Friday's Winners & Losers: EZCorp

Shares of EZCorp(EZPW Quote) were among the Nasdaq's winners Friday, jumping 16% after the pawn-loan company boosted its fourth-quarter earnings projection.

For the quarter ended Sept. 30, the company expects to post earnings of 61 cents to 64 cents a share, up from an earlier forecast of 43 cents to 46 cents a share. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call project earnings of 45 cents a share.

"During the quarter, the company realized a stronger-than-expected signature loan contribution (primarily due to lower levels of bad debt), a net benefit of approximately 4 cents a share from several non-recurring items, and a lower-than-expected earnings drag from new-store openings," the company said. EZCorp now sees full-year earnings of $2.05 to $2.08 a share. Shares were trading up $5.95 to $42.30.

Shares of Sensient Technologies(SXT Quote) rose 5% after the fragrance maker posted stronger third-quarter results and boosted its full-year earnings guidance. For the third quarter, the company earned $17 million, or 37 cents a share, on revenue of $280.9 million. Two analysts had an average estimate for earnings of 35 cents a share, while a single analyst forecast revenue of $270.6 million. During the year-earlier period, Sensient earned $14.1 million, or 30 cents a share, on revenue of $256.4 million.

Looking ahead, Sensient now sees full-year earnings of $1.40 to $1.43, up from an earlier view of $1.38 to $1.42 a share. Analysts project earnings of $1.38 a share. Shares were adding $1.14 to $22.24.