Analysts Set EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) Target Price at $37.25

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

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on EZPW shares. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of EZCORP from a “buy (b+)” rating to a “buy (a-)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 8th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of EZCORP from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Citizens Jmp lifted their price objective on shares of EZCORP from $33.00 to $39.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, May 11th. Canaccord Genuity Group set a $44.00 price objective on shares of EZCORP in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Finally, Roth Mkm reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $40.00 price objective on shares of EZCORP in a research report on Friday, May 8th.

Insider Buying and Selling at EZCORP

In related news, Director Jason A. Kulas sold 20,000 shares of the business’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 sale, the director owned 172,948 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,804,134.88. The trade was a 10.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Pablo Lagos Espinosa sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.00, for a total transaction of $320,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 217,543 shares in the company, valued at $6,961,376. This represents a 4.39% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders own 2.13% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On EZCORP

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. California State Teachers Retirement System increased its position in EZCORP by 38.6% in the first quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 70,725 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $1,795,000 after purchasing an additional 19,708 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC increased its position in EZCORP by 50.6% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 457,861 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $11,621,000 after purchasing an additional 153,770 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company bought a new stake in EZCORP in the first quarter worth $247,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in EZCORP in the first quarter worth $249,000. Finally, Sei Investments Co. increased its position in EZCORP by 21.8% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 134,056 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $3,402,000 after purchasing an additional 24,016 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.83% of the company’s stock.

EZCORP Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:EZPW opened at $32.43 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 4.71 and a quick ratio of 3.52. EZCORP has a 1-year low of $13.07 and a 1-year high of $37.13. The company has a market capitalization of $2.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.63 and a beta of 0.63. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $32.02 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $26.48.

EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) last released 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 firm had revenue of $434.90 million for the quarter. EZCORP had a net margin of 9.91% and a return on equity of 13.45%. Research analysts expect that EZCORP will post 2 EPS for the current fiscal 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.