Sezzle (NASDAQ:SEZL) Reaches New 1-Year High - Here's Why

Sezzle Inc. (NASDAQ:SEZL - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $116.50 and last traded at $116.14, with a volume of 288269 shares. The stock had previously closed at $112.52.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently commented on SEZL shares. Wall Street Zen cut Sezzle from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. B. Riley reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $62.83 price target (up previously from $62.00) on shares of Sezzle in a report on Wednesday, February 26th.

Sezzle Trading Up 3.3%

The company has a 50-day moving average price of $67.29 and a 200-day moving average price of $54.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.16 and a beta of 8.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 2.40 and a current ratio of 2.40.

Sezzle declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Monday, March 10th that authorizes the company to repurchase $50.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to buy up to 4.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often an indication that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Karen Hartje sold 311,196 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.83, for a total transaction of $22,353,208.68. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 154,266 shares in the company, valued at $11,080,926.78. This trade represents a 66.86% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, COO Amin Sabzivand sold 9,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.86, for a total value of $736,740.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 277,074 shares in the company, valued at $22,681,277.64. This represents a 3.15% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 441,396 shares of company stock worth $34,037,893. Corporate insiders own 49.49% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Sezzle

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of SEZL. Plato Investment Management Ltd acquired a new stake in Sezzle during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Sezzle during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. CWM LLC lifted its position in Sezzle by 49,400.0% during the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 990 shares of the company's stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 988 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its position in Sezzle by 3,575.0% during the 4th quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 147 shares of the company's stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares during the period. Finally, US Bancorp DE lifted its position in Sezzle by 465.6% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,578 shares of the company's stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 1,299 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.02% of the company's stock.

Sezzle Company Profile

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.