William Blair Investment Management LLC Invests $52.40 Million in Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO)

William Blair Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 910,869 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $52,402,000. William Blair Investment Management LLC owned approximately 1.31% of Academy Sports and Outdoors as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 15.3% in the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 51,988 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,034,000 after purchasing an additional 6,894 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV boosted its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 24.3% in the 3rd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,084 shares of the company’s stock valued at $122,000 after purchasing an additional 408 shares in the last quarter. Prudent Man Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $205,000. Islay Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,299,000. Finally, Aviance Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 39.4% in the 3rd quarter. Aviance Capital Partners LLC now owns 74,859 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,369,000 after purchasing an additional 21,160 shares in the last quarter.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Trading Up 3.6 %

Shares of NASDAQ:ASO opened at $46.72 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $51.98 and a two-hundred day moving average of $53.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.25. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has a 12-month low of $43.16 and a 12-month high of $72.43. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be paid a $0.13 dividend. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.11%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. This is a positive change from Academy Sports and Outdoors’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.11. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s payout ratio is presently 8.54%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Citigroup decreased their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $65.00 to $60.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Wedbush reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $65.00 price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $50.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $54.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $68.00 to $65.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $61.33.

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.