Encore Capital Group, Inc. (ECPG)
NASDAQFinancialsFinancial - Credit ServicesSnapshot 2026-09-04
$97.30+0.38%
Close 2026-09-04 · 1-day change
NASDAQFinancialsFinancial - Credit ServicesSnapshot 2026-09-04
QuarterlyIQ Insights · ECPG
How strong the business is — where it ranks within its sector on capital efficiency and cash generation, and how well management has been executing.
How this business ranks within financials on a research-validated quality screen. As of 2026-09-04.
The screen ranks ECPG against its sector on four durable signals: share dilution, return on capital, free-cash-flow yield, and FCF margin. Historically the highest-quality names tended toward better typical outcomes and fewer bad years over multi-year holds (strongest at three years, modest at one), and that pattern showed up even before the price moved. It characterizes business quality, not price direction.
Each leg is a sector-relative percentile (higher is better); 4 of 4 legs were available for this name. The composite is built from these four; the raw value follows each percentile for context.
A forward quality tilt, not a price prediction, and context for your own research rather than a recommendation. Not investment advice.
How management runs the business: capital, margins, balance sheet, and how reliably they guide and deliver.
Each factor is a parallel diagnostic with a clear read of what it shows and how names like it have historically fared. Never aggregated into a single score.
Operating income rose in 3 of the last 3 quarter-over-quarter moves. Historically, Financials names rated neutral grew net income 55% of the time over the next year (vs 62% for the rest of the cohort, n=10246).
Not investment advice. Scores describe historical and current data; they are not forecasts of future returns. Consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.
A guidance track record builds as the company issues and delivers on guidance.
Priorities management has stated in recent disclosures, with status and evidence drawn from earnings calls, filings, and press releases.
Grow full-year global collections to a range between $2.80 billion and $2.85 billion, reflecting 8-10% year-over-year growth.
Stated as a priority in 3 of last 3 quarters. Management raised full-year 2026 global collections guidance from $2.7 billion in 2025-Q4 to $2.80-$2.85 billion by 2026-Q2, reflecting 8-10% growth. Collections grew 13% year-over-year in 2026-Q2 to $737 million, indicating the company is delivering on this priority.
“We now expect our full-year 2026 collections to be in a range between $2.80 billion and $2.85 billion, reflecting year-over-year growth of 8-10%”
“We are raising our global collections guidance and now expect our full-year 2026 collections to be approximately $2.8 billion, reflecting year-over-year growth of 8%”
“We expect global collections in 2026 to increase by 5% to $2.7 billion”
Continue to purchase consumer receivable portfolios globally within the $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion range for the full year 2026.
Stated as a priority in 3 of last 3 quarters. Management maintained 2026 global portfolio purchases guidance at $1.4-$1.5 billion. Actual purchases were $363 million in 2026-Q1 and $444 million in 2026-Q2, totaling $807 million in first half, on track to meet full-year guidance, indicating delivery on this priority.
Raise full-year 2026 earnings per share guidance to a range of $13.00 to $14.00 per share, reflecting growth despite refinancing costs.
Stated as a priority in 3 of last 3 quarters. Management raised 2026 EPS guidance from $12.00 in 2025-Q4 to $13.00-$14.00 by 2026-Q2. Diluted EPS was $3.86 in 2026-Q1 and $2.81 in 2026-Q2 (including $1.00 per share refinancing costs). The trajectory is mixed but generally aligned with guidance.
Refinance existing debt by issuing senior secured notes to improve funding and reduce interest expense.
Stated as a priority in 2 of last 3 quarters. Management refinanced $1 billion of debt in May 2026, incurring $30.5 million in refinancing costs in 2026-Q2, with expected annual interest savings of $15 million. This refinancing was executed as planned, indicating delivery on this priority.
Grow operating income through improved portfolio performance and operational efficiency.
Stated as a priority in 3 of last 3 quarters. Operating income increased from $150.7 million in 2025-Q2 to $186.9 million in 2026-Q2, and improved dramatically from a loss of $134.2 million in 2024-Q4 to $173.4 million in 2025-Q4. The trajectory is delivering consistent growth in operating income.
“Operating income was $186.9 million in Q2 2026, up from $150.7 million in Q2 2025”
Over the trailing year it converted -1.89x of net income into operating cash flow.
Most sensitive to the broad stock market.
Not enough signal to read sensitivity to the US dollar, real (inflation-adjusted) rates, Fed net liquidity, long-term interest rates (low R² over the window).
13 material management or governance events in the past 24 months, led by capital-allocation actions. Historically, Financials names rated neutral grew net income 56% of the time over the next year (vs 58% for the rest of the cohort, n=3751).
Not investment advice. As of 2026-09-04.
“Our guidance for portfolio purchasing remains within a range from $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion”
“We continue to anticipate our global portfolio purchases this year to be within a range from $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion”
“We anticipate our global portfolio purchases in 2026 to be within a range from $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion”
“We now expect our EPS in 2026 to be within a range from $13.00 to $14.00 per share”
“We are raising our earnings guidance and now expect our earnings per share in 2026 to increase 19% to $13.00”
“We expect our earnings per share to increase 10% to $12.00”
“In May we refinanced $1 billion of debt, incurring $30.5 million of refinancing costs in Q2”
“We issued $750 million and €325 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes in May 2026”
“Operating income was $184.0 million in Q1 2026, up from $129.3 million in Q1 2025”
“Operating income was $173.4 million in Q4 2025, up from negative $134.2 million in Q4 2024”