BNP Paribas Financial Markets Invests $6.31 Million in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets purchased a new position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 109,760 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,314,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned about 0.16% of Academy Sports and Outdoors as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. AlphaQuest LLC boosted its position in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 240.8% during the fourth quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 702 shares of the company's stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 496 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its holdings in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 1,307.1% during the 4th quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 985 shares of the company's stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 915 shares during the last quarter. LGT Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 1,041.7% in the fourth quarter. LGT Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,096 shares of the company's stock valued at $63,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 242.9% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,190 shares of the company's stock valued at $69,000 after purchasing an additional 843 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sterling Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 724.9% during the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 1,625 shares of the company's stock worth $93,000 after buying an additional 1,428 shares in the last quarter.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. B. Riley cut their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $70.00 to $65.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $38.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $60.00 target price on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Monday, March 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $52.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced 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 Friday, March 21st. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $57.75.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Stock Down 0.6%

ASO traded down $0.26 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $45.23. 1,346,180 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,642,448. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a 12-month low of $33.34 and a 12-month high of $64.62. The firm has a market cap of $3.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.29. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $41.54 and a 200 day moving average of $48.74.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, March 20th. The company reported $1.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.82 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $1.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.67 billion. Academy Sports and Outdoors had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 7.49%. Academy Sports and Outdoors's revenue was down 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.21 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. will post 5.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th were paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.15%. This is a positive change from Academy Sports and Outdoors's previous quarterly dividend of $0.11. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 25th. Academy Sports and Outdoors's dividend payout ratio is presently 9.01%.

Academy Sports and Outdoors 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.