World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) Shares Gap Up – Here’s Why

World Acceptance Co. (NASDAQ:WRLD)’s share price gapped up prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $112.69, but opened at $115.41. World Acceptance shares last traded at $115.41, with a volume of 1,739 shares traded.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com lowered shares of World Acceptance from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 19th.

World Acceptance Stock Up 3.2 %

The stock has a market capitalization of $680.36 million, a PE ratio of 8.66 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a current ratio of 17.02, a quick ratio of 17.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. The company’s 50-day moving average is $114.01 and its 200 day moving average is $125.74.

World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 26th. The credit services provider reported $1.79 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.69 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $129.53 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $141.00 million. World Acceptance had a net margin of 13.80% and a return on equity of 18.69%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.62 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that World Acceptance Co. will post 13.34 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at World Acceptance

In other news, insider Luke J. Umstetter sold 500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.78, for a total value of $60,390.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 14,238 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,719,665.64. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 43.20% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On World Acceptance

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in WRLD. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of World Acceptance by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 3,770 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $547,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in shares of World Acceptance by 4.8% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,329 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $338,000 after buying an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Hancock Whitney Corp raised its stake in shares of World Acceptance by 12.7% during the 2nd quarter. Hancock Whitney Corp now owns 1,815 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $224,000 after buying an additional 205 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in World Acceptance by 1.2% during the first quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 21,601 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $3,132,000 after purchasing an additional 261 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its holdings in World Acceptance by 7.3% during the first quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 4,279 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $620,000 after purchasing an additional 291 shares in the last quarter. 83.63% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.