EZPW EZCORP Inc

AUSTIN, Texas, June 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) 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. The Company also raised its earnings guidance for its fiscal year ending September 30, 2006 to a range of $1.80 to $1.85 per share compared to $1.09 per share for the twelve month period ended September 30, 2005. The Company will release earnings for its third fiscal quarter on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 following the close of market. Management will discuss the third quarter results and outlook for the year in a conference call scheduled for 3:30 pm Central Time on the 25th. EZCORP is a lender and provider of credit services to individuals who do not have cash resources or access to credit to meet their short-term cash needs. In 280 EZPAWN locations open on June 30, 2006, the Company offers non- recourse loans collateralized by tangible personal property, commonly known as pawn loans. At these locations, the Company also sells merchandise, primarily collateral forfeited from its pawn lending operations, to consumers looking for good value. In 288 EZMONEY locations and 82 EZPAWN locations open on June 30, 2006, the Company offers short-term non-collateralized loans, often referred to as payday loans, or fee based credit services to customers seeking loans. This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements regarding the Company's expected performance for future periods including, but not limited to, expected future earnings and new store expansion. Actual results for these periods may materially differ from these statements. Such forward- looking statements involve risks and uncertainties such as changing market conditions in the overall economy and the industry, consumer demand for the Company's services and merchandise, changes in regulatory environment, and other factors periodically discussed in the Company's annual, quarterly and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For additional information, contact Dan Tonissen at (512) 314-2289. DATASOURCE: EZCORP, Inc. CONTACT: Dan Tonissen of EZCORP, Inc., +1-512-314-2289 Web site: http://www.ezcorp.com/

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