Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) Reaches New 52-Week High at $67.70

Shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO – Get Rating) hit a new 52-week high on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $67.70 and last traded at $64.64, with a volume of 980617 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $59.91.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on ASO shares. Wedbush increased their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $68.00 to $73.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $58.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday. Stephens raised their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $76.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 8th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research note on Tuesday. They set a “buy” rating and a $73.00 target price for the company. Finally, Cowen started coverage on Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $72.00 target price for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $71.21.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Trading Down 2.5 %

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $58.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $51.33. The firm has a market cap of $4.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 0.32.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 23rd will be issued a $0.09 dividend. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 22nd. This is a positive change from Academy Sports and Outdoors’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 4.23%.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Manish Maini sold 102,328 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.04, for a total value of $5,939,117.12. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 103,929 shares in the company, valued at $6,032,039.16. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders have sold 148,059 shares of company stock worth $8,428,292 over the last 90 days. 3.51% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Romano Brothers AND Company purchased a new stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. bought a new position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. CWM LLC increased its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 135.1% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 757 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 435 shares during the last quarter. CI Investments Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 55.0% in the first quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,006 shares of the company’s stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 357 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.63% of the company’s stock.

About Academy Sports and Outdoors

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Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as a sporting goods and outdoor recreational products retailer in the United States. The company sells coolers and drinkware, camping accessories, camping equipment, sunglasses, backpacks, and sports bags; marine equipment and fishing rods, reels, baits, and equipment; firearms, ammunition, archery and archery equipment, camouflage apparel, waders, shooting accessories, optics, airguns, and hunting equipment; team sports equipment, including baseball, football, basketball, soccer, golf, racket sports, and volleyball; fitness equipment and accessories, and nutrition supplies; and patio furniture, outdoor cooking, wheeled goods, trampolines, playsets, watersports, and pet equipment, as well as electronics products, watches, consumables, batteries, etc.