Group 1 - EZCORP (NASDAQ: EZPW) is rated as a "Strong Buy" indicating a favorable opportunity for long-term investors [1] - The pawn lending industry is perceived as undervalued based on current valuation metrics [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and FirstCash have reached a settlement regarding alleged violations of the Military Lending Act (MLA), which includes financial penalties and compliance requirements [1][2]. Group 1: Settlement Details - FirstCash and its 18 subsidiaries are required to set aside $5 million for redress and pay a $4 million fine to the CFPB's victims relief fund [2]. - The proposed order, if entered by the court, mandates compliance with the MLA moving forward [2]. Group 2: Allegations and Legal Background - The CFPB's lawsuit, filed in November 2021, accused FirstCash of violating the MLA by charging interest rates exceeding the maximum allowable annual percentage rate of 36%, requiring arbitration for disputes, and failing to provide necessary loan disclosures [3]. - Rohit Chopra, the CFPB's director at the time of the lawsuit, characterized FirstCash as a repeat offender that exploited military families [4]. Group 3: Company Response and Future Plans - FirstCash's CEO expressed satisfaction with the settlement, stating the company disagrees with the CFPB's allegations but believes settling is the best course of action [5]. - As part of the settlement, FirstCash plans to introduce a new pawn lending product specifically for U.S. military members and their families, ensuring compliance with the MLA [4].

Core Viewpoint - FirstCash Holdings, Inc. has reached a settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regarding alleged violations of the Military Lending Act, which includes financial compensation and the introduction of a new pawn lending product for military members and their families [1][2]. Group 1: Settlement Details - The settlement is subject to final court approval and includes an estimated consumer redress of $5 million to $7 million for affected customers, along with a $4 million fine to the CFPB victims relief fund [2]. - The financial impact of the settlement will be reflected in the Company's GAAP financial results for the second quarter of 2025 [2]. Group 2: Company Overview - FirstCash operates over 3,000 retail pawn stores in the U.S. and Latin America, focusing on serving cash and credit-constrained consumers [3]. - The pawn segments in the U.S. and Latin America account for approximately 80% of annualized segment earnings, with the remainder coming from its subsidiary, AFF, which provides lease-to-own and retail finance solutions [3]. Group 3: Market Position - FirstCash is a component of both the Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 2000 Index, with its common stock traded on Nasdaq [4].

Industry Overview - The U.S. Business Services Sector is supported by strong domestic economic fundamentals, encompassing companies that provide various services such as consulting, staffing, financial transactions, outsourcing, advertising, waste removal, building maintenance, technology services, and auction/valuation services [1] - The sector is mature with stable demand for services, and revenues, income, and cash flows are above pre-pandemic levels. It ranks in the top 25% of the Zacks Sector Rank, indicating expected outperformance over the next three to six months [2] Stock Recommendations - Five business services stocks with favorable Zacks Rank that have shown double-digit returns in the past three months are Duolingo Inc. (DUOL), Cintas Corp. (CTAS), Stantec Inc. (STN), Thomson Reuters Corp. (TRI), and FirstCash Holdings Inc. (FCFS). Each stock carries a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [3] Company Highlights Duolingo Inc. (DUOL) - Duolingo operates a mobile learning platform offering courses in 40 languages and provides a digital language proficiency assessment exam [6] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 33.4% and 55.3%, respectively, with a 10.2% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings over the last 60 days [7][9] Cintas Corp. (CTAS) - Cintas is benefiting from solid momentum across its segments, with product penetration into existing customers aiding its Uniform Rental and Facility Services segment [8] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 7% and 10.8%, respectively, with a 1.9% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings over the last 60 days [10] Stantec Inc. (STN) - Stantec provides professional consulting services in various fields including planning, engineering, architecture, and environmental sciences [11][12] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 11.1% and 19.5%, respectively, with a 3.2% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings over the last 30 days [13] Thomson Reuters Corp. (TRI) - Thomson Reuters operates as a content and technology company across multiple regions, providing value-added information and technology in law, tax, accounting, and other fields [14][15] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 3.2% and 4.2%, respectively, with a 1.3% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings over the last 60 days [15] FirstCash Holdings Inc. (FCFS) - FirstCash operates retail pawn stores in the U.S., Mexico, and Latin America, providing pawn loans and retail payment solutions [16][17] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are -0.2% and 17.3%, respectively, with a 2.7% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings over the last 60 days [18]

Group 1 - EZCORP operates a resilient and niche business model that benefits from consumer liquidity needs during financial stress [1] - The company has low credit risk and recurring retail revenue, which supports its business stability [1] - Market perception of the pawn industry is negatively influenced by prevailing stereotypes [1] Group 2 - The company is positioned to capitalize on macroeconomic trends and consumer behavior during economic downturns [1] - EZCORP's business model is designed to provide financial solutions to consumers in need, enhancing its market relevance [1]

Core Viewpoint - FirstCash is strategically entering the UK market by acquiring H&T Group plc, enhancing its geographic diversification and growth opportunities while strengthening its position as a global leader in pawn operations [1][2][3]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - FirstCash will pay 650 pence per share for H&T, totaling approximately £297 million or $394 million USD, including a final dividend of 11 pence per share [1]. - The acquisition has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and is subject to H&T's shareholder approval and regulatory approvals in the UK [5]. Group 2: Strategic and Financial Benefits - The acquisition expands FirstCash's geographic footprint into the UK, creating the largest publicly traded pawn platform across the U.S., Latin America, and the UK [2][6]. - H&T's established brand and network of 285 stores will enhance FirstCash's scale and operational efficiencies, unlocking further growth opportunities in the UK and potentially other European markets [6]. - The transaction is expected to be meaningfully accretive to EBITDA and EPS, strengthening FirstCash's financial profile and long-term shareholder value [6]. Group 3: Leadership and Management - H&T's experienced management team will provide local expertise, positioning FirstCash to drive strong execution and continued momentum in the UK market [6].

Marks Key Milestone Toward Becoming a Fully Reporting Public Company ATLANTA, GA, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dinewise, Inc (OTC PINK-DWIS) (referred to as "Dinewise", "we", "us", "our" or the "Company") A leading national technology conglomerate specializing in automotive, fintech, and entertainment solutions has announced the filing of its Form 10 Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Formerly known as Dinewise, the Company will now operate under its new name, ...

Wall Street has witnessed severe volatility in 2025 after recording an astonishing bull run in the last two years. Year to date, all three major stock indexes — the Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite — are in negative territory. The small-cap benchmarks — the Russell 2000 and the S&P 600 — are also in the negative zone year to date. Similarly, the mid-cap-specific S&P 400 Index is also in the red.Despite this headwind, a handful of mid-cap stocks are flying high providing more than 25% returns year t ...

Core Viewpoint - FirstCash Holdings (FCFS) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the correlation between changes in earnings estimates and stock price movements, suggesting that revisions in earnings estimates are a powerful indicator of future stock performance [4][6]. - Rising earnings estimates for FirstCash imply an improvement in the company's underlying business, which could lead to an increase in stock price as investors respond positively [5][10]. Earnings Estimate Revisions for FirstCash - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, FirstCash is expected to earn $7.85 per share, reflecting a 17.2% increase from the previous year [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for FirstCash has increased by 0.7%, indicating a trend of rising earnings estimates [8]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks based on earnings estimate revisions, with only the top 20% of stocks receiving a 'Strong Buy' or 'Buy' rating, highlighting their potential for market-beating returns [9][10]. - The upgrade of FirstCash to a Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting a favorable outlook for the stock in the near term [10].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved record Q2 revenue of $318.9 million, marking a 12% year-on-year increase [5] - PLO (Pawn Loan Outstanding) grew 15% to a Q2 record of $271.8 million [5] - EBITDA increased by 23% to $45.1 million, with diluted EPS growth of 21% to $0.34 [5][9] - Cash balance increased to $505.2 million from $174.5 million last quarter, primarily due to $300 million debt financing [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Merchandise sales grew by 8% to $177.4 million, with gross profit reflecting a 10% increase to $185 million [9][15] - U.S. Pawn segment revenue increased by 7% to $221.4 million, with earning assets growing by 21% [16] - Latin American segment total revenues increased by 25% to $97.5 million, driven by strong PLO growth of 17% [22][24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. accounted for 72% of gross profit during the quarter [10] - Average loan size in the U.S. increased by 15%, primarily due to higher prices of jewelry [17] - Latin America experienced a 19% increase in PSC (Pawn Service Charges) [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company continues to strengthen core pawn operations through investments in technology and customer experience [11] - The Easy Plus Rewards program saw membership grow by 34% to 6.2 million, accounting for 77% of all transactions [11] - The company is focused on disciplined M&A strategies in both the U.S. and Latin America, with a strong pipeline of opportunities [27][52] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that macroeconomic pressures are leading consumers to seek short-term cash solutions [6] - The company remains committed to maintaining high levels of cash liquidity while pursuing growth opportunities [8] - Management expressed confidence in sustaining strong momentum through 2025, despite economic uncertainties [27] Other Important Information - The company opened nine de novo stores in Latin America and acquired one store in Guatemala [7] - The introduction of a long-term layaway option resulted in a 15% increase in new layaways made during the quarter [12] - The company received a first-time credit rating of BA1 from Moody's, reflecting its strong financial position [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of tax season on PLO - Management indicated that the 9% sequential decline in PLO is similar to last year and may represent a new normal due to rising consumer costs [32][33] Question: Effects of tariffs on pricing and customer demographics - Management noted that while tariffs take time to impact stores, inflationary effects on general merchandise are evident, with a shift towards higher loan sizes [34][35] Question: Merchandise margin performance - Management explained that prioritizing gross profit over merchandise margin is a strategic choice to satisfy customer needs [38][39] Question: Plans for excess cash post-debt offering - Management emphasized a balanced approach to scaling the business while maintaining a conservative balance sheet, with a focus on disciplined M&A [42][44] Question: Latin American acquisition strategy - Management highlighted strong momentum in Latin America and a disciplined approach to acquisitions, with numerous opportunities available [50][52] Question: Impact of layaway programs and gold prices - Management clarified that the benefits from layaway programs will materialize in future quarters, while gold prices are driving average loan sizes [58][66] Question: Update on MaxPawn's performance and expansion - Management expressed satisfaction with MaxPawn's growth and indicated plans for disciplined expansion into new markets [68][70] Question: Performance of the founders group - Management reported strong performance from the founders group, with growth in lending and sales [77] Question: Future growth around off-balance sheet structures - Management confirmed that the off-balance sheet structure has been successful for Simple, with ongoing assessments for future needs [80]