World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) Stock Crosses Below 200 Day Moving Average – What’s Next?

Shares of World Acceptance Corporation (NASDAQ:WRLD) passed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Wednesday. The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $163.78 and traded as low as $160.52. World Acceptance shares last traded at $161.10, with a volume of 109,245 shares traded.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of World Acceptance in a research note on Monday, September 21st. Zacks Research upgraded shares of World Acceptance to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, October 5th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of World Acceptance from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, August 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold”.

World Acceptance Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 14.38, a quick ratio of 13.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $177.05 and its 200-day moving average price is $163.78. The firm has a market cap of $750.73 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.97 and a beta of 1.23.

World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 23rd. The credit services provider reported $1.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.78 by $1.15. The company had revenue of $139.21 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $140.70 million. World Acceptance had a return on equity of 15.32% and a net margin of 8.45%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted ($0.33) earnings per share. Analysts expect that World Acceptance Corporation will post 13.74 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Ken R. Bramlett, Jr. sold 3,797 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.95, for a total value of $671,879.15. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 28,408 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,026,795.60. This represents a 11.79% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Prescott General Partners Llc sold 88,324 shares of World Acceptance stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $169.83, for a total value of $15,000,064.92. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 735,012 shares in the company, valued at approximately $124,827,087.96. This trade represents a 10.73% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders sold 227,320 shares of company stock valued at $41,053,544. Insiders own 38.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On World Acceptance

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in WRLD. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in shares of World Acceptance by 4.9% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 48,800 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $6,590,000 after purchasing an additional 2,300 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in shares of World Acceptance by 97.5% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 20,545 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $2,774,000 after purchasing an additional 10,140 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new stake in shares of World Acceptance during the second quarter worth $4,577,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its holdings in shares of World Acceptance by 8.2% during the first quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 13,218 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $1,785,000 after purchasing an additional 1,004 shares during the period. Finally, Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of World Acceptance by 33.7% during the first quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 9,153 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $1,236,000 after purchasing an additional 2,306 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.63% of the company’s stock.

World Acceptance Company Profile

World Acceptance Corporation is a consumer finance company that provides small-dollar personal installment loans and related financial services through its World Finance branch network and online channels. The company primarily serves consumers who may have limited access to traditional bank credit.

Its products and services generally include personal loans, tax return preparation and filing, and certain ancillary financial products. Loan proceeds may be used for expenses such as household needs, medical bills, automobile repairs, or other personal obligations, subject to applicable lending requirements.

Founded in 1962, World Acceptance is headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina.