Fintel reports that on November 17, 2023, Truist Securities initiated coverage of Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) with a Buy recommendation.
Analyst Price Forecast Suggests 43.46% Upside
As of November 1, 2023, the average one-year price target for Academy Sports and Outdoors is 68.53. The forecasts range from a low of 55.55 to a high of $89.25. The average price target represents an increase of 43.46% from its latest reported closing price of 47.77.
See our leaderboard of companies with the largest price target upside.
The projected annual revenue for Academy Sports and Outdoors is 6,813MM, an increase of 9.76%. The projected annual non-GAAP EPS is 7.93.
Academy Sports and Outdoors Declares $0.09 Dividend
On August 30, 2023 the company declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.09 per share ($0.36 annualized). Shareholders of record as of September 13, 2023 received the payment on October 11, 2023. Previously, the company paid $0.09 per share.
At the current share price of $47.77 / share, the stock's dividend yield is 0.75%.
Looking back five years and taking a sample every week, the average dividend yield has been 0.98%, the lowest has been 0.49%, and the highest has been 2.74%. The standard deviation of yields is 0.48 (n=146).
The current dividend yield is 0.47 standard deviations below the historical average.
Additionally, the company's dividend payout ratio is 0.06. The payout ratio tells us how much of a company's income is paid out in dividends. A payout ratio of one (1.0) means 100% of the company's income is paid in a dividend. A payout ratio greater than one means the company is dipping into savings in order to maintain its dividend - not a healthy situation. Companies with few growth prospects are expected to pay out most of their income in dividends, which typically means a payout ratio between 0.5 and 1.0. Companies with good growth prospects are expected to retain some earnings in order to invest in those growth prospects, which translates to a payout ratio of zero to 0.5.
The company's 3-Year dividend growth rate is -0.14%.
What is the Fund Sentiment?
There are 762 funds or institutions reporting positions in Academy Sports and Outdoors. This is a decrease of 25 owner(s) or 3.18% in the last quarter. Average portfolio weight of all funds dedicated to ASO is 0.27%, a decrease of 17.06%. Total shares owned by institutions decreased in the last three months by 7.46% to 86,315K shares. 
The put/call ratio of ASO is 0.79, indicating a bullish outlook.
What are Other Shareholders Doing?
IJR - iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF holds 5,400K shares representing 7.24% ownership of the company. In it's prior filing, the firm reported owning 5,693K shares, representing a decrease of 5.42%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in ASO by 23.90% over the last quarter.
FCNTX - Fidelity Contrafund holds 3,439K shares representing 4.61% ownership of the company. In it's prior filing, the firm reported owning 3,488K shares, representing a decrease of 1.43%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in ASO by 25.78% over the last quarter.
VTSMX - Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares holds 2,432K shares representing 3.26% ownership of the company. In it's prior filing, the firm reported owning 2,414K shares, representing an increase of 0.75%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in ASO by 23.00% over the last quarter.
FTHNX - Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund Investor Shares holds 2,213K shares representing 2.97% ownership of the company. No change in the last quarter.
NAESX - Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Investor Shares holds 1,989K shares representing 2.67% ownership of the company. In it's prior filing, the firm reported owning 2,045K shares, representing a decrease of 2.81%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in ASO by 23.34% over the last quarter.
Academy Sports and Outdoors Background Information
(This description is provided by the company.)
Academy is a leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer in the United States. Originally founded in 1938 as a family business in Texas, Academy has grown to 259 stores across 16 contiguous states. Academy's mission is to provide 'Fun for All' and Academy fulfills this mission with a localized merchandising strategy and value proposition that strongly connects with a broad range of consumers. Academy's product assortment focuses on key categories of outdoor, apparel, footwear and sports & recreation through both leading national brands and a portfolio of 17 private label brands, which go well beyond traditional sporting goods and apparel offerings.
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