GW&K Investment Management LLC Sells 2,834 Shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO)

GW&K Investment Management LLC cut its position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) by 4.1% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 66,272 shares of the company’s stock after selling 2,834 shares during the quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors were worth $4,374,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors during the fourth quarter worth about $47,768,000. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,933,000. LSV Asset Management increased its holdings in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 28.4% during the 4th quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 1,652,541 shares of the company’s stock worth $109,068,000 after acquiring an additional 365,855 shares during the last quarter. Pacifica Capital Investments LLC bought a new stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 3rd quarter valued at $8,889,000. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC acquired a new stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors during the 4th quarter valued at $11,958,000.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Trading Down 1.9 %

NASDAQ ASO opened at $52.45 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.87 billion, a PE ratio of 7.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.40. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $60.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $61.39. The company has a current ratio of 1.87, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a 12 month low of $42.83 and a 12 month high of $75.73.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, March 21st. The company reported $2.23 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.28 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $1.79 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.78 billion. Academy Sports and Outdoors had a net margin of 8.43% and a return on equity of 28.99%. On average, analysts expect that Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. will post 6.65 EPS for the current year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 18th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 26th were paid a dividend of $0.11 per share. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.84%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 25th. This is an increase from Academy Sports and Outdoors’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.09. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 6.55%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $70.00 to $65.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $55.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 20th. Wedbush restated an “outperform” rating and set a $80.00 price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Monday, April 1st. TD Cowen decreased their target price on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $86.00 to $82.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Finally, B. Riley reissued a “buy” rating and set a $72.00 price target (up from $65.00) on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Monday, March 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $73.88.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Jeffrey C. Tweedy sold 1,200 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total transaction of $72,000.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 7,870 shares in the company, valued at approximately $472,200. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 2.19% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.