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

January 25, 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 and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2011. The Company's press release dated January 25, 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 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits:


99.1 Press Release dated January 25, 2012 announcing the Company's financial results for the three month and twelve month periods ended December 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: January 25, 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 January 25, 2012
First Cash Reports Fiscal 2011 Earnings of $2.25 per Share; Net Income Increases 38% Over Prior Year

EXHIBIT 99.1

First Cash Reports Fiscal 2011 Earnings of $2.25 per Share; Net Income Increases 38% Over Prior Year

ARLINGTON, Texas, Jan. 25, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Cash Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCFS) today announced record-setting revenue, net income and earnings per share for the three months and year ended December 31, 2011. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.70 for the fourth quarter and $2.25 for the full fiscal year. Net income from continuing operations increased 21% and 38% for the respective fourth quarter and full-year periods. As a reminder, the Company announced on January 17, 2012, together with its acquisition of 29 full-service pawn stores in Mexico, that guidance for fiscal 2012 earnings from continuing operations is expected to be in the range of $2.65 to $2.70 per share, an increase of 18% to 20% over fiscal 2011.

Earnings Highlights

Revenue Highlights

Key Profitability Metrics

Acquisitions

New Store Openings

Financial Position & Liquidity

Fiscal 2012 Outlook

Commentary & Analysis  

Mr. Rick Wessel, First Cash's Chief Executive Officer, commented on the Company's financial and operating results, "We are pleased to announce our 2011 results, a year in which we posted record revenues, earnings per share and a 38% increase in net income.  We are proud of these accomplishments, which are a result of our focused strategy and the ability of our store associates, managers and support staff to deliver these outstanding results."  

First Cash achieved several important milestones in 2011. Among them, the Company's consolidated revenues exceeded $500 million for the first time in history. Similarly, EBITDA and pre-tax income both exceeded $100 million for the first time at $119 million and $108 million, respectively. The Company also achieved record profit margins in 2011, as store level profits attained 30% for the first time, while the pre-tax operating margin reached a record 21%. Additionally, the Company's return on assets reached 20% for the first time in 2011. 

With the addition of 82 stores, unit growth during 2011 was also at a record level. Including the 29-store acquisition completed in early January of fiscal 2012, the Company surpassed the 700-store mark. The current store count of 721 locations has increased 20% since the beginning of 2011.   Finally, the Company achieved another significant milestone in 2011 with its market capitalization exceeding $1 billion for the first time in Company history.

In further discussing the full year and fourth quarter results, Mr. Wessel noted, "The fundamental demand for micro credit products for credit-constrained consumers remains strong, as does the demand for buying and selling value-priced electronics, tools and jewelry. The important fourth quarter merchandise sales results were solid and in line with our expectations.  Year-over-year growth in pawn revenue and receivables remained especially strong in the U.S., and we remain very positive on the long-term product demand and our ability to command market share in the U.S. and Mexico. In addition, we maintained our cost controls as fourth quarter store operating expenses declined from 25% in 2010 to 23% in 2011 as a percentage of revenue."

Mr. Wessel also discussed the recently completed 29-store acquisition, stating, "We are excited about entering new markets with the addition of these stores, as we further advance our significant leadership position in Mexico. The acquired operation has a strong presence in each of its operating territories and provides us a valuable entry point into these additional markets in western Mexico.  All of the stores are large format locations, similar to our existing First Cash stores, which support both lending and retail operations for jewelry and a wide variety of hard good items.

The significant investment in acquisitions and new stores continues to be funded primarily through operating cash flows, and we have increased earnings growth despite the additional expense from the accelerated store additions. The Company's balance sheet and cash flows continue to be strong. Even with the funding for the significant growth in pawn loans and store additions, the Company repurchased over $55 million of its stock during 2011."

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 profitable across business cycles and our operating cash flows should continue to support growth through accelerating store expansion and acquisition activity. In addition, our significant liquidity provides us tremendous strategic flexibility, including the ability to further invest in growth. 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, 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 613 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 108 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 721 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 and closings for the three months ended December 31, 2011:       
       
  Pawn Locations Consumer  
  Large Small Loan Total
  Format (1) Format (2) Locations (3) Locations
United States:        
Total locations, beginning of period  124  25  76  225
New locations opened or acquired  8  --   --   8
Locations closed or consolidated  --   --   (2)  (2)
Total locations, end of period  132  25  74  231
         
Mexico:        
Total locations, beginning of period  389  19  34  442
New locations opened or acquired  5  --   --   5
Total locations, end of period  394  19  34  447
         
Total:        
Total locations, beginning of period  513  44  110  667
New locations opened or acquired  13  --   --   13
Locations closed or consolidated  --   --   (2)  (2)
Total locations, end of period  526  44  108  678
         
(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 December 31, 2011, 79 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 accept primarily jewelry and small electronic items as pawn collateral. At December 31, 2011, 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 39 check cashing and financial services kiosks located inside convenience stores in the state of Texas. 


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

    Pawn Locations Consumer  
    Large Small Loan Total
    Format (1) Format (2) Locations (3) Locations
United States:          
Total locations, beginning of period  111  24  91  226
New locations opened or acquired  20  1  --   21
Store format conversions  1  --   (1)  -- 
Locations closed or consolidated  --   --   (6)  (6)
Discontinued operations  --   --   (10)  (10)
Total locations, end of period  132  25  74  231
           
Mexico:          
Total locations, beginning of period  333  20  33  386
New locations opened or acquired  61  --   --   61
Store format conversions  --   (1)  1  -- 
Total locations, end of period  394  19  34  447
           
Total:          
Total locations, beginning of period  444  44  124  612
New locations opened or acquired  81  1  --   82
Store format conversions  1  (1)  --   -- 
Locations closed or consolidated  --   --   (6)  (6)
Discontinued operations  --   --   (10)  (10)
Total locations, end of period  526  44  108  678
           
(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 December 31, 2011, 79 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 accept primarily jewelry and small electronic items as pawn collateral. At December 31, 2011, 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 39 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 Twelve Months Ended
  December 31, December 31,
   2011  2010  2011  2010
  (in thousands, except for share amounts)
Revenue:        
Merchandise sales  $ 101,390  $ 83,600  $ 344,855  $ 269,909
Pawn loan fees  31,056  29,427  122,333  102,145
Consumer loan and credit services fees  13,855  14,226  53,048  50,187
Other revenue  233  253  1,066  1,021
Total revenue  146,534  127,506  521,302  423,262
         
Cost of revenue:        
Cost of goods sold  63,163  49,502  213,453  162,045
Consumer loan and credit services loss provision  3,822  4,227  12,888  13,757
Other cost of revenue  56  36  211  157
Total cost of revenue  67,041  53,765  226,552  175,959
         
Net revenue  79,493  73,741  294,750  247,303
         
Expenses and other income:        
Store operating expenses  33,260  32,107  130,294  115,994
Administrative expenses  11,329  11,298  45,382  40,522
Depreciation and amortization  2,721  2,864  11,014  10,451
Interest expense  30  44  135  391
Interest income  (57)  (52)  (278)  (97)
Total expenses and other income  47,283  46,261  186,547  167,261
         
Income from continuing operations before income taxes  32,210  27,480  108,203  80,042
         
Provision for income taxes  10,738  9,728  37,338  28,668
         
Income from continuing operations  21,472  17,752  70,865  51,374
         
Income (loss) from discontinued operations,         
net of tax  (17)  1,804  6,917  6,284
Net income  $ 21,455  $ 19,556  $ 77,782  $ 57,658
         
Basic income per share:        
Income from continuing operations (basic)  $ 0.71  $ 0.58  $ 2.31  $ 1.70
Income from discontinued operations (basic)  --  0.06  0.22  0.20
Net income per basic share  $ 0.71  $ 0.64  $ 2.53  $ 1.90
         
Diluted income per share:        
Income from continuing operations (diluted)  $ 0.70  $ 0.56  $ 2.25  $ 1.65
Income from discontinued operations (diluted)  --   0.06  0.22  0.21
Net income per diluted share  $ 0.70  $ 0.62  $ 2.47  $ 1.86
         
Weighted average shares outstanding:        
Basic  30,076  30,712  30,706  30,266
Diluted  30,854  31,666  31,498  31,058


FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
     
   December 31,
   2011  2010
  (in thousands)
ASSETS    
     
Cash and cash equivalents  $ 70,296  $ 67,240
Pawn loan fees and service charges receivable  10,842  10,446
Pawn loans  73,287  70,488
Consumer loans, net  858  995
Inventories  44,412  47,406
Other current assets  10,783  8,423
Total current assets  210,478  204,998
     
Property and equipment, net  73,451  58,425
Goodwill, net  70,395  68,595
Other non-current assets  2,772  2,668
Non-current assets of discontinued operations  --   7,760
Total assets  $ 357,096  $ 342,446
     
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY    
     
Current portion of notes payable  $ --   $ 465
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  25,629  27,730
Income taxes payable and deferred taxes payable  9,776  6,427
Total current liabilities  35,405  34,622
     
Notes payable, net of current portion  --   1,386
Deferred income tax liabilities  6,319  8,434
Total liabilities  41,724  44,442
     
Stockholders' equity  315,372  298,004
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $ 357,096  $ 342,446

 

FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.          
OPERATING INFORMATION          
(UNAUDITED)          
           
The following table details the components of revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2011, as compared to the three months ended December 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)
   December 31,     Constant Currency
  2011 2010 Increase/(Decrease) Basis
United States revenue:          
Retail merchandise sales  $ 23,326  $ 19,943  $ 3,383 17 % 17 %
Scrap jewelry sales  16,147  10,120  6,027 60 % 60 %
Pawn loan fees  14,245  12,475  1,770 14 % 14 %
Credit services fees  12,797  12,950  (153) (1)% (1)%
Consumer loan fees  34  16  18 113 % 113 %
Other revenue  233  253  (20) (8)% (8)%
   66,782  55,757  11,025 20 % 20 %
           
Mexico revenue:          
Retail merchandise sales  44,880  40,745  4,135 10 % 21 %
Scrap jewelry sales  17,037  12,792  4,245 33 % 33 %
Pawn loan fees  16,811  16,952  (141) (1)% 9 %
Consumer loan fees  1,024  1,260  (236) (19)% (11)%
   79,752  71,749  8,003 11 % 20 %
           
Total revenue:          
Retail merchandise sales  68,206  60,688  7,518 12 % 20 %
Scrap jewelry sales  33,184  22,912  10,272 45 % 45 %
Pawn loan fees  31,056  29,427  1,629 6 % 11 %
Credit services fees  12,797  12,950  (153) (1)% (1)%
Consumer loan fees  1,058  1,276  (218) (17)% (9)%
Other revenue  233  253  (20) (8)% (8)%
   $ 146,534  $ 127,506  $ 19,028 15 % 20 %
           
           
           
FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.          
OPERATING INFORMATION (CONTINUED)          
(UNAUDITED)          
           
The following table details the components of revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, as compared to the twelve months ended December 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.
           
  Twelve Months Ended        
  December 31,     Increase/(Decrease)
 Constant Currency
 
  2011 2010  Increase/(Decrease)  Basis  
United States revenue:          
Retail merchandise sales  $ 82,508  $ 70,980  $ 11,528 16 % 16 %
Scrap jewelry sales  56,134  39,416  16,718 42 % 42 %
Pawn loan fees  52,098  44,071  8,027 18 % 18 %
Credit services fees  48,170  45,384  2,786 6 % 6 %
Consumer loan fees  193  178  15 8 % 8 %
Other revenue  1,064  1,009  55 5 % 5 %
   240,167  201,038  39,129 19 % 19 %
           
Mexico revenue:          
Retail merchandise sales  154,300  117,556  36,744 31 % 29 %
Scrap jewelry sales  51,913  41,957  9,956 24 % 24 %
Pawn loan fees  70,235  58,074  12,161 21 % 19 %
Consumer loan fees  4,685  4,625  60 1 % --
Other revenue  2  12  (10) (83)% (84)%
   281,135  222,224  58,911 27 % 25 %
           
Total revenue:          
Retail merchandise sales  236,808  188,536  48,272 26 % 24 %
Scrap jewelry sales  108,047  81,373  26,674 33 % 33 %
Pawn loan fees  122,333  102,145  20,188 20 % 19 %
Credit services fees  48,170  45,384  2,786 6 % 6 %
Consumer loan fees  4,878  4,803  75 2 % --
Other revenue  1,066  1,021  45 4 % 4 %
   $ 521,302  $ 423,262  $ 98,040 23 % 22 %



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 December 31, 2011, as compared to December 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/(Decrease)  
  December 31,      Constant Currency  
  2011 2010 Increase/(Decrease) Basis
United States:          
Pawn loans  $ 41,121  $ 35,319  $ 5,802 16 % 16 %
CSO credit extensions held by          
independent third-party (1)  15,147  14,296  851 6 % 6 %
Other  63  39  24 62 % 62 %
   56,331  49,654  6,677 13 % 13 %
           
Mexico:          
Pawn loans  32,166  35,169  (3,003) (9)% 3 %
Other  795  956  (161) (17)% (6)%
   32,961  36,125  (3,164) (9)% 3 %
           
Total:          
Pawn loans  73,287  70,488  2,799 4 % 10 %
CSO credit extensions held by          
independent third-party (1)  15,147  14,296  851 6 % 6 %
Other  858  995  (137) (14)% (3)%
   $ 89,292  $ 85,779  $ 3,513 4 % 9 %
           
           
Pawn inventories:          
U.S. pawn inventories  $ 23,745  $ 19,730  $ 4,015 20 % 20 %
Mexico pawn inventories  20,667  27,676  (7,009) (25)% (16)%
   $ 44,412  $ 47,406  $ (2,994) (6)% (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): 

  Twelve Months Ended
  December 31,
  2011 2010
     
Income from continuing operations  $ 70,865  $ 51,374
Adjustments:    
Income taxes  37,338  28,668
Depreciation and amortization  11,014  10,451
Interest expense  135  391
Interest income  (278)  (97)
Earnings from continuing operations before interest, taxes,     
depreciation and amortization  $ 119,074  $ 90,787
     
EBITDA margin calculated as follows:    
Total revenue from continuing operations  $ 521,302  $ 423,262
Earnings from continuing operations before interest, taxes,     
depreciation and amortization  119,074  90,787
EBITDA as a percentage of revenue 23% 21%




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):

  Twelve Months Ended
  December 31,
  2011 2010
Cash flow from operating activities, including discontinued operations  $ 80,375  $ 73,645
Cash flow from investing activities:    
Pawn and consumer loans  (5,208)  (23,648)
Purchases of property and equipment  (28,974)  (18,385)
Free cash flow  $ 46,193  $ 31,612

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 (December 31, 2010) of 12.4 to 1 was used, compared to the current end of period (December 31, 2011) exchange rate of 14.0 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 December 31, 2010 was 12.4 to 1, compared to the current-quarter rate of 13.6 to 1. The average exchange rate for the prior-year twelve-month period ended December 31, 2010 was 12.6 to 1, compared to the current year-to-date rate of 12.4 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