By otakuyassine3@gmail.com 
Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO – Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,170,000 shares, a growth of 13.9% from the November 30th total of 7,170,000 shares. Approximately 11.9% of the company’s stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,490,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 5.5 days.
Institutional Trading of Academy Sports and Outdoors
Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 326,132 shares of the company’s stock worth $19,033,000 after buying an additional 8,848 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 0.6% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 95,822 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,139,000 after purchasing an additional 576 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB increased its holdings in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 94.7% in the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 8,300 shares of the company’s stock valued at $484,000 after purchasing an additional 4,038 shares in the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $306,000. Finally, TD Private Client Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 3rd quarter worth $40,000.
Academy Sports and Outdoors Price Performance
Shares of ASO stock traded down $0.39 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $57.53. The company had a trading volume of 1,025,927 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,487,723. Academy Sports and Outdoors has a 12 month low of $44.73 and a 12 month high of $75.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a current ratio of 1.57. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $52.05 and its 200 day moving average is $53.67. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.45, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.31.
Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO – Get Free Report) last released 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 company had revenue of $1.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.39 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.38 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Academy Sports and Outdoors will post 5.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Academy Sports and Outdoors Announces Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.11 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 18th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.76%. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s dividend payout ratio is 7.22%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several research firms recently issued reports on ASO. Loop Capital reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $77.00 price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research note on Wednesday, September 11th. Truist Financial upped their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $50.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. TD Cowen raised their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 11th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $68.00 to $64.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 11th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group dropped their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $65.00 to $60.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $61.33.
View Our Latest Analysis on ASO
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.
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