181,182 Shares in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) Bought by Clearbridge Investments LLC

Clearbridge Investments LLC bought a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm bought 181,182 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,958,000. Clearbridge Investments LLC owned approximately 0.24% of Academy Sports and Outdoors as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of ASO. GAMMA Investing LLC bought a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 4th quarter worth about $83,000. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 14.2% during the 3rd quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,975 shares of the company’s stock valued at $93,000 after acquiring an additional 245 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 58.0% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 3,186 shares of the company’s stock valued at $210,000 after acquiring an additional 1,169 shares during the last quarter. Avalon Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 4th quarter valued at about $211,000. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 4th quarter valued at about $213,000.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Price Performance

Shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors stock traded up $0.24 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $53.28. 700,442 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,126,324. The business has a 50-day moving average of $60.07 and a 200 day moving average of $61.36. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $42.83 and a fifty-two week high of $75.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.93 billion, a PE ratio of 7.93, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, March 21st. The company reported $2.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.28 by ($0.05). Academy Sports and Outdoors had a net margin of 8.43% and a return on equity of 28.99%. The company had revenue of $1.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.78 billion. On average, analysts predict that Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. will post 6.65 EPS for the current year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 18th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 26th were given a dividend of $0.11 per share. This is an increase from Academy Sports and Outdoors’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.09. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 25th. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s payout ratio is currently 6.55%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Jeffrey C. Tweedy sold 1,200 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total transaction of $72,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 7,870 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $472,200. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 2.19% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ASO has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Telsey Advisory Group decreased their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $83.00 to $75.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 21st. TD Cowen dropped their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $86.00 to $82.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $83.00 to $80.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 25th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Friday, April 12th. They set a “buy” rating and a $85.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $73.88.

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.