Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) Upgraded to Strong-Buy at Stephens

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) was upgraded by Stephens to a “strong-buy” rating in a report released on Wednesday,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other analysts also recently weighed in on ASO. B. Riley Financial reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research report on Wednesday, April 8th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $49.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 8th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $52.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 8th. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $60.00 to $56.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 18th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $61.00 price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research note on Tuesday, March 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $59.87.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Stock Performance

NASDAQ:ASO opened at $51.07 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 1.89 and a quick ratio of 0.44. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $55.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of $53.90. The stock has a market cap of $3.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.19, a PEG ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.06. Academy Sports and Outdoors has a 1-year low of $39.87 and a 1-year high of $62.44.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 17th. The company reported $1.97 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.05 by ($0.08). Academy Sports and Outdoors had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 17.88%. The firm had revenue of $1.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.76 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.96 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Academy Sports and Outdoors will post 5.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Academy Sports and Outdoors news, Director Jeffrey C. Tweedy sold 4,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total value of $240,000.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 7,835 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $470,100. This trade represents a 33.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 3.62% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Academy Sports and Outdoors

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Citigroup Inc. lifted its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 105.8% in the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 162,571 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,132,000 after acquiring an additional 83,572 shares during the last quarter. Junto Capital Management LP bought a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors in the third quarter worth about $36,567,000. Heartland Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 71.9% in the third quarter. Heartland Advisors Inc. now owns 273,617 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,686,000 after acquiring an additional 114,427 shares during the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 9,627.2% in the third quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 58,363 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,919,000 after acquiring an additional 57,763 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 6.1% in the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,176,853 shares of the company’s stock worth $108,886,000 after acquiring an additional 125,398 shares during the last quarter.

About Academy Sports and Outdoors

Academy Sports and Outdoors is a leading specialty retailer of sporting goods and outdoor gear, operating more than 260 stores across the United States. Headquartered in Katy, Texas, the company offers a broad assortment of merchandise spanning athletic footwear and apparel, team sports equipment, camping and outdoor recreation products, hunting and fishing supplies, and fitness accessories. In addition to its brick-and-mortar footprint, Academy serves customers through its e-commerce platform, offering online ordering, in-store pickup, and home delivery options.

The company’s product portfolio includes seasonal and year-round categories designed to meet the needs of both casual enthusiasts and serious athletes.