EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) Given Average Recommendation of “Buy” by Analysts

Shares of EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) have received a consensus rating of “Buy” from the seven research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation, four have issued a buy recommendation and two have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $37.25.

A number of brokerages recently commented on EZPW. Citigroup restated an “outperform” rating on shares of EZCORP in a report on Monday, May 11th. Citizens Jmp upped their target price on EZCORP from $33.00 to $39.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a report on Monday, May 11th. Zacks Research upgraded EZCORP from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 8th. Weiss Ratings upgraded EZCORP from a “buy (b+)” rating to a “buy (a-)” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded EZCORP from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Saturday, May 9th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other EZCORP news, Director Jason A. Kulas sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.56, for a total transaction of $671,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 172,948 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,804,134.88. This trade represents a 10.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Pablo Lagos Espinosa sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.00, for a total value of $320,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 217,543 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,961,376. This represents a 4.39% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 2.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On EZCORP

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of EZPW. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of EZCORP in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of EZCORP in the third quarter worth $29,000. KBC Group NV purchased a new stake in shares of EZCORP in the first quarter worth $44,000. Deutsche Bank AG grew its stake in shares of EZCORP by 533.5% in the fourth quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 2,667 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 2,246 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its stake in shares of EZCORP by 913.5% in the third quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 4,216 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $79,000 after acquiring an additional 3,800 shares during the last quarter. 99.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

EZCORP Stock Performance

NASDAQ:EZPW opened at $30.44 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $1.87 billion, a PE ratio of 16.54 and a beta of 0.63. EZCORP has a fifty-two week low of $12.89 and a fifty-two week high of $37.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 3.52 and a current ratio of 4.71. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $31.68 and a 200-day moving average price of $26.06.

EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 6th. The credit services provider reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.36 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $434.90 million during the quarter. EZCORP had a return on equity of 13.45% and a net margin of 9.91%. Equities research analysts predict that EZCORP will post 2 earnings per share for the current year.

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.