StockNews.com Downgrades World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) to Buy

StockNews.com lowered shares of World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD - Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Saturday.

World Acceptance Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:WRLD traded up $0.58 during trading on Friday, hitting $130.16. 20,884 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 29,609. The company has a market cap of $748.03 million, a PE ratio of 9.09 and a beta of 1.48. The company has a current ratio of 22.46, a quick ratio of 22.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $134.12 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $123.14. 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 announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The credit services provider reported $2.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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%. On average, analysts forecast that World Acceptance will post 14 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at World Acceptance

In related news, SVP Alice Lindsay Caulder sold 600 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.81, for a total value of $83,886.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 8,524 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,191,740.44. This trade represents a 6.58 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Luke J. Umstetter sold 488 shares of World Acceptance stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.19, for a total transaction of $73,292.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 14,760 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,216,804.40. This trade represents a 3.20 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 4,188 shares of company stock worth $619,409 over the last ninety days. 43.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of World Acceptance

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Intech Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of World Acceptance in the third quarter worth $275,000. Quantbot Technologies LP raised its position in World Acceptance by 53.3% in the third quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 1,997 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $236,000 after purchasing an additional 694 shares during the period. FMR LLC lifted its stake in shares of World Acceptance by 19.0% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 822 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $97,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares in the last quarter. PDT Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of World Acceptance during the third quarter worth about $830,000. Finally, ClearAlpha Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of World Acceptance in the third quarter worth about $265,000. 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.