Bridgewater Associates LP Sells 12,842 Shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO)

Bridgewater Associates LP reduced its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) by 42.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 17,674 shares of the company’s stock after selling 12,842 shares during the period. Bridgewater Associates LP’s holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors were worth $1,017,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. William Blair Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 4th quarter worth $52,402,000. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors during the fourth quarter worth about $47,436,000. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 331.4% in the fourth quarter. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC now owns 959,680 shares of the company’s stock worth $55,210,000 after acquiring an additional 737,212 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 77.2% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,252,699 shares of the company’s stock valued at $72,068,000 after purchasing an additional 545,778 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners bought a new stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,445,000.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Price Performance

ASO stock opened at $37.85 on Friday. 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 $2.54 billion, a PE ratio of 6.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.26. The company’s 50-day moving average is $45.70 and its 200-day moving average is $50.67. 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 issued its earnings results on Thursday, March 20th. The company reported $1.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 company had revenue of $1.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.67 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.21 EPS. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s quarterly revenue was down 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. will post 5.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th were given a dividend of $0.13 per share. This is a boost from Academy Sports and Outdoors’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.11. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.37%. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s payout ratio is presently 9.01%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on ASO shares. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $60.00 to $55.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $85.00 to $70.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 21st. TD Cowen increased their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $54.00 to $61.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $52.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, March 21st. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $65.00 to $60.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 17th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $58.63.

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.