Encore Capital Group (NASDAQ:ECPG) Upgraded at Wall Street Zen

Key Points

• Wall Street Zen upgraded Encore Capital Group to “buy” from “hold.” Analysts overall have a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $128.67.
• Encore reported quarterly EPS of $5.57, beating the $3.35 consensus, while revenue of $544.54 million also topped estimates and rose 18.3% year over year.
• The company raised its 2026 outlook, projecting EPS of $15.50–$16 and portfolio purchases of $1.5–$1.55 billion.

Encore Capital Group (NASDAQ:ECPG - Get Free Report) was upgraded by stock analysts at Wall Street Zen from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report released on Saturday, Wall Street Zen reports.

A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on ECPG. Citizens Jmp boosted their price target on Encore Capital Group from $115.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "market outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday. Truist Financial upped their price target on Encore Capital Group from $112.00 to $122.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Encore Capital Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, October 5th. Citigroup reiterated a "market outperform" rating on shares of Encore Capital Group in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded Encore Capital Group from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a report on Thursday, October 8th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $128.67.

Encore Capital Group Stock Down 9.5%

Shares of NASDAQ:ECPG opened at $114.14 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $2.42 billion, a PE ratio of 7.31 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.87, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 0.96. Encore Capital Group has a 52-week low of $46.80 and a 52-week high of $126.74. The company has a fifty day moving average of $99.85 and a 200-day moving average of $84.22.

Encore Capital Group (NASDAQ:ECPG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 4th. The asset manager reported $5.57 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.35 by $2.22. The company had revenue of $544.54 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $466.80 million. Encore Capital Group had a net margin of 15.86% and a return on equity of 29.83%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 18.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.17 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Encore Capital Group will post 13.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Encore Capital Group

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Encore Capital Group during the second quarter worth approximately $343,229,000. Heartland Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Encore Capital Group by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Heartland Advisors Inc. now owns 388,425 shares of the asset manager's stock worth $27,236,000 after acquiring an additional 2,595 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its position in shares of Encore Capital Group by 658.2% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 334,018 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $23,421,000 after purchasing an additional 289,964 shares during the period. Amundi lifted its stake in Encore Capital Group by 3,134.1% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 304,202 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $28,379,000 after buying an additional 294,796 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Encore Capital Group by 4.2% in the first quarter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. now owns 142,838 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $10,016,000 after acquiring an additional 5,700 shares during the last quarter.

Encore Capital Group News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Encore Capital Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Encore reported third-quarter EPS of $5.57, well above analysts’ expectations, while revenue also topped estimates. The company cited record global collections. Zacks Q3 earnings report
• Positive Sentiment: Encore raised its 2026 outlook, forecasting EPS of $15.50–$16 and portfolio purchases of $1.5–$1.55 billion—supportive signs for expected earnings and growth. Raised 2026 outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains favorable: Truist maintained its Buy rating, while Citizens JMP set a $140 price target and an Outperform rating. Northland also lifted several 2027 quarterly EPS estimates. Citizens JMP price target
• Neutral Sentiment: Northland lowered its Q4 2026 EPS estimate to $3.52 from $3.64, though it raised estimates for multiple 2027 quarters. Northland estimate update
• Negative Sentiment: ECPG fell back after its earnings-driven surge. Truist’s Buy rating was maintained rather than upgraded, and the latest report offers no fresh company-specific explanation for the pullback. Share pullback and Truist rating

About Encore Capital Group

Encore Capital Group, Inc is a specialty finance company that purchases portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables and provides debt recovery and management services. Through its operating businesses, the company works with consumers to resolve outstanding obligations through payment plans and other repayment arrangements.

Encore serves consumers and creditors across multiple markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom and other European countries. Its major operating platforms include Midland Credit Management in the United States and Cabot Credit Management in Europe.

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