Stephens Upgrades Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) to “Strong-Buy”

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Stephens to a “strong-buy” rating in a report released on Wednesday,Zacks.com reports.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $61.00 price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Tuesday, March 17th. Barclays raised their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $49.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 8th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. B. Riley Financial reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $56.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $59.87.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Price Performance

ASO opened at $51.07 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.29 billion, a PE ratio of 9.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 1.89 and a quick ratio of 0.44. The business’s 50-day moving average is $55.67 and its two-hundred day moving average is $53.90. Academy Sports and Outdoors has a 1 year low of $39.87 and a 1 year high of $62.44.

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Academy Sports and Outdoors

In related news, Director Jeffrey C. Tweedy sold 4,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total value of $240,000.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 7,835 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $470,100. This represents a 33.80% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 3.62% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Academy Sports and Outdoors

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ASO. Citigroup Inc. increased 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 buying an additional 83,572 shares during the period. Junto Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors during the third quarter worth $36,567,000. Heartland Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 71.9% during the third quarter. Heartland Advisors Inc. now owns 273,617 shares of the company’s stock valued at $13,686,000 after purchasing an additional 114,427 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 9,627.2% in the third quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 58,363 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,919,000 after purchasing an additional 57,763 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. grew its position in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 6.1% during 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.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Company Profile

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.