Wells Fargo & Company Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) Stock Price

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) had its target price decreased by research analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $57.00 to $52.00 in a report released on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an “equal weight” rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company‘s price objective points to a potential upside of 4.21% from the company’s previous close.

A number of other research analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Truist Financial set a $52.00 price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research note on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a report on Monday, December 29th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $65.00 price target on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 10th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Academy Sports and Outdoors presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $58.78.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Price Performance

Shares of ASO stock opened at $49.90 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $3.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.12, a P/E/G ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.23. Academy Sports and Outdoors has a fifty-two week low of $33.34 and a fifty-two week high of $62.44. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $57.84 and its 200-day moving average price is $52.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 1.71.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, March 17th. The company reported $1.98 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.05 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $1.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.76 billion. Academy Sports and Outdoors had a net margin of 6.27% and a return on equity of 18.24%. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.96 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Academy Sports and Outdoors will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Academy Sports and Outdoors

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ASO. Villanova Investment Management Co LLC increased its position in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 12.2% during the 4th quarter. Villanova Investment Management Co LLC now owns 44,020 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,199,000 after purchasing an additional 4,790 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 128.2% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 833,769 shares of the company’s stock worth $41,655,000 after buying an additional 468,457 shares during the last quarter. XTX Topco Ltd boosted its stake in Academy Sports and Outdoors by 1,676.0% during the fourth quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 77,912 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,892,000 after buying an additional 73,525 shares during the period. Verdad Advisers LP bought a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors during the fourth quarter valued at $749,000. Finally, Sona Asset Management US LLC bought a new position in Academy Sports and Outdoors during the fourth quarter valued at $999,000.

Academy Sports and Outdoors News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Academy Sports and Outdoors this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company returned capital and boosted dividend — management repurchased stock and announced a 15% quarterly dividend increase, and the firm generated meaningful adjusted free cash flow in FY2025, which supports shareholder-friendly actions. GlobeNewswire: Q4 and FY2025 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Some analysts remain bullish — Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an Outperform rating with a $65 price target, signaling a significant upside case versus current levels. Benzinga: Telsey Reaffirms Outperform
• Neutral Sentiment: Company filed full Q4 results and presented its earnings deck/call transcript — useful for digging into segment trends, store openings (24 in 2025; guidance for 20–25 in 2026), and management commentary on the consumer. Q4 Presentation / Press Release
• Negative Sentiment: Earnings miss and weaker guidance pressured the print — Q4 GAAP EPS $1.98 (below consensus) and revenue $1.72B (below estimates); management guided FY2026 comp-sales to -1% to +2% and flagged consumer softness (higher delinquencies, traffic declines among lower‑income shoppers). Investing.com: Academy Sports misses estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Inventory and traffic dynamics are a concern — merchandise inventories rose ~15% YoY while comp sales declined, implying potential margin pressure if markdowns or promotions are needed. MarketBeat: Stock Sinks After Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: Barclays cut its price target to $49 and moved to an “equal weight” rating, signaling caution from another institutional voice and adding selling pressure. Benzinga: Barclays Lowers PT

Academy Sports and Outdoors Company Profile

Academy Sports and Outdoors is a leading specialty retailer of sporting goods and outdoor gear, operating more than 260 stores across the United States. Headquartered in Katy, Texas, the company offers a broad assortment of merchandise spanning athletic footwear and apparel, team sports equipment, camping and outdoor recreation products, hunting and fishing supplies, and fitness accessories. In addition to its brick-and-mortar footprint, Academy serves customers through its e-commerce platform, offering online ordering, in-store pickup, and home delivery options.

The company’s product portfolio includes seasonal and year-round categories designed to meet the needs of both casual enthusiasts and serious athletes.