Raymond James Financial Inc. Makes New Investment in American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE:AEO)

Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE:AEO) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 129,234 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $2,154,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. owned about 0.07% of American Eagle Outfitters at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Zacks Investment Management acquired a new position in American Eagle Outfitters in the 3rd quarter valued at $931,000. NFJ Investment Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of American Eagle Outfitters in the third quarter valued at $2,680,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of American Eagle Outfitters by 137.5% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 3,358 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 1,944 shares during the period. Entropy Technologies LP acquired a new position in American Eagle Outfitters in the fourth quarter valued at $378,000. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB purchased a new position in American Eagle Outfitters during the fourth quarter worth about $1,557,000. 97.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Eagle Outfitters Stock Down 4.2 %

American Eagle Outfitters stock opened at $11.42 on Monday. American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. has a 12 month low of $10.74 and a 12 month high of $26.25. The stock has a market cap of $1.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.76, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.57. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $13.92 and its 200-day simple moving average is $17.04.

American Eagle Outfitters Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.125 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 11th. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.38%. American Eagle Outfitters’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.76%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AEO has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Barclays cut shares of American Eagle Outfitters from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $17.00 to $10.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. BMO Capital Markets reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $15.00 price objective (down from $19.00) on shares of American Eagle Outfitters in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. StockNews.com downgraded American Eagle Outfitters from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 19th. Citigroup set a $13.00 target price on American Eagle Outfitters and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Finally, Raymond James began coverage on American Eagle Outfitters in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They set a “market perform” rating for the company. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, American Eagle Outfitters has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $16.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at American Eagle Outfitters

In related news, Director Cary D. Mcmillan sold 2,999 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.02, for a total transaction of $48,043.98. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 7.30% of the company’s stock.

American Eagle Outfitters Company Profile

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc operates as a multi-brand specialty retailer in the United States and internationally. The company provides jeans, apparel and accessories, and personal care products for women and men under the American Eagle brand; and intimates, apparel, activewear, and swim collections under the Aerie and OFFLINE by Aerie brands.