EZCORP Inc (NASDAQ:EZPW) was upgraded by Zacks Investment Research from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, Marketbeat reports.

According to Zacks, “Ezcorp Inc. is engaged in establishing, acquiring, and operating pawnshops which function as convenient sources of consumer credit and as value-oriented specialty retailers of primarily previously owned merchandise. Through its lending function, the company makes relatively small, non-recourse loans secured by pledges of tangible personal property. The company contracts for a pawn service charge to compensate it for each pawn loan. “

Shares of EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) opened at 3.12 on Tuesday. EZCORP has a 12-month low of $2.93 and a 12-month high of $10.76. The company’s 50 day moving average is $4.16 and its 200 day moving average is $5.67. The firm’s market capitalization is $171.09 million.

A number of hedge funds and institutional investors have added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Capstone Asset Management Company increased its position in EZCORP by 77.8% in the fourth quarter. Capstone Asset Management Company now owns 64,863 shares of the company’s stock worth $324,000 after buying an additional 28,380 shares during the last quarter. IMS Capital Management boosted its stake in shares of EZCORP by 1.3% in the fourth quarter. IMS Capital Management now owns 274,956 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,372,000 after buying an additional 3,615 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management bought a new stake in shares of EZCORP during the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,134,000. Russell Frank Co boosted its stake in shares of EZCORP by 540.4% in the fourth quarter. Russell Frank Co now owns 135,520 shares of the company’s stock worth $653,000 after buying an additional 114,357 shares during the period. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System boosted its stake in shares of EZCORP by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 95,878 shares of the company’s stock worth $478,000 after buying an additional 1,640 shares during the period.

Several other research analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Group reduced their price target on shares of EZCORP from $7.00 to $5.50 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 8th. TheStreet downgraded shares of EZCORP from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 12th.

EZCORP, Inc. is engaged in delivering instant cash solutions to customers across channels, products, services and markets. The Company offers customers multiple ways to access instant cash through approximately 1,400 locations and branches across the United States, Mexico, Canada and the United Kingdom. Products are offered through four primary channels: in-store, online, worksite and through a mobile platform. It provides a variety of instant cash solutions, including collateralized, non-recourse loans, known as pawn loans, and a variety of short-term consumer loans, including single-payment and multiple-payment unsecured loans and single-payment and multiple payment auto title loans. In some United States locations (NASDAQ:EZPW), the Company does not offer loan products themselves, but rather offer credit services to help customers obtain loans from independent third-party lenders.

12 Month Chart for NASDAQ:EZPW

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