EZCORP Raises Earnings Guidance

AUSTIN, Texas, June 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EZCORP, Inc. (Nasdaq: EZPW - News) announced today that it expects earnings for its quarter ended June 30, 2006 to be in the range of $0.35 to $0.37 per share, significantly higher than its previously announced guidance of $0.20 to $0.23. During the quarter, the Company realized stronger than expected sales gross profit, primarily due to higher gold values, and a lower than expected earnings drag from new store openings. The Company opened 25 stores during the quarter, with most of these opening late in the quarter. The Company still plans to open more than 100 stores this fiscal year, pushing much of the anticipated new store earnings drag into the fiscal fourth quarter.