Boston Partners Purchases 94,587 Shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO)

Key Points

• Boston Partners has increased its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 19.7%, now holding approximately 574,854 shares valued at about $25.5 million.
• Despite recent challenges, the company reported a quarterly EPS of $0.76, missing expectations, and experienced a slight revenue decrease of 0.9% year-over-year.
• A quarterly dividend of $0.13 per share was announced, providing an annual yield of 0.9%, with the payout ratio currently at 9.56%.

Boston Partners increased its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO - Free Report) by 19.7% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 574,854 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 94,587 shares during the period. Boston Partners owned 0.86% of Academy Sports and Outdoors worth $25,498,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 12.3% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,699,015 shares of the company's stock worth $212,807,000 after purchasing an additional 404,863 shares during the period. LSV Asset Management increased its position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 12.5% during the 1st quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 2,182,341 shares of the company's stock valued at $99,537,000 after purchasing an additional 242,300 shares during the last quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. raised its position in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 36.1% in the 1st quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. now owns 1,992,997 shares of the company's stock worth $90,901,000 after purchasing an additional 528,367 shares during the period. Royce & Associates LP boosted its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 8.4% during the first quarter. Royce & Associates LP now owns 1,273,158 shares of the company's stock valued at $58,069,000 after purchasing an additional 98,582 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp increased its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 6.8% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 774,911 shares of the company's stock worth $44,581,000 after purchasing an additional 49,106 shares during the period.

Insider Activity at Academy Sports and Outdoors

In related news, Director Christopher Lee Turner sold 4,400 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.48, for a total transaction of $195,712.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 7,084 shares of the company's stock, valued at $315,096.32. This trade represents a 38.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 3.62% of the company's stock.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Trading Down 1.4%

NASDAQ:ASO traded down $0.79 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $54.02. 837,422 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,336,497. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a twelve month low of $33.34 and a twelve month high of $64.61. The company's 50 day moving average is $49.58 and its two-hundred day moving average is $46.24. The company has a quick ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The company has a market capitalization of $3.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.30.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, June 10th. The company reported $0.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.89 by ($0.13). The business had revenue of $1.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.38 billion. Academy Sports and Outdoors had a net margin of 6.55% and a return on equity of 19.62%. Academy Sports and Outdoors's revenue for the quarter was down .9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.08 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 19th were paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 18th. Academy Sports and Outdoors's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.56%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ASO has been the subject of a number of research reports. Monness Crespi & Hardt began coverage on Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research report on Monday, August 4th. They set a "buy" rating and a $65.00 price target for the company. Loop Capital set a $65.00 price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Monday, July 21st. Truist Financial lifted their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 11th. Citigroup cut their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $60.00 to $55.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, June 4th. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $60.00 to $55.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, June 11th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $58.24.

About Academy Sports and Outdoors

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.