EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) Hits New 12-Month High – Time to Buy?

EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW)’s share price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $14.50 and last traded at $14.38, with a volume of 5125 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $14.25.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have issued reports on EZPW shares. Stephens restated an “equal weight” rating and set a $13.50 target price on shares of EZCORP in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their target price on shares of EZCORP from $19.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Roth Mkm began coverage on shares of EZCORP in a research report on Monday, March 17th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $16.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Roth Capital set a $16.00 price target on shares of EZCORP in a research report on Monday, March 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $16.88.

EZCORP Stock Up 1.3 %

The company has a market capitalization of $793.32 million, a P/E ratio of 12.57 and a beta of 0.89. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $13.14 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $12.22. The company has a current ratio of 2.91, a quick ratio of 2.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27.

EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The credit services provider reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.35 by $0.07. EZCORP had a net margin of 7.25% and a return on equity of 11.04%. Equities research analysts forecast that EZCORP, Inc. will post 1.3 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On EZCORP

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of EZCORP by 97.0% during the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,156 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 1,554 shares in the last quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS bought a new stake in EZCORP in the 4th quarter valued at about $122,000. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of EZCORP during the 4th quarter worth approximately $138,000. LPL Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of EZCORP by 39.3% during the fourth quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 14,430 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $176,000 after purchasing an additional 4,070 shares during the period. Finally, Teza Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of EZCORP by 6.6% in the fourth quarter. Teza Capital Management LLC now owns 14,425 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $176,000 after buying an additional 896 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.83% of the company’s stock.

EZCORP Company Profile

EZCORP, Inc provides pawn services in the United States and Latin America. The company operates through three segments: U.S. Pawn, Latin America Pawn, and Other Investments. The company offers pawn loans collateralized by tangible personal property, jewelry, consumer electronics, tools, sporting goods, and musical instruments.