Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) Short Interest Up 6.7% in December

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO - Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 8,720,000 shares, an increase of 6.7% from the December 15th total of 8,170,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,550,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5.6 days. Approximately 12.7% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently commented on the stock. Wedbush reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $65.00 price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Evercore ISI downgraded Academy Sports and Outdoors from an "outperform" rating to an "in-line" rating and cut their target price for the company from $65.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. Telsey Advisory Group decreased their price target on 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. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. They set a "buy" rating and a $65.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $68.00 to $65.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $61.67.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Stock Up 0.2 %

NASDAQ ASO traded up $0.12 on Monday, reaching $52.58. 1,196,246 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,497,434. Academy Sports and Outdoors has a 12 month low of $44.73 and a 12 month high of $75.73. The company has a market cap of $3.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.63, a PEG ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $53.02 and a 200-day moving average price of $53.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 1.57.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 10th. The company reported $0.98 earnings per share 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 analysts' expectations of $1.39 billion. Academy Sports and Outdoors had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 7.49%. The firm's revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.38 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Academy Sports and Outdoors will post 5.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 18th were paid a $0.11 dividend. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.84%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 18th. Academy Sports and Outdoors's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 7.22%.

Institutional Trading of Academy Sports and Outdoors

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 3rd quarter worth $40,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 98.4% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 738 shares of the company's stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 366 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors during the third quarter worth about $58,000.

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.