Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) Shares Sold by Principal Securities Inc.

Principal Securities Inc. trimmed its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) by 52.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,362 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,500 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc.’s holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors were worth $78,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Ingalls & Snyder LLC boosted its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 65.2% in the 4th quarter. Ingalls & Snyder LLC now owns 41,219 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,371,000 after buying an additional 16,273 shares during the last quarter. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC boosted its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 331.4% in the 4th quarter. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC now owns 959,680 shares of the company’s stock worth $55,210,000 after buying an additional 737,212 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 20.6% in the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 163,109 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,384,000 after buying an additional 27,824 shares during the last quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 4th quarter valued at about $212,000. Finally, Meritage Portfolio Management lifted its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 12.6% in the 4th quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management now owns 9,684 shares of the company’s stock valued at $557,000 after purchasing an additional 1,087 shares in the last quarter.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ASO has been the topic of several research analyst reports. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $54.00 to $61.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $50.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $68.00 to $65.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Wedbush reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $65.00 price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Citigroup started coverage on Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $65.00 price objective on the stock. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $61.67.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Price Performance

ASO stock opened at $50.71 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a 52-week low of $44.73 and a 52-week high of $75.73. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $54.57 and its two-hundred day moving average is $53.95. The company has a market capitalization of $3.52 billion, a PE ratio of 8.33, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.23.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 10th. The company reported $0.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.28 by ($0.30). Academy Sports and Outdoors had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 7.49%. The business had revenue of $1.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.39 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.38 earnings per share. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 18th were given a $0.11 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 18th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.87%. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s payout ratio is 7.22%.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Company Profile

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as a sporting goods and outdoor recreational retailer in the United States. The company outdoor division comprises camping products, such as coolers and drinkware, and camping accessories and equipment,; fishing products, including marine equipment and fishing rods, reels, and baits and equipment; and hunting products, which includes firearms, ammunition, archery and archery equipment, camouflage apparel, waders, shooting accessories, gun safes, optics, airguns, and hunting equipment.