Insider Selling: World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) Insider Sells 347,064 Shares of Stock

Key Points

• Prescott General Partners LLC has sold 347,064 shares of World Acceptance Corporation (NASDAQ:WRLD) at an average price of $172.88, resulting in a transaction worth approximately $60 million and an 89.25% decrease in their ownership.
• World Acceptance reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.25 for the last quarter, significantly missing the consensus estimate of $2.44, despite achieving revenue of $132.45 million.
• Analysts from Wall Street Zen have downgraded World Acceptance shares from a "strong-buy" to a "hold" rating, with a consensus price target of $10.00.

World Acceptance Corporation (NASDAQ:WRLD - Get Free Report) insider Prescott General Partners Llc sold 347,064 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $172.88, for a total transaction of $60,000,424.32. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 41,804 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,227,075.52. The trade was a 89.25% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

World Acceptance Price Performance

WRLD stock traded down $4.31 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $165.19. The company's stock had a trading volume of 27,409 shares, compared to its average volume of 36,743. The stock has a market cap of $899.62 million, a PE ratio of 11.15 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a current ratio of 17.83, a quick ratio of 17.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. World Acceptance Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $104.99 and a fifty-two week high of $177.25. The company's 50 day moving average is $166.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $148.80.

World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The credit services provider reported $0.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.44 by ($2.19). The firm had revenue of $132.45 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $122.38 million. World Acceptance had a return on equity of 18.95% and a net margin of 14.29%. Equities research analysts expect that World Acceptance Corporation will post 14 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On World Acceptance

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in World Acceptance by 570.9% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 369 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 314 shares during the period. Magnetar Financial LLC purchased a new position in World Acceptance in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $308,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in World Acceptance by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 16,162 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $2,045,000 after buying an additional 386 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in World Acceptance by 17.0% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 62,019 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $7,849,000 after buying an additional 9,005 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in World Acceptance by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 349,238 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $44,196,000 after buying an additional 7,429 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.63% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Wall Street Zen cut shares of World Acceptance from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, July 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, World Acceptance currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $10.00.

World Acceptance Company Profile

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.