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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Principles of consolidation Principles of consolidation - The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of FirstCash, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company regularly makes acquisitions and the results of operations for the acquired stores have been consolidated since the acquisition dates. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. See Note 3.
Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents - The Company considers any highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of acquisition to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2020, the amount of cash associated with indefinitely reinvested foreign earnings was $28.3 million, which is primarily held in Mexican pesos.
Customer loans and revenue recognition
Pawn loans and revenue recognition - Pawn loans are secured by the customer’s pledge of tangible personal property, which the Company holds during the term of the loan. If a pawn loan defaults, the Company relies on the sale of the pawned property to recover the principal amount of an unpaid pawn loan, plus a yield on the investment, as the Company’s pawn loans are non-recourse against the customer. The customer’s creditworthiness does not affect the Company’s financial position or results of operations. The Company accrues pawn loan fee revenue on a constant-yield basis over the life of the pawn loan for all pawns for which the Company deems collection to be probable based on historical pawn redemption statistics. If the pawn loan is not repaid prior to the expiration of the loan term, including any extension or grace period, if applicable, the principal amount loaned becomes the inventory carrying value of the forfeited collateral, which is typically recovered through sales of the forfeited items at prices well above the carrying value. The Company has determined no allowance related to credit losses on pawn loans is required, as the fair value of the pledged collateral is significantly in excess of the pawn loan amount.

Inventories and merchandise sales revenue recognition - Inventories represent merchandise acquired from forfeited pawn loans and merchandise purchased directly from the general public. The Company also retails limited quantities of new or refurbished merchandise obtained directly from wholesalers and manufacturers. Inventories from forfeited pawn loans are recorded at the amount of the pawn principal on the unredeemed goods, exclusive of accrued interest. Inventories purchased directly from customers, wholesalers and manufacturers are recorded at cost. The cost of inventories is determined on the specific identification method. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value and, accordingly, inventory valuation allowances are established if inventory carrying values are in excess of estimated selling prices, net of direct costs of disposal. Management has evaluated inventories and determined that a valuation allowance is not necessary.

The Company’s pawn merchandise sales are primarily retail sales to the general public in its pawn stores. The Company records sales revenue at the time of the sale. The Company presents merchandise sales net of any sales or value-added taxes collected. Some jewelry inventory is melted and processed at third-party facilities and the precious metal and diamond content is sold at either prevailing market commodity prices or a previously agreed upon price with a commodity buyer. The Company records revenue from these wholesale scrap jewelry transactions when a price has been agreed upon and the Company ships the commodity to the buyer.
Layaway plan and deferred revenue - The Company does not provide direct financing to customers for the purchase of its merchandise, but does permit its customers to purchase merchandise on an interest-free “layaway” plan. Should the customer fail to make a required payment pursuant to a layaway plan, the item is returned to inventory and all or a portion of previous payments are typically forfeited to the Company. Deposits and interim payments from customers on layaway sales are recorded as deferred revenue and subsequently recorded as retail merchandise sales revenue when the merchandise is delivered to the customer upon receipt of final payment or when previous payments are forfeited to the Company. Layaway payments from customers are included in customer deposits in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Foreign Currency Transactions Foreign currency transactions - The Company has operations in Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia where the functional currency is the Mexican peso, Guatemalan quetzal and Colombian peso. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect at each balance sheet date, and the resulting adjustments are accumulated in other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates occurring during the respective period. Prior to translation, U.S. dollar-denominated transactions of the foreign subsidiaries are remeasured into their functional currency using current rates of exchange for monetary assets and liabilities and historical rates of exchange for non-monetary assets and liabilities. Gains and losses from remeasurement of dollar-denominated monetary assets and liabilities in Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia are included in (gain) loss on foreign exchange in the consolidated statements of income. Deferred taxes are not currently recorded on cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments as the Company indefinitely reinvests earnings of its foreign subsidiaries. The Company also has operations in El Salvador where the reporting and functional currency is the U.S. dollar.The average value of the Mexican peso to the U.S. dollar exchange rate for 2020 was 21.5 to 1, compared to 19.3 to 1 in 2019 and 19.2 to 1 in 2018. The average value of the Guatemalan quetzal to the U.S. dollar exchange rate for 2020 was 7.7 to 1, compared to 7.7 to 1 in 2019 and 7.5 to 1 in 2018. The average value of the Colombian peso to the U.S. dollar exchange rate for 2020 was 3,693 to 1, compared to 3,280 to 1 in 2019 and 2,956 to 1 in 2018.
Store operating expenses Store operating expenses - Costs incurred in operating the Company’s stores have been classified as store operating expenses. Operating expenses include salary and benefit expense of store-level employees, occupancy costs, bank charges, security, insurance, utilities, supplies and other costs incurred by the stores.
Property and equipment Property and equipment - Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is recorded on the straight-line method generally based on estimated useful lives of 30 to 40 years for buildings and three to five years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. The costs of improvements on leased stores are capitalized as leasehold improvements and are depreciated using the straight-line method over the applicable lease period, or useful life, if shorter. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred and renewals and betterments are charged to the appropriate property and equipment accounts. Upon sale or retirement of depreciable assets, the cost and related accumulated depreciation is removed from the accounts, and the resulting gain or loss is included in the results of operations in the period the assets are sold or retired.
Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets
Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets - Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired in each business combination. The Company performs its goodwill impairment assessment annually as of December 31, and between annual assessments if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. The Company’s reporting units, which are tested for impairment, are U.S. operations and Latin America operations. The Company assesses goodwill for impairment at a reporting unit level by first assessing a range of qualitative factors, including, but not limited to, macroeconomic conditions, industry conditions, the competitive environment, changes in the market for the Company’s products and services, regulatory and political developments, entity specific factors, such as strategy and changes in key personnel, and overall financial performance. If, after completing this assessment, it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company proceeds to the impairment testing methodology. See Note 12.

The Company’s other material indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of trade names and pawn licenses. The Company performs its indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment assessment annually as of December 31, and between annual assessments if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. See Note 12.
Merger and acquisition expenses - The Company incurs incremental costs directly associated with merger and acquisition activity, including, but not limited to, professional fees, legal expenses, severance, retention and other employee-related costs, contract breakage costs and costs related to consolidation of technology systems and corporate facilities. The Company presents merger and acquisition expenses separately in the consolidated statements of income to identify these incremental activities apart from the expenses incurred to operate the business.
Long-lived assets Long-lived assets - Property and equipment, intangible assets subject to amortization and non-current assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the net book value of the asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized if the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and before interest) from the use of the asset is less than the net book value of the asset. Generally, the amount of the impairment loss is measured as the difference between the net book value of the asset and the estimated fair value of the related asset. During 2020, the Company recorded a $1.9 million impairment of other assets and a $1.5 million impairment of property and equipment, and during 2018, the Company recorded a $1.5 million impairment of property and equipment. The Company did not record any impairment loss for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Fair value of financial instruments Fair value of financial instruments - The fair value of financial instruments is determined by reference to various market data and other valuation techniques, as appropriate. 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. All fair value measurements related to acquisitions are level 3, non-recurring measurements, based on unobservable inputs. Unless otherwise disclosed, the fair values of financial instruments approximate their recorded values, due primarily to their short-term nature. See Note 6.
Income taxes Income taxes - The Company uses the asset and liability method of computing deferred income taxes on all material temporary differences. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. See Note 10.
Advertising Advertising - The Company expenses the costs of advertising the first time the advertising takes place. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, was $1.1 million, $1.2 million, and $1.4 million, respectively.
Share-based compensation Share-based compensation - All share-based payments to employees and directors are recognized in the financial statements based on the grant date or if applicable, the subsequent modification date fair value. The Company recognizes compensation cost net of estimated forfeitures and recognizes the compensation cost for only those awards expected to vest on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the vesting term. The Company records share-based compensation cost as an administrative expense. See Note 13.Forward sales commitments - The Company periodically uses forward sale agreements with a major gold bullion bank to sell a portion of the expected amount of scrap gold, which is typically jewelry that is broken or of low retail value, produced in the normal course of business from its liquidation of such merchandise. These commitments qualify for an exemption from derivative accounting as normal sales, based on historical terms, conditions and quantities, and are therefore not recorded on the Company's balance sheet.
Earnings per share
Earnings per share - Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by giving effect to the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common shares were exercised and converted into common shares during the year.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Year Ended December 31,
 202020192018
Numerator:   
Net income$106,579 $164,618 $153,206 
Denominator:   
Weighted-average common shares for calculating basic earnings per share41,502 43,020 44,777 
Effect of dilutive securities:   
Stock options and restricted stock unit awards98 188 107 
Weighted-average common shares for calculating diluted earnings per share41,600 43,208 44,884 
Earnings per share:   
Basic$2.57 $3.83 $3.42 
Diluted2.56 3.81 3.41 
Pervasiveness of estimates Use of estimates - 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, and related revenue and expenses, and the 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. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts the Company’s operations, results of operations, liquidity and financial condition, including estimates and assumptions used by the Company in the calculation and evaluation of the accrual for earned but uncollected pawn loan fees, impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets and current and deferred tax assets and liabilities, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration and severity of the outbreak, and the actions taken to contain its impact, as well as actions taken to limit the resulting economic impact, among others. The Company’s future assessment of the magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other factors, could result in material impacts to the Company’s financial statements in future reporting periods.
Revisions and reclassifications Reclassification - Certain amounts in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 have been reclassified in order to conform to the 2020 presentation.
Recent accounting pronouncements
Recent accounting pronouncements - In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 amends the impairment model by requiring entities to use a forward-looking approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables. In November 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2018-19, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses” (“ASU 2018-19”), which clarifies that receivables arising from operating leases are accounted for using lease guidance and not as financial instruments. In April 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2019-04, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2019-04”), which clarifies the treatment of certain credit losses. In May 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2019-05, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief” (“ASU 2019-05”), which provides an option to irrevocably elect to measure certain individual financial assets at fair value instead of amortized cost. In November 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2019-11, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses” (“ASU 2019-11”), which provides guidance around how to report expected recoveries. In February 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2020-02, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) (“ASU 2020-02”) which provides updated guidance on how an entity should measure credit losses on financial instruments and delayed the effective date of the original pronouncement for smaller reporting companies. ASU 2016-13, ASU 2018-19, ASU 2019-04, ASU 2019-05, ASU 2019-11 and ASU 2020-02 (collectively, “ASC 326”) are effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASC 326 did not have a material effect on the Company’s current financial position, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2017-04, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) - Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU 2017-04”), which eliminates step two from the goodwill impairment test and, instead, requires an entity to perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. The guidance is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and should be adopted on a prospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2017-04 did not have a material effect on the Company’s current financial position, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.

In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement” (“ASU 2018-13”). ASU 2018-13 modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for any removed or modified disclosures. The adoption of ASU 2018-13 did not have a material effect on the Company’s current financial position, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.

In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes” (“ASU 2019-12”). ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. ASU 2019-12 is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect ASU 2019-12 to have a material effect on the Company’s current financial position, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2020-03, “Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2020-03”). ASU 2020-03 improves and clarifies various financial instruments topics. ASU 2020-03 includes seven different issues that describe the areas of improvement and the related amendments to GAAP, intended to make the standards easier to understand and apply by eliminating inconsistencies and providing clarifications. The Company adopted ASU 2020-03 upon issuance, which did not have a material effect on the Company’s current financial position, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.
In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting” (“ASU 2020-04”). ASU 2020-04 provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. ASU 2020-04 is effective beginning on March 12, 2020, and the Company may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022. The Company does not expect ASU 2020-04 to have a material effect on the Company’s current financial position, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.

In October 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No 2020-10, “Codification Improvements” (“ASU 2020-10”). ASU 2020-10 updates various codification topics by clarifying or improving disclosure requirements. ASU 2020-10 is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2020-10 upon issuance, which did not have a material effect on the Company’s current financial position, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.