Edgar Filing: FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES INC

FCFS FORM 10-Q 08Q3

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

[ X ]

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008

[ ]

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from __________ to ___________

Commission file number 0-19133

FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(state or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
690 East Lamar Blvd., Suite 400
Arlington, Texas
(Address of principal executive offices)

75-2237318
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

76011
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(817) 460-3947

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

x Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

o Large accelerated filer		x Accelerated filer
o Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)		o Smaller reporting company

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

o Yes x No

As of November 7, 2008, there were 29,243,335 shares of common stock outstanding.

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

				September 30,			December 31,

				2008		2007		2007
				(unaudited)
				(in thousands)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents			$	15,309	$	11,811	$	14,175
Service charges receivable				8,205		6,476		7,503
Customer receivables, net of allowance of $283,
	$206 and $326, respectively			56,456		45,684		47,047
Inventories				33,781		27,460		26,870
Prepaid expenses and other current assets				5,435		5,961		7,469
Deferred tax assets				28,528		2,267		457
Assets held for sale				24,481		39,821		39,277

	Total current assets			172,195		139,480		142,798

Property and equipment, net				39,458		36,436		36,978
Goodwill, net				53,237		53,237		53,237
Other				1,371		1,250		1,226
Non-current assets held for sale				-		55,559		57,309

		Total assets	$	266,261	$	285,962	$	291,548

		LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current portion of notes payable			$	2,250	$	2,250	$	2,250
Accounts payable				2,874		1,205		1,232
Accrued liabilities				12,455		8,412		14,109
Income taxes payable				6,195		1,642		-
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale				5,998		3,352		3,457

	Total current liabilities			29,772		16,861		21,048

Revolving credit facility				73,500		46,800		55,000
Notes payable, net of current portion				2,250		5,500		3,938
Deferred income taxes payable				8,336		8,059		10,353

		Total liabilities		113,858		77,220		90,339


Stockholders' equity:
	Preferred stock			-		-		-
	Common stock			361		359		359
	Additional paid-in capital			112,609		110,716		111,410
	Retained earnings			136,845		164,116		169,855
	Common stock held in treasury			(97,412)		(66,449)		(80,415)

		Total stockholders' equity		152,403		208,742		201,209

		Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	266,261	$	285,962	$	291,548


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

				Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
				September 30,				September 30,

				2008		2007		2008		2007
				(unaudited)
				(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Revenue:
	Pawn merchandise sales		$	47,814	$	38,968	$	137,372	$	107,416
	Finance and service fees			35,851		32,301		101,634		90,162
	Other			903		940		2,960		3,045

				84,568		72,209		241,966		200,623


Cost of revenue:
	Cost of goods sold			27,795		23,326		78,481		63,445
	Short-term loan and credit services
		loss provision		5,263		5,636		13,450		12,602
	Other			107		57		291		269

				33,165		29,019		92,222		76,316


Net revenue				51,403		43,190		149,744		124,307


Expenses and other income:
	Store operating expenses			27,516		22,477		76,704		65,442
	Administrative expenses			7,080		5,523		20,998		17,800
	Depreciation			2,705		2,585		8,153		7,611
	Interest expense			82		147		508		-
	Interest income			(9)		(18)		(39)		(80)

				37,374		30,714		106,324		90,773

Income from continuing operations
	before income taxes			14,029		12,476		43,420		33,534
		Provision for income taxes		5,155		4,479		16,004		12,206


Income from continuing operations				8,874		7,997		27,416		21,328

	Income (loss) from discontinued
		operations, net of tax (Note 2)		(55,281)		2,388		(60,426)		8,221


Net income (loss)			$	(46,407)	$	10,385	$	(33,010)	$	29,549


Basic income per share:
	Income from continuing operations		$	0.30	$	0.25	$	0.92	$	0.67
	Income (loss) from discontinued
		operations (Note 3)		(1.89)		0.08		(2.03)		0.26

	Net income (loss) per basic share		$	(1.59)	$	0.33	$	(1.11)	$	0.93


Diluted income per share:
	Income from continuing operations		$	0.30	$	0.24	$	0.90	$	0.64
	Income (loss) from discontinued
		operations (Note 3)		(1.84)		0.08		(1.99)		0.25

	Net income (loss) per diluted share		$	(1.54)	$	0.32	$	(1.09)	$	0.89


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2008

2007

(unaudited, in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income (loss)

(33,010)

29,549

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating

activities:

Depreciation and amortization

9,160

8,054

Share-based compensation expense

169

184

Non-cash portion of credit loss provision

39,143

28,076

Loss on disposal of Auto Master

52,611

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Buy-here/pay-here automotive customer receivables

(40,945)

(48,955)

Finance and service fees receivable

(644)

(1,803)

Inventories

(1,132)

(2,621)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

1,646

(4,805)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

(6,542)

Current and deferred income taxes

4,437

1,653

Net cash flows from operating activities

31,477

2,790

Cash flows from investing activities:

Pawn customer receivables

(13,389)

(9,493)

Short-term loan customer receivables

(2,260)

(4,671)

Purchases of property and equipment

(15,541)

(19,875)

Distribution to minority interest in Cash & Go, Ltd. joint venture

(194)

(63)

Net cash flows from investing activities

(31,384)

(34,102)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from debt

42,050

64,375

Payments of debt

(25,238)

(27,263)

Purchases of treasury stock

(16,997)

(18,176)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants

899

6,456

Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options and warrants

327

2,196

Net cash flows from financing activities

1,041

27,588

Change in cash and cash equivalents

1,134

(3,724)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period

14,175

15,535

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

15,309

11,811

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Cash paid during the period for:

Interest

2,421

1,418

Income taxes

6,923

13,118

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash operating activity:

Inventory acquired in repossession

1,756

2,012

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activity:

Non-cash transactions in connection with pawn receivables settled through

forfeitures of collateral transferred to inventories

53,933

42,157

The accompanying notes are an integral part
of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, include the accounts of First Cash Financial Services, Inc. (the "Company"), and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. In addition, the accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cash & Go, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership that operates financial services kiosks inside convenience stores, in which the Company has a 50% ownership interest. Effective September 2008, the Company has classified its Auto Master automotive business unit as a discontinued operation "held for sale" (see Note 2). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Such unaudited consolidated financial statements are condensed and do not include all disclosures and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America for complete financial statements. Such interim period financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements, which are included in the Company's December 31, 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2008 and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 are unaudited, but in management's opinion, include all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for such interim periods. Operating results for the periods ended September 30, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year.

Certain amounts in prior year comparative presentations have been reclassified in order to conform to the 2008 presentation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" ("SFAS 157"). SFAS 157 defines fair value to be the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. It establishes a fair value hierarchy and expands disclosures about fair value measurements in both interim and annual periods. SFAS 157 was effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. In February 2008, FASB issued FASB Staff Position Financial Accounting Standard 157-2, "Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157" ("FSP FAS 157-2"), which delays the effective date of SFAS 157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are recognized or disclosed in the financial statements on a nonrecurring basis. The FSP partially defers the effective date of SFAS 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years for items within the scope of this FSP. The adoption of SFAS 157 and FSP FAS 157-2 did not have a material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations. The Company has not applied the provisions of SFAS 157 to its nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities in accordance with FSP FAS 157-2. The Company will apply the provisions of SFAS 157 to these assets and liabilities beginning January 1, 2009, as required by FSP FAS 157-2.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" ("SFAS 159"). SFAS 159 permits entities to choose, at specified election dates, to measure eligible items at fair value (the "fair value option") and requires an entity to report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. Upfront costs and fees related to items for which the fair value option is elected shall be recognized in earnings as incurred and not deferred. SFAS 159 was effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The adoption of SFAS 159 did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, "Business Combinations-Revised" ("SFAS 141(R)"). SFAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer in a business combination: recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree; recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase price; and, determines what information to disclose to enable users of the consolidated financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. In the past, the Company has completed significant acquisitions. The application of SFAS 141(R) will cause management to evaluate future transaction returns under different conditions, particularly the near-term and long-term economic impact of expensing transaction costs up front.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements - an amendment of ARB No. 51" ("SFAS 160"). This statement will change the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and classified as a component of equity. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Company does not expect SFAS 160 to have a material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

In May 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 162, "The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles" ("SFAS 162"). SFAS 162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in the United States ("the GAAP hierarchy"). SFAS 162 makes the GAAP hierarchy explicitly and directly applicable to preparers of financial statements, a step that recognizes preparers' responsibilities for selecting the accounting principles for their financial statements, and sets the stage for making the framework of FASB Concept Statements fully authoritative. This statement will be effective November 15, 2008. The adoption of SFAS 162 will have no impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

In June 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position EITF 03-6-1, "Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Shared-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities." The Staff Position concludes that unvested share-based payments awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends are participating securities as defined in EITF 03-6 and therefore should be included in computing earnings per share using the two-class method. The Staff Position is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company does not expect EITF 03-6 to have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

Note 2 - Discontinued Operations

Effective December 2007, the Company discontinued its short-term loan operations in the District of Columbia ("D.C."). This was a result of legislation enacted in 2007, which reduced the maximum annual percentage rate charged on short-term loans to 24%, making the Company's short-term loan product financially unviable. All revenue and expenses reported for each period herein have been adjusted to reflect reclassification of the discontinued D.C. operations.

In September 2008, the Board of Directors of First Cash Financial Services, Inc. approved a plan to discontinue its Auto Master buy-here/pay-here automotive operation. The operating environment for the Auto Master division had become increasingly challenging and operating results more volatile over the past several quarters, given the difficult general economic climate. In light of these circumstances, the Company elected to discontinue the Auto Master operation in order to focus on its core pawn and consumer lending operations in the U.S. and Mexico. It is anticipated that the Auto Master operation, including its customer receivables, inventories and other assets, will be sold or liquidated over the next twelve months. Discontinued operations include the revenue and expenses which can be specifically identified with Auto Master, and excludes any allocation of general administrative corporate costs, except interest expense. Interest expense was allocated to Auto Master based on the amount of net funds advanced to Auto Master at the Company's corporate cost of funds. All revenue and expenses reported for each period herein have been adjusted to reflect reclassification of the discontinued Auto Master operation.

Associated with this decision, a non-cash loss on the disposal of Auto Master of $1.75 per share, net of tax, or $52.6 million, is included as a component of discontinued operations for the quarter ending September 30, 2008. Approximately $1.06 (per share, net of tax benefit), or $31.9 million, of this charge is an estimated non-cash fair-value adjustment to customer notes receivables, reflecting the currently anticipated resale values of the notes receivable. A non-cash impairment charge related to a write-off of goodwill and intangible assets accounts for $0.41, or $12.3 million, of the total charge, while other fair value adjustments to vehicle inventories, fixed assets and other items accounted for the remaining estimated charge of $0.28, or $8.4 million. At this time, the Company cannot currently estimate future cash expenditures related to the disposal, although such amounts are expected to be relatively insignificant in relation to the total expected charges. The Company expects to continue operating theAuto Master business unit while seeking to sell it, or its individual assets.

The carrying amounts of the major classes of assets for the discontinued Auto Master operation at September 30, 2008, after the previously mentioned charges, included customer receivables and accrued finance charges of $13.2 million, inventories of $4.9 million, property and equipment of $5.2 million, and other assets of $1.1 million, which were classified as a component of current assets. The carrying amount of liabilities for the discontinued Auto Master operation includes accounts payable of $647,000 and accrued liabilities of $5.4 million.

In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 144, Auto Master customer notes receivable held and used with a carrying amount of $62.0 million were written down to their estimated fair value at September 30, 2008 of $12.9 million, resulting in an impairment charge of $49.1 million, which was included in earnings for the period. The fair value of the customer receivables was estimated based upon discussions with third party purchasers of finance receivables and industry consultants knowledgeable of historical valuations for similar customer receivable portfolios. This estimate included adjustments to reflect the timing and probability of the expected cash flows from the collections and/or sale of these receivables. As required by SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements," financial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of the fair value of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. The following table summarizes the valuation of the Company's financial instruments by SFAS No. 157 pricing levels as of September 30, 2008 (unaudited, in thousands):

		Fair Value Measurements Using

		Quoted
		Prices In
		Active	Significant
		Markets for	Other	Significant
		Identical	Observable	Unobservable	Total
	Nine Months Ended	Assets	Inputs	Inputs	Gains
Description	September 30, 2008	(Level 1)	(Level 2)	(Level 3)	(Losses)

Auto Master customer receivables	$ 12,872	$ -	$ 12,872	$ -	$ (49,134)

The Auto Master operation was previously accounted for as a reportable segment. As a result of the decision to discontinue the Auto Master operation, the Company will not have any reportable segments.

The following table summarizes the operating results of Auto Master, which has been reclassified as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statements of operations, for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007 (unaudited, in thousands):

		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2008		2007		2008		2007

Revenue		$	26,723	$	30,356	$	78,014	$	80,631


Income (loss) from discontinued
	operations before income tax		(4,211)		2,334		(12,750)		8,812
Income tax (expense) benefit			1,541		(830)		4,692		(3,207)

Income (loss) from discontinued
	operations, net of tax		(2,670)		1,504		(8,058)		5,605


Loss from disposal of Auto Master
	before income tax		(80,941)		-		(80,941)		-
Income tax benefit from disposal			28,330		-		28,330		-

Net loss from disposal of Auto
	Master	$	(52,611)	$	-	$	(52,611)	$	-

The following table summarizes the operating results of the D.C. short-term loan operation, which has been reclassified as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statements of operations, for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007 (unaudited, in thousands):

		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2008		2007		2008		2007

Revenue		$	-	$	2,399	$	233	$	6,590


Income (loss) from discontinued
	operations before income tax		-		1,389		385		4,113
Income tax (expense) benefit			-		(505)		(142)		(1,497)

Income (loss) from discontinued
	operations, net of tax	$	-	$	884	$	243	$	2,616

Note 3 - Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (unaudited, in thousands, except per share data):

				Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
				September 30,				September 30,

				2008		2007		2008		2007
Numerator:
	Income from continuing operations for
		calculating basic earnings per share	$	8,874	$	7,997	$	27,416	$	21,328
	Interest on convertible note, net of taxes			-		11		-		34


	Income from continuing operations for
		calculating diluted earnings per share		8,874		8,008		27,416		21,362

	Income (loss) from discontinued operations			(2,670)		2,388		(7,815)		8,221
	Loss from disposal of Auto Master			(52,611)		-		(52,611)		-

	Net income (loss) for calculating diluted
		earnings per share	$	(46,407)	$	10,396	$	(33,010)	$	29,583


Denominator:
	Weighted-average common shares for
		calculating basic earnings per share		29,235		31,637		29,685		31,786
	Effect of dilutive securities:
		Convertible note payable		-		56		-		56
		Stock options and warrants		775		1,187		630		1,318

	Weighted-average common shares for
		calculating diluted earnings per share		30,010		32,880		30,315		33,160


Basic earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations		$	0.30	$	0.25	$	0.92	$	0.67
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations			(0.09)		0.08		(0.26)		0.26
	Loss from disposal of Auto Master			(1.80)		-		(1.77)		-

	Net income (loss) per basic share		$	(1.59)	$	0.33	$	(1.11)	$	0.93


Diluted earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations		$	0.30	$	0.24	$	0.90	$	0.64
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations			(0.09)		0.08		(0.26)		0.25
	Loss from disposal of Auto Master			(1.75)		-		(1.73)		-

	Net income (loss) per diluted share		$	(1.54)	$	0.32	$	(1.09)	$	0.89

Note 4 - Revenue, Cost of Revenue and Customer Receivables

The following table details the major components of revenue and cost of revenue from continuing operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited, in thousands):

			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,

			2008		2007		2008		2007
Revenue:
	Pawn retail merchandise sales	$	31,064	$	26,925	$	89,798	$	79,538
	Pawn scrap jewelry sales		16,750		12,043		47,574		27,878
	Pawn service fees		18,565		15,114		52,137		42,229
	Short-term loan and credit services fees		17,286		17,187		49,497		47,933
	Other		903		940		2,960		3,045

			84,568		72,209		241,966		200,623

Cost of revenue
	Cost of goods sold - pawn retail merchandise		17,062		15,057		49,119		44,649
	Cost of goods sold - pawn scrap jewelry		10,733		8,269		29,362		18,796
	Short-term loan and credit services loss provision		5,263		5,636		13,450		12,602
	Other		107		57		291		269

			33,165		29,019		92,222		76,316

Net revenue		$	51,403	$	43,190	$	149,744	$	124,307

The following table details selected assets as of September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007 (unaudited, in thousands):

			Balance at September 30,

			2008		2007
Customer receivables:
	Pawn receivables	$	50,182	$	40,399
	Short-term loan receivables		6,557		5,491

			56,739		45,890
CSO short-term loans held by independent third-party (1)			13,211		12,416
Allowance for doubtful accounts			(968)		(761)

		$	68,982	$	57,545

(1) CSO loans outstanding are from an independent third-party lender and are not included on the Company's balance sheet.

Note 5 - Guarantees

The Company offers a fee-based credit services organization program ("CSO program") to assist consumers, primarily in Texas markets, in obtaining credit. Under the CSO program, the Company assists customers in applying for a short-term loan from an independent, non-bank, consumer lending company (the "Independent Lender") and issues the Independent Lender a letter of credit to guarantee the repayment of the loan. The loans made by the Independent Lender to credit services customers of the Company range in amount from $50 to $1,500, have terms of 7 to 180 days and bear interest at a rate of less than 10% on an annualized basis.

These letters of credit constitute a guarantee for which the Company is required to recognize, at the inception of the guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken by issuing the letters of credit. The Independent Lender may present the letter of credit to the Company for payment if the customer fails to repay the full amount of the loan and accrued interest after the due date of the loan. Each letter of credit expires approximately 30 days after the due date of the loan. The Company's maximum loss exposure under all of the outstanding letters of credit issued on behalf of its customers to the Independent Lender as of September 30, 2008 was $14,694,000 compared to $13,869,000 at September 30, 2007. According to the letters of credit, if the borrower defaults on the loan, the Company will pay the Independent Lender the principal, accrued interest, insufficient funds fee, and late fees, all of which the Company records as a component of its credit loss provision. The Company is entitled to seek recovery, directly from its customers, of the amounts it pays the Independent Lender in performing under the letters of credit. The Company records the estimated fair value of the liability under the letters of credit as a component of accrued liabilities.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

GENERAL

The Company generates revenue from its continuing operations from two primary products and services: pawn store operations and short-term consumer loan operations.

The Company's pawn revenue is derived primarily from service fees on pawns and merchandise sales of forfeited pawn collateral and used goods purchased directly from the general public. The Company accrues pawn service charge revenue on a constant-yield basis over the life of the pawn loan for all pawns that the Company deems collection to be probable based on historical pawn redemption statistics. If a pawn loan is not repaid prior to the expiration of the automatic extension period, if applicable, the property is forfeited to the Company and transferred to inventory at a value equal to the principal amount of the loan, exclusive of accrued interest.

The Company's short-term consumer loan revenue is derived primarily from fees on short-term loans and credit services fees. The Company recognizes service fee income on short-term loans on a constant-yield basis over the life of the short-term loan, which is generally thirty-one days or less. The net defaults on short-term loans and changes in the short-term loan valuation reserve are charged to the short-term loan loss provision. The credit loss provision is based primarily upon historical credit loss experience, with consideration given to recent credit loss trends, delinquency rates, economic conditions and management's expectations of future credit losses.

The Company offers a fee-based credit services organization program ("CSO program") to assist customers, primarily in Texas markets, in obtaining credit. Under the CSO program, the Company assists customers in applying for a short-term loan from an independent, non-bank, consumer lending company (the "Independent Lender") and issues the Independent Lender a letter of credit to guarantee the repayment of the loan. The Company recognizes credit services fees ratably over the life of the loan made by the Independent Lender. The loans made by the Independent Lender to credit services customers of the Company have terms of 7 to 180 days. The Company records a liability for the estimated fair value of the liability under the letters of credit.

OPERATIONS AND LOCATIONS

As of September 30, 2008, the Company had 495 locations in twelve U.S. states and thirteen states in Mexico, which represents a 13% increase over the 440 locations open at September 30, 2007. A total of 18 new retail locations were opened during the third quarter of 2008. The openings were a combination of pawn stores and short-term loan stores. The following table details store counts for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008:

			Mexico
	U.S. Locations		Locations

			Pawn/
		Short-Term	Short-Term
	Pawn	Loan	Loan	Total
	Stores	Stores	Stores	Locations

Three Months Ended September 30, 2008
Total locations, beginning of period	95	159	225	479
New locations opened	-	2	16	18
Locations closed or consolidated	(2)	-	-	(2)

Total locations, end of period	93	161	241	495

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
Total locations, beginning of period	96	157	207	460
New locations opened	-	5	36	41
Locations closed or consolidated	(3)	(1)	(2)	(6)

Total locations, end of period	93	161	241	495

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company's 50% owned joint venture, Cash & Go, Ltd., operated a total of 39 kiosks located inside convenience stores in the state of Texas, which are not included in the above table. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company did not open or close any Cash & Go, Ltd. kiosks.

At September 30, 2008, the Company's credit services operations also include an internet distribution channel for customers in the states of Maryland and Texas.

As of September 30, 2008, the Company's "held for sale" Auto Master business operated 16 dealerships in the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.

While the Company has had significant increases in revenue due to new store openings in 2008 and 2007, the Company has also incurred increases in operating expenses attributable to the additional locations. Operating expenses consist of all items directly related to the operation of the Company's stores, including salaries and related payroll costs, rent, utilities, equipment, advertising, property taxes, licenses, supplies and security. Administrative expenses consist of items relating to the operation of the corporate office, including the compensation and benefit costs of corporate management, area supervisors and other operations management personnel, collections operations and personnel, accounting and administrative costs, information technology costs, liability and casualty insurance, outside legal and accounting fees and stockholder-related expenses.

Stores included in the same-store revenue calculations are those stores that were opened prior to the beginning of the prior year comparative period and are still open. Also included are stores that were relocated during the year within a specified distance serving the same market, where there is not a significant change in store size and where there is not a significant overlap or gap in timing between the opening of the new store and the closing of the existing store. During the third quarter of 2007, the Company relocated one store that involved a significant change in the size of its retail showroom, and accordingly, the expanded store has been excluded from the same-store calculations. Non-retail sales of scrap jewelry are included in same-store revenue calculations.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, related revenue and expenses, and disclosure of gain and loss contingencies at the date of the financial statements. Such estimates and assumptions are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's estimates. Both the significant accounting policies that management believes are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating the reported financial results and the effects of recent accounting pronouncements have been reported in the Company's 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See discussion in Note 1 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

RESULTS OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS

Three months ended September 30, 2008, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2007

The following table details the components of revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2008, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2007 (unaudited, in thousands):

		Three Months Ended September 30,

			2008		2007	Increase/(Decrease)
Domestic revenue:
	Pawn retail merchandise sales	$	14,930	$	14,906	$	24	-
	Pawn scrap jewelry sales		7,500		5,017		2,483	49%
	Pawn service fees		9,010		8,110		900	11%
	Short-term loan and credit services fees		16,414		16,929		(515)	(3)%
	Other		901		940		(39)	(4)%

		$	48,755	$	45,902	$	2,853	6%


Foreign revenue:
	Pawn retail merchandise sales	$	16,134	$	12,019	$	4,115	34%
	Pawn scrap jewelry sales		9,250		7,026		2,224	32%
	Pawn service fees		9,555		7,004		2,551	36%
	Short-term loan and credit services fees		872		258		614	238%
	Other		2		-		2	-

		$	35,813	$	26,307	$	9,506	36%

Total revenue:
	Pawn retail merchandise sales	$	31,064	$	26,925	$	4,139	15%
	Pawn scrap jewelry sales		16,750		12,043		4,707	39%
	Pawn service fees		18,565		15,114		3,451	23%
	Short-term loan and credit services fees		17,286		17,187		99	1%
	Other		903		940		(37)	(4)%

		$	84,568	$	72,209	$	12,359	17%

The following table details pawn receivables, short-term loan receivables, and active CSO loans outstanding from an independent third-party lender as of September 30, 2008, as compared to September 30, 2007 (unaudited, in thousands):

			Balance at September 30,

			2008		2007	Increase/(Decrease)
Domestic customer receivables and CSO loans outstanding:
	Pawn receivables	$	26,761	$	23,419	$	3,342	14%
	Short-term loan receivables, net of allowance		5,414		5,034		380	8%
	CSO short-term loans held by independent third-party (1)		12,526		11,861		665	6%

			44,701		40,314		4,387	11%


Foreign customer receivables:
	Pawn receivables		23,421		16,980		6,441	38%
	Short-term loan receivables, net of allowance		860		251		609	243%

			24,281		17,231		7,050	41%


Total customer receivables and CSO loans outstanding:
	Pawn receivables		50,182		40,399		9,783	24%
	Short-term loan receivables, net of allowance		6,274		5,285		989	19%
	CSO short-term loans held by independent third-party (1)		12,526		11,861		665	6%

		$	68,982	$	57,545	$	11,437	20%

(1) CSO short-term loans outstanding are comprised of the principal portion of active CSO loans outstanding from 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.

Pawn & Short-Term Loan Operations

The 17% increase in year-over-year revenue from the pawn and short-term loan operations was due to a combination of significant same-store revenue growth and the opening of new stores. Same-store revenue in the pawn and short-term loan stores (stores that were in operation during all of the third quarter of both 2008 and 2007) increased 13%, or $9,364,000, for the third quarter of 2008 as compared to the same quarter last year. Revenue generated by the new pawn and short-term loan stores opened since July 1, 2007 increased by $2,821,000, compared to the same quarter last year.

Combined pawn retail and scrap jewelry sales increased by 23%, which was consistent with the increase in pawn service fees and pawn loan receivables. The 39% increase in pawn scrap jewelry sales during the third quarter of 2008 was primarily due to a 36% increase in the weighted-average selling price of scrap gold. Retail sales of pawn merchandise grew at a lesser rate due to weaker consumer demand in the U.S. and because the Company elected to scrap a greater percentage of pawn inventories, given increased scrap margins and lower selling costs associated with scrap sales. The 23% increase in pawn service charge revenue was consistent with the increase in pawn receivables, which reflected increased consumer demand in all markets and continued expansion in Mexico. Service fees from short-term loans and credit services were essentially flat compared to 2007. While revenue increased as a result of new store openings and maturing of newer stores, third quarter results were negatively impacted by Hurricane Ike, which significantly reduced revenue and profitability in approximately 40 short-term loan stores in Texas, and by declines in short-term loan and credit services revenue in the Company's pawn stores and joint venture kiosks, reflecting increased competition from free-standing short-term loan stores.

The gross profit margin on total pawn merchandise sales was 41.9% during the third quarter of 2008, compared to 40.1% during the third quarter of 2007. The retail pawn merchandise margin, which excludes scrap jewelry sales, was 45.1% during the third quarter of 2008, compared to 44.1% in the third quarter of 2007. Gross margin on sales of scrap jewelry was 35.9% in the third quarter of 2008 compared to 31.3% in the third quarter of 2007. The increase in both retail and wholesale margins is due primarily to increased gold prices compared to the same period last year.

The Company's short-term loan and credit services loss provision improved, as it decreased to 30.4% of short-term loan and credit services fee revenue, compared to 32.8% in the prior-year quarter. The Company sold charged-off accounts of $225,000 in the current quarter, compared to $326,000 in the prior-year quarter. The Company's loss reserve on short-term loan receivables increased to $283,000 at September 30, 2008 from $206,000 at September 30, 2007. The estimated fair value of liabilities under the CSO letters of credit, net of anticipated recoveries from customers, was $685,000 at September 30, 2008, compared to $555,000 at September 30, 2007, which is included as a component of the Company's accrued liabilities. The increases in the reserves reflect increases in the outstanding loan balances.

Pawn and short-term loan store operating expenses increased 22% to $27,516,000 during the third quarter of 2008, compared to $22,477,000 during the third quarter of 2007, primarily as a result of the net addition of 64 new pawn and short-term loan stores since July 1, 2007, which is a 15% increase in the store count.

The net store profit contribution from the pawn and short-term loan operations for the current-year quarter was $21,491,000, which equates to a store-level operating margin of 25%, which also equaled the margin for the comparable prior-year quarter.

Administrative Expenses, Interest, Taxes & Income

Administrative expenses increased 28% to $7,080,000 during the third quarter of 2008 compared to $5,523,000 during the third quarter of 2007, which is primarily attributable to increased administrative expenses in Mexico and increased general management and supervisory compensation expenses.

For the third quarter of 2008 and 2007, the Company's effective income tax rates of 36.7% and 35.9%, respectively, differed from the federal statutory tax rate of 35% primarily as a result of state income taxes.

Income from continuing operations increased 11% to $8,874,000 during the third quarter of 2008 compared to $7,997,000 during the third quarter of 2007. Including the net loss from the discontinued operations of Auto Master, the net loss was $46,407,000 during the third quarter of 2008 compared to net income of $10,385,000 during the third quarter of 2007.

Nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2007

The following table details the components of revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2007 (unaudited, in thousands):

		Nine Months Ended September 30,

			2008		2007	Increase/(Decrease)
Domestic revenue:
	Pawn retail merchandise sales	$	46,569	$	46,039	$	530	1%
	Pawn scrap jewelry sales		19,969		11,655		8,314	71%
	Pawn service charges		26,032		23,026		3,006	13%
	Short-term loan and credit services fees		47,518		47,445		73	-
	Other		2,958		3,045		(87)	(3)%

		$	143,046	$	131,210	$	11,836	9%


Foreign revenue:
	Pawn retail merchandise sales	$	43,229	$	33,499	$	9,730	29%
	Pawn scrap jewelry sales		27,605		16,223		11,382	70%
	Pawn service charges		26,105		19,203		6,902	36%
	Short-term loan and credit services fees		1,979		488		1,491	306%
	Other		2		-		2	-

		$	98,920	$	69,413	$	29,507	43%


Total revenue:
	Pawn retail merchandise sales	$	89,798	$	79,538	$	10,260	13%
	Pawn scrap jewelry sales		47,574		27,878		19,696	71%
	Pawn service charges		52,137		42,229		9,908	23%
	Short-term loan and credit services fees		49,497		47,933		1,564	3%
	Other		2,960		3,045		(85)	(3)%

		$	241,966	$	200,623	$	41,343	21%

Pawn & Short-Term Loan Operations

The 21% increase in year-over-year revenue from the pawn and short-term loan operations was due to a combination of significant same-store revenue growth and the opening of new stores. Same-store revenue in the pawn and short-term loan stores (stores that were in operation during all of the first nine months of both 2008 and 2007) increased 15%, or $29,825,000, for the first nine months of 2008 as compared to the same period last year. Revenue generated by the new pawn and short-term loan stores opened since January 1, 2007 increased by $11,832,000 compared to the same period last year.

Combined pawn retail and wholesale scrap merchandise sales increased by 28%, which is consistent with the growth in pawn service fees and pawn loan balances. The 71% increase in wholesale scrap jewelry sales during the first nine months of 2008 was primarily due to a 24% increase in the quantity of gold sold and a 37% increase in the weighted-average selling price of scrap gold. Retail sales of pawn merchandise grew at a lesser rate, as the Company elected to scrap a greater percentage of pawn inventories, given increased scrap margins and lower selling costs associated with scrap sales. The 23% increase in pawn service charge revenue was consistent with the increase in pawn receivables, which reflected increased consumer demand and continued expansion in Mexico. Service fees from short-term loans and credit services increased 3% year-to-date. While revenue increased as a result of new store openings and maturing of newer stores, the year-to-date results were negatively impacted by Hurricane Ike, which significantly reduced revenue and profitability in approximately 40 short-term loan stores in Texas during the third quarter of 2008. Revenue growth in the Company's free-standing stores was also offset by declines in short-term loan and credit services revenue in the Company's pawn stores and joint venture kiosks, reflecting increased competition from free-standing short-term loan stores.

The gross profit margin on total pawn merchandise sales was 42.9% during the first nine months of 2008, compared to 40.9% during the first nine months of 2007. The retail pawn merchandise margin, which excludes scrap jewelry sales, was 45.3% during 2008, compared to 43.9% in the same period last year. Gross margin on sales of scrap jewelry was 38.3% in 2008 compared to 32.6% in 2007. The increase in both retail and wholesale margins is due primarily to increased gold prices compared to the same period last year.

The Company's short-term loan and credit services loss provision increased to 27.2% of short-term loan and credit services fee revenue in 2008, compared to 26.3% during 2007. The increase was primarily related to higher loss rates in the Company's newer locations, which typically experience higher loss rates than the Company's more mature stores and reduced sales of charged off-accounts. Total sales of charged-off accounts, which are recorded as credits to the loss provision, were $421,000 in the first nine months of 2008 compared to $664,000 in the comparable prior-year period.

Pawn and short-term loan store operating expenses increased 17% to $76,704,000 year-to-date, compared to $65,442,000 in 2007, primarily as a result of the net addition of 103 new pawn and short-term loan stores since January 1, 2007, which is a 26% increase in the store count.

The net store profit contribution from the pawn and short-term loan operations year-to-date was $65,789,000, which equates to a store-level operating margin of 27%, an increase over the 26% margin for the comparable prior-year period.

Administrative Expenses, Interest, Taxes & Income

Administrative expenses increased 18% to $20,998,000 during the first nine months of 2008 compared to $17,800,000 during 2007, which is primarily attributable to increased administrative expenses in Mexico and increased general management and supervisory compensation expenses and increased legal and accounting fees.

For the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, the Company's effective income tax rates of 36.9% and 36.4%, respectively, differed from the federal statutory tax rate of 35% primarily as a result of state income taxes.

Income from continuing operations increased 29% to $27,416,000 during 2008 compared to $21,328,000 during 2007. Including the net loss from the discontinued operations of Auto Master, the net loss was $33,010,000 during 2008 compared to net income of $29,549,000 during 2007.

Discontinued Operations

The following table summarizes the operating results of Auto Master, which has been reclassified as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007 (unaudited, in thousands):

		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,

			2008		2007		2008		2007

Revenue		$	26,723	$	30,356	$	78,014	$	80,631


Income (loss) from discontinued
	operations before income tax		(4,211)		2,334		(12,750)		8,812
Income tax (expense) benefit			1,541		(830)		4,692		(3,207)

Income (loss) from discontinued
	operations, net of tax		(2,670)		1,504		(8,058)		5,605


Loss from disposal of Auto Master
	before income tax		(80,941)		-		(80,941)		-
Income tax benefit from disposal			28,330		-		28,330		-

Net loss from disposal of Auto
	Master	$	(52,611)	$	-	$	(52,611)	$	-

See further discussion in Note 2 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Quarterly Financial Results

The following tables detail quarterly financial data (unaudited, in thousands, except per share data):

			Three Months Ended

			March 31		June 30		September 30		December 31
2008
Total revenue			$	77,841	$	79,557	$	84,568		$	N/A
Cost of revenue				28,577		30,480		33,165			N/A
Net revenue				49,264		49,077		51,403			N/A
Total expenses and other income				33,854		35,096		37,374			N/A
Income from continuing operations				9,727		8,815		8,874			N/A
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net				(3,032)		(2,113)		(2,670)			N/A
Loss from disposal of Auto Master, net				-		-		(52,611)			N/A
Net income (loss)				6,695		6,702		(46,407)			N/A
Diluted income per share:
	Income from continuing operations			0.31		0.30		0.30			N/A
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net			(0.09)		(0.07)		(0.09)			N/A
	Loss from disposal of Auto Master, net			-		-		(1.75)			N/A
	Net income			0.22		0.23		(1.54)			N/A
Diluted weighted average shares				31,117		29,853		30,010			N/A

2007
Total revenue			$	63,913	$	64,501	$	72,209		$	79,638
Cost of revenue				22,598		24,699		29,019			31,453
Net revenue				41,315		39,802		43,190			48,185
Total expenses and other income				29,919		30,140		30,714			33,790
Income from continuing operations				7,219		6,112		7,997			9,155
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net				3,060		2,773		2,388			(2,608)
Loss from disposal of D.C. short-term loan
	operations, net			-		-		-			(808)
Net income				10,279		8,885		10,385			5,739
Diluted income per share:
	Income from continuing operations			0.21		0.19		0.24			0.29
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net			0.10		0.08		0.08			(0.09)
	Loss from disposal of D.C. short-term loan
		operations, net		-		-		-			(0.02)
	Net income			0.31		0.27		0.32			0.18
Diluted weighted average shares				33,179		33,421		32,880			31,815

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of September 30, 2008, the Company's primary sources of liquidity were $15,309,000 in cash and cash equivalents, $64,661,000 in receivables, $33,781,000 in inventories, $24,481,000 in assets held for sale and $16,500,000 of available and unused funds under the Company's long-term line of credit. The Company had working capital of $142,423,000 as of September 30, 2008.

The Company has a $90,000,000 long-term line of credit with two commercial lenders, (the "Credit Facility"), which expires in April 2010. The Credit Facility bears interest at the prevailing LIBOR rate (which was approximately 3.9% at September 30, 2008) plus a fixed interest rate margin of 1.375%. Amounts available under the Credit Facility are limited to 300% of the Company's earnings before income taxes, interest, depreciation and amortization for the trailing twelve months. At September 30, 2008, the Company had $73,500,000 outstanding under the Credit Facility and $16,500,000 available for borrowings. Under the terms of the Credit Facility, the Company is required to maintain certain financial ratios and comply with certain technical covenants. The Company was in compliance with the requirements and covenants of the Credit Facility as of November 7, 2008. The Company is required to pay an annual commitment fee of 1/8 of 1% on the average daily unused portion of the Credit Facility commitment. The Company's Credit Facility contains provisions that allow the Company to repurchase stock and/or pay cash dividends within certain parameters. Substantially all of the unencumbered assets of the Company have been pledged as collateral against indebtedness under the Credit Facility.

At September 30, 2008, the Company has notes payable to individuals arising from the Auto Master acquisition that total $4,500,000 in aggregate and bear interest at 7%, with quarterly payments of principal and interest. Of the $4,500,000 in notes payable, $2,250,000 is classified as a current liability, and $2,250,000 is classified as long-term debt.

The following table sets forth certain historical information with respect to the Company's statements of cash flows:

				Nine Months Ended September 30,

					2008		2007
					(unaudited, in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
	Net income (loss)			$	(33,010)	$	29,549
	Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating
		activities:
		Depreciation and amortization			9,160		8,054
		Share-based compensation expense			169		184
		Non-cash portion of credit loss provision			39,143		28,076
		Loss on disposal of Auto Master			52,611		-
	Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
		Buy-here/pay-here automotive customer receivables			(40,945)		(48,955)
		Finance and service fees receivable			(644)		(1,803)
		Inventories			(1,132)		(2,621)
		Prepaid expenses and other assets			1,646		(4,805)
		Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			42		(6,542)
		Current and deferred income taxes			4,437		1,653

			Net cash flows from operating activities		31,477		2,790

Cash flows from investing activities:
	Pawn customer receivables				(13,389)		(9,493)
	Short-term loan customer receivables				(2,260)		(4,671)
	Purchases of property and equipment				(15,541)		(19,875)
	Distribution to minority interest in Cash & Go, Ltd. joint venture				(194)		(63)

			Net cash flows from investing activities		(31,384)		(34,102)

Cash flows from financing activities:
	Proceeds from debt				42,050		64,375
	Payments of debt				(25,238)		(27,263)
	Purchases of treasury stock				(16,997)		(18,176)
	Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants				899		6,456
	Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options and warrants				327		2,196

			Net cash flows from financing activities		1,041		27,588

Change in cash and cash equivalents					1,134		(3,724)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period					14,175		15,535

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period				$	15,309	$	11,811

During the third quarter of 2008, the Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock. During the third quarter of 2007, the Company repurchased 823,000 shares. Year-to-date, it has repurchased 1,640,000 shares at an aggregate cost of $16,997,000 and an average cost per share of $10.36. The Company funded $15.5 million in capital expenditures during the first nine months of 2008 related primarily to new store locations.

The profitability and liquidity of the Company is affected by the amount of customer receivables outstanding and related collections of such receivables. In general, revenue growth is dependent upon the Company's ability to fund growth of customer receivable balances and inventories and the ability to absorb related credit losses. In addition to these factors, merchandise sales and the pace of store expansions affect the Company's liquidity.

The Company intends to continue expansion primarily through new store openings. The majority of capital expenditures, working capital requirements and start-up losses related to this expansion are expected to be funded through operating cash flows and the Credit Facility. Management believes that the Credit Facility and cash generated from operations will be sufficient to accommodate the Company's current operations and store expansion plans for the remainder of fiscal 2008. The Company will evaluate potential acquisitions, if any, based upon earnings accretion, growth potential, purchase price, strategic fit and quality of management personnel, among other factors. If the Company encounters an attractive opportunity to acquire new stores in the near future, the Company may seek additional financing, the terms of which will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") from continuing operations for the trailing twelve month period ended September 30, 2008 totaled $69,180,000, an increase of 26% compared to $54,792,000 for the trailing twelve month period ended September 30, 2007. The EBITDA margin (EBITDA as a percentage of revenue) for the twelve month period ended September 30, 2008 was 22%, compared to 20% for the comparable prior-year period.

EBITDA is commonly used by investors to assess a company's leverage capacity, liquidity and financial performance. EBITDA is not considered a measure of financial performance under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), and the items excluded from EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing the Company's financial performance. Since EBITDA is not a measure determined in accordance with GAAP and is thus susceptible to varying calculations, EBITDA, as presented, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income, cash flows provided by or used in operating, investing or financing activities or other financial statement data presented in the Company's consolidated financial statements as an indicator of financial performance or liquidity. Non-GAAP measures should be evaluated in conjunction with, and are not a substitute for, GAAP financial measures.

The following table provides a reconciliation of income from continuing operations to EBITDA (unaudited, in thousands):

		Trailing Twelve Months Ended September 30,

			2008		2007

Income from continuing operations		$	36,571	$	28,628
Adjustments:
	Income taxes		21,244		16,058
	Depreciation		10,761		9,840
	Interest expense		665		358
	Interest income		(61)		(92)

Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization		$	69,180	$	54,792

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS

Forward-Looking Information

This quarterly report may contain forward-looking statements about the business, financial condition and prospects of First Cash Financial Services, Inc. ("First Cash" or 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," "intends," "could," or "anticipates," or the negative thereof, or other variations thereon, or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. 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 quarterly report include, without limitation, the Company's expectations of earnings per share, earnings growth, charges related to discontinued operations, expansion strategies, store openings, liquidity, cash flows, credit losses and related provisions, debt repayments, consumer demand for the Company's products and services, competition, 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 quarterly report 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 quarterly report. 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 borrowing and repayment behaviors, changes in credit markets, 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 retain key management personnel, the ability to operate with limited regulation as a credit services organization in Texas, new legislative initiatives or governmental regulations (or changes to existing laws and regulations) affecting short-term loan businesses, credit services organizations, pawn businesses and buy-here/pay-here automotive businesses in both the U.S. and Mexico, unforeseen litigation, changes in interest rates, changes in tax rates or policies, changes in gold prices, changes in energy prices, changes in used-vehicle prices, cost of funds, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, future business decisions, and other uncertainties. These and other risks, uncertainties and regulatory developments are further and more completely described in the Company's 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Regulatory Developments

The Company is subject to extensive regulation of its pawnshop, short-term loan lending (also known as "payday advances"), and credit services in most jurisdictions in which it operates. These regulations are provided through numerous laws, ordinances and regulatory pronouncements from various federal, state and local governmental entities in the United States and Mexico. In many jurisdictions, the Company must obtain and maintain regulatory operating licenses. In addition, many statutes and regulations prescribe, among other things, the general terms of the Company's loan agreements and the maximum service fees and/or interest rates that may be charged. These regulatory agencies have broad discretionary authority. The Company is also subject to U.S. federal and state regulations relating to the reporting and recording of certain currency transactions. The Company's operations in Mexico are also subject to, and must comply with, pawn and consumer lending regulations and other general business, tax, employment and consumer protection regulations from various federal, state and local governmental agencies in Mexico. Existing regulations and recent regulatory developments are described in greater detail in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

During 2008, legislation relating to short-term loans has been either enacted, proposed, or is still pending in several state legislatures, including proposed legislation in the states of California, Illinois, South Carolina, Michigan and Washington, where the Company has short-term loan operations. In general, such proposed legislation significantly lowers the maximum allowable interest rates on short-term loans and/or significantly restricts the ability of customers to obtain such loans. This type of legislation, if enacted, could effectively eliminate the Company's ability to offer short-term loan products as the proposed legislation would make these products financially unviable. The Company also offers short-term loan and credit services products in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Oregon and Maryland. In addition, proposed federal legislation was introduced in July 2008 by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois which would implement a nationwide interest rate cap of 36% on virtually all credit products, which would likely include all of the Company's pawn, short-term loan and credit services products offered in the United States. Adoption of any federal or state legislation as described above could restrict, or even eliminate the availability of short-term loan, pawn loan and credit services products in some or all of the states in which the Company offers such products. The Company cannot currently assess the likelihood of this or similar federal or state legislation or regulations being enacted; however, if such legislation or regulations were enacted, it would have a materially adverse impact on the revenue and profitability of the Company.

In addition, there can be no assurance that additional local, state or federal statutes or regulations in either the United States or Mexico will not be enacted or that existing laws and regulations will not be amended at some future date that could inhibit the ability of the Company to offer pawn loans, short-term loans and credit services, significantly decrease the service fees for lending money, or prohibit or more stringently regulate the sale of certain goods, any of which could cause a significant, adverse effect on the Company's future results. If legislative or regulatory actions that had negative effects on the pawn, short-term loan or credit services industries were taken at the federal level in the U.S. or Mexico, or in U.S. or Mexican states or municipalities where the Company has a significant number of stores, those actions could have a materially adverse effect on the Company's lending, credit services and retail activities and revenue. There can be no assurance that additional federal, state or local legislation in the U.S. or Mexico will not be enacted, or that existing laws and regulations will not be amended, which would have a materially adverse impact on the Company's operations and financial condition.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market risks relating to the Company's operations result primarily from changes in interest rates, gold prices and foreign currency exchange rates and are described in detail in the Company's 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K. At September 30, 2008, the Company holds approximately $15,911,000 in gold jewelry inventories. Approximately $10,788,000 of the Company's outstanding loans in Mexico at September 30, 2008 were contracted and expected to be settled in Mexican pesos. The Company maintained certain peso-denominated bank balances at September 30, 2008, which converted to a U.S. dollar equivalent of $2,334,000. The Company also has offsetting peso-denominated liabilities for accounts payable, accrued expenses and layaway deposits which convert to a U.S. dollar equivalent of $2,533,000. The Company does not engage in speculative or leveraged transactions, nor does it hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. There have been no other material changes to the Company's exposure to market risks since December 31, 2007.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, management of the Company has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of September 30, 2008 ("Evaluation Date"). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective (i) to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms; and (ii) to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

There was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2008, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

The Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls will prevent all possible error and fraud. The Company's disclosure controls and procedures are, however, designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company's financial controls and procedures are effective at that reasonable assurance level.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

There have been no material changes in the status of legal proceedings previously reported in the Company's 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes in the risk factors previously reported in the Company's 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

During the period from January 1, 2008 through September 30, 2008, the Company issued 161,000 shares of common stock relating to the exercise of outstanding stock options for an aggregate exercise price of $1,226,000 (including income tax benefit). Subsequent to September 30, 2008, the Company granted a total of 15,000 restricted stock awards to the outside directors of the Company.

The transactions set forth in the above paragraph were completed pursuant to either Section 4(2) of the Securities Act or Rule 506 of Regulation D of the Securities Act. With respect to issuances made pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, the transactions did not involve any public offering and were sold to a limited group of persons. Each recipient either received adequate information about the Company or had access, through employment or other relationships, to such information, and the Company determined that each recipient had such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that they were able to evaluate the merits and risks of an investment in the Company. With respect to issuances made pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D of the Securities Act, the Company determined that each purchaser was an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act. All sales of the Company's securities were made by officers of the Company who received no commission or other remuneration for the solicitation of any person in connection with the respective sales of securities described above. The recipients of securities represented their intention to acquire the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof and appropriate legends were affixed to the share certificates and other instruments issued in such transactions.

In November 2007, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a repurchase program for up to 1,000,000 shares of First Cash's outstanding common stock. In March 2008, the Company's Board of Directors authorized an amendment to the 2007-authorized program which allows the Company to repurchase up to 3,000,000 shares of its common stock.

During the third quarter of 2008, the Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock. There are 1,360,000 total remaining shares available for repurchase under the currently authorized plan.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not Applicable

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

None

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibits:

10.1	Fifth Amendment to the Credit Agreement

31.1	Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act provided by Rick L. Wessel, Chief Executive Officer

31.2	Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act provided by R. Douglas Orr, Chief Financial Officer

32.1	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 provided by Rick L. Wessel, Chief Executive Officer

32.2	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 provided by R. Douglas Orr, Chief Financial Officer

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.

Dated: November 7, 2008	FIRST CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
	(Registrant)

	/s/ RICK L. WESSEL
	Rick L. Wessel
	Chief Executive Officer
	(Principal Executive Officer)

	/s/ R. DOUGLAS ORR
	R. Douglas Orr
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
	(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT NUMBER	DESCRIPTION

10.1	Fifth Amendment to the Credit Agreement

31.1	Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act provided by Rick L. Wessel, Chief Executive Officer

31.2	Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act provided by R. Douglas Orr, Chief Financial Officer

32.1	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 provided by Rick L. Wessel, Chief Executive Officer

32.2	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 provided by R. Douglas Orr, Chief Financial Officer