UBS Group AG boosted its holdings in EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW – Free Report) by 45.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 579,433 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 181,031 shares during the quarter. UBS Group AG’s holdings in EZCORP were worth $11,253,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in EZPW. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new position in EZCORP in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new position in EZCORP in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Covestor Ltd boosted its stake in EZCORP by 239.3% in the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,728 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 1,924 shares during the period. CWM LLC boosted its stake in EZCORP by 126.3% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,422 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $65,000 after purchasing an additional 1,910 shares during the period. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its stake in EZCORP by 913.5% in the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 4,216 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $79,000 after purchasing an additional 3,800 shares during the period. 99.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
EZPW has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Zacks Research upgraded EZCORP from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Citigroup restated an “outperform” rating on shares of EZCORP in a research note on Monday. Canaccord Genuity Group set a $44.00 target price on shares of EZCORP in a report on Friday, May 8th. Stephens raised their target price 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. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of EZCORP from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Saturday, May 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, EZCORP presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $37.25.
Insider Transactions at EZCORP
In related news, Director Jason A. Kulas sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.56, for a total value of $671,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Ellen H. Bryant sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.00, for a total transaction of $500,000.00. Following the completion of 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. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 104,138 shares of company stock valued at $2,773,616 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 2.13% of the company’s stock.
EZCORP Trading Up 0.7%
EZPW stock opened at $33.00 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $28.86 and a 200 day moving average price of $23.74. EZCORP, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $12.85 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 firm has a market cap of $2.03 billion, a PE ratio of 17.93 and a beta of 0.65.
EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results 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. EZCORP had a net margin of 9.91% and a return on equity of 13.45%. The firm had revenue of $434.90 million during the quarter. Sell-side analysts anticipate that EZCORP, Inc. will post 2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
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.
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