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FCFS vs UPBD
Which Stock Would AI Choose? FirstCash Holdings (FCFS) vs. Upbound Group (UPBD) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- FirstCash Holdings (FCFS) delivered record Q1 2026 results with revenue up significantly and net income of $107.7 million, driving YTD gains of over 34%.
- Upbound Group (UPBD) shows YTD appreciation of about 11%, supported by a Q4 2025 earnings beat, with Q1 results pending.
- FCFS boasts stronger long-term momentum with 61% one-year returns, compared to UPBD's flat performance over the same period.
- Both stocks offer dividends—FCFS at $0.42 quarterly and UPBD at $0.39—with UPBD yielding over 8%.
- FCFS has a larger market capitalization around $8.4 billion versus UPBD's $1.1 billion, indicating greater scale.
- Tickeron's comparison tool rates UPBD as a short-term buy over FCFS, highlighting potential relative price growth.
Introduction
Both FCFS and UPBD operate in the alternative financial services sector, serving non-prime consumers through pawn lending and rent-to-own models, respectively. This stock comparison is relevant for value-oriented investors and traders seeking exposure to resilient consumer finance plays amid economic uncertainty. Recent market activity has highlighted their relative performance, dividend reliability, and growth catalysts, aiding decisions on portfolio allocation or short-term trades in a volatile environment.
FCFS Overview and Recent Performance
FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (FCFS) is a leading operator of pawn stores in the U.S. and Latin America, providing collateralized loans, retail sales, and scrap jewelry recycling. In recent weeks, FCFS reported record first-quarter 2026 operating results, with revenue reaching $1.05 billion and net income of $107.7 million, fueled by strong pawn loan demand and same-store sales growth. The stock has climbed over 34% year-to-date and 61% over the past year, reflecting positive sentiment from earnings beats and a $600 million senior notes offering to support expansion. Trading around $214, it benefits from low beta (0.45), indicating relative stability.
UPBD Overview and Recent Performance
Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD), formerly Rent-A-Center, offers virtual rent-to-own options for furniture, electronics, and appliances via brands like Acima and Rent-A-Center. Recent market activity shows modest YTD gains of 11%, with shares at $19.06 after a Q4 2025 earnings and revenue beat that lifted the stock 6% at the time. Investors await Q1 2026 results on April 30, amid guidance for full-year revenue of $4.7–$4.95 billion. A high dividend yield (over 8%) and beta of 1.86 underscore income appeal but higher volatility, influenced by consumer spending trends in rent-to-own.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
FCFS and UPBD both target underserved markets but differ in models: pawn-based lending (FCFS) versus rent-to-own (UPBD). Growth drivers include FCFS's Latin American expansion versus UPBD's tech platforms like Brigit for fintech diversification. Recent momentum favors FCFS with superior YTD and one-year returns, while UPBD offers higher yield but elevated debt-to-equity (267%). Risk factors: FCFS faces currency exposure; UPBD contends with consumer cyclicality. Sector-wise, both in consumer finance, but FCFS shows stronger sentiment from earnings, trading at a premium P/E (price-to-earnings ratio).
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently leans toward FCFS for its trend consistency, record earnings stability, and superior relative positioning amid recent market activity. While UPBD presents short-term upside potential, FCFS's catalysts like expansion and low volatility suggest higher probability of outperformance over the near term, based on observable momentum and scale.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is FCFS is a Buy and UPBD is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
FCFS’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileUPBD’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- FCFS’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- UPBD’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
FCFS’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while UPBD’s TA Score has 7 bullish TA indicator(s).
- FCFS’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
- UPBD’s TA Score: 7 bullish, 2 bearish.
Price Growth
FCFS (@Savings Banks) experienced а +2.28% price change this week, while UPBD (@Packaged Software) price change was -0.05% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Savings Banks industry was -0.17%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +3.44%, and the average quarterly price growth was -4.05%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Packaged Software industry was -1.58%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -3.30%, and the average quarterly price growth was +11.43%.
Reported Earning Dates
FCFS is expected to report earnings on Jul 23, 2026.
UPBD is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Savings Banks (-0.17% weekly)A savings bank primary function is to take deposits and paying interest on those deposits. Originating in Europe during the 18th century, these banks were generally introduced to incentivize people of all stripes to save money and park them with banks. By the 1990s, the internet ushered in online savings banks that allowed savers to deposit/transact with banks digitally, without requiring to visit a branch office. Savings banks have potentially encouraged lower-income population to save and have access to a financial institution to earn interest on their money. New York Community Bancorp, Inc, Webster Financial Corporation, Washington Federal, Inc. are examples of savings banks.
@Packaged Software (-1.58% weekly)Packaged software comprises multiple software programs bundled together and sold as a group. For example, Microsoft Office includes multiple applications such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. In some cases, buying a bundled product is cheaper than purchasing each item individually[s20] . Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corp. and Adobe are some major American packaged software makers.
| FCFS | UPBD | FCFS / UPBD | |
| Capitalization | 10B | 1.07B | 936% |
| EBITDA | 1.04B | 1.76B | 59% |
| Gain YTD | 44.208 | 8.878 | 498% |
| P/E Ratio | 28.68 | 12.72 | 225% |
| Revenue | 3.88B | 4.74B | 82% |
| Total Cash | 131M | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 2.61B | 1.73B | 151% |
FCFS | UPBD | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 21 | 30 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 97 Overvalued | 3 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 4 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 53 | 65 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 41 | 50 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 25 | 39 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 41 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
UPBD's Valuation (3) in the Finance Or Rental Or Leasing industry is significantly better than the same rating for FCFS (97). This means that UPBD’s stock grew significantly faster than FCFS’s over the last 12 months.
FCFS's Profit vs Risk Rating (4) in the Finance Or Rental Or Leasing industry is significantly better than the same rating for UPBD (100). This means that FCFS’s stock grew significantly faster than UPBD’s over the last 12 months.
FCFS's SMR Rating (53) in the Finance Or Rental Or Leasing industry is in the same range as UPBD (65). This means that FCFS’s stock grew similarly to UPBD’s over the last 12 months.
FCFS's Price Growth Rating (41) in the Finance Or Rental Or Leasing industry is in the same range as UPBD (50). This means that FCFS’s stock grew similarly to UPBD’s over the last 12 months.
FCFS's P/E Growth Rating (25) in the Finance Or Rental Or Leasing industry is in the same range as UPBD (39). This means that FCFS’s stock grew similarly to UPBD’s over the last 12 months.
| FCFS | UPBD | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 82% | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 50% | 2 days ago 74% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 71% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 75% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 73% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 70% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 67% | 12 days ago 68% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 8 days ago 57% | 21 days ago 73% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 68% | 2 days ago 85% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 38% | 2 days ago 66% |
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| 1 Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| MFs / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| PFSZX | 24.48 | N/A | N/A |
| PGIM Jennison Financial Services Z | |||
| WICVX | 10.22 | N/A | N/A |
| Wasatch Small Cap Value Institutional | |||
| ARYEX | 28.68 | N/A | N/A |
| American Century Real Estate Y | |||
| MSSIX | 22.66 | N/A | N/A |
| Victory Trivalent International Sm-Cp R6 | |||
| CWIAX | 81.69 | -0.05 | -0.06% |
| American Funds Capital World Gr&Inc 529A | |||
FCFS and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, FCFS has been loosely correlated with EZPW. These tickers have moved in lockstep 52% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if FCFS jumps, then EZPW could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To FCFS | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCFS | 100% | +0.81% | ||
| EZPW - FCFS | 52% Loosely correlated | -0.66% | ||
| UPBD - FCFS | 43% Loosely correlated | N/A | ||
| BBDC - FCFS | 34% Loosely correlated | -2.41% | ||
| R - FCFS | 30% Poorly correlated | +0.64% | ||
| CTOS - FCFS | 29% Poorly correlated | +1.15% | ||
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UPBD and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, UPBD has been closely correlated with PRG. These tickers have moved in lockstep 67% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if UPBD jumps, then PRG could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To UPBD | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPBD | 100% | N/A | ||
| PRG - UPBD | 67% Closely correlated | +1.46% | ||
| ALLY - UPBD | 53% Loosely correlated | +0.18% | ||
| OMF - UPBD | 52% Loosely correlated | +0.09% | ||
| SYF - UPBD | 52% Loosely correlated | +0.60% | ||
| CPAY - UPBD | 51% Loosely correlated | +0.55% | ||
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