FJ Capital Management LLC Invests $2.59 Million in EZCORP, Inc. $EZPW

FJ Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund acquired 133,526 shares of the credit services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $2,593,000.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Divisadero Street Capital Management LP grew its position in EZCORP by 39.5% during the 3rd quarter. Divisadero Street Capital Management LP now owns 138,505 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $2,637,000 after purchasing an additional 39,195 shares during the last quarter. Miller Global Investments LLC purchased a new stake in EZCORP during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,451,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in EZCORP by 163.6% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 483,211 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $9,200,000 after purchasing an additional 299,920 shares during the last quarter. Harbour Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in EZCORP during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,207,000. Finally, L & S Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in EZCORP during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,939,000. 99.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at EZCORP

In other news, Director Jason A. Kulas sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the director owned 172,948 shares in the company, valued at $5,804,134.88. This represents a 10.37% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Pablo Lagos Espinosa sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the director owned 217,543 shares in the company, valued at $6,961,376. This trade 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. 2.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

EZPW has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Citigroup reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of EZCORP 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. Zacks Research raised shares of EZCORP from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of EZCORP from a “buy (b+)” rating to a “buy (a-)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Finally, Roth Mkm restated a “buy” rating and set a $40.00 target price on shares of EZCORP in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, EZCORP has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $37.25.

EZCORP Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:EZPW opened at $31.25 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $31.42 and its 200-day moving average price is $25.74. EZCORP, Inc. has a twelve month low of $12.85 and a twelve month high of $37.13. The company has a quick ratio of 3.52, a current ratio of 4.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.92 billion, a PE ratio of 16.98 and a beta of 0.63.

EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 6th. The credit services provider reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 for the quarter. Equities research analysts expect that EZCORP, Inc. will post 2 EPS for the current year.

EZCORP 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.