Cash Converters (CCV) is a company-owned and franchised retail network that specialises in the sale of second hand goods.

The stores located around the world offers a range of service which varies with pawn-broking loans available in selected markets as well as a personal finance business that operates in various forms in the micro-lending category around the world.

The group has managed to survive through the global economic crisis via its counter-cyclical characteristics - people look to second-hand goods and cash advances in tough times.

The company after a recent capital raising is in a very strong financial position, enabling the acceleration of store acquisitions and an increase to its loan books in Australia and the UK. CCV currently has 106 corporate stores, with 61 in the UK and 45 in Australia.

First quarter trading update

CCV's 1Q13 results were impressive. The group reported a 1Q13 EBIT of $14.2 million, a massive 43% increase on the prior corresponding period.

The result was driven by a 155.4% increase in EBIT from the UK operations. With the UK loan book growing to 15.3 million pounds, a 146.1% increase on the prior correspond quarter and a 20.8% jump on the June 2012 quarter.

The Australian loan book also preformed strongly, growing to $67.1 million, a 32.7% increase on the same quarter in FY12. The group also noted that it acquired two new stores and opened up another two new in the quarter.

Capital raising

The group last month raised $32.7 million by issuing 38.5 million new shares at $0.85. The funds from the placement will be used to acquire stores within the franchised network, to open new corporate stores and to finance the growth of the Australian and UK personal loan books.

The offer was substantially oversubscribed, by both existing and new institutional investors. The stock price jumped over 12% the day it came out of a trading halt, this in essence signalling the markets approval of the company's capital raising.

CCV currently has 708 stores around the world with the largest concentration being in the UK were there are 222 stores of which 61 are company owned. The company has a target of 400 UK stores of which at least 25% of those will be company owned.

The capital raising makes the aforementioned expansion plans possible and with gearing only at 17.6% it still has plenty of room to expand further via debt.

Outlook

CCV delivered spectacular quarterly results and see no reason why this won't be the case in the next quarter. We think that the group’s capital raising will be earnings accretive immediately as a decent portion of the funds will be used to buy mature franchise stores.

The funds will also be used to expand its loans books, which it should be able to increase without too much delay. Overall CCV's expansion plans should continue to help it continue earnings and we believe this will translate into further share price appreciation.

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Share Tip: Cash Converters (CCV) Stock To Buy is a post from: Australian Stock Report Share Tips

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