American Century Companies Inc. Has $72.07 Million Stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO)

American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) by 77.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,252,699 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 545,778 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc.’s holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors were worth $72,068,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in ASO. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 15.3% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 10,739,463 shares of the company’s stock worth $626,755,000 after buying an additional 1,422,971 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 8.1% during the fourth quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 2,649,276 shares of the company’s stock valued at $152,413,000 after acquiring an additional 197,384 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 2.6% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,023,192 shares of the company’s stock valued at $118,092,000 after purchasing an additional 50,715 shares during the last quarter. Royce & Associates LP increased its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 23.5% in the fourth quarter. Royce & Associates LP now owns 1,174,576 shares of the company’s stock worth $67,573,000 after purchasing an additional 223,320 shares during the period. Finally, Stephens Investment Management Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 331.4% during the 4th quarter. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC now owns 959,680 shares of the company’s stock worth $55,210,000 after purchasing an additional 737,212 shares during the last quarter.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on ASO shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $52.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $60.00 target price on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Wedbush reduced their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $65.00 to $60.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 21st. Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $65.00 to $60.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 17th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $54.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $60.38.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of NASDAQ:ASO opened at $50.03 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $3.47 billion, a PE ratio of 8.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.25. 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 fifty day moving average is $50.93 and its 200-day moving average is $53.09. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a 52 week low of $43.16 and a 52 week high of $68.96.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 20th. The company reported $1.96 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.82 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $1.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.67 billion. Academy Sports and Outdoors had a net margin of 7.49% and a return on equity of 23.32%. The company’s revenue was down 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.21 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be paid a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.04%. This is a positive change from Academy Sports and Outdoors’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.11. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s payout ratio is currently 9.01%.

Academy Sports and Outdoors 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.