I don't need 'em and haven't used 'em, but I have an affinity for payday lenders. Whenever an industry is under attack from the government, regulators, or various do-gooders, the strong libertarian streak in me wants to defend them. Of course, it also doesn't hurt that investing master Peter Lynch considers industries with a high "ick factor" ideal sources of good investments.
Payday lenders are simple businesses to understand. A customer with short-term cash flow problems walks into an Advance America (NYSE:AEA) store, hands over a postdated check as collateral, and walks out with a fistful of cash. Most of the time, these loans are for a two-week period -- just until the next paycheck arrives (hence the industry name) -- and the borrower pays a fee for the service.
That fee, however, gets everyone riled up. A $15 fee per $100 borrowed doesn't seem particularly onerous, but consumer advocates want to liken it to the annual percentage rate you'd be charged on a regular loan. When you do that, it equals a 391% APR.
There are a couple of reasons why the fees are so high. Payday customers can be bad credit risks, and default rates can run high. First Cash Financial (NASDAQ:FCFS) had loss provisions of 23% in 2006, while Cash America's (NYSE:CSH) were 30% last year. And there's the convenience issue. Customers simply can't get small, short-term loans from their local bank. Folks in need of short-term financial solutions have been abandoned by traditional lending sources.
Though many associate bad credit practices with the poor, EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) has found that the typical customer in Texas using its maximum $1,500 payday loan service has an individual income of around $60,000 to $70,000 annually.
While Advance America and QC Holdings (NASDAQ:QCCO) have remained solely payday lenders, the others have branched out into related fields. EZCORP runs pawn shops, as do First Cash Financial and Cash America, while Dollar Financial (NASDAQ:DLLR) does payday loans, check-cashing, bill payment, and money transfers. Buy here/pay here used-car dealerships are another new area payday lenders are beginning to explore.
In a very Lynchian way, payday lenders are good investments. They're disliked by large swaths of people, and they have a high ick factor, but they provide a necessary and highly profitable service. Despite attacks from regulators, payday lenders will survive and thrive. That's good for investors, and it's why I love 'em.
Advance America is a recommendation of Motley Fool Inside Value. Check out why this payday lender is considered a bargain with a 30-day free trial subscription.
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Despite the love, Fool contributor Rich Duprey does not yet own any of the stocks mentioned in this article. You can see his holdings here. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
