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

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) had its price objective lifted by Wells Fargo & Company from $52.00 to $56.00 in a report published on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. Wells Fargo & Company currently has an equal weight rating on the stock.

A number of other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Guggenheim raised their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Barclays raised their price target on Academy Sports and Outdoors from $49.00 to $55.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $61.00 price objective on shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors in a research note on Tuesday, March 17th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $58.43.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Trading Down 1.7%

Shares of ASO stock opened at $56.20 on Wednesday. Academy Sports and Outdoors has a fifty-two week low of $33.34 and a fifty-two week high of $62.44. The stock has a market cap of $3.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.11, a P/E/G ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 1.21. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $57.31 and a 200-day simple moving average of $53.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 1.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:ASO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 17th. The company reported $1.97 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.05 by ($0.08). Academy Sports and Outdoors had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 17.88%. The firm had revenue of $1.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.76 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.96 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Academy Sports and Outdoors will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 20th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 20th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. This is an increase from Academy Sports and Outdoors’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. Academy Sports and Outdoors’s dividend payout ratio is presently 10.79%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Academy Sports and Outdoors

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Verity Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Verity Asset Management Inc. now owns 32,788 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,638,000 after purchasing an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 12.1% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,742 shares of the company’s stock valued at $86,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares in the last quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 3.7% in the 4th quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 5,599 shares of the company’s stock valued at $280,000 after purchasing an additional 202 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 7,464 shares of the company’s stock valued at $373,000 after purchasing an additional 202 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Asset Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of Academy Sports and Outdoors by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 6,721 shares of the company’s stock valued at $336,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares in the last quarter.

Trending Headlines about Academy Sports and Outdoors

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

• Positive Sentiment: Company issued a preliminary Q1 fiscal 2026 sales update and held an Analyst Day outlining growth initiatives and comps improvement — management’s upbeat guidance helped support investor confidence. Preliminary Q1 Sales Update
• Positive Sentiment: Company reiterated a positive guidance update ahead of Analyst Day; media coverage highlights management’s constructive messaging on sales momentum. Positive Guidance Update
• Positive Sentiment: Guggenheim raised its price target to $65 and kept a Buy rating, implying ~16% upside from current levels — a bullish analyst signal that can support the stock. Guggenheim PT Raise
• Neutral Sentiment: Academy hosted its 2026 Analyst Day and published slides and transcripts detailing strategy, margins and store/omnichannel plans — useful for longer-term thesis but mixed near-term impact. Analyst Day Slideshow
• Neutral Sentiment: Full Analyst/Investor Day transcript provides management commentary on comps, inventory and margin levers — important detail for investors but not an immediate price catalyst by itself. Analyst Day Transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Company presented at the J.P. Morgan Retail Round Up Forum — added visibility to institutional investors; content is informative but unlikely to move the stock materially on its own. J.P. Morgan Presentation Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Barclays raised its PT to $55 but keeps an Equal Weight rating — the PT sits slightly below current market price, signaling limited near-term upside and contributing to selling pressure. Barclays PT Raise
• Negative Sentiment: Wells Fargo nudged its PT to $56 with an Equal Weight rating — another cautious stance that implies the stock is fairly valued versus the recent rally. Wells Fargo PT Raise

About Academy Sports and Outdoors

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.