Sezzle (NASDAQ:SEZL) Sets New 52-Week High - Here's Why

Sezzle Inc. (NASDAQ:SEZL - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $134.99 and last traded at $129.86, with a volume of 370274 shares. The stock had previously closed at $132.09.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently issued reports on SEZL. Oppenheimer began coverage on shares of Sezzle in a research report on Thursday. They set an "outperform" rating and a $168.00 target price for the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Sezzle from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Finally, B. Riley reissued a "buy" rating and set a $62.83 target price (up previously from $62.00) on shares of Sezzle in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $96.94.

Sezzle Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 2.40 and a quick ratio of 2.40. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $74.97 and its 200-day simple moving average is $55.70. The company has a market cap of $4.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.90 and a beta of 9.06.

Sezzle announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback plan on Monday, March 10th that permits the company to repurchase $50.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to reacquire up to 4.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually a sign that the company's leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling at Sezzle

In other Sezzle news, COO Amin Sabzivand sold 1,684 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.67, for a total value of $209,944.28. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 244,074 shares of the company's stock, valued at $30,428,705.58. This trade represents a 0.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Paul Paradis sold 18,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.00, for a total transaction of $1,350,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 315,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at $23,625,000. This trade represents a 5.41% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 443,080 shares of company stock valued at $34,247,838 over the last 90 days. 49.49% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Sezzle

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its position in shares of Sezzle by 3.4% during the fourth quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 1,320 shares of the company's stock worth $338,000 after buying an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers grew its position in shares of Sezzle by 1.8% during the fourth quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 2,556 shares of the company's stock worth $654,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Plato Investment Management Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Sezzle during the fourth quarter worth approximately $30,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Sezzle during the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. grew its position in shares of Sezzle by 3,575.0% during the fourth quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 147 shares of the company's stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.02% of the company's stock.

About Sezzle

Sezzle Inc operates as a technology-enabled payments company primarily in the United States and Canada. The company provides payment solution in-store and at online retail stores; and through proprietary payments solution that connects consumers with merchants. It also offers Sezzle Platform that provides a payments solution for consumers that extends credit at the point-of-sale allowing consumers to purchase and receive the ordered merchandise at the time of sale while paying in installments over time; Pay-in-Four, which allows consumers to pay a fourth of the purchase price up front and then another fourth of the purchase price every two weeks thereafter over a total of six weeks; Pay-in-Full that allows consumers to pay for the full value of their order up-front through the Sezzle Platform without the extension of credit; and Pay-in-Two and other alternative installment options, which allow consumer to pay half of the value of their order up-front and the second half in two weeks.