Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) Short Interest Update

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 7,690,000 shares, a drop of 7.3% from the February 29th total of 8,300,000 shares. Currently, 10.5% of the company’s stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 1,330,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 5.8 days.

Institutional Trading of Academy Sports and Outdoors

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Trust Investment Advisors raised its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Trust Investment Advisors now owns 14,792 shares of the company’s stock worth $976,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management raised its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management now owns 8,337 shares of the company’s stock worth $550,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. raised its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 4,975 shares of the company’s stock worth $325,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. raised its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 11,375 shares of the company’s stock worth $615,000 after purchasing an additional 202 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Prospera Financial Services Inc raised its position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 6,026 shares of the company’s stock valued at $393,000 after buying an additional 213 shares in the last quarter.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Stock Performance

NASDAQ ASO opened at $63.28 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $68.35 and a 200-day moving average of $58.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 1.87. The stock has a market cap of $4.71 billion, a PE ratio of 9.42, a P/E/G ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 1.35. Academy Sports and Outdoors has a 52-week low of $42.83 and a 52-week high of $75.73.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 18th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 26th will be paid a dividend of $0.11 per share. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.70%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 25th. This is a boost from Academy Sports and Outdoors’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.09. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 6.55%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on ASO shares. Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $75.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of 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. Wedbush reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $80.00 price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research report on Monday. TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $86.00 to $82.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Finally, B. Riley reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $72.00 price objective (up previously from $65.00) on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research report on Monday, March 25th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Academy Sports and Outdoors presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $73.81.

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, camping accessories and equipment, sunglasses, backpacks, and sports bags; 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, optics, airguns, and hunting equipment.