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

World Acceptance Co. (NASDAQ:WRLD)’s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $121.75, but opened at $124.88. World Acceptance shares last traded at $124.34, with a volume of 13,720 shares changing hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com raised World Acceptance from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th.

World Acceptance Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $720.67 million, a PE ratio of 8.76 and a beta of 1.48. The business’s fifty day moving average is $133.04 and its two-hundred day moving average is $122.19. The company has a current ratio of 22.46, a quick ratio of 22.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31.

World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The credit services provider reported $2.45 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.23 by $1.22. World Acceptance had a net margin of 14.41% and a return on equity of 19.03%. Equities research analysts predict that World Acceptance Co. will post 14 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Alice Lindsay Caulder sold 600 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.81, for a total value of $83,886.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now 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 position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Luke J. Umstetter sold 488 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.19, for a total transaction of $73,292.72. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 14,760 shares in the company, valued at $2,216,804.40. This trade represents a 3.20 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 4,188 shares of company stock valued at $619,409. Company insiders own 43.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On World Acceptance

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in World Acceptance by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 15,776 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $1,774,000 after buying an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC boosted its position in World Acceptance by 282.9% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 7,657 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $903,000 after acquiring an additional 5,657 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in World Acceptance by 10.0% in the 3rd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 1,791 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $211,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its holdings in World Acceptance by 24.0% in the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 8,271 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $976,000 after purchasing an additional 1,601 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in World Acceptance in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,504,000. 83.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.