Wall Street brokers expect PRA Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:PRAA – Get Rating) to record sales of $233.07 million for the current fiscal quarter, according to Zacks Investment Research. Four analysts have made estimates of PRA Group earnings, with estimates ranging from $225.37 million to $239.80 million. PRA Group recorded sales of $285.63 million in the same quarter last year, suggesting a negative growth rate of 18.4% year-over-year. The company is due to announce its next results on Monday, January 1.

According to Zacks, analysts expect PRA Group to report annual sales of $938.25 million for the current fiscal year, with estimates ranging from $913.57 million to $957.20 million. For next year, analysts expect the company to record sales of $952.38 million, with estimates ranging from $909.15 million to $988.90 million. Zacks sales averages are an average based on a survey of sell-side research analysts who cover the PRA group.

PRA Group (NASDAQ:PRAA – Get Rating) last released its results on Monday, May 9. The business services provider reported earnings per share of $0.97 for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.23. PRA Group achieved a net margin of 15.73% and a return on equity of 11.82%. The company posted revenue of $240.60 million for the quarter, versus a consensus estimate of $253.46 million. In the same quarter a year earlier, the company earned earnings per share of $1.27. The company’s quarterly revenue fell 16.9% from the same quarter last year.

A number of equity research analysts have recently commented on PRAA shares. William Blair reiterated an “outperforming” rating on PRA Group shares in a Tuesday, March 1 report. StockNews.com upgraded PRA Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a Saturday, April 16 report. TheStreet upgraded the PRA Group from a “b” to a “c+” rating in a Friday, May 20 research note. Finally, JMP Securities reduced its price target on PRA Group from $60.00 to $56.00 and set a “market outperformance” rating on the stock in a Tuesday, March 1 research note.

Separately, CEO Kevin P. Stevenson sold 10,000 shares of the company in a trade dated Monday, April 18. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.83, for a total transaction of $448,300.00. Following completion of the transaction, the CEO now owns 390,949 shares of the company, valued at $17,526,243.67. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Additionally, CEO Kevin P. Stevenson sold 5,000 shares of the company in a trade dated Monday, April 25. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.99, for a total value of $214,950.00. As a result of the transaction, the CEO now directly owns 355,949 shares of the company, valued at approximately $15,302,247.51. The disclosure of this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 30,000 shares of the company worth $1,329,950 in the past three months. Company insiders hold 1.75% of the company’s shares.

Hedge funds have recently changed their positions in the stock. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd increased its position in PRA Group shares by 38.2% in the 1st quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 1,050 shares of the business services provider valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 290 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in PRA Group shares by 26.2% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 107,708 shares of the business services provider valued at $4,856,000 after purchasing an additional 22,372 shares during the period. S&T Bank PA increased its position in PRA Group shares by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. S&T Bank PA now owns 190,432 shares of the business services provider valued at $8,585,000 after purchasing an additional 748 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its position in PRA Group shares by 56.6% in the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,070 shares of the business services provider valued at $93,000 after buying an additional 748 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp increased its position in PRA Group shares by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,570,424 shares of the business services provider valued at $70,795,000 after purchasing an additional 38,201 shares during the period. 98.89% of the shares are held by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Shares of PRAA opened at $37.00 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.89 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a 50-day moving average of $41.88 and a two-hundred-day moving average of $44.64. PRA Group has a 12-month low of $36.11 and a 12-month high of $51.00.

Company Profile PRA Group (Get a rating)

PRA Group, Inc., a financial and business services company, is engaged in the procurement, collection and management of non-performing loan portfolios in the Americas, Australia and Europe. It is involved in the purchase of accounts which are primarily the unpaid obligations of individuals due to credit originators, which include banks and other types of consumer, retail and auto finance companies.

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