EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) Insider Ellen Bryant Sells 30,000 Shares

EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) insider Ellen Bryant sold 30,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.77, for a total transaction of $1,043,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 117,786 shares in the company, valued at $4,095,419.22. The trade was a 20.30% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

EZCORP Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ EZPW opened at $35.23 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 4.81, a quick ratio of 3.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $31.53 and a 200-day simple moving average of $29.81. The company has a market cap of $2.16 billion, a PE ratio of 17.79 and a beta of 0.66. EZCORP, Inc. has a 12-month low of $16.20 and a 12-month high of $37.13.

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

Institutional Trading of EZCORP

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. California State Teachers Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of EZCORP by 3,013.1% in the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 2,201,763 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $76,115,000 after buying an additional 2,131,038 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors grew its holdings in EZCORP by 47.5% during the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 3,167,748 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $61,518,000 after acquiring an additional 1,019,622 shares during the period. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd grew its holdings in EZCORP by 70.2% during the second quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 1,063,677 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $14,764,000 after acquiring an additional 438,542 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC raised its position in EZCORP by 28.5% in the third quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,975,421 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $37,612,000 after acquiring an additional 437,601 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its position in EZCORP by 89.2% in the fourth quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 785,131 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $15,247,000 after acquiring an additional 370,103 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.83% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Citigroup reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of EZCORP in a report on Monday, May 11th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of EZCORP from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Zacks Research cut shares of EZCORP from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Citizens Jmp boosted their price target on shares of EZCORP from $33.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, May 11th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group set a $44.00 price target on shares of EZCORP in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, EZCORP has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $38.80.

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.