Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) Releases Earnings Results

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported $2.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.07 by $0.24, FiscalAI reports. Academy Sports and Outdoors had a net margin of 6.39% and a return on equity of 18.36%. The company had revenue of $1.65 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.65 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.94 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Academy Sports and Outdoors updated its FY 2026 guidance to 6.500-6.900 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Academy Sports and Outdoors’ conference call:

• Neutral Sentiment: Second-quarter sales rose 3% to approximately $1.6 billion, while comparable sales declined 0.4%. E-commerce remained a key strength, increasing 12.8%, but traffic from households earning under $50,000 fell at a high-single-digit rate as inflation pressured discretionary spending.
• Positive Sentiment: Academy reaffirmed full-year sales guidance of $6.23 billion–$6.36 billion, or 3%–5% growth, with comparable sales ranging from flat to up 2%. It raised gross-margin guidance to 35.5%–36.0% and EPS guidance to $6.05–$6.45, supported by a lower share count.
• Positive Sentiment: New stores, digital growth, and loyalty initiatives are gaining traction: comparable newer stores rose mid-single digits, dot-com sales increased 14% year to date, and Academy credit-card spending climbed about 20% in the quarter. The company now expects more than 16 million myAcademy members by year-end.
• Positive Sentiment: Management is reinvesting tariff-refund proceeds into lower prices, labor, and marketing, which it says has stimulated demand and improved value perception. Newness initiatives—including Hoka, expanded Ariat and Chubbies assortments, suppressors, and Redfield firearms—are intended to drive traffic and broaden the customer base.
• Negative Sentiment: Management expects the consumer backdrop to remain challenging, particularly for lower-income households, and anticipates a more promotional holiday period. Tariff refunds provided a substantial but nonrecurring second-quarter gross-margin benefit, while elevated fuel and freight costs and pricing investments are expected to pressure margins in the second half.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Stock Performance

Shares of ASO stock opened at $54.22 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $46.96 and a 200-day moving average of $51.62. The company has a market cap of $3.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. Academy Sports and Outdoors has a 52 week low of $41.29 and a 52 week high of $62.44.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 14th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 16th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 16th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 10.56%.

Key Stories Impacting Academy Sports and Outdoors

Here are the key news stories impacting Academy Sports and Outdoors this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Earnings beat and stronger outlook: Adjusted EPS rose 19.1% year over year to $2.31, exceeding the approximately $2.07–$2.10 analyst consensus. Revenue increased 3.0% to $1.65 billion, in line with expectations, while the company raised fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $6.50–$6.90. Academy Sports + Outdoors Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Digital and store expansion provided support: E-commerce sales grew 12.8%, and newly opened stores delivered positive mid-single-digit comparable sales. Management also pointed to cost discipline and e-commerce growth as drivers of the improved profit forecast. Academy Sports + Outdoors raises annual profit forecast
• Positive Sentiment: Hoka launch broadens the premium product offering: Academy plans to introduce five Hoka running-shoe styles in 15 stores and online in early October, potentially attracting higher-value performance-running customers. Academy launches Hoka performance running shoes

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Academy Sports and Outdoors

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 3rd quarter valued at about $61,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 89.9% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,388 shares of the company’s stock worth $62,000 after acquiring an additional 657 shares in the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 12.1% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,742 shares of the company’s stock valued at $86,000 after acquiring an additional 188 shares during the period. Strs Ohio bought a new stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors during the first quarter valued at approximately $128,000. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 12.4% during the second quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 3,270 shares of the company’s stock worth $146,000 after purchasing an additional 360 shares during the period.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have commented on ASO. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Academy Sports and Outdoors from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $67.00 to $60.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, June 10th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a report on Thursday, September 3rd. Telsey Advisory Group raised their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $60.00 to $59.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, June 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $58.29.

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.