EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) Share Price Passes Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• EZCORP shares moved above their 200-day moving average, trading as high as $33.44 versus the $30.46 average, before closing at $33.07.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with six Buy ratings and two Holds; the consensus rating is “Moderate Buy” with an average price target of $38.80. Jefferies raised its target to $45.
• EZCORP exceeded quarterly earnings expectations, reporting adjusted earnings of $0.47 per share versus the $0.41 consensus, although revenue of $408.4 million came in below estimates.

Shares of EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW - Get Free Report) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $30.46 and traded as high as $33.44. EZCORP shares last traded at $33.07, with a volume of 486,393 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on EZCORP from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Wall Street Zen lowered EZCORP from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 8th. Zacks Research cut shares of EZCORP from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings cut shares of EZCORP from a "buy (b+)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 2nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $38.80.

EZCORP Trading Down 0.1%

The company has a fifty day moving average of $31.62 and a 200-day moving average of $30.46. 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 company has a market capitalization of $2.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.70 and a beta of 0.64.

EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The credit services provider reported $0.47 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.41 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $408.40 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $425.83 million. EZCORP had a return on equity of 13.99% and a net margin of 9.97%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that EZCORP, Inc. will post 2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other EZCORP news, insider Ellen H. Bryant sold 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.77, for a total value of $1,043,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 117,786 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,095,419.22. This represents a 20.30% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Pablo Espinosa sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.54, for a total transaction of $355,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 207,543 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,376,078.22. The trade was a 4.60% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Company insiders own 2.13% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in EZPW. Sigma Planning Corp increased its holdings in shares of EZCORP by 3.9% in the first quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 13,707 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $348,000 after purchasing an additional 510 shares during the last quarter. Triumph Capital Management boosted its stake in EZCORP by 4.7% during the second quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 14,324 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $495,000 after buying an additional 642 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its stake in EZCORP by 0.9% during the second quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 73,064 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $1,014,000 after buying an additional 648 shares during the last quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in EZCORP in the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund grew its holdings in EZCORP by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 30,205 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $767,000 after buying an additional 1,101 shares in the last quarter. 99.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

EZCORP Company Profile

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.

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