Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Has $5.54 Million Stake in EZCORP, Inc. $EZPW

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its position in shares of EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) by 113.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 290,793 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after buying an additional 154,386 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned about 0.48% of EZCORP worth $5,537,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in EZCORP by 0.3% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,263,712 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $48,042,000 after purchasing an additional 9,968 shares in the last quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of EZCORP by 5.4% during the second quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP now owns 2,321,138 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $32,217,000 after acquiring an additional 118,641 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of EZCORP by 21.8% during the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,455,869 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $21,430,000 after acquiring an additional 260,085 shares in the last quarter. Fourth Sail Capital LP grew its position in EZCORP by 30.7% in the 2nd quarter. Fourth Sail Capital LP now owns 1,251,362 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $17,369,000 after purchasing an additional 294,100 shares during the period. Finally, Invenomic Capital Management LP grew its holdings in shares of EZCORP by 55.7% during the first quarter. Invenomic Capital Management LP now owns 1,229,705 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $18,101,000 after buying an additional 439,937 shares during the last quarter. 99.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

EZCORP Price Performance

EZCORP stock opened at $19.22 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.63 and a beta of 0.52. EZCORP, Inc. has a one year low of $11.58 and a one year high of $21.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 5.61 and a quick ratio of 4.37. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $18.77 and a 200-day moving average price of $16.63.

EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 13th. The credit services provider reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $335.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $325.09 million. EZCORP had a return on equity of 12.00% and a net margin of 8.60%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that EZCORP, Inc. will post 1.3 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

EZPW has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup restated a “market outperform” rating on shares of EZCORP in a report on Friday, November 14th. JMP Securities set a $23.00 target price on EZCORP in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Citizens Jmp began coverage on EZCORP in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. They issued a “market outperform” rating and a $23.00 price objective for the company. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price target on shares of EZCORP from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of EZCORP in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $20.50.

About EZCORP

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.