Quarterly Information (Unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of Quarterly Financial Data

The following table summarizes quarterly financial data for the periods presented (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31		June 30		September 30			December 31
2015
Gross collections	$	425,071	$	437,324	$	421,753		$	416,577
Revenues	285,663		290,356		287,796			297,757
Total operating expenses	199,627		203,352		253,307			259,984
Net income (loss)	29,967		25,185		(9,364		)	1,596
Net income (loss) attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	29,425		27,657		(10,959		)	(988		)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:
Basic	$	1.13	$	1.07	$	(0.43	)	$	(0.04	)
Diluted	1.08		1.03		(0.43		)	(0.04		)
2014
Gross collections	$	396,674	$	409,280	$	407,220		$	394,323
Revenues	253,741		269,195		273,282			276,571
Total operating expenses	185,472		190,689		188,960			188,224
Income from continuing operations	18,830		21,353		30,138			29,569
Net income	18,830		21,353		30,138			27,957
Amounts attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:
Income from continuing operations	23,180		23,561		30,335			28,262
Net income	23,180		23,561		30,335			26,650
Earnings per share attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:
From continuing operations:
Basic	$	0.90	$	0.91	$	1.17		$	1.09
Diluted	0.82		0.86		1.11			1.04
From net income:
Basic	$	0.90	$	0.91	$	1.17		$	1.03
Diluted	0.82		0.86		1.11			0.98