Royce & Associates LP Grows Stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO)

Royce & Associates LP boosted its position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) by 23.5% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 1,174,576 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 223,320 shares during the period. Academy Sports and Outdoors comprises about 0.6% of Royce & Associates LP’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. Royce & Associates LP’s holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors were worth $67,573,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. purchased a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 4th quarter worth $17,439,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 25.8% during the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 10,887 shares of the company’s stock worth $626,000 after purchasing an additional 2,236 shares during the period. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC increased its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 33.1% during the 4th quarter. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC now owns 171,861 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,887,000 after purchasing an additional 42,761 shares during the period. Isthmus Partners LLC purchased a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 4th quarter worth $2,360,000. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 16.0% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 20,841 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,199,000 after purchasing an additional 2,868 shares during the period.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Stock Performance

Shares of ASO opened at $45.10 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $52.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of $53.43. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a one year low of $43.16 and a one year high of $72.43. 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 stock has a market cap of $3.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.41, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.25.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.15%. This is a boost from Academy Sports and Outdoors’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.11. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s payout ratio is currently 8.54%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on ASO. Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $65.00 price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Citigroup began coverage on Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $65.00 price target on the stock. TD Cowen lifted their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $54.00 to $61.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Telsey Advisory Group cut 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. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $68.00 to $65.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $61.67.

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.