American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report released on Monday morning.

A number of other research firms have also issued reports on AEO. Raymond James assumed coverage on American Eagle Outfitters in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a “market perform” rating for the company. Barclays decreased their target price on American Eagle Outfitters from $26.00 to $22.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $23.00 target price (down from $27.00) on shares of American Eagle Outfitters in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. UBS Group decreased their target price on American Eagle Outfitters from $34.00 to $32.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group decreased their target price on American Eagle Outfitters from $23.00 to $20.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, American Eagle Outfitters has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $22.10.

American Eagle Outfitters Trading Down 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE AEO opened at $16.49 on Monday. American Eagle Outfitters has a twelve month low of $16.06 and a twelve month high of $26.44. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $17.80 and a 200-day simple moving average of $19.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.17 billion, a PE ratio of 14.09, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.53.

American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, December 4th. The apparel retailer reported $0.48 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.46 by $0.02. American Eagle Outfitters had a return on equity of 20.75% and a net margin of 4.28%. The business had revenue of $1.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.30 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.49 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was down .9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that American Eagle Outfitters will post 1.69 earnings per share for the current year.

American Eagle Outfitters Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 10th will be issued a $0.125 dividend. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 10th. American Eagle Outfitters’s payout ratio is currently 42.74%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Cary D. Mcmillan sold 2,283 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.49, for a total value of $49,061.67. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 7.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of American Eagle Outfitters

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AEO. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of American Eagle Outfitters in the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of American Eagle Outfitters by 171.1% in the 3rd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,548 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 1,608 shares during the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in American Eagle Outfitters in the 3rd quarter valued at about $141,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in American Eagle Outfitters in the 3rd quarter valued at about $141,000. Finally, DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale increased its position in American Eagle Outfitters by 408.6% in the 2nd quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 9,272 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $183,000 after acquiring an additional 7,449 shares during the period. 97.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Eagle Outfitters Company Profile

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc operates as a multi-brand specialty retailer in the United States and internationally. The company provides jeans, apparel and accessories, and personal care products for women and men under the American Eagle brand; and intimates, apparel, activewear, and swim collections under the Aerie and OFFLINE by Aerie brands.