Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) Short Interest Up 44.3% in October

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totaling 9,910,000 shares, a growth of 44.3% from the September 30th total of 6,870,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,650,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 6.0 days. Approximately 15.1% of the shares of the company are short sold. Approximately 15.1% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 1,650,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 6.0 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ASO has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Citigroup downgraded Academy Sports and Outdoors from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $55.00 to $50.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 3rd. Monness Crespi & Hardt initiated coverage on Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Monday, August 4th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $65.00 price target for the company. Loop Capital set a $65.00 price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Monday, July 21st. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $65.00 target price on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research note on Tuesday, September 2nd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Academy Sports and Outdoors has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $58.37.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Trading Down 2.4%

Shares of ASO stock opened at $46.01 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 0.33. The company has a market cap of $3.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.62, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.27. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $50.09 and a 200-day simple moving average of $47.80. Academy Sports and Outdoors has a 1-year low of $33.34 and a 1-year high of $61.25.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, September 2nd. The company reported $1.82 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.14 by ($0.32). Academy Sports and Outdoors had a net margin of 6.21% and a return on equity of 18.47%. The firm had revenue of $1.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.61 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.03 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Academy Sports and Outdoors has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.600-6.30 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Academy Sports and Outdoors will post 5.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 11th were paid a $0.13 dividend. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 11th. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s dividend payout ratio is currently 9.74%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,846,410 shares of the company’s stock valued at $175,438,000 after purchasing an additional 147,395 shares during the last quarter. LSV Asset Management raised its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 43.0% in the 2nd quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 3,119,790 shares of the company’s stock valued at $139,798,000 after purchasing an additional 937,449 shares during the last quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. raised its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. now owns 2,110,172 shares of the company’s stock valued at $94,557,000 after purchasing an additional 117,175 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 22.4% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,051,455 shares of the company’s stock valued at $91,926,000 after purchasing an additional 376,027 shares during the last quarter. Finally, William Blair Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 45.2% in the 2nd quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 1,440,032 shares of the company’s stock valued at $64,528,000 after purchasing an additional 448,582 shares during the last quarter.

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.