Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) vs FirstCash Holdings, Inc (FCFS) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | EZPW | 9.7% revenue growth vs FCFS's 8.0% |
| Value | EZPW | Lower P/E (14.8x vs 18.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | FCFS | 9.0% net margin vs EZPW's 8.6% |
| Stability / Safety | FCFS | Beta 0.31 vs EZPW's 0.34, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | EZPW | +92.8% vs FCFS's +73.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | EZPW | 6.2% ROA vs FCFS's 6.0%, ROIC 7.1% vs 12.7% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
EZCORP operates a chain of pawn shops across the United States and Latin America, providing short-term collateralized loans and selling secondhand merchandise. It generates revenue primarily from pawn loan interest and fees (roughly 60-70% of total) and merchandise sales from forfeited collateral and purchased goods (30-40%). The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive physical store network—over 1,100 locations—and proprietary digital platforms that streamline pawn operations and customer engagement.
FirstCash Holdings operates a large network of pawn shops across the Americas that provide short-term collateralized loans and sell forfeited merchandise. It generates revenue primarily from pawn loan interest and fees (roughly 70% of total) and retail sales of forfeited collateral and purchased goods (about 30%). The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive physical footprint—over 2,800 stores—and operational expertise in managing the pawn lending cycle across diverse markets.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
FCFS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). EZPW leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
FCFS is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.7B annually — 2.9x EZPW's $1.3B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 9.0% (FCFS) to 8.6% (EZPW).
| Metric | EZPWEZCORP, Inc. | FCFSFirstCash Holding… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.3B | $3.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $201M | $897M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $123M | $310M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $131M | $528M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +58.5% | +100.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.7% | +15.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.6% | +9.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.7% | — |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +37.5% | +29.2% |
Valuation Metrics
At 18.7x trailing earnings, EZPW trades at a 28% valuation discount to FCFS's 26.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, FCFS's 8.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than EZPW's 10.6x.
| Metric | EZPWEZCORP, Inc. | FCFSFirstCash Holding… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.6B | $8.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.9B | $8.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.68x | 25.98x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.80x | 18.64x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.10x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.63x | 8.66x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.28x | 2.32x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.16x | 3.77x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.82x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
FCFS delivers a 14.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $11 for EZPW. FCFS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.11x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to EZPW's 0.75x.
| Metric | EZPWEZCORP, Inc. | FCFSFirstCash Holding… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.5% | +14.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.2% | +6.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.1% | +12.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.0% | +12.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.75x | 0.11x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $295M | $124M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $470M | $125M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $764M | $249M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.47x | 4.66x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in EZPW five years ago would be worth $53,704 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $30,784 for FCFS. Over the past 12 months, EZPW leads with a +92.8% total return vs FCFS's +73.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors EZPW at 44.4% vs FCFS's 30.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | EZPWEZCORP, Inc. | FCFSFirstCash Holding… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +32.3% | +23.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +92.8% | +73.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +200.8% | +123.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +437.0% | +207.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +814.8% | +384.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +44.4% | +30.8% |
Risk & Volatility
FCFS is the less volatile stock with a 0.31 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than EZPW's 0.34 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | EZPWEZCORP, Inc. | FCFSFirstCash Holding… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.34x | 0.31x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $26.58 | $193.96 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $12.85 | $109.51 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.8% | +99.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 74.9 | 74.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 800K | 212K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates EZPW as "Buy" and FCFS as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 12.6% upside for FCFS (target: $217) vs 2.7% for EZPW (target: $27).
| Metric | EZPWEZCORP, Inc. | FCFSFirstCash Holding… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $27.25 | $217.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 15 | 19 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 9 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) | 100 | 449.69 | +349.7% |
| FirstCash Holdings,… (FCFS) | 100 | 213.23 | +113.2% |
EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) returned +437% over 5 years vs FirstCash Holdings,… (FCFS)'s +208%. A $10,000 investment in EZPW 5 years ago would be worth $53,704 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) | $731M | $1.3B | +74.4% |
| FirstCash Holdings,… (FCFS) | $1.1B | $3.7B | +236.4% |
EZCORP, Inc.'s revenue grew from $731M (2016) to $1.3B (2025) — a 6.4% CAGR. FirstCash Holdings, Inc's revenue grew from $1.1B (2016) to $3.7B (2025) — a 14.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) | -11.1% | 8.6% | +177.8% |
| FirstCash Holdings,… (FCFS) | 5.5% | 9.0% | +63.3% |
EZCORP, Inc.'s net margin went from -11% (2016) to 9% (2025). FirstCash Holdings, Inc's net margin went from 6% (2016) to 9% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) | 19.7 | 13.7 | -30.5% |
| FirstCash Holdings,… (FCFS) | 22.5 | 21.5 | -4.4% |
EZCORP, Inc. has traded in a 11x–216x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~19x. FirstCash Holdings, Inc has traded in a 16x–27x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~26x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) | -1.48 | 1.42 | +195.9% |
| FirstCash Holdings,… (FCFS) | 1.72 | 7.42 | +331.4% |
EZCORP, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-1.48 (2016) to $1.42 (2025). FirstCash Holdings, Inc's EPS grew from $1.72 (2016) to $7.42 (2025) — a 18% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
EZCORP, Inc. generated $110M FCF in 2025 (+384% vs 2021). FirstCash Holdings, Inc generated $0M FCF in 2025 (-100% vs 2021).
EZPW vs FCFS: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is EZPW or FCFS a better buy right now?
EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) offers the better valuation at 18.7x trailing P/E (14.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) a "Buy" — based on 15 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — EZPW or FCFS?
On trailing P/E, EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) is the cheapest at 18.7x versus FirstCash Holdings, Inc at 26.0x. On forward P/E, EZCORP, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14.8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — EZPW or FCFS?
Over the past 5 years, EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) delivered a total return of +437.0%, compared to +207.8% for FirstCash Holdings, Inc (FCFS). A $10,000 investment in EZPW five years ago would be worth approximately $54K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EZPW returned +814.8% versus FCFS's +384.4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — EZPW or FCFS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), FirstCash Holdings, Inc (FCFS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.31β versus EZCORP, Inc.'s 0.34β — meaning EZPW is approximately 8% more volatile than FCFS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, FirstCash Holdings, Inc (FCFS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 75% for EZCORP, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — EZPW or FCFS?
FirstCash Holdings, Inc (FCFS) is the more profitable company, earning 9.0% net margin versus 8.6% for EZCORP, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FCFS leads at 15.4% versus 11.7% for EZPW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FCFS leads at 100.0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is EZPW or FCFS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) trades at 14.8x forward P/E versus 18.6x for FirstCash Holdings, Inc — 3.8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FCFS: 12.6% to $217.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — EZPW or FCFS?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend. All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
08Is EZPW or FCFS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.34), +814.8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EZPW: +814.8%, FCFS: +384.4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between EZPW and FCFS?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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