Encore Capital Group Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Rhea-AI Summary
Encore Capital Group (NASDAQ:ECPG) reported second quarter 2026 results with global portfolio purchases of $443.8 million, up 21% year over year, including a record $372.3 million in the U.S. Global collections reached a record $736.9 million, up 13%, driving revenues of $491.9 million, an 11% increase.
GAAP net income was $64.0 million and diluted EPS was $2.81, up 13% and including roughly $1.00 per share of refinancing costs from a $1 billion debt refinancing that generated a $30.5 million loss on extinguishment but is expected to save about $15 million in annual interest expense. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $202.6 million from $164.2 million. Estimated Remaining Collections increased 9% to $10.18 billion. The company repurchased approximately $27 million of common stock in the quarter.
Based on a strong first half, Encore raised 2026 guidance, now expecting global collections of $2.80–$2.85 billion (8–10% growth), EPS of $13.00–$14.00 including the refinancing impact, and portfolio purchases of $1.4–$1.5 billion.
Positive
- Revenue growth 11% YoY to $491.9 million in Q2 2026
- Record global collections $736.9 million, up 13% year over year
- Portfolio purchases $443.8 million, up 21% YoY; U.S. at record $372.3 million
- Diluted EPS $2.81 in Q2 2026, up 13% versus $2.49
- 2026 EPS guidance raised to $13.00–$14.00 including $1.00 per share refinancing cost
- Debt refinancing $1 billion expected to save about $15 million in annual interest
- Adjusted EBITDA increased to $202.6 million from $164.2 million in Q2 2025
- Share repurchases approximately $27 million of common stock in Q2 2026
Negative
- Refinancing cost impact $30.5 million loss on extinguishment of debt in Q2 2026
- Interest expense $73.9 million in Q2 and $147.0 million for first half 2026
- Borrowings increased to $4.18 billion at June 30, 2026 from $4.00 billion at year-end 2025
- Operating expenses rose 5% YoY to $305.0 million in Q2 2026
- Cost of legal collections increased to $96.6 million from $79.6 million year over year
News Explained
Encore Capital Group has completed reporting its quarter ended
Key Figures
Previous Earnings Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 06 | Q1 earnings | Positive | -2.4% | Record collections and raised 2026 guidance accompanied strong quarterly earnings |
| Feb 25 | Q4 earnings | Positive | +8.1% | Strong full-year results, higher collections and share repurchases supported the release |
| Nov 05 | Q3 earnings | Positive | +10.5% | Higher purchases, collections, revenues and earnings accompanied raised collections guidance |
| Aug 06 | Q2 earnings | Positive | +5.4% | Record purchases and collections supported substantial year-over-year earnings growth |
| May 07 | Q1 earnings | Positive | +23.9% | Higher purchases, collections and EPS supported increased full-year collections expectations |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Earnings-specific reactions aligned with the announcement's positive results in 4 of 5 events, with one divergence after positive Q1 2026 results.
Key Terms
gaap financial
adjusted ebitda financial
variable interest entities financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
- Favorable purchasing conditions continue in U.S. market
- Global portfolio purchases of
$444 million , including record$372 million in U.S. - Global collections up
13% to record$737 million - Earnings per share of
$2.81 includes$1.00 per share of refinancing costs
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECPG), an international specialty finance company, today reported consolidated financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026.
“Encore’s performance in the second quarter affirmed our industry leadership through record U.S. portfolio purchasing and record global collections in addition to meaningfully improving the funding of our global business through a billion-dollar refinancing at attractive terms,” said Ashish Masih, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Second quarter global portfolio purchases were
“Our MCM business in the U.S. continues to deliver very strong results. Capitalizing on the ongoing attractive market opportunity in the U.S. driven by ample portfolio supply, MCM purchased
“Our Cabot business in Europe delivered a solid second quarter. Portfolio purchases were
“In May we refinanced
“As a result of our strong first half of the year, we are revising our global collections guidance and now expect our full-year 2026 collections to be in a range between
In the second quarter, the company repurchased approximately
Financial Highlights for the Second Quarter of 2026:
| Three Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
| (in thousands, except percentages and earnings per share) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | |||||
| Portfolio purchases(1) | $ | 443,815 | $ | 367,099 | 21 | % | ||
| Average receivable portfolios(2) | $ | 4,523,560 | $ | 4,068,656 | 11 | % | ||
| Estimated Remaining Collections (ERC) | $ | 10,178,335 | $ | 9,362,400 | 9 | % | ||
| Collections | $ | 736,864 | $ | 654,985 | 13 | % | ||
| Revenues | $ | 491,872 | $ | 442,122 | 11 | % | ||
| Operating expenses | $ | 304,970 | $ | 291,389 | 5 | % | ||
| Net income | $ | 63,999 | $ | 58,721 | 9 | % | ||
| Earnings per share | $ | 2.81 | $ | 2.49 | 13 | % | ||
______________________
| (1) | Includes U.S. purchases of |
| (2) | Represents the average of receivable portfolios for the quarter (sum of receivable portfolios at the beginning and end of the quarter divided by 2). |
Conference Call and Webcast
Encore will host a conference call and slide presentation today, August 5, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific / 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, to present and discuss second quarter results.
Members of the public are invited to access the live webcast via the Internet by logging in on the Investor Relations page of Encore's website at encorecapital.com. To access the live conference call by telephone, please pre-register using this link. Registrants will receive confirmation with dial-in details.
For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's website shortly after the call concludes.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This news release includes certain financial measures that exclude the impact of certain items and therefore have not been calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company has included information concerning adjusted EBITDA because management utilizes this information in the evaluation of its operations and believes that this measure is a useful indicator of the Company’s ability to generate cash collections in excess of operating expenses through the liquidation of its receivable portfolios. Adjusted EBITDA has not been prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income and net income per share as indicators of the Company’s operating performance. Further, this non-GAAP financial measure, as presented by the Company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is below.
About Encore Capital Group, Inc.
Encore Capital Group is an international specialty finance company that provides debt recovery solutions and other related services for consumers across a broad range of financial assets. Through its subsidiaries around the globe, Encore purchases portfolios of consumer receivables from major banks, credit unions, and utility providers.
Encore partners with individuals as they repay their debt obligations, helping them on the road to financial recovery and ultimately improving their economic well-being. Encore is the first and only company of its kind to operate with a Consumer Bill of Rights that provides industry-leading commitments to consumers. Headquartered in San Diego, Encore is a publicly traded NASDAQ Global Select company (ticker symbol: ECPG) and a component stock of the Russell 2000, the S&P Small Cap 600 and the Wilshire 4500. More information about the company can be found at http://www.encorecapital.com.
Forward Looking Statements
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including, most importantly, those statements preceded by, or that include, the words “will,” “may,” “believe,” “projects,” “expects,” “anticipates” or the negation thereof, or similar expressions, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Reform Act”). These statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our future operating results (including purchases and collections), performance, supply and pricing, liquidity, business plans or prospects. For all “forward-looking statements,” the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act. Such forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company and its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are discussed in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent report on Form 10-K, as it may be amended from time to time. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Contact:
Bruce Thomas
Encore Capital Group, Inc.
Vice President, Global Investor Relations
bruce.thomas@encorecapital.com
SOURCE: Encore Capital Group, Inc.
FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW
| ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. | |||||||
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition | |||||||
| (In Thousands, Except Par Value Amounts) | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||
| June 30, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 182,932 | $ | 156,784 | |||
| Receivable portfolios, net | 4,609,705 | 4,371,532 | |||||
| Property and equipment, net | 80,615 | 82,080 | |||||
| Other assets | 163,269 | 193,113 | |||||
| Goodwill | 528,742 | 536,291 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 5,565,263 | $ | 5,339,800 | |||
| Liabilities and Equity | |||||||
| Liabilities: | |||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 190,810 | $ | 230,261 | |||
| Borrowings | 4,179,515 | 4,001,293 | |||||
| Other liabilities | 116,221 | 131,496 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 4,486,546 | 4,363,050 | |||||
| Commitments and Contingencies | |||||||
| Equity: | |||||||
| Convertible preferred stock, | — | — | |||||
| Common stock, | 212 | 217 | |||||
| Additional paid-in capital | — | — | |||||
| Accumulated earnings | 1,209,896 | 1,104,640 | |||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (131,391 | ) | (128,107 | ) | |||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 1,078,717 | 976,750 | |||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 5,565,263 | $ | 5,339,800 | |||
The following table presents certain assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) included in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition above. Most assets in the table below include those assets that can only be used to settle obligations of consolidated VIEs. The liabilities exclude amounts where creditors or beneficial interest holders have recourse to the general credit of the Company.
| June 30, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||
| Assets | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 47,527 | $ | 40,256 | |
| Receivable portfolios, net | 1,221,069 | 1,151,221 | |||
| Other assets | 4,272 | 3,540 | |||
| Liabilities | |||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 2,545 | 3,101 | |||
| Borrowings | 785,213 | 791,182 | |||
| Other liabilities | 315 | 2,774 | |||
| ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. | |||||||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income | |||||||||||||||
| (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) | |||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||||||
| Portfolio revenue | $ | 400,242 | $ | 361,174 | $ | 790,261 | $ | 706,392 | |||||||
| Changes in recoveries | 71,115 | 55,599 | 133,855 | 77,063 | |||||||||||
| Total debt purchasing revenue | 471,357 | 416,773 | 924,116 | 783,455 | |||||||||||
| Servicing revenue | 18,228 | 22,300 | 38,866 | 44,847 | |||||||||||
| Other revenues | 2,287 | 3,049 | 4,301 | 6,595 | |||||||||||
| Total revenues | 491,872 | 442,122 | 967,283 | 834,897 | |||||||||||
| Operating expenses | |||||||||||||||
| Salaries and employee benefits | 119,585 | 117,738 | 234,126 | 223,670 | |||||||||||
| Cost of legal collections | 96,599 | 79,649 | 185,820 | 147,662 | |||||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 38,724 | 41,327 | 78,353 | 82,345 | |||||||||||
| Other operating expenses | 36,831 | 36,990 | 71,664 | 71,242 | |||||||||||
| Collection agency commissions | 6,119 | 8,374 | 12,456 | 15,247 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 7,112 | 7,311 | 13,970 | 14,655 | |||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 304,970 | 291,389 | 596,389 | 554,821 | |||||||||||
| Income from operations | 186,902 | 150,733 | 370,894 | 280,076 | |||||||||||
| Other expense | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (73,907 | ) | (73,943 | ) | (146,957 | ) | (144,473 | ) | |||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | (30,533 | ) | — | (30,533 | ) | — | |||||||||
| Other income | 385 | 1,226 | 1,175 | 2,873 | |||||||||||
| Total other expense | (104,055 | ) | (72,717 | ) | (176,315 | ) | (141,600 | ) | |||||||
| Income before income taxes | 82,847 | 78,016 | 194,579 | 138,476 | |||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | (18,848 | ) | (19,295 | ) | (44,337 | ) | (32,959 | ) | |||||||
| Net income | $ | 63,999 | $ | 58,721 | $ | 150,242 | $ | 105,517 | |||||||
| Earnings per share: | |||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 2.97 | $ | 2.50 | $ | 6.94 | $ | 4.45 | |||||||
| Diluted | $ | 2.81 | $ | 2.49 | $ | 6.66 | $ | 4.41 | |||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||
| Basic | 21,554 | 23,507 | 21,640 | 23,692 | |||||||||||
| Diluted | 22,791 | 23,578 | 22,555 | 23,926 | |||||||||||
| ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. | |||||||
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | |||||||
| (Unaudited, In Thousands) | |||||||
| Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Operating activities: | |||||||
| Net income | $ | 150,242 | $ | 105,517 | |||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 13,970 | 14,655 | |||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | 30,533 | — | |||||
| Other non-cash interest expense, net | 5,189 | 7,211 | |||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 10,618 | 8,707 | |||||
| Changes in recoveries | (133,855 | ) | (77,063 | ) | |||
| Other, net | 7,623 | 7,045 | |||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities | |||||||
| Other assets | 8,530 | 14,897 | |||||
| Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities | (39,904 | ) | (26,162 | ) | |||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 52,946 | 54,807 | |||||
| Investing activities: | |||||||
| Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of put-backs | (800,301 | ) | (725,391 | ) | |||
| Collections applied to receivable portfolios | 665,017 | 553,400 | |||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | (13,249 | ) | (13,320 | ) | |||
| Other, net | 17,883 | 15,659 | |||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (130,650 | ) | (169,652 | ) | |||
| Financing activities: | |||||||
| Payment of loan and debt refinancing costs | (38,382 | ) | (2,491 | ) | |||
| Proceeds from credit facilities | 791,079 | 549,605 | |||||
| Repayment of credit facilities | (723,790 | ) | (418,463 | ) | |||
| Proceeds from senior secured notes | 1,128,676 | — | |||||
| Repayment of senior secured notes | (983,540 | ) | — | ||||
| Repurchase and retirement of common stock | (47,029 | ) | (25,215 | ) | |||
| Other, net | (20,182 | ) | (16,206 | ) | |||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 106,832 | 87,230 | |||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 29,128 | (27,615 | ) | ||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (2,980 | ) | 646 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 156,784 | 199,865 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 182,932 | $ | 172,896 | |||
| Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | |||||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ | 148,719 | $ | 133,830 | |||
| Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds | 33,786 | 29,278 | |||||
| Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities: | |||||||
| Receivable portfolios transferred to real estate owned | $ | 1,868 | $ | 2,011 | |||
| ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. | |||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Financial Information | |||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Metrics | |||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | |||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, unaudited) | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||||
| GAAP net income, as reported | $ | 63,999 | $ | 58,721 | $ | 150,242 | $ | 105,517 | |||||||
| Adjustments: | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 73,907 | 73,943 | 146,957 | 144,473 | |||||||||||
| Interest income | (1,092 | ) | (1,362 | ) | (2,186 | ) | (2,908 | ) | |||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 18,848 | 19,295 | 44,337 | 32,959 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 7,112 | 7,311 | 13,970 | 14,655 | |||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 6,043 | 5,283 | 10,618 | 8,707 | |||||||||||
| Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses(1) | 3,213 | 1,042 | 4,678 | 1,290 | |||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | 30,533 | — | 30,533 | — | |||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 202,563 | $ | 164,233 | $ | 399,149 | $ | 304,693 | |||||||
| Collections applied to principal balance(2) | $ | 269,880 | $ | 244,677 | $ | 539,349 | $ | 488,977 | |||||||
________________________
| (1) | Amount represents acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses. We adjust for this amount because we believe these expenses are not indicative of ongoing operations; therefore, adjusting for these expenses enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and our competitors’ results. |
| (2) | Amount represents (a) gross collections from receivable portfolios less (b) debt purchasing revenue, plus (c) proceeds applied to basis from sales of real estate owned (“REO”) assets and, when applicable, other receivable portfolios. A reconciliation of “collections applied to receivable portfolios, net” to “collections applied to principal balance” is available in the Form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2026. |
