Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECPG) Stake Boosted by Shaker Investments LLC OH

Shaker Investments LLC OH raised its stake in shares of Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECPG - Free Report) by 27.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 45,092 shares of the asset manager's stock after purchasing an additional 9,768 shares during the period. Shaker Investments LLC OH owned 0.19% of Encore Capital Group worth $2,154,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of ECPG. Huntington National Bank raised its holdings in shares of Encore Capital Group by 8,700.0% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 528 shares of the asset manager's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 522 shares during the period. KBC Group NV raised its holdings in Encore Capital Group by 54.9% in the third quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,365 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $65,000 after buying an additional 484 shares during the period. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Encore Capital Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $84,000. nVerses Capital LLC grew its stake in Encore Capital Group by 90.9% during the third quarter. nVerses Capital LLC now owns 2,100 shares of the asset manager's stock worth $99,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Finally, Systematic Financial Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Encore Capital Group in the third quarter worth $156,000.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on ECPG shares. JMP Securities lifted their target price on shares of Encore Capital Group from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a "market outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Northland Capmk upgraded Encore Capital Group from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Northland Securities increased their target price on Encore Capital Group from $58.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, December 23rd. Finally, StockNews.com raised Encore Capital Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, November 29th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $65.00.

Encore Capital Group Stock Up 0.7 %

ECPG stock traded up $0.33 during trading on Friday, reaching $50.08. The stock had a trading volume of 125,522 shares, compared to its average volume of 138,256. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.39. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $48.54 and a 200 day moving average price of $48.00. The company has a market capitalization of $1.19 billion, a P/E ratio of -6.38 and a beta of 1.55. Encore Capital Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $39.64 and a 1-year high of $54.55.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Laura Olle sold 1,340 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.16, for a total transaction of $65,874.40. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 32,381 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,591,849.96. This trade represents a 3.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 2.63% of the company's stock.

Encore Capital Group Profile

Encore Capital Group, Inc, a specialty finance company, provides debt recovery solutions and other related services for consumers across financial assets worldwide. The company purchases portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables at deep discounts to face value, as well as manages them by working with individuals as they repay their obligations and works toward financial recovery.