Academy Sports & Outdoors, Inc. Stock Price, News & Analysis

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASO) announced the opening of its first store in Peoria, Illinois, slated for summer 2023. This location, over 60,000 square feet, will offer a diverse range of products for outdoor activities and sports. Academy plans to expand its footprint significantly, targeting 13 to 15 new stores this year and a total of 120 to 140 by 2027. The Peoria store aims to enhance customer experience with services like buy online, pick up in-store, and free shipping on orders over $25. Additionally, the location is expected to create around 60 jobs in the community, reinforcing Academy's commitment to local engagement and support for sports programming.

Academy Sports + Outdoors has announced the opening of its first store in Lafayette, Indiana, located at 100 S. Creasy Ln. This new store spans approximately 60,000 square feet and offers a wide range of sports and outdoor merchandise. The grand opening is set for April 21-23, 2023, featuring exclusive deals and giveaways. This marks Academy's first store opening in 2023, with plans to open 13-15 additional stores this year and a total of 120-140 by the end of 2027. Customers can find products from top brands like Nike, adidas, and Under Armour, along with private label options. The store aims to cater to diverse community needs, offering various services including free assembly and license purchases. For more details, visit academy.com/lafayette.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ: ASO) has donated $1 million to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This initiative marks the third consecutive year of collaboration, featuring uniquely designed holiday t-shirts where a portion of proceeds supports St. Jude. The 2022 program saw a double increase in proceeds compared to the previous year, bringing Academy's total donations to $1.65 million since 2020. Eli Getson, Senior VP at Academy, emphasized the company's commitment to giving back, while St. Jude's CEO highlighted the partnership's creative impact on children's lives. The t-shirts were available exclusively at Academy's 268 stores and online.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO) will host its inaugural Analyst + Investor Event on April 3-4, 2023. The event features a store walk on April 3, followed by a management dinner. On April 4, a presentation of the company's long-range strategy will be conducted at its Katy, Texas headquarters. The presentation will start at 7:30 a.m. Central Time, and a second store tour will be available later for interested attendees. Capacity for in-person attendance is limited and by invitation only. A live webcast of the presentation will be available on the company’s website, with materials posted afterwards.

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (ASO) reported its fiscal 2022 results, revealing a record GAAP diluted EPS of $7.49 and adjusted diluted EPS of $7.70. However, net sales decreased by 5.6% to $6.40 billion, with comparable sales declining 6.4%. In Q4, GAAP diluted EPS rose to $1.97, a 25.5% increase, while comparable sales dropped 5.1%. The company increased its dividend by 20% and plans to open 13-15 new stores in 2023, anticipating net sales between $6.5 and $6.7 billion. Academy aims for top-line growth amidst economic challenges, with a focus on e-commerce and supply chain improvement.

Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO) has declared a cash dividend of $0.09 per share for the fiscal quarter ending January 28, 2023, marking a 20% increase from the previous quarter. The dividend will be paid on April 13, 2023, to shareholders recorded by the close of business on March 23, 2023. This decision reflects the company's commitment to returning value to its shareholders amidst its growth strategy, as Academy operates 268 stores across 18 states in the U.S.