EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) Reaches New 1-Year High – What’s Next?

EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) shares hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $21.61 and last traded at $21.5650, with a volume of 389555 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $20.22.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. JMP Securities set a $23.00 price target on EZCORP in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of EZCORP in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Citizens Jmp began coverage on EZCORP in a report on Monday, November 3rd. They issued a “market outperform” rating and a $23.00 price target for the company. Roth Capital reissued a “buy” rating and set a $26.00 price objective on shares of EZCORP in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group upped their target price on shares of EZCORP from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, November 17th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, EZCORP has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $22.17.

EZCORP Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $1.31 billion, a PE ratio of 15.25 and a beta of 0.55. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $19.09 and its 200 day moving average is $17.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 4.37 and a current ratio of 5.61.

EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 13th. The credit services provider reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.05. EZCORP had a net margin of 8.60% and a return on equity of 12.00%. The company had revenue of $335.90 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $325.09 million. As a group, research analysts anticipate that EZCORP, Inc. will post 1.3 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On EZCORP

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in EZCORP by 11.4% in the 3rd 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. Wasatch Advisors LP grew its stake in EZCORP by 5.4% in the 2nd quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP now owns 2,321,138 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $32,217,000 after acquiring an additional 118,641 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors increased its holdings in EZCORP by 27.7% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 2,148,126 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $40,900,000 after acquiring an additional 465,462 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC grew its position in shares of EZCORP by 28.5% in the third quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,975,421 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $37,612,000 after purchasing an additional 437,601 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fourth Sail Capital LP increased its stake in shares of EZCORP by 30.7% during the 2nd quarter. Fourth Sail Capital LP now owns 1,251,362 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $17,369,000 after purchasing an additional 294,100 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.83% of the company’s stock.

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.