World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) Shares Gap Up – Time to Buy?

World Acceptance Co. (NASDAQ:WRLD) gapped up before the market opened 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.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

World Acceptance Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $679.54 million, a PE ratio of 8.65 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a quick ratio of 17.02, a current ratio of 17.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $114.17 and its 200-day moving average is $125.51.

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

Insider Buying and Selling at World Acceptance

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Point72 DIFC Ltd bought a new position in World Acceptance during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $47,000. CWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of World Acceptance by 122.4% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 585 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $72,000 after purchasing an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of World Acceptance in the second quarter worth $140,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new position in shares of World Acceptance in the first quarter worth $242,000. Finally, Hancock Whitney Corp raised its holdings in World Acceptance by 12.7% during the 2nd quarter. Hancock Whitney Corp now owns 1,815 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $224,000 after buying an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.63% of the company’s stock.

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.