Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Purchases 404,863 Shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) by 12.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,699,015 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 404,863 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned approximately 5.33% of Academy Sports and Outdoors worth $212,807,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in ASO. Jump Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 4th quarter worth $9,947,000. Townsquare Capital LLC increased its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 25.4% in the fourth quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 5,166 shares of the company’s stock valued at $297,000 after acquiring an additional 1,046 shares during the last quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 724.9% during the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 1,625 shares of the company’s stock worth $93,000 after purchasing an additional 1,428 shares during the last quarter. LSV Asset Management boosted its holdings in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 14.2% in the 4th quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 1,940,041 shares of the company’s stock worth $111,611,000 after purchasing an additional 241,100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Fund Management S.A. increased its position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 1,930.4% during the 4th quarter. Capital Fund Management S.A. now owns 44,807 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,578,000 after purchasing an additional 47,255 shares during the last quarter.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ ASO opened at $36.88 on Wednesday. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a 1 year low of $33.34 and a 1 year high of $64.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.06, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.26. The company’s 50-day moving average is $45.05 and its 200 day moving average is $50.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 0.32.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) last announced 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 firm had revenue of $1.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.67 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.21 EPS. The business’s revenue was down 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side 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 firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th were given a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 25th. This is an increase 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 1.41%. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s dividend payout ratio is currently 9.01%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have issued reports on ASO. TD Cowen upped their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $54.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $60.00 target price on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. Citigroup reduced their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $65.00 to $60.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 17th. B. Riley decreased their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $70.00 to $65.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 21st. Finally, Oppenheimer dropped their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $85.00 to $70.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 21st. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target 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.