World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) Shares Gap Down – Time to Sell?

World Acceptance Corporation (NASDAQ:WRLD) gapped down prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $219.46, but opened at $206.25. World Acceptance shares last traded at $209.2590, with a volume of 2,416 shares trading hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WRLD has been the subject of several research reports. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of World Acceptance in a research report on Wednesday, June 24th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of World Acceptance from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, June 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold”.

World Acceptance Stock Performance

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $169.88 and a 200 day simple moving average of $148.80. The company has a market cap of $945.40 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.62 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a quick ratio of 22.99, a current ratio of 22.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26.

World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 30th. The credit services provider reported $7.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.74 by ($0.04). World Acceptance had a net margin of 5.98% and a return on equity of 9.36%. The firm had revenue of $164.31 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $168.40 million.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Benjamin E. Robinson III sold 2,031 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.77, for a total transaction of $452,445.87. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 4,836 shares in the company, valued at $1,077,315.72. This trade represents a 29.58% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Charles D. Way sold 833 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.00, for a total value of $187,425.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 12,729 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,864,025. This trade represents a 6.14% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 5,576 shares of company stock worth $1,149,890. Corporate insiders own 41.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On World Acceptance

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WRLD. iSAM Funds UK Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of World Acceptance during the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in World Acceptance by 102.4% during the 1st quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 255 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its holdings in World Acceptance by 241.2% during the 3rd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 331 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 234 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in shares of World Acceptance by 103.2% in the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 569 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $94,000 after purchasing an additional 289 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Aquatic Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of World Acceptance in the 3rd quarter valued at about $138,000. 83.63% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About World Acceptance

World Acceptance Corporation (NASDAQ: WRLD) is a consumer finance company headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. Founded in 1972, the company provides credit solutions to underserved customers who may have limited access to traditional banking services. Over the decades, World Acceptance has built a reputation for tailored lending that emphasizes responsible underwriting and personalized customer service.

The company’s core product offerings include short-term installment loans designed to meet the immediate financial needs of its clients.