Wall Street Zen Downgrades World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) to Buy

Wall Street Zen cut shares of World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD - Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Tuesday morning.

World Acceptance Price Performance

NASDAQ:WRLD traded down $0.60 on Tuesday, reaching $156.68. 43,421 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 29,256. The company has a quick ratio of 22.46, a current ratio of 22.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $134.84 and a 200-day simple moving average of $128.83. The firm has a market cap of $831.50 million, a PE ratio of 10.94 and a beta of 1.35. World Acceptance has a 12 month low of $101.85 and a 12 month high of $161.63.

World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The credit services provider reported $8.13 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $6.42 by $1.71. The firm had revenue of $165.27 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $154.52 million. World Acceptance had a return on equity of 19.03% and a net margin of 14.41%. Equities research analysts forecast that World Acceptance will post 14 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Darrell E. Whitaker sold 2,500 shares of World Acceptance stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.73, for a total value of $389,325.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 5,074 shares in the company, valued at approximately $790,174.02. This trade represents a 33.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Alice Lindsay Caulder sold 1,010 shares of World Acceptance stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total value of $151,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 10,315 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,547,250. This represents a 8.92% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 43.20% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Empowered Funds LLC grew its position in World Acceptance by 4.1% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 23,422 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $2,964,000 after acquiring an additional 925 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its position in World Acceptance by 4.0% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 2,044 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $259,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC grew its position in World Acceptance by 2.2% in the first quarter. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC now owns 43,522 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $5,508,000 after acquiring an additional 925 shares in the last quarter. PDT Partners LLC grew its position in World Acceptance by 1.6% in the first quarter. PDT Partners LLC now owns 4,894 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $619,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Magnetar Financial LLC purchased a new position in World Acceptance in the first quarter worth about $308,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.