Ruffer LLP Acquires New Stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO)

Ruffer LLP bought a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 63,888 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,676,000. Ruffer LLP owned approximately 0.09% of Academy Sports and Outdoors as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Simmons Bank raised its position in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 1.9% during the third quarter. Simmons Bank now owns 10,860 shares of the company's stock valued at $634,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 6,565 shares of the company's stock worth $378,000 after buying an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA boosted its holdings in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA now owns 5,600 shares of the company's stock worth $322,000 after buying an additional 250 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its position in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 5,553 shares of the company's stock worth $324,000 after acquiring an additional 323 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 14.8% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,591 shares of the company's stock valued at $151,000 after acquiring an additional 334 shares during the period.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently weighed in on ASO shares. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $68.00 to $65.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. They set a "buy" rating and a $65.00 target price on the stock. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $50.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Wedbush restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $65.00 price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group cut their price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $65.00 to $60.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Academy Sports and Outdoors has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $61.67.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Stock Performance

ASO traded down $1.88 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $44.90. The company's stock had a trading volume of 707,730 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,497,277. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 1.57. The company's 50-day moving average is $52.92 and its 200-day moving average is $53.65. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a 52 week low of $44.50 and a 52 week high of $74.26. The firm has a market cap of $3.12 billion, a PE ratio of 7.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.25.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 10th. The company reported $0.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.28 by ($0.30). The business had revenue of $1.34 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.39 billion. Academy Sports and Outdoors had a net margin of 7.49% and a return on equity of 23.32%. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.38 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. will post 5.59 EPS for the current year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a dividend of $0.13 per share. This is an increase from Academy Sports and Outdoors's previous quarterly dividend of $0.11. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.16%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. Academy Sports and Outdoors's payout ratio is currently 7.22%.

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.