Russell Investments Group Ltd. Reduces Position in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO)

Russell Investments Group Ltd. trimmed its holdings in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO - Free Report) by 14.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 165,211 shares of the company's stock after selling 27,405 shares during the quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. owned approximately 0.24% of Academy Sports and Outdoors worth $9,505,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. TD Private Client Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $40,000. AlphaQuest LLC grew its holdings in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 240.8% during the fourth quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 702 shares of the company's stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 496 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its stake in 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 valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 915 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 242.9% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,190 shares of the company's stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 843 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 14.8% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,591 shares of the company's stock valued at $151,000 after acquiring an additional 334 shares during the period.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Stock Performance

NASDAQ ASO traded up $0.72 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $37.37. The company had a trading volume of 392,467 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,613,192. 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 company has a market cap of $2.50 billion, a PE ratio of 6.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.26. The business has a 50 day moving average of $46.30 and a 200-day moving average of $50.93. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a 1-year low of $33.34 and a 1-year high of $64.62.

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, topping the consensus estimate 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 company had revenue of $1.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.67 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.21 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. will post 5.59 EPS for the current year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be issued a dividend of $0.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.39%. This is an increase from Academy Sports and Outdoors's previous quarterly dividend of $0.11. Academy Sports and Outdoors's payout ratio is currently 9.01%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Wedbush lowered their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $65.00 to $60.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $52.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Citigroup cut their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $65.00 to $60.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 17th. Telsey Advisory Group reissued 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. Finally, UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $58.00 to $55.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Academy Sports and Outdoors currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $58.63.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Company 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.