World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) Lowered to Buy at StockNews.com

StockNews.com downgraded shares of World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Wednesday morning.

World Acceptance Stock Performance

NASDAQ:WRLD opened at $125.33 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 15.98 and a quick ratio of 15.98. World Acceptance has a 1 year low of $94.57 and a 1 year high of $160.07. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $127.83 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $131.16. The company has a market cap of $731.93 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.45 and a beta of 1.38.

World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 2nd. The credit services provider reported $6.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.35 by $1.74. World Acceptance had a return on equity of 18.88% and a net margin of 13.49%. The business had revenue of $159.27 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $149.00 million. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that World Acceptance will post 13.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On World Acceptance

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of WRLD. Quadrature Capital Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of World Acceptance by 89.5% in the 1st quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd now owns 23,869 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $3,455,000 after purchasing an additional 11,275 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its holdings in shares of World Acceptance by 47.8% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 18,918 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $2,743,000 after purchasing an additional 6,116 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of World Acceptance in the 4th quarter worth approximately $690,000. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd purchased a new position in shares of World Acceptance in the 1st quarter worth approximately $727,000. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its holdings in shares of World Acceptance by 110.6% in the 4th quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 6,845 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $893,000 after purchasing an additional 3,595 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.63% of the company’s stock.

About World Acceptance

World Acceptance Corporation engages in consumer finance business in the United States. The company offers short-term small installment loans, medium-term larger installment loans, related credit insurance, and ancillary products and services to individuals. It also provides income tax return preparation and filing services; and automobile club memberships.