BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp Lowers Stock Position in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO)

BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp decreased its position in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO - Free Report) by 15.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 207,962 shares of the company's stock after selling 36,787 shares during the period. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp owned approximately 0.30% of Academy Sports and Outdoors worth $11,964,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in ASO. William Blair Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors in the fourth quarter valued at $52,402,000. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 4th quarter worth approximately $47,436,000. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC boosted its position in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 331.4% during the fourth quarter. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC now owns 959,680 shares of the company's stock worth $55,210,000 after purchasing an additional 737,212 shares during the period. Hood River Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 4th quarter valued at about $42,320,000. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 77.2% during the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,252,699 shares of the company's stock worth $72,068,000 after purchasing an additional 545,778 shares during the last quarter.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Trading Up 0.6%

NASDAQ:ASO traded up $0.24 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $40.89. 1,566,558 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,652,398. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $33.34 and a fifty-two week high of $64.62. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.71, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $41.13 and a 200-day simple moving average of $48.26.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 20th. The company reported $1.96 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.82 by $0.14. Academy Sports and Outdoors had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 7.49%. The business had revenue of $1.68 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.67 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.21 earnings per share. Academy Sports and Outdoors's quarterly revenue was down 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th were paid a $0.13 dividend. This is a positive change from Academy Sports and Outdoors's previous quarterly dividend of $0.11. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 25th. Academy Sports and Outdoors's payout ratio is currently 9.01%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ASO has been the subject of several recent research reports. Wedbush cut their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $65.00 to $60.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $65.00 to $60.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $60.00 to $55.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Jefferies Financial Group set a $60.00 target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, B. Riley decreased their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $70.00 to $65.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Academy Sports and Outdoors has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $57.75.

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.