EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.22 EPS

EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The credit services provider reported $0.58 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.22, FiscalAI reports. The company had revenue of $434.90 million during the quarter. EZCORP had a net margin of 9.91% and a return on equity of 13.82%.

EZCORP Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ EZPW traded up $0.35 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $33.23. 288,641 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 873,412. EZCORP has a 52 week low of $12.85 and a 52 week high of $37.13. The company has a quick ratio of 4.69, a current ratio of 6.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.05 billion, a PE ratio of 18.10 and a beta of 0.65. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $28.03 and its 200 day moving average price is $23.13.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Citizens Jmp raised their price target on shares of EZCORP from $23.00 to $26.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Canaccord Genuity Group set a $44.00 price target on shares of EZCORP in a report on Friday. Stephens raised their price target on shares of EZCORP from $22.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Roth Mkm reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $40.00 price target on shares of EZCORP in a report on Friday. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of EZCORP from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, EZCORP currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $34.00.

Insider Activity at EZCORP

In other news, Director Gary Tillett sold 10,000 shares of EZCORP stock in a transaction on Monday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.50, for a total transaction of $255,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 133,483 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,403,816.50. The trade was a 6.97% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Pablo Lagos Espinosa sold 20,000 shares of EZCORP stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.00, for a total transaction of $500,000.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 208,177 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,204,425. This represents a 8.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 84,138 shares of company stock valued at $2,102,416. 2.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of EZCORP

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in EZPW. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in shares of EZCORP by 23.6% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 19,375 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $286,000 after acquiring an additional 3,705 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of EZCORP during the 1st quarter worth $1,646,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in EZCORP by 47.9% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 183,291 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $2,544,000 after purchasing an additional 59,339 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers raised its position in EZCORP by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 73,064 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $1,014,000 after purchasing an additional 648 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership purchased a new position in EZCORP in the 2nd quarter worth $1,718,000. 99.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

EZCORP Company Profile

EZCORP, Inc is a specialty consumer finance company that provides pawn loans and retail merchandise programs primarily through its EZPAWN and Cash Converters brands. The company offers collateral-based loans secured principally by jewelry, electronics, musical instruments and other personal items, alongside check-cashing, money-transfer and bill-payment services. In addition to its pawn lending operations, EZCORP acquires previously pawned or consumer merchandise for resale through its “Sell-It-Now” platform and retail storefronts.

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, EZCORP operates in two principal geographic markets: the United States and Mexico.