Short Interest in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) Increases By 13.9%

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,170,000 shares, a growth of 13.9% from the November 30th total of 7,170,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,490,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5.5 days. Currently, 11.9% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of NASDAQ:ASO traded down $0.39 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $57.53. 1,025,927 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,487,723. The stock has a market cap of $3.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.45, a P/E/G ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.31. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $52.05 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $53.67. Academy Sports and Outdoors has a 12-month low of $44.73 and a 12-month high of $75.73. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, December 10th. The company reported $0.98 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.28 by ($0.30). The business had revenue of $1.34 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.39 billion. Academy Sports and Outdoors had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 7.49%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.38 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Academy Sports and Outdoors will post 5.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 18th will be paid a $0.11 dividend. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 18th. Academy Sports and Outdoors's dividend payout ratio is currently 7.22%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Raymond James & Associates boosted its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 1.4% in the second quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 39,224 shares of the company's stock worth $2,089,000 after acquiring an additional 538 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 0.9% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 698,738 shares of the company's stock valued at $37,208,000 after buying an additional 6,507 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 29,854 shares of the company's stock worth $1,590,000 after buying an additional 1,669 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its position in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 14.0% in the 2nd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 17,404 shares of the company's stock worth $927,000 after buying an additional 2,134 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. bought a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 2nd quarter valued at about $666,000.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on ASO. Loop Capital reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $77.00 price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Wednesday, September 11th. Morgan Stanley reissued an "equal weight" rating and issued a $60.00 price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research report on Wednesday, September 11th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $68.00 to $64.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, September 11th. Citigroup started coverage on Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $65.00 target price for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $68.00 to $65.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $61.33.

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.