Pawn Stars' Rick Harrison Says Shop Has Had 'Best Quarter in a Decade'

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Pawn shops have been on a tear in recent months. According to an April 10, 2026, article by Jeannette Neumann in Bloomberg, Pawn shops have been seeing increases in the loans they are issuing. The article stated, "Pawn shop owners across the U.S. say they've seen an increase in demand for loans in the past month or so, a sign of just how punishing higher gas prices are for some Americans." Neumann went on to say that this has impacted those in low-income households, as they are the first to be impacted when prices are raised, and that "Pawn shops can offer timely signals about consumer strain that may not be clear in official statistics."

On May 1, 2026. Moneywise writer Victoria Vesovski echoed this sentiment, saying, "Pawn shops, often overlooked in broader economic data, are starting to reflect shifts that don't always show up on Wall Street."

Vesovski went on to write, "A recent Gallup survey (5) found that 55% of Americans now feel their finances are deteriorating — the highest share recorded since the poll began in 2001." 

In a recent article, Forbes writer Bill Conerly reported that consumer sentiment in the economy has hit a record low. 

Alongside this, pawn shops seem to be killing it. In a Market Report overview, the pawn shop market was " valued at US$39,524.25 million in 2024 and is expected to reach US$59,486.89 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2025 to 2033."

Pawnshop legend Rick Harrison has been quoted as saying, "pawn shops are the canary in the coalmine" when it comes to the economy. 

With this in mind, Streetwise Reports sat down with Rick Harrison to get his opinion on pawn shops and the reasons you might want to invest in silver and gold. 

Who is Rick Harrison?

Rick Harrison is the owner of the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, Nevada. Harrison initially gained fame while co-owning the shop with his late father Richard Benjamin Harrison, as one of the faces you may see on the hit History show Pawn Stars.

Pawn Stars first aired in 2009 and showcased the goings-on at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. It soon became one of the channel's highest-rated shows, depicting the Pawn Stars team as they bought and sold artifacts and collectibles. Rick Harrison himself has around 1.2 million followers across his social media channels, and the show Pawn Stars reaches around 294,000 people according to recent April 2026 numbers.

How are Pawn Shops Doing?

In our discussion with Rick Harrison, Harrison highlighted that his shop had its best quarter in a decade. "People are spending money, and people aren't borrowing as much," he said, referencing the business at Gold and Silver Pawn. He attributed some of this success to his ever-evolving business practices.

"You ask people what they want. Try different things. Throw stuff against the wall and see if it sticks. You gotta keep on changing things up, and if you don't, you just stay static, your business will fall apart," he told us.

Are More People Defaulting on Pawn Loans?

In an April 17 article by Campbell Kwan for The Financial Review, Kwan stated that stress in the economy was causing a rise in pawn shop loans and default rates. 

He interviewed a pawn shop owner in Australia, who stated, "People are struggling; that is why I see there being more defaults … people used to bring in nice jewelry and come back for them, but times are tough."

Rick Harrison himself has around 1.2 million followers across his social media channels, and the show Pawn Stars reaches around 294,000 people 

This seems to be an international problem, as Investopedia writer Elizabeth Guevara reported a similar sentiment in a May 12 article.

Guevara reported that "Debt collection complaints surged by nearly 200,000 in 2025," and that "More debt collection complaints are likely tied to consumers falling into delinquency on many different types of loans."

However, when asked if Harrison had seen similar sentiment, Harrison stated he had seen the opposite. 

"I'm not seeing that, but then again, the Vegas economy is different," Harrison said. "The Vegas economy is like one of the best economies in the country. We have a great governor. He's got rid of so many regulations on building that housing prices are literally going down in Nevada because it's so much cheaper to build at the moment. So no, I see Nevada doing well."

Pawn Stocks

Still, whether pawn shops are a signal of the broader economy or not, no one can deny they are doing well. Not only is the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop having its best quarter in a decade, but as mentioned above, all pawn stores seem to be lifting in this rising tide. 

A recent article by Allison Smith for Modern Retail reported that across the United States, pawn stores are being hit by increasing demand. Smith wrote that, " pawn operators say they expect continued consumer traffic amid higher living costs and economic uncertainty." 

There are over 12,000 pawn stores in the United States. Almost all are privately, family-owned businesses. In the Modern Retail article, Smith highlights EZCORP Inc. (EZPW:NASDAQ), a company that manages over 1,000 pawn shops in 16 countries. On May 6, 2026, the company reported its second-quarter fiscal results, showing record revenue. 

In the release, EZCORP Inc. CEO Lachie Given commented, "The second quarter was another exceptional period for EZCORP, delivering record revenue, record PLO, and a 76% increase in adjusted EBITDA."

You can view the full results here. These results came after the 2025 full-year results released in November of last year. In this release, Lachie Given stated, "Fiscal 2025 was another exceptional year for EZCORP, with record full-year revenue and an all-time high PLO [pawn loans outstanding]. This superior performance reflects resilient demand for immediate cash solutions and high-quality, cost-effective secondhand goods."

In Smith's article, she compliments EZCORP's "concerted effort to improve the shopping experience," saying that, alongside the macro-picture, could also be helping raise the company's revenues. These efforts include revitalized training efforts, a new loyalty program, and a newly-launched online catalog. 

According to Simply Wall St., EZCORP is currently "trading at 21.9% below" their "estimate of its fair value."

In a May 19 Zacks Equity Research report, the writer shared an optimistic outlook on the company, writing, "While the overall earnings estimate revisions have made Ezcorp a Zacks Rank #1 stock, it has earned itself a Growth Score of B based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above . . . This combination positions Ezcorp well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it."

According to Investing.com, three analysts reported the following ratings on EZCORP:

• On February 5, 2026, Stephens gave the company a Hold rating with a US$26 target price.
• On May 10, 2026, Citizens gave the company a Buy rating with a US$39 target price.

Canaccord Genuity analyst Brian McNamara also gave the company a Buy rating in a May 27 research note and reiterated his price target of US$44.

¹Management and insiders hold 5.03% of the EZCORP. Institutions hold around 83%. The rest is held by retail. 

The company has 58,566,000 shares outstanding and a market cap of 1.8 billion.

FirstCash Holdings Inc. (FCFS:NASDAQ) is another pawn shop stock seeing growth in the market.

FirstCash is an international owner of over 3,000 pawn shops. On April 23, 2026, the company reported record earnings and revenue in the quarter that ended on March 31, 2026.

In the release, FirstCash CEO Rick Wessel commented on the news, saying, "FirstCash is pleased to report its first quarter results highlighted by record revenue, net income, and earnings per share. Consolidated revenues again exceeded US$1 billion for the quarter, representing an increase of 26% over the first quarter of last year. Resulting net income and adjusted EBITDA both increased 29%, while fully diluted earnings per share increased an impressive 30%."

Wessel continued, "Our tremendous first quarter results were driven by exceptionally strong performances in each of the three pawn segments. Pawn revenues in the U.S. were up 16% while Latin America was up 40% . . . Most notably, same-store pawn receivables at the end of the first quarter increased an unprecedented 19% in the U.S., 30% in Latin America, and 29% in the U.K., representing further acceleration in pawn demand since the start of the year. These trends point to significant further revenue momentum as we begin the second quarter, and accordingly, we are raising full-year 2026 revenue guidance for each of our pawn segments."

On April 28, the company announced it would be upsizing its previously announced private offering of US$750,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2034, representing an increase of US$150,000,000 in aggregate principal amount from the previously announced proposed offering size.

These will pay interest semi-annually with a 6.125% rte per annum payable on May 1 and November 1 of this year. 

According to Investing.com, four analysts reported the following ratings on FirstCash:

• On March 19, 2026, Canaccord gave the company a Buy rating, with a US$242 price target.
• On April 22, 2026, Texas Capital Securities gave the company a Buy rating with a US$245 price target.
• On April 22, 2026, Jefferies gave the company a Buy rating with a US$250 price target.
• On April 23, 2026, TD Cowen gave the company a Buy rating with a US$235 price target.

An April 28 Zacks Equity Research report resounded this positive outlook, stating, "If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep FirstCash Holdings on your short list."

Canaccord Genuity analyst Brian McNamara also reiterated his Buy rating on the company in an April 23 research note. McNamara also raised his price target on the company, from his US$242 target to US$252.

¹Management and insiders hold 2.83% of the company. Institutions hold 89%, and the rest is held by retail investors.

The company has 43,837,000 shares outstanding and a market cap of 9.6 billion.