EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) Hits New 1-Year High – Here’s Why

EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW)’s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $33.42 and last traded at $33.38, with a volume of 68108 shares. The stock had previously closed at $32.61.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EZPW has been the topic of several analyst reports. Weiss Ratings raised EZCORP from a “buy (b+)” rating to a “buy (a-)” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 8th. Citigroup reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of EZCORP in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Zacks Research lowered shares of EZCORP from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price target on shares of EZCORP from $34.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of EZCORP from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, April 18th. One 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 company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, EZCORP has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $29.50.

EZCORP Trading Down 1.7%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 6.03 and a quick ratio of 4.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.03 billion, a PE ratio of 17.87 and a beta of 0.65. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $28.03 and its 200-day simple moving average is $23.13.

EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 6th. The credit services provider reported $0.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.22. The business had revenue of $434.90 million for the quarter. EZCORP had a net margin of 9.91% and a return on equity of 13.82%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that EZCORP, Inc. will post 1.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at EZCORP

In other news, insider Ellen H. Bryant sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.00, for a total value of $500,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 147,786 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,694,650. This trade represents a 11.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Pablo Lagos Espinosa sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.00, for a total transaction of $500,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 208,177 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,204,425. This represents a 8.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders sold 84,138 shares of company stock valued at $2,102,416. Corporate insiders own 2.13% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On EZCORP

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of EZPW. Miller Global Investments LLC purchased a new position in EZCORP during the fourth quarter worth about $1,451,000. Divisadero Street Capital Management LP increased its position in shares of EZCORP by 39.5% during the third quarter. Divisadero Street Capital Management LP now owns 138,505 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $2,637,000 after acquiring an additional 39,195 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in shares of EZCORP by 163.6% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 483,211 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $9,200,000 after acquiring an additional 299,920 shares during the last quarter. Harbour Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of EZCORP in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,207,000. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of EZCORP by 11.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,610,029 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $68,735,000 after purchasing an additional 369,817 shares in the last quarter. 99.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other 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.