Encore Capital Group (NASDAQ:ECPG) Stock Crosses Above Fifty Day Moving Average – Time to Sell?

Shares of Encore Capital Group Inc (NASDAQ:ECPG) passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $99.25 and traded as high as $100.99. Encore Capital Group shares last traded at $99.64, with a volume of 200,364 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on ECPG shares. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Encore Capital Group from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Encore Capital Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, October 5th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating on shares of Encore Capital Group in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Northland Securities set a $124.00 price target on shares of Encore Capital Group in a research note on Tuesday, October 13th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Encore Capital Group from $105.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $103.25.

Encore Capital Group Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $2.11 billion, a PE ratio of 7.54 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.87, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The business has a fifty day moving average of $99.25 and a 200 day moving average of $82.01.

Encore Capital Group (NASDAQ:ECPG) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The asset manager reported $2.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.67 by $0.14. Encore Capital Group had a return on equity of 29.83% and a net margin of 15.86%. The firm had revenue of $491.87 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $455.10 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.49 EPS. Encore Capital Group’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. Encore Capital Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.000-14.000 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Encore Capital Group Inc will post 13.52 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Encore Capital Group

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ECPG. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in Encore Capital Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $343,229,000. Heartland Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Encore Capital Group during the 2nd quarter worth $33,848,000. Amundi grew its holdings in Encore Capital Group by 3,134.1% during the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 304,202 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $28,379,000 after acquiring an additional 294,796 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its position in shares of Encore Capital Group by 658.2% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 334,018 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $23,421,000 after purchasing an additional 289,964 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new stake in shares of Encore Capital Group in the 2nd quarter worth about $11,664,000.

About Encore Capital Group

Encore Capital Group, Inc is a specialty finance company that purchases portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables and provides debt recovery and management services. Through its operating businesses, the company works with consumers to resolve outstanding obligations through payment plans and other repayment arrangements.

Encore serves consumers and creditors across multiple markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom and other European countries. Its major operating platforms include Midland Credit Management in the United States and Cabot Credit Management in Europe.