Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) Stock Holdings Lessened by Principal Financial Group Inc.

Principal Financial Group Inc. cut its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) by 19.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 340,339 shares of the company’s stock after selling 82,677 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned 0.48% of Academy Sports and Outdoors worth $19,862,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Jackson Square Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in the third quarter worth approximately $515,000. Foster & Motley Inc. grew its position in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Foster & Motley Inc. now owns 19,530 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,141,000 after purchasing an additional 666 shares in the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $205,000. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, James Investment Research Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in the third quarter valued at $264,000.

Insider Activity at Academy Sports and Outdoors

In other Academy Sports and Outdoors news, Director Jeffrey C. Tweedy sold 1,200 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.00, for a total value of $74,400.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 8,906 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $552,172. This trade represents a 11.87 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 2.19% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Price Performance

NASDAQ ASO opened at $49.29 on Friday. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $45.47 and a fifty-two week high of $75.73. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $55.14 and its two-hundred day moving average is $54.46. The firm has a market cap of $3.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.66 and a quick ratio of 0.41.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, September 10th. The company reported $2.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.96 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $1.55 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.57 billion. Academy Sports and Outdoors had a return on equity of 25.56% and a net margin of 7.98%. The firm’s revenue was down 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.01 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. will post 6.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 19th were issued a dividend of $0.11 per share. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.89%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 19th. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s dividend payout ratio is currently 6.79%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on ASO shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered Academy Sports and Outdoors from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and dropped their price target for the company from $76.00 to $53.00 in a research report on Monday, August 5th. Telsey Advisory Group reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $65.00 price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research report on Thursday, September 5th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 11th. Loop Capital reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $77.00 target price on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research report on Wednesday, September 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $46.00 to $51.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 11th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $62.50.

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.