Atlanticus (ATLC) vs FirstCash (FCFS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Atlanticus (ATLC) has outperformed FirstCash (FCFS) over the past year, gaining 62.1% versus a gain of 38.4%. Over five years, FCFS leads with a +146.9% price change compared with +50.4% for ATLC. FirstCash is the larger company by market cap ($9.27 billion vs $1.42 billion), about 6.5 times the size, while Atlanticus is growing revenue faster (+50.1% vs +8.0%).
On valuation, Atlanticus trades at a lower forward P/E (6.9x vs 16.5x for FirstCash). FirstCash pays a dividend yielding 0.79%, while Atlanticus does not currently pay one. FirstCash converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.0% versus 6.2%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ATLC | FCFS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $93.73 | $213.70 |
| Market cap | $1.42B | $9.27B |
| 1-day change | +2.16% | +1.04% |
| YTD return | +40.00% | +34.08% |
| 1-year return | +62.13% | +38.40% |
| 5-year return | +50.45% | +146.91% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.91 | 24.31 |
| Forward P/E | 6.89 | 16.46 |
| EPS (TTM) | $7.87 | $8.79 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.79% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $1.68 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.97B | $3.66B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +50.09% | +8.04% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $122.20M | $330.38M |
| Gross margin | 91.83% | 50.28% |
| Net margin | 6.21% | 9.02% |
| 52-week high | $114.34 | $238.93 |
| 52-week low | $47.50 | $146.77 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -18.03% | -10.56% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +39.34% | +16.87% |
| Average volume | 142.13K | 414.44K |
| Shares outstanding | 15.17M | 43.37M |
| Employees | 576 | — |
| Sector | Finance | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Finance: Consumer Services | Other Specialty Stores |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- FirstCash is about 6.5 times larger than Atlanticus by market value ($9.27B vs $1.42B).
- ATLC has outperformed FCFS by 23.7 percentage points over the past year.
- FirstCash trades at a higher earnings multiple (24.3x vs 11.9x trailing P/E).
- Atlanticus grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+50.09% vs +8.04%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Atlanticus in Finance and FirstCash in Consumer Discretionary.
About Atlanticus
ATLC stock →Atlanticus Holdings Corporation, a financial technology company, provides products and services to lenders in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Credit as a Service (CaaS) and Auto Finance.
Finance · Finance: Consumer Services · 576 employees
About FirstCash
FCFS stock →FirstCash Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates retail pawn stores in the United States, Mexico, rest of Latin America, and the United Kingdom. The company operates through four segments: U.S.
Consumer Discretionary · Other Specialty Stores
ATLC vs FCFS FAQ
Which is bigger, Atlanticus or FirstCash?
FirstCash (FCFS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $9.27B compared with $1.42B for Atlanticus (ATLC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ATLC or FCFS?
ATLC returned +62.13% over the past 12 months, compared with +38.40% for FCFS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ATLC or FCFS?
ATLC has the lower trailing P/E at 11.9, versus 24.3 for FCFS. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Atlanticus or FirstCash?
FirstCash pays a dividend yielding 0.79%, while Atlanticus does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Atlanticus and FirstCash in the same industry?
No. Atlanticus is in the Finance sector, while FirstCash is in Consumer Discretionary.