Ezcorp rises after 4Q earnings jump 44 percent

Roth Capital Partners analyst Elizabeth Pierce wrote in a research note that the company's results indicate it has opportunities to boost its pawnshop operations in Mexico and the U.S. and with entry into the Canadian market for payday loans.

"We continue to believe in the long term fundamentals of the company's core businesses," she wrote, reiterating her "Buy" rating on the stock and a $22 price target.

Ezcorp said Thursday that earnings for the quarter ended Sept. 30 rose 44 percent to $16 million, or 37 cents per share, from $11.2 million, or 26 cents a share, a year earlier.

The Austin, Texas, company's quarter reflected lost business from Hurricane Ike, which reduced earnings by 4 cents a share. Excluding the effects of the storm and a foreign tax credit, earnings totaled 34 cents a share, which was in line with Wall Street's estimate.

Revenue rose 19 percent $123.4 million.

Ezcorp shares rose 47 cents, or 3.3 percent, to $14.91 in afternoon trading. In the past 52 weeks the stock has traded between $10 and $19.25.