Empowered Funds LLC Raises Stock Holdings in EZCORP, Inc. $EZPW

Empowered Funds LLC raised its stake in shares of EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) by 50.6% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 457,861 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 153,770 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in EZCORP were worth $11,621,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of EZPW. Sigma Planning Corp boosted its holdings in shares of EZCORP by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 13,707 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $348,000 after acquiring an additional 510 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System raised its holdings in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 569 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers raised its holdings in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 648 shares during the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. lifted its position 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 purchasing an additional 685 shares during the period. Finally, CWM LLC lifted its position 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 purchasing an additional 724 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 99.83% of the company’s stock.

EZCORP Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:EZPW opened at $29.06 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 3.52, a current ratio of 4.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.79 billion, a PE ratio of 15.79 and a beta of 0.64. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $32.35 and its 200-day moving average price is $28.69. EZCORP, Inc. has a twelve month low of $13.16 and a twelve month high of $37.13.

EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The credit services provider reported $0.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.22. EZCORP had a net margin of 9.91% and a return on equity of 13.45%. The company had revenue of $434.90 million during the quarter. Equities research analysts expect that EZCORP, Inc. will post 2 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Jason A. Kulas sold 20,000 shares of EZCORP 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 directly owned 172,948 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,804,134.88. The trade was a 10.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Pablo Lagos Espinosa sold 10,000 shares of EZCORP stock in a transaction on Monday, July 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.54, for a total value of $355,400.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 207,543 shares in the company, valued at $7,376,078.22. This trade represents a 4.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders have sold 40,000 shares of company stock valued at $1,346,600. Insiders own 2.13% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

EZPW has been the topic of several research reports. Citizens Jmp raised their target price on shares of EZCORP from $33.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a report on Monday, May 11th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of EZCORP from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Roth Capital reissued a “buy” rating and set a $40.00 price target on shares of EZCORP in a report on Friday, May 8th. Wall Street Zen upgraded EZCORP from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, July 25th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group set a $44.00 price objective on EZCORP in a report on Friday, May 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, EZCORP currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $38.80.

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.