Consumer Finance

On CNBC's Mad Money, Jim Cramer said during the Lightning Round that he “really likes Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE).” He added, “It's a well run company and I'm a buyer." He said that Ezcorp (NASDAQ: EZPW) is “part of the expanding lower class theme. It fits into my dollar store thesis and I...

SemiLEDS Corporation (NASDAQ: LEDS) shares fell 3.16% to create a new 52-week low of $6.75. SemiLEDs is scheduled to announce its FQ3 results on July 7, 2011. Partner Communications Company Ltd (NASDAQ: PTNR) shares dropped 1.26% to create a new 52-week low of $14.87. PTNR's PEG ratio is 1.29....

Bank of America is raising its estimates on Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS). “Revising our 2011 GAAP EPS estimate to $3.60 from $2.91, to reflect lower credit losses and an accelerated reserve release,” Bank of America writes. “Q2'11 loss rates were 0.25% better than our prior forecast. “...

Bank of America has raised the price objective on Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) from $26 to $31 and maintains its Buy rating.

I update the following portfolio/screen on a monthly basis on Scott's Investments. May's list of 24 stocks is here and the top 10 rated stocks returned an average of  .11% versus -3.95% for SPY. The entire list of 24 stocks last month returned an average of -1.83%. The screen looks for the...

I update the following portfolio/screen on a monthly basis on Scott's Investments. May's list of 24 stocks is here and the top 10 rated stocks returned an average of  .11% versus -3.95% for SPY. The entire list of 24 stocks last month returned an average of -1.83%. The screen looks for the...

EZCorp (EZPW) , a payday lender and pawnshop operator, was upgraded at Sterne Agee, which noted its continued growth despite growing calls for more oversight and gov't restrictions. It also cited partnerships, int'l expansion and plans for a prepaid debit card. Shares surged 7% to 34.32.

Sector leaders shot up along with the major market indexes Monday. Unlike the general market, which gained in weak trade, turnover was above average in many top-rated issues. EZCorp (EZPW) gapped up and surged 2.25, or 7%, to a new high of 34.32. The stock cleared a 33.41 buy point square-box base...

Pawnshop and payday loan stocks have done fairly well recently. The Relative Price Strength line of the Finance-Consumer Loans industry group is at a new high. First Cash Financial Services (FCFS) broke out of a flat base May 31, clearing a 40.23 entry in heavy volume. The market's head winds,...

Pawnshop and payday loan stocks have done fairly well recently. The Relative Price Strength line of the Finance-Consumer Loans industry group is at a new high. First Cash Financial Services (FCFS) broke out of a flat base May 31, clearing a 40.23 entry in heavy volume. The market's head winds,...

By 11:48 am, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 93.20 points, or 0.78%, to 12,027.78, while the broader Standard & Poor's 500 index had surged 9.14 points, or 0.72%. The NASDAQ composite index rose 28.10 points, or 1.06%. Some of the narrow based indexes that are driving the markets are...

Innospec Inc (NASDAQ: IOSP) shares surged 5.12% to $32.44 at 11:40 am. The volume of IOSP shares traded was 197% higher than normal. IOSP shares have jumped 200.20% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has gained 17.80% in the same period. EZCORP Inc (NASDAQ: EZPW) shares moved up 6...

Zhongpin Inc (NASDAQ: HOGS) shares fell 12.02% to create a new 52-week low of $9.66. HOGS is scheduled to meet with institutional investors at the Oppenheimer 11th Annual Consumer Conference in Boston on June 28 and 29. Pozen Inc (NASDAQ: POZN) shares dropped 0.69% to create a new 52-week low of $...

Sterne Agee upgraded its rating on EZCORP (NASDAQ: EZPW) from Neutral to Buy. At the moment, Sterne Agee has a price target of $40 placed on the company's stock. On Friday, EZCORP closed the week at $32.07.

Sterne Agee has upgraded EZCORP (NASDAQ: EZPW) from Neutral to buy and has established a $40 price target.