Virtu Financial LLC Invests $306,000 in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO)

Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 5,244 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $306,000.

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

Academy Sports and Outdoors Stock Up 1.2 %

Shares of NASDAQ ASO opened at $54.98 on Tuesday. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a 52-week low of $44.73 and a 52-week high of $75.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $51.41 and its 200-day simple moving average is $53.42. The firm has a market cap of $3.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.31.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 10th. The company reported $0.98 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.28 by ($0.30). The firm had revenue of $1.34 billion for 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%. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s quarterly revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.38 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. will post 5.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.11 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 18th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.80%. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7.22%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have commented on ASO. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $68.00 to $64.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 11th. Wedbush reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $65.00 target price on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $50.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Evercore ISI cut shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from an “outperform” rating to an “in-line” rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $65.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 11th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $61.07.

Insider Transactions at Academy Sports and Outdoors

In related news, Director Jeffrey C. Tweedy sold 1,200 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.00, for a total transaction of $74,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 8,906 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $552,172. This represents a 11.87 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 2.19% of the company’s stock.

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.