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 16, 2012
(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, 2012. The Company's press release dated April 18, 2012 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 8.01. Other Events.

On April 16, 2012, First Cash Financial Services, Inc. completed the 1,500,000 share repurchase program authorized by its Board of Directors on December 15, 2011. First Cash repurchased the 1,500,000 shares of its common stock at an average price of $40.85 per share to complete the repurchase program.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits:

99.1 Press Release dated April 18, 2012 announcing the Company's financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2012.


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 18, 2012   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 18, 2012
First Cash Reports Record First Quarter Earnings Per Share of $0.58; Completes Share Repurchase Plan and Raises Fiscal 2012 EPS Guidance

EXHIBIT 99.1

First Cash Reports Record First Quarter Earnings Per Share of $0.58; Completes Share Repurchase Plan and Raises Fiscal 2012 EPS Guidance

ARLINGTON, Texas, April 18, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Cash Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCFS) today announced record-setting revenue, net income and earnings per diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2012. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.58, an increase of 16% over the prior year. The Company also announced the completion of the 1.5 million share buyback plan authorized in December 2011. In addition, the Company raised fiscal 2012 guidance for earnings per share to a range of $2.70 to $2.75, compared to the prior guidance range of $2.65 to $2.70. The increased guidance represents earnings growth of 20% to 22% over the prior year.

Earnings Highlights

Revenue Highlights

Key Profitability Metrics

Acquisitions and New Store Openings

Financial Position & Liquidity

Fiscal 2012 Outlook

Commentary & Analysis  

Mr. Rick Wessel, chief executive officer, commented on the first quarter results, "We are off to a solid start in 2012. We achieved record sales and earnings and successfully integrated the 29-store acquisition in Mexico – the largest store acquisition in Company history. The acquired operation was one of the few large format competitors in Mexico and instantly provides First Cash a significant presence in two additional states in western Mexico. In addition to the acquisition, we opened 20 new stores in Mexico and added five in the U.S."

"Our competitive positioning remains strong as consumer demand for our lending and retail products continues to grow in both the U.S. and Mexico. First Cash has significant market share in Mexico, where competition from other full-format operators is extremely limited. We believe that Mexico is a large market with tremendous opportunities for continued growth. We are encouraged by the continued growth in revenues, pawn receivables and margins in Mexico and believe that it provides further confirmation of the validity of the large format store business in this market. We continue to believe that our model can support 800 or more stores in this large Latin American market."

While the competitive landscape in the U.S. is more mature, overall demand continues to increase as pawn stores continue to attract new customers. During the quarter, the Company acquired three stores in Dallas and opened two additional new stores in Texas.   Since the beginning of 2010, First Cash has added a total of 38 U.S. locations through a combination of acquisitions and new store openings, bringing its total U.S. store count to 236 locations.

Mr. Wessel also commented on the strength of the Company's balance sheet and cash flows, "We are well capitalized to support the continued growth in pawn receivables, inventories and future store locations. We have also been active with significant repurchases of Company stock as evidenced by the $115 million of buybacks executed since April 2011. Additionally, we recently renewed and expanded our unsecured bank credit facility on very favorable terms to provide additional resources for growth."

"In summary, given our competitive strengths and expanding customer base, we remain optimistic about our ability to further grow revenues, margins and earnings. Coupled with our strong balance sheet, we are well-positioned to drive sustainable long-term growth in 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, currency exchange rates, future share repurchases and the impact thereof, completion of disposition transactions and expected gains from the sale of such operations, earnings from acquisitions, the ability to successfully integrate 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 consumer 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K and updated in subsequent releases on Form 10-Q.

About First Cash

First Cash Financial Services, Inc. is a leading international specialty retailer and provider of consumer financial services. Its 626 retail pawn locations buy and sell a wide variety of jewelry, electronics, tools and other merchandise, and make small customer loans secured by pledged personal property. The Company's 106 consumer loan locations provide various combinations of financial services products, including consumer loans, check cashing and credit services. In total, the Company owns and operates 732 stores in eight U.S. states and 23 states in Mexico. 

First Cash was named by Fortune Magazine as one of America's 100 fastest growing companies for 2011. First Cash is also 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 for the three months ended March 31, 2012: 

  Pawn Locations Consumer  
  Large Small Loan Total
  Format (1) Format (2) Locations (3) Locations
United States:        
Total locations, beginning of period  132  25  74  231
New locations opened  2  --  -- 2
Locations acquired 3 -- -- 3
Store format conversions  --  2  (2)  -- 
Total locations, end of period  137  27  72  236
         
Mexico:        
Total locations, beginning of period  394  19  34  447
New locations opened  20  --  --  20
Locations acquired 29 -- -- 29
Total locations, end of period  443  19  34  496
         
Total:        
Total locations, beginning of period  526  44  108  678
New locations opened  22  --  --   22
Locations acquired 32 -- --  32
Store format conversions  --   2  (2)  -- 
Total locations, end of period  580  46  106  732
 
(1) The large format locations include retail showrooms and accept a broad array of pawn collateral including jewelry, electronics, appliances, tools and other consumer hard goods. At March 31, 2012, 84 of the U.S. large format pawn stores also offered consumer loans or credit services products.
(2) The small format locations typically have limited retail operations and primarily accept jewelry and small electronic items as pawn collateral. At March 31, 2012, all of the Texas and Mexico small format pawn stores also offered consumer loans or credit services products.
(3) The U.S. consumer loan locations offer a credit services product and are all located in Texas. The Mexico locations offer small, short-term consumer loans. In addition to stores shown on this chart, First Cash is also an equal partner in Cash & Go, Ltd., a joint venture, which owns and operates 38 check cashing and financial services kiosks located inside convenience stores in the state of Texas. 
 
 
FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
     
  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2012 2011
  (in thousands, except per share amounts)
Revenue:    
Merchandise sales  $ 86,906  $ 78,305
Pawn loan fees  34,912  28,972
Consumer loan and credit services fees  12,987  13,224
Other revenue  311  337
Total revenue  135,116  120,838
     
Cost of revenue:    
Cost of goods sold  54,315  48,242
Consumer loan and credit services loss provision  2,388  2,257
Other cost of revenue  20  46
Total cost of revenue  56,723  50,545
     
Net revenue  78,393  70,293
     
Expenses and other income:    
Store operating expenses  36,319  31,718
Administrative expenses  12,306  11,532
Depreciation and amortization  3,036  2,647
Interest expense  77  26
Interest income  (81)  (99)
Total expenses and other income  51,657  45,824
     
Income from continuing operations before income taxes  26,736  24,469
     
Provision for income taxes  9,224  8,564
     
Income from continuing operations  17,512  15,905
     
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax  --   6,651
Net income  $ 17,512  $ 22,556
     
Basic income per share:    
Income from continuing operations (basic)  $ 0.59  $ 0.51
Income from discontinued operations (basic)  --   0.21
Net income per basic share  $ 0.59  $ 0.72
     
Diluted income per share:    
Income from continuing operations (diluted)  $ 0.58  $ 0.50
Income from discontinued operations (diluted)  --   0.20
Net income per diluted share  $ 0.58  $ 0.70
     
Weighted average shares outstanding:    
Basic  29,580  31,311
Diluted  30,353  32,075
 
 
FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
       
  March 31, December 31,
  2012 2011 2011
  (in thousands)
ASSETS      
       
Cash and cash equivalents  $ 30,449  $ 98,169  $ 70,296
Pawn loan fees and service charges receivable  12,151  10,631  10,842
Pawn loans  80,996  71,580  73,287
Consumer loans, net  928  1,071  858
Inventories  47,106  48,884  44,412
Other current assets  4,529  10,826  10,783
Total current assets  176,159  241,161  210,478
       
Property and equipment, net  83,061  62,969  73,451
Goodwill, net  112,544  72,214  70,395
Other non-current assets  4,061  2,945  2,772
Total assets  $ 375,825  $ 379,289  $ 357,096
       
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY      
       
Current portion of notes payable  $ 1,593  $ 472  $ -- 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  31,926  27,799  25,629
Income taxes payable and deferred taxes payable  8,184  12,775  9,776
Total current liabilities  41,703  41,046  35,405
       
Revolving unsecured credit facility  18,000  --   -- 
Notes payable, net of current portion  3,047  1,265  -- 
Deferred income tax liabilities  10,885  10,580  6,319
Total liabilities  73,635  52,891  41,724
       
Stockholders' equity      
Preferred stock  --   --   -- 
Common stock  383  382  383
Additional paid-in capital  148,149  146,208  147,649
Retained earnings  351,035  278,297  333,523
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) from cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments  (5,906)  184  (13,463)
Common stock held in treasury, at cost  (191,471)  (98,673)  (152,720)
Total stockholders' equity  302,190  326,398  315,372
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $ 375,825  $ 379,289  $ 357,096
 
 
FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
OPERATING INFORMATION
(UNAUDITED)
 
The following table details the components of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2011 (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
  2012 2011 Increase/(Decrease) Basis
United States revenue:          
Retail merchandise sales  $ 25,062  $ 20,928  $ 4,134 20 % 20 %
Scrap jewelry sales  15,036  14,582  454 3 % 3 %
Pawn loan fees  14,539  12,507  2,032 16 % 16 %
Credit services fees  11,955  11,923  32 -- --
Consumer loan fees  31  96  (65) (68)% (68)%
Other revenue  311  337  (26) (8)% (8)%
   66,934  60,373  6,561 11 % 11 %
           
Mexico revenue:          
Retail merchandise sales  37,582  33,427  4,155 12 % 21 %
Scrap jewelry sales  9,226  9,368  (142) (2)% (2)%
Pawn loan fees  20,373  16,465  3,908 24 % 33 %
Consumer loan fees  1,001  1,205  (204) (17)% (11)%
   68,182  60,465  7,717 13 % 20 %
           
Total revenue:          
Retail merchandise sales  62,644  54,355  8,289 15 % 21 %
Scrap jewelry sales  24,262  23,950  312 1 % 1 %
Pawn loan fees  34,912  28,972  5,940 21 % 26 %
Credit services fees  11,955  11,923  32 -- --
Consumer loan fees  1,032  1,301  (269) (21)% (15)%
Other revenue  311  337  (26) (8)% (8)%
   $ 135,116  $ 120,838  $ 14,278 12 % 16 %
 
 
FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
OPERATING INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
(UNAUDITED)
 
The following table details customer loans and inventories held by the Company and active CSO credit extensions from an independent third-party lender as of March 31, 2012, as compared to March 31, 2011 (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/(Decrease)
  March 31,     Constant Currency
   2012 2011  Increase/(Decrease) Basis
United States:          
Pawn loans  $ 34,295  $ 30,744  $ 3,551 12 % 12 %
CSO credit extensions held by independent third-party (1)  11,407  10,523  884 8 % 8 %
Other  46  36  10 28 % 28 %
   45,748  41,303  4,445 11 % 11 %
           
Mexico:          
Pawn loans  46,701  40,836  5,865 14 % 23 %
Other  882  1,035  (153) (15)% (8)%
   47,583  41,871  5,712 14 % 22 %
           
Total:          
Pawn loans  80,996  71,580  9,416 13 % 18 %
CSO credit extensions held by independent third-party (1)  11,407  10,523  884 8 % 8 %
Other  928  1,071  (143) (13)% (7)%
   $ 93,331  $ 83,174  $ 10,157 12 % 17 %
           
           
Pawn inventories:          
U.S. pawn inventories  $ 19,676  $ 16,985  $ 2,691 16 % 16 %
Mexico pawn inventories  27,430  31,899  (4,469) (14)% (7)%
   $ 47,106  $ 48,884  $ (1,778) (4)% 1 %
 
(1)  CSO amounts are comprised of the principal portion of active CSO extensions of credit by 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 results, 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, EBITDA and constant currency results are significant components in understanding and assessing the Company's financial performance. Since free cash flow, EBITDA and constant currency results are not measures determined in accordance with GAAP and are thus susceptible to varying calculations, free cash flow, EBITDA and constant currency results, as presented, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Free cash flow, EBITDA and constant currency results 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. 
 
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization  
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,
  2012 2011
     
Income from continuing operations  $ 72,472  $ 57,167
Adjustments:    
Income taxes  37,998  31,296
Depreciation and amortization  11,403  10,580
Interest expense  186  277
Interest income  (260)  (192)
Earnings from continuing operations before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization  $ 121,799  $ 99,128
     
EBITDA margin calculated as follows:    
Total revenue from continuing operations  $ 535,580  $ 449,440
Earnings from continuing operations before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization  121,799  99,128
EBITDA as a percentage of revenue 23% 22%
 
 
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 consumer loans. 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,
  2012 2011
Cash flow from operating activities, including discontinued operations  $ 84,386  $ 78,735
Cash flow from investing activities:    
Pawn and consumer loans  (7,591)  (25,208)
Purchases of property and equipment  (27,497)  (20,540)
Free cash flow  $ 49,298  $ 32,987
     
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, 2011) of 11.9 to 1 was used, compared to the current end of period (March 31, 2012) exchange rate of 12.8 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, 2011 was 12.1 to 1, compared to the current-quarter rate of 13.0 to 1. 
CONTACT: Gar Jackson
         Phone: (949) 873-2789
         Email: gar@irsense.com

         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