Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECPG) Receives Average Recommendation of “Buy” from Analysts

Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECPG) has been given an average rating of “Buy” by the four analysts that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $65.00.

A number of analysts have commented on ECPG shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Encore Capital Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 29th. JMP Securities increased their price target on Encore Capital Group from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Northland Securities lifted their price objective on Encore Capital Group from $58.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, December 23rd.

Encore Capital Group Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:ECPG opened at $49.86 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.39, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Encore Capital Group has a 1 year low of $39.64 and a 1 year high of $51.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.18 billion, a PE ratio of -6.35 and a beta of 1.55. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $48.71 and its 200-day moving average price is $48.10.

Encore Capital Group (NASDAQ:ECPG) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The asset manager reported $1.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.55 by ($0.05). Encore Capital Group had a positive return on equity of 12.70% and a negative net margin of 13.91%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Encore Capital Group will post 5.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Encore Capital Group

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its holdings in Encore Capital Group by 191.7% in the third quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 49,719 shares of the asset manager’s stock valued at $2,350,000 after acquiring an additional 32,672 shares during the last quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new stake in Encore Capital Group in the third quarter valued at $695,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Encore Capital Group by 177.0% in the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 22,550 shares of the asset manager’s stock valued at $1,066,000 after purchasing an additional 14,409 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in shares of Encore Capital Group by 16.0% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 756,335 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $35,752,000 after purchasing an additional 104,509 shares during the period. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Encore Capital Group during the 3rd quarter worth $409,000.

About Encore Capital Group

Encore Capital Group, Inc, a specialty finance company, provides debt recovery solutions and other related services for consumers across financial assets worldwide. The company purchases portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables at deep discounts to face value, as well as manages them by working with individuals as they repay their obligations and works toward financial recovery.