World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) Stock Rating Upgraded by StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note published on Sunday.

World Acceptance Trading Down 5.5 %

WRLD opened at $112.54 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 22.46 and a quick ratio of 22.46. World Acceptance has a fifty-two week low of $101.85 and a fifty-two week high of $161.63. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $133.59 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $123.02. The firm has a market capitalization of $646.77 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.86 and a beta of 1.35.

World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 28th. The credit services provider reported $2.45 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.23 by $1.22. World Acceptance had a net margin of 14.41% and a return on equity of 19.03%. As a group, research analysts predict that World Acceptance will post 14 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at World Acceptance

In related news, insider Luke J. Umstetter sold 600 shares of World Acceptance stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total transaction of $90,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 15,248 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,287,200. This trade represents a 3.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Scott Mcintyre sold 2,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.22, for a total transaction of $300,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 7,183 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,079,030.26. The trade was a 21.78 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 4,188 shares of company stock worth $619,409 over the last ninety days. 43.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On World Acceptance

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WRLD. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its stake in World Acceptance by 72.1% in the first quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 265 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 111 shares during the period. Numerai GP LLC lifted its position in shares of World Acceptance by 155.4% during the 4th quarter. Numerai GP LLC now owns 6,412 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $721,000 after acquiring an additional 3,901 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its stake in World Acceptance by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 1,966 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $221,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG grew its holdings in World Acceptance by 50.2% in the fourth quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 3,164 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $356,000 after purchasing an additional 1,057 shares during the period. Finally, D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. increased its stake in World Acceptance by 14.8% in the fourth quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. now owns 33,632 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $3,782,000 after purchasing an additional 4,329 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.63% of the company’s stock.

About World Acceptance

World Acceptance Corporation engages in consumer finance business in the United States. The company provides short-term small installment loans, medium-term larger installment loans, related credit insurance, and ancillary products and services to individuals. It offers income tax return preparation and filing services; and automobile club memberships.