Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) Position Increased by Westwood Holdings Group Inc.

Westwood Holdings Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO - Free Report) by 1.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,464,630 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 14,997 shares during the period. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. owned about 2.11% of Academy Sports and Outdoors worth $84,260,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. William Blair Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors during the fourth quarter worth $52,402,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors during the fourth quarter valued at $47,436,000. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC increased its stake 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 valued at $55,210,000 after purchasing an additional 737,212 shares during the last quarter. Hood River Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors during the fourth quarter valued at $42,320,000. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. grew its position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 77.2% during the fourth quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,252,699 shares of the company's stock worth $72,068,000 after acquiring an additional 545,778 shares during the last quarter.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Price Performance

NASDAQ ASO traded down $0.41 on Thursday, reaching $41.98. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,172,361 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,644,766. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a twelve month low of $33.34 and a twelve month high of $64.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 1.57. The stock has a market cap of $2.79 billion, a PE ratio of 6.89, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.29. The firm's 50 day moving average is $41.48 and its two-hundred day moving average is $48.55.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 net margin of 7.49% and a return on equity of 23.32%. The company 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 company earned $2.21 EPS. Academy Sports and Outdoors's revenue was down 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. will post 5.59 EPS for the current year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th were paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 25th. 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 yield of 1.24%. Academy Sports and Outdoors's dividend payout ratio is currently 9.01%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ASO has been the subject of several recent research reports. Loop Capital lowered their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $77.00 to $60.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target 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, May 14th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an "outperform" rating and set a $60.00 price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $65.00 to $60.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $60.00 to $55.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $57.75.

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.