EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) Cut to “Buy” at Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Saturday.

EZPW has been the subject of several other research reports. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on EZCORP from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (a-)” rating on shares of EZCORP in a report on Monday, July 6th. Citizens Jmp raised their price target on EZCORP from $33.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Citigroup reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of EZCORP in a report on Monday, May 11th. Finally, Roth Capital reissued a “buy” rating and set a $40.00 price objective on shares of EZCORP in a research report on Friday, May 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $38.80.

EZCORP Stock Performance

NASDAQ EZPW opened at $27.18 on Friday. EZCORP has a 52-week low of $15.22 and a 52-week high of $37.13. The company has a fifty day moving average of $31.77 and a 200-day moving average of $29.13. The company has a market capitalization of $1.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.73 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 3.45 and a current ratio of 4.81.

EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The credit services provider reported $0.47 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.41 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $408.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $425.83 million. EZCORP had a net margin of 9.97% and a return on equity of 13.99%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that EZCORP will post 2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at EZCORP

In other EZCORP news, Director Pablo Lagos Espinosa sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.54, for a total value of $355,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 207,543 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,376,078.22. The trade was a 4.60% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 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

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in EZCORP during the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of EZCORP during the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. KBC Group NV purchased a new position in shares of EZCORP during the first quarter valued at about $44,000. Deutsche Bank AG grew its position in shares of EZCORP by 533.5% during the fourth quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 2,667 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 2,246 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC increased its holdings in shares of EZCORP by 21.2% in the fourth quarter. CWM LLC now owns 4,146 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $81,000 after purchasing an additional 724 shares during the last quarter. 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.