FirstCash Vaults on Financial Position

FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCFS) shares gained first thing Thursday. The Fort Worth-based company, the leading international operator of pawn stores, today announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of H&T Group plc H&T is the largest operator of pawn stores in the United Kingdom with 286 locations.The strategic combination with H&T marks another significant milestone for FirstCash, entering the European market for the first time and further enhancing its position as a global leader in the pawn industry with now over 3,300 retail pawn locations and annualized pro forma revenues approaching $4 billion."We are extremely excited to welcome H&T to the FirstCash family," said CEO Rick Wessel. “This transaction aligns perfectly with our mission to further expand FirstCash’s pawn operations and deliver exceptional value to our customers and shareholders. H&T's strong brand reputation, commitment to customer service and growth potential make it an ideal fit with our culture and strategy.“FirstCash believes that H&T’s market-leading position in the U.K. provides premier access to an attractive market, supported by a seasoned management and operations team with the ability to further expand H&T’s operating footprint through store openings and acquisitions in the U.K. Longer-term, we expect the combination of FirstCash and H&T to provide a platform for further international expansion.”FCFS shares popped $1.84, or 1.3%, to $141.11.