American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE:AEO) Short Interest Update

Key Points

• American Eagle Outfitters reported a **58.0% increase** in short interest during July, with a total of **28.4 million shares** shorted as of July 31st, representing **18.1%** of the company's stock.
• The company experienced a **quarterly loss**, reporting an EPS of **($0.29)**, which was below the analysts' estimate of **($0.25)**, while revenue decreased by **4.7%** year-over-year.
• American Eagle Outfitters issued a quarterly dividend of **$0.125 per share**, reflecting an annualized dividend yield of **3.9%** and a payout ratio of **51.02%**.

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE:AEO - Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totaling 28,400,000 shares, anincreaseof58.0% from the July 15th total of 17,980,000 shares. Currently,18.1% of the company's stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 11,180,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.5 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 11,180,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.5 days. Currently,18.1% of the company's stock are short sold.

American Eagle Outfitters Trading Down 0.9%

American Eagle Outfitters stock traded down $0.12 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $12.87. 10,599,615 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 19,179,880. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. American Eagle Outfitters has a 12 month low of $9.27 and a 12 month high of $22.83. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $10.77 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $11.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.13 and a beta of 1.51.

American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 29th. The apparel retailer reported ($0.29) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.25) by ($0.04). American Eagle Outfitters had a net margin of 3.73% and a return on equity of 13.34%. The company had revenue of $1.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.08 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.34 EPS. The firm's revenue was down 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that American Eagle Outfitters will post 1.7 EPS for the current year.

American Eagle Outfitters Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 11th were issued a dividend of $0.125 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 11th. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.9%. American Eagle Outfitters's dividend payout ratio is 51.02%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

AEO has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Citigroup reiterated a "neutral" rating on shares of American Eagle Outfitters in a research note on Friday, May 23rd. Cfra Research downgraded shares of American Eagle Outfitters from a "moderate buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, June 6th. Morgan Stanley set a $10.00 price target on shares of American Eagle Outfitters and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of American Eagle Outfitters from $10.00 to $9.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an "underweight" rating and issued a $9.00 price target on shares of American Eagle Outfitters in a research report on Monday, July 28th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $14.70.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Eagle Outfitters

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Junto Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of American Eagle Outfitters during the first quarter worth approximately $38,588,000. Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in shares of American Eagle Outfitters by 1,510.1% in the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,509,057 shares of the apparel retailer's stock worth $41,826,000 after buying an additional 2,353,225 shares during the period. Cooke & Bieler LP increased its stake in shares of American Eagle Outfitters by 29.9% in the first quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP now owns 7,791,193 shares of the apparel retailer's stock worth $90,534,000 after buying an additional 1,794,203 shares during the period. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. purchased a new position in shares of American Eagle Outfitters in the first quarter worth $18,927,000. Finally, Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Eagle Outfitters in the first quarter worth $18,140,000. 97.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.

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