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Jonathan Clark, the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Encore Capital Group Inc. (NASDAQ:ECPG), recently made a significant stock purchase amid the company’s 11.5% decline over the past week. On March 5, 2025, Clark acquired 28,600 shares of common stock at $35 per share, totaling approximately $1,001,000. According to InvestingPro data, this purchase comes as the stock trades near its 52-week low, with analyst price targets ranging from $55 to $66. Following this transaction, Clark now holds 190,164 shares directly. This move reflects a noteworthy investment in the company’s future by a key executive, particularly as InvestingPro analysis indicates the stock is currently trading at Fair Value. With a strong liquidity position evidenced by a current ratio of 10.47, and net income growth expected this year, investors can access 10+ additional exclusive ProTips and comprehensive financial metrics through InvestingPro’s detailed research report.
In other recent news, Encore Capital Group reported a significant fourth-quarter loss, missing Wall Street expectations. The company posted a fourth-quarter earnings per share (EPS) of ($9.42), contrasting sharply with the analyst estimate of $1.83. Revenue also fell short, coming in at $265.62 million against the expected $372.15 million. The company’s net loss for the year was $139 million, attributed to non-cash charges, including a $101 million goodwill charge related to restructuring in their Cabot (NYSE:CBT) business in the UK and Europe. Citizens JMP adjusted its outlook on Encore Capital, lowering the price target from $65.00 to $55.00 while maintaining a Market Outperform rating, citing challenges in the UK market but noting strong collections growth in the U.S. market. Encore Capital’s management is optimistic about 2025, expecting global portfolio purchases to exceed $1.35 billion and global collections to grow by 11% to $2.4 billion. The company plans to resume share repurchases in 2025. Despite these challenges, Encore Capital highlighted a 26% increase in global portfolio purchases and a 16% rise in global collections for 2024.
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