Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECPG) Shares Bought by Empowered Funds LLC

Empowered Funds LLC grew its holdings in shares of Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECPG) by 5.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 89,104 shares of the asset manager’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,292 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in Encore Capital Group were worth $4,256,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Verition Fund Management LLC boosted its holdings in Encore Capital Group by 4.3% during the third quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 8,828 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $417,000 after buying an additional 364 shares in the last quarter. Sheets Smith Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of Encore Capital Group by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Sheets Smith Wealth Management now owns 14,278 shares of the asset manager’s stock valued at $682,000 after acquiring an additional 416 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV boosted its stake in shares of Encore Capital Group by 54.9% during the 3rd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,365 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $65,000 after acquiring an additional 484 shares in the last quarter. Huntington National Bank grew 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 acquiring an additional 522 shares during the last quarter. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its position in shares of Encore Capital Group by 7.3% during the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 11,647 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $486,000 after purchasing an additional 790 shares during the period.

Insider Activity at Encore Capital Group

In related news, Director Laura Olle sold 1,340 shares of Encore Capital Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was 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 document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 2.63% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Encore Capital Group Trading Up 0.5 %

NASDAQ:ECPG opened at $50.74 on Wednesday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $48.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $47.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.39, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The stock has a market cap of $1.20 billion, a PE ratio of -6.46 and a beta of 1.55. Encore Capital Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $39.64 and a fifty-two week high of $54.55.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

Encore Capital Group Company 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.