Prudential Financial Inc. Acquires 202,185 Shares of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE:AEO)

Prudential Financial Inc. increased its stake in American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE:AEO - Free Report) by 67.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 500,754 shares of the apparel retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 202,185 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc. owned approximately 0.26% of American Eagle Outfitters worth $8,348,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Bridge City Capital LLC lifted its stake in American Eagle Outfitters by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Bridge City Capital LLC now owns 171,943 shares of the apparel retailer's stock valued at $2,866,000 after purchasing an additional 1,615 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of American Eagle Outfitters by 24.5% in the fourth quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 55,945 shares of the apparel retailer's stock valued at $933,000 after buying an additional 11,018 shares in the last quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new stake in shares of American Eagle Outfitters during the 4th quarter valued at $642,000. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in shares of American Eagle Outfitters by 9.4% during the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 5,505,340 shares of the apparel retailer's stock worth $91,774,000 after acquiring an additional 472,683 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blueshift Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of American Eagle Outfitters in the 4th quarter worth $1,146,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.33% of the company's stock.

American Eagle Outfitters Trading Down 17.5 %

Shares of NYSE AEO traded down $2.22 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $10.44. 17,254,106 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,952,433. American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. has a twelve month low of $10.19 and a twelve month high of $25.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.92, a PEG ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.57. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $13.51 and a 200 day simple moving average of $16.86.

American Eagle Outfitters Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 11th will be paid a $0.125 dividend. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.79%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 11th. American Eagle Outfitters's payout ratio is currently 29.76%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on AEO shares. StockNews.com lowered shares of American Eagle Outfitters from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 19th. Barclays downgraded shares of American Eagle Outfitters from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and cut their target price for the company from $17.00 to $10.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. Bank of America decreased their target price on American Eagle Outfitters from $18.00 to $13.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 14th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on American Eagle Outfitters from $16.00 to $12.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. Finally, Citigroup set a $13.00 price objective on American Eagle Outfitters and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, American Eagle Outfitters currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $16.00.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Cary D. Mcmillan sold 2,999 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 16th. The shares were 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 can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 7.30% of the company's stock.

About American Eagle Outfitters

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.