED NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONTINUED)

Free Cash Flow

For purposes of its internal liquidity assessments, the Company considers free cash flow, which is defined as cash flow from the operating activities of continuing and discontinued operations reduced by purchases of property and equipment and net cash outflow from pawn and short-term/payday loan customer receivables. Free cash flow is commonly used by investors as a measure of cash generated by business operations that will be used to repay scheduled debt maturities and can be used to invest in future growth through new business development activities or acquisitions, repurchase stock, or repay debt obligations prior to their maturities. These metrics can also be used to evaluate the Company's ability to generate cash flow from business operations and the impact that this cash flow has on the Company's liquidity. The following table reconciles "net cash flow from operating activities" to "free cash flow" (in thousands):

  Trailing Twelve Months Ended
  March 31,
  2011 2010
Cash flow from operating activities, including discontinued operations  $78,735  $86,465
Cash flow from investing activities:    
Pawn and short-term loan receivables  (25,208)  (13,233)
Purchases of property and equipment  (20,540)  (15,723)
Free cash flow  $32,987  $57,509
     

Constant Currency

Certain performance metrics discussed in this release are presented on a "constant currency" basis, which may be considered a non-GAAP financial measurement of financial performance under GAAP. The Company's management uses constant currency results to evaluate operating results of certain business operations in Mexico, which are transacted primarily in Mexican pesos. Pawn scrap jewelry in Mexico is sold in U.S. dollars and, accordingly, does not require a constant currency adjustment. Constant currency results reported herein are calculated by translating certain balance sheet and income statement items denominated in Mexican pesos using the exchange rate from the prior-year comparable period, as opposed to the current comparable period, in order to exclude the effects of foreign currency rate fluctuations for purposes of evaluating period-over-period comparisons. For balance sheet items, the closing exchange rate at the end of the applicable prior-year period (March 31, 2010) of 12.3 to 1 was used, compared to the current end of period (March 31, 2011) exchange rate of 11.9 to 1. For income statement items, the average closing daily exchange rate for the appropriate period was used. The average exchange rate for the prior-year quarter ended March 31, 2010 was 12.8 to 1, compared to the current-quarter rate of 12.1 to 1. 

CONTACT: Rick Wessel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
         Doug Orr, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
         Phone:   (817) 505-3199
         Email:   investorrelations@firstcash.com
         Website: www.firstcash.com