EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results

EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The credit services provider reported $0.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.22, FiscalAI reports. EZCORP had a net margin of 9.18% and a return on equity of 12.37%. The company had revenue of $434.90 million during the quarter.

EZCORP Price Performance

EZPW stock traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $33.44. The stock had a trading volume of 815,853 shares, compared to its average volume of 672,234. The company has a current ratio of 6.03, a quick ratio of 4.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. EZCORP has a 52 week low of $12.85 and a 52 week high of $34.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.44 and a beta of 0.65. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $27.89 and a 200 day simple moving average of $23.03.

Insider Activity at EZCORP

In related news, Director Pablo Lagos Espinosa sold 20,000 shares of EZCORP stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were 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 approximately $5,204,425. The trade was a 8.77% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CRO Nicole Swies sold 24,138 shares of EZCORP stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.75, for a total transaction of $597,415.50. Following the sale, the executive directly owned 115,266 shares in the company, valued at $2,852,833.50. This trade represents a 17.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 84,138 shares of company stock valued at $2,102,416. Company insiders own 2.13% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund lifted its position in shares of EZCORP by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 30,205 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $767,000 after purchasing an additional 1,101 shares during the period. Sigma Planning Corp raised its holdings in EZCORP by 3.9% during the first quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 13,707 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $348,000 after buying an additional 510 shares during the last quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System acquired a new position in EZCORP during the first quarter worth $216,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of EZCORP by 3.4% in the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 282,923 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $7,181,000 after acquiring an additional 9,363 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp grew its stake in shares of EZCORP by 13,001.7% in the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 7,861 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $200,000 after acquiring an additional 7,801 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.83% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EZPW has been the subject of several research reports. Zacks Research downgraded shares of EZCORP from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. Citigroup reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of EZCORP in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on shares of EZCORP from $34.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of EZCORP from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, April 18th. Finally, Stephens lifted their price objective on shares of EZCORP from $22.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $29.50.

About EZCORP

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.