On the slim chance you aren't aware, DC, I went to NICK's website and discovered links to some equity research. UPFC is mentioned as a competitor in the first piece I pulled up and its stock has had the [censored] kicked out of it.
Too soon to draw any conclusions, but maybe what's going on with NICK is less company specific and more industry related.
http://www.nicholasfinancial.com/FBWRep042806.pdf