EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume - Here's What Happened

Shares of EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW - Get Free Report) saw an uptick in trading volume on Friday . 553,394 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 12% from the previous session's volume of 630,543 shares.The stock last traded at $16.42 and had previously closed at $16.38.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

EZPW has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Stephens reissued an "equal weight" rating and issued a $13.50 price target on shares of EZCORP in a report on Thursday, February 6th. StockNews.com cut shares of EZCORP from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price objective on EZCORP from $19.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Roth Mkm initiated coverage on EZCORP in a research report on Monday, March 17th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $16.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Roth Capital set a $16.00 price target on shares of EZCORP in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $16.88.

EZCORP Trading Up 2.8 %

The company's 50 day simple moving average is $14.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $13.10. The company has a market cap of $899.35 million, a PE ratio of 14.23 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 2.91 and a quick ratio of 2.13.

EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The credit services provider reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.32 by $0.02. EZCORP had a net margin of 7.25% and a return on equity of 11.04%. The business had revenue of $306.32 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $310.35 million. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that EZCORP, Inc. will post 1.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On EZCORP

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake 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 acquiring an additional 1,554 shares during the period. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new stake in shares of EZCORP during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $122,000. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC purchased a new position in EZCORP in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $138,000. LPL Financial LLC raised its holdings in 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 last quarter. Finally, Teza Capital Management LLC boosted its position in EZCORP by 6.6% during the fourth quarter. Teza Capital Management LLC now owns 14,425 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $176,000 after purchasing an additional 896 shares in the last quarter. 99.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.