AUSTIN, Texas, March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ: EZPW) (the “Company”), a leading provider of pawn transactions in the United States and Latin America, announced today that it intends to offer, subject to market conditions and other factors, $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its senior notes due 2032 (the “Notes”) in a private offering. The Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the Company and will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by certain of the Company’s wh ...

Core Viewpoint - EZCORP has terminated its agreement to purchase 53 stores in Mexico but remains optimistic about expansion opportunities in the region [1][2] Company Overview - EZCORP is a leading provider of pawn loans in the United States and Latin America, operating over 560 stores in Mexico [2] - The company focuses on satisfying short-term cash needs for consumers who are cash and credit constrained, emphasizing an industry-leading customer experience [2] Strategic Direction - Despite the termination of the acquisition, the company plans to continue expanding its footprint in Mexico through new store openings and opportunistic acquisitions [2]

Company Overview - EZCORP, Inc. is a leading provider of pawn transactions in the United States and Latin America, formed in 1989 [3] - The company also sells pre-owned and recycled merchandise, primarily collateral forfeited from pawn lending operations [3] - EZCORP is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol EZPW and is a member of the S&P 1000 Index and Nasdaq Composite Index [3] Upcoming Events - EZCORP will host its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on March 13, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time [1] - Investors can register to receive dial-in information and a unique pin for the meeting [1] Financial Reporting - EZCORP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2024 has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission [2] - The report is available in the Investor Relations section of the company's website, and stockholders can request a paper copy free of charge [2]

Core Viewpoint - Shares of Ezcorp (EZPW) have increased by 8.4% over the past four weeks, closing at $13.40, with a mean price target of $16.83 indicating a potential upside of 25.6% [1] Price Targets - The average price target consists of three estimates ranging from a low of $13.50 to a high of $22, with a standard deviation of $4.54, suggesting variability in analyst estimates [2] - The lowest estimate indicates a 0.8% increase from the current price, while the highest suggests a 64.2% upside [2] - A low standard deviation indicates a high degree of agreement among analysts regarding the stock's price movement [7] Analyst Sentiment - Analysts are optimistic about Ezcorp's earnings prospects, as indicated by a trend of higher EPS estimates, which correlates with potential stock price increases [9] - Over the last 30 days, one estimate has increased, leading to a 3.2% rise in the Zacks Consensus Estimate [10] - Ezcorp holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimates [11] Caution on Price Targets - Solely relying on consensus price targets for investment decisions may not be wise, as empirical research shows that these targets often mislead investors [5][8] - Analysts may set overly optimistic price targets due to business incentives, which can inflate expectations [6]

Core Viewpoint - Ezcorp (EZPW) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate, which reflects EPS estimates from sell-side analysts for the current and following years, highlighting the importance of earnings revisions in stock price movements [1][4]. - Changes in a company's future earnings potential, as indicated by earnings estimate revisions, are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements, particularly due to institutional investors' reliance on these estimates for valuation [4][5]. Recent Performance and Projections - For the fiscal year ending September 2025, Ezcorp is expected to earn $1.30 per share, representing a 16.1% increase from the previous year, with a 5.7% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8]. - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 places Ezcorp in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for higher stock prices in the near term due to favorable earnings estimate revisions [10]. Zacks Rank System Overview - The Zacks Rank stock-rating system categorizes stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - The system maintains a balanced distribution of 'buy' and 'sell' ratings, ensuring that only the top 5% of stocks receive a 'Strong Buy' rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revision features [9][10].

Group 1: First Bancorp (FBNC) - First Bancorp is a bank holding company for First Bank and has a Zacks Rank of 1 [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for First Bancorp's next year earnings has increased by 6.8% over the last 60 days [1] - The company's shares have gained 6.7% over the past month, outperforming the S&P 500's advance of 4.2% [1] - First Bancorp possesses a Momentum Score of A [1] Group 2: EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) - EZCORP is a pawn services company and also holds a Zacks Rank of 1 [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EZCORP's current year earnings has increased by 3.2% over the last 60 days [2] - EZCORP's shares have gained 13.9% over the last three months, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's advance of 1% [2] - The company has a Momentum Score of B [2]

Group 1: OMV Aktiengesellschaft (OMVKY) - OMV is an energy and chemicals company with a Zacks Rank 1 [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OMV's current year earnings has increased by 4.5% over the last 60 days [1] - OMV has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 5.96, lower than the industry average of 7.30, and possesses a Value Score of A [1] Group 2: Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (PCRX) - Pacira is a non-opioid pain management and regenerative health solutions company with a Zacks Rank 1 [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Pacira's next year earnings has increased by 21% over the last 60 days [2] - Pacira has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 7.69, significantly lower than the S&P 500 average of 24.45, and possesses a Value Score of A [2] Group 3: EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) - EZCORP is a pawn services company with a Zacks Rank 1 [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EZCORP's current year earnings has increased by 3.2% over the last 60 days [3] - EZCORP has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 10.33, compared to the industry average of 15.30, and possesses a Value Score of A [3]

Group 1: Momentum Investing Overview - Momentum investing involves following a stock's recent trend, with the aim of buying high and selling higher, capitalizing on established price movements [1] - The Zacks Momentum Style Score helps define momentum characteristics, with Ezcorp (EZPW) currently holding a Momentum Style Score of B [2][3] Group 2: Ezcorp Performance Metrics - Ezcorp has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong potential for outperformance in the market [3] - Over the past week, EZPW shares increased by 11.82%, while the Zacks Financial - Consumer Loans industry rose by 1.07% [5] - In the last quarter, EZPW shares rose by 12.67%, and over the past year, they increased by 31.8%, compared to the S&P 500's gains of 1.24% and 22.19% respectively [6] Group 3: Trading Volume and Earnings Outlook - The average 20-day trading volume for EZPW is 604,364 shares, which is a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [7] - In terms of earnings outlook, there has been one upward revision in earnings estimates for the current fiscal year, increasing the consensus estimate from $1.26 to $1.30 [9] - For the next fiscal year, one estimate has also moved upwards, with no downward revisions noted [9] Group 4: Conclusion - Considering the positive momentum indicators and earnings outlook, EZPW is positioned as a 2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B, making it a potential candidate for near-term investment [10][11]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, the company achieved total revenue of $329.7 million, marking a 10% year-over-year increase, while PLO grew 16% to $282.9 million [7][23] - EBITDA increased by 12% to $53 million, and diluted EPS rose 17% to $0.42 [7] - The cash balance increased to $174.5 million, up $4 million from the previous quarter [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Merchandise sales increased by 8% to $192.9 million, while merchandise gross profit grew by 4% year-over-year [25][32] - U.S. revenue for the quarter was up 7% to a record $232.2 million, with earning assets growing by 16% [25] - Latin American total revenues increased 18% to $97.5 million, with earning assets increasing by 35% [29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company operates 1,283 stores in the U.S. and Latin America, with four new stores added in the quarter [8] - The average U.S. loan size increased by 14%, supported by a rise in PLO jewelry composition [26] - In Latin America, PLO jewelry composition increased by 400 basis points, reflecting a focus on this category [31] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing customer experience through accessible financing solutions, including the expansion of a buy now pay later program [14] - There is a commitment to sustainability and community impact, with over 1.5 million pre-owned items sold [20] - The company aims to drive organic growth through higher PLO, PSC, and merchandise sales growth [35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted strong consumer demand for cash solutions and affordable goods, driven by rising living costs [6][8] - The company anticipates a moderation in same-store expense growth due to declining inflation rates [36] - There is a strong focus on investing in team members and technology to enhance operational efficiencies [37] Other Important Information - The company maintains a robust liquidity position with $175 million in cash and $333 million in gross convertible notes [33] - The M&A pipeline remains strong, with ongoing diligence on the Auto De Niro acquisition [38] Q&A Session Summary Question: Merchandise margin dip below 35% - Management confirmed strong loan growth and noted increased negotiations and discounts due to consumer cash constraints [43] Question: Exposure to undocumented immigrants - Management stated there has been no impact from potential deportations on business performance [46][47] Question: Planning for tax refund season - Management indicated that the tax refund season may be shorter, with no significant changes expected in refund amounts [50] Question: Update on Auto De Niro acquisition - Management confirmed the acquisition is still in diligence and emphasized the potential for growth in the auto pawn business [52][53] Question: Refinancing options for convertible notes - Management expressed no pressure to refinance and highlighted the company's strong liquidity position [56][58] Question: Recent wage increases in Mexico - Management acknowledged the impact of wage increases on expenses but noted strong sales growth in the region [64] Question: Impact of digital investments on customer trends - Management reported positive trends in customer engagement and sales growth attributed to digital investments [68][71] Question: Growth opportunities for the fiscal year - Management indicated a balanced growth strategy focusing on both de novo store openings and acquisitions [75][78]

FIRST QUARTER FISCAL 2025 EARNINGS ADJUSTED INFORMATION Unless otherwise specified, all amounts in this presentation reflect certain non-GAAP adjustments for various discrete items and constant currency. FY25 results are presented in constant currency using FY24 rates. Prior years use actual foreign exchange rates. For a discussion of the comparable GAAP amounts, see "EZCORP GAAP Results" and "GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation" in the Appendix. COMPARISONS FEBRUARY 2025 PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS NASDAQ: EZPW FOR ...