New York State Teachers Retirement System Increases Stock Position in World Acceptance Co. (NASDAQ:WRLD)

New York State Teachers Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of World Acceptance Co. (NASDAQ:WRLD) by 3.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,223 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after buying an additional 229 shares during the quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System owned about 0.12% of World Acceptance worth $943,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of WRLD. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of World Acceptance by 1,359.0% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 79,441 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $5,238,000 after buying an additional 73,996 shares in the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP lifted its stake in World Acceptance by 353.1% in the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 37,498 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $3,631,000 after purchasing an additional 29,222 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in World Acceptance by 55.3% in the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 58,368 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $7,416,000 after purchasing an additional 20,787 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in World Acceptance in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,726,000. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP purchased a new stake in World Acceptance in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,994,000. 83.63% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other World Acceptance news, insider Luke J. Umstetter sold 400 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.41, for a total value of $52,564.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 15,188 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,995,855.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 40.90% of the company’s stock.

World Acceptance Stock Performance

NASDAQ WRLD opened at $132.33 on Friday. World Acceptance Co. has a 1 year low of $81.76 and a 1 year high of $160.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 20.46 and a quick ratio of 20.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $804.57 million, a PE ratio of 11.47 and a beta of 1.43. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $132.30 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $125.56.

World Acceptance (NASDAQ:WRLD) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 19th. The credit services provider reported $2.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.62 by $1.22. World Acceptance had a net margin of 11.82% and a return on equity of 13.47%. The business had revenue of $137.75 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $134.95 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.78 EPS. Analysts predict that World Acceptance Co. will post 11.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.