Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) Given Average Rating of “Hold” by Analysts

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) has received an average rating of “Hold” from the eighteen ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $59.8667.

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Stephens assumed coverage on Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Wednesday, May 13th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $78.00 price objective for the company. B. Riley Financial reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Wednesday, April 8th. Truist Financial set a $54.00 price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Monday, April 20th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $60.00 to $56.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 18th. Finally, Guggenheim boosted their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 8th.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Stock Up 2.7%

Academy Sports and Outdoors stock opened at $50.60 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 1.89. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $54.86 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $53.94. The company has a market cap of $3.26 billion, a PE ratio of 9.10, a PEG ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.06. Academy Sports and Outdoors has a fifty-two week low of $39.87 and a fifty-two week high of $62.44.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 17th. The company reported $1.97 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.05 by ($0.08). The firm had revenue of $1.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.76 billion. Academy Sports and Outdoors had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 17.88%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.96 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Academy Sports and Outdoors will post 5.95 EPS for the current year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 20th were issued a $0.15 dividend. This is a boost from Academy Sports and Outdoors’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 20th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s payout ratio is presently 10.79%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Jeffrey C. Tweedy sold 4,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total value of $240,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 7,835 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $470,100. The trade was a 33.80% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 3.62% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Academy Sports and Outdoors

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Citigroup Inc. raised its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 105.8% in the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 162,571 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,132,000 after purchasing an additional 83,572 shares during the period. Junto Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 3rd quarter worth about $36,567,000. Heartland Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 71.9% in the 3rd quarter. Heartland Advisors Inc. now owns 273,617 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,686,000 after purchasing an additional 114,427 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp raised its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 9,627.2% in the 3rd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 58,363 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,919,000 after purchasing an additional 57,763 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 6.1% in the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,176,853 shares of the company’s stock worth $108,886,000 after purchasing an additional 125,398 shares during the period.

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.