Morgan Stanley Upgrades American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO) to Equal Weight

American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO - Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at Morgan Stanley from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has a $16.00 target price on the apparel retailer's stock, up from their previous target price of $15.00. Morgan Stanley's price objective would indicate a potential downside of 6.95% from the company's previous close.

Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Telsey Advisory Group reduced their price objective on shares of American Eagle Outfitters from $20.00 to $18.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Barclays decreased their price objective on American Eagle Outfitters from $26.00 to $22.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 6th. Raymond James assumed coverage on American Eagle Outfitters in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a "market perform" rating for the company. Bank of America decreased their price target on American Eagle Outfitters from $21.00 to $18.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price objective on American Eagle Outfitters from $34.00 to $32.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $21.40.

American Eagle Outfitters Trading Up 7.3 %

AEO traded up $1.17 on Tuesday, hitting $17.20. 7,664,129 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,972,458. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $17.30 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $19.41. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.30 billion, a PE ratio of 14.70, a P/E/G ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.53. American Eagle Outfitters has a 52 week low of $15.36 and a 52 week high of $26.44.

American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, December 4th. The apparel retailer reported $0.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.46 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $1.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.30 billion. American Eagle Outfitters had a return on equity of 20.75% and a net margin of 4.28%. American Eagle Outfitters's quarterly revenue was down .9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.49 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that American Eagle Outfitters will post 1.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Cary D. Mcmillan sold 2,999 shares of American Eagle Outfitters stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.02, for a total value of $48,043.98. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 7.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Eagle Outfitters

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. bought a new position in American Eagle Outfitters during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Park Place Capital Corp acquired a new stake in American Eagle Outfitters in the fourth quarter worth $45,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of American Eagle Outfitters by 171.1% during the third quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,548 shares of the apparel retailer's stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 1,608 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of American Eagle Outfitters in the 3rd quarter valued at $141,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new stake in American Eagle Outfitters during the 3rd quarter worth $141,000. 97.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

American Eagle Outfitters Company Profile

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc operates as a multi-brand specialty retailer in the United States and internationally. The company provides jeans, apparel and accessories, and personal care products for women and men under the American Eagle brand; and intimates, apparel, activewear, and swim collections under the Aerie and OFFLINE by Aerie brands.