BNP Paribas Financial Markets Has $15.25 Million Stock Holdings in EZCORP, Inc. $EZPW

BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its position in shares of EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) by 89.2% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 785,131 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after buying an additional 370,103 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets’ holdings in EZCORP were worth $15,247,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Arizona State Retirement System increased its stake in EZCORP by 3.7% during the fourth quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 15,960 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $310,000 after acquiring an additional 569 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers increased 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 valued at $1,014,000 after acquiring an additional 648 shares during the period. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. increased its stake in EZCORP by 3.9% during the fourth quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 18,173 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $353,000 after acquiring an additional 685 shares during the period. CWM LLC increased its stake in EZCORP by 21.2% during the fourth quarter. CWM LLC now owns 4,146 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $81,000 after acquiring an additional 724 shares during the period. Finally, Ellsworth Advisors LLC increased its stake in EZCORP by 2.2% during the fourth quarter. Ellsworth Advisors LLC now owns 44,792 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $965,000 after acquiring an additional 971 shares during the period. 99.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at EZCORP

In other EZCORP news, Director Jason A. Kulas sold 20,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.56, for a total transaction of $671,200.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 172,948 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,804,134.88. This represents a 10.37% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 2.13% of the company’s stock.

EZCORP Stock Down 0.6%

NASDAQ:EZPW opened at $31.95 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $30.88 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $25.28. EZCORP, Inc. has a 52-week low of $12.85 and a 52-week high of $37.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 3.52 and a current ratio of 4.71. The company has a market cap of $1.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.36 and a beta of 0.63.

EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 6th. The credit services provider reported $0.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.22. EZCORP had a return on equity of 13.45% and a net margin of 9.91%.The firm had revenue of $434.90 million for the quarter. On average, analysts anticipate that EZCORP, Inc. will post 2 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on EZPW shares. Roth Mkm restated a “buy” rating and set a $40.00 price target on shares of EZCORP in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Wall Street Zen upgraded EZCORP from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, May 9th. Weiss Ratings upgraded EZCORP from a “buy (b+)” rating to a “buy (a-)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Canaccord Genuity Group set a $44.00 price target on EZCORP in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded EZCORP from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $37.25.

EZCORP 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.