Empowered Funds LLC Acquires 27,824 Shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO)

Empowered Funds LLC raised its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) by 20.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 163,109 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 27,824 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors were worth $9,384,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Truist Financial Corp grew its position in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 45.4% during the second quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 7,495 shares of the company’s stock valued at $399,000 after buying an additional 2,342 shares during the period. Sanctuary Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $294,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 54.5% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,293 shares of the company’s stock worth $75,000 after purchasing an additional 456 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC raised its holdings in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 4,480 shares of the company’s stock worth $261,000 after purchasing an additional 196 shares during the period. Finally, Creative Planning lifted its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 49.3% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 23,196 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,354,000 after purchasing an additional 7,657 shares during the last quarter.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have issued reports on ASO shares. Truist Financial raised their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $50.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Telsey Advisory Group lowered their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $65.00 to $60.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. They set a “buy” rating and a $65.00 target price for the company. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $68.00 to $65.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Wedbush reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $65.00 price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $61.67.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Price Performance

Academy Sports and Outdoors stock opened at $50.46 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $3.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.29, a PEG ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $54.64 and a 200 day simple moving average of $53.88. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a 52 week low of $44.73 and a 52 week high of $75.73.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 10th. The company reported $0.98 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.28 by ($0.30). The business had revenue of $1.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.39 billion. Academy Sports and Outdoors had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 7.49%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.38 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 18th were given a dividend of $0.11 per share. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.87%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 18th. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 7.22%.

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.