EZCORP (EZPW) Gains from Consumer Stress and Elevated Gold Prices

19 hours ago 1

Soumya Eswaran

Fri, June 19, 2026 astatine 8:38 AM CDT 3 min read

Wasatch Global Investors, an plus absorption company, released its "Micro Cap Fund" Q1 2026 capitalist letter. A transcript of the missive tin beryllium downloaded here. The Wasatch Micro-Cap Fund—Investor Class fell 3.11% successful Q1 2026 but outperformed the Russell Microcap Growth benchmark, which declined 4.25%. Sectors similar industrials, user discretionary, and financials contributed positively to the fund's performance, portion accusation exertion detracted. The US-Iran struggle and concerns astir AI disruption led to marketplace volatility successful the quarter. The money maintains a balanced hazard portfolio, with beardown fundamentals positioning it for semipermanent growth. In addition, you tin cheque the Fund's apical 5 holdings for its champion picks for 2026.

In its first-quarter 2026 capitalist letter, Wasatch Micro-Cap Fund highlighted EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW). EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) is simply a pawn services supplier that retails collateral forfeited from pawn lending operations and pre-owned merchandise. On June 18, 2026, EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) closed astatine $31.72 per share. One-month instrumentality of EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) was -6.13%, and its shares gained 139.40% implicit the past 52 weeks. EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) has a marketplace capitalization of $1.95 billion.

Wasatch Micro Cap Fund stated the pursuing regarding EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) successful its Q1 2026 capitalist letter:

"EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW), different apical contributor to Fund show during the quarter, operates pawn shops successful the U.S. and Latin America and offers consumers the quality to usage idiosyncratic items arsenic collateral successful bid to entree short-term loans without a recognition check. The institution makes wealth from involvement payments connected loans and the merchantability of collateralized items connected failed loans. The banal moved higher successful the 4th arsenic EZCORP has benefited from rising demand, with consumers nether accent from precocious prices for food, substance and housing. In addition, fixed rising golden prices implicit overmuch of 2025 and into aboriginal 2026, the institution has seen higher net from jewelry scrapping. With golden prices easing disconnected their caller highs during the quarter, we trimmed the presumption connected strength."

Is EZCORP Inc. (EZPW) the Best Small-Cap Value Stock to Buy Now?

EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) is not connected our database of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 34 hedge money portfolios held EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) astatine the extremity of the archetypal quarter, up from 26 successful the erstwhile quarter. While we admit the imaginable of EZCORP, Inc. (NASDAQ:EZPW) arsenic an investment, we judge definite AI stocks connection greater upside imaginable and transportation little downside risk. If you're looking for an highly undervalued AI banal that besides stands to payment importantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, spot our escaped study connected the best short-term AI stock.

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