On Friday, B.Riley reiterated a Buy rating with a $70.00 price target on Academy Sports & Outdoors Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO). The firm acknowledged that the company faced second-quarter headwinds, including consumer pressures and hurricane disruptions, as well as internal challenges from a warehouse management system transition that impacted comparable sales by approximately 200 basis points.
Despite these issues, B.Riley highlighted a positive sales inflection in August across various categories, not limited to back-to-school items but also including adult apparel, footwear, and outdoor products.
The analyst noted that while full-year sales and earnings per share guidance have been adjusted due to ongoing sales challenges, there is optimism stemming from the company's gross margin resilience. This was evidenced by the outperformance in the first quarter, which contributed to a slight adjusted earnings per share beat during the quarter. Additionally, the firm's expectations for the full year remain unchanged.
B.Riley also pointed out that savings on new store costs are bolstering Academy Sports & Outdoors' already strong free cash flow profile. Although estimates have been lowered to reflect the first-quarter performance and a more cautious view for the second half of the year, B.Riley suggests there could be potential for upside to their model if the momentum seen in August continues.
In summary, despite the reduced sales and earnings guidance for the fiscal year and the challenges faced in the second quarter, B.Riley's stance on Academy Sports & Outdoors remains positive. The firm's reiteration of the Buy rating and $70 price target reflects confidence in the company's ability to navigate through current headwinds and capitalize on its strong financial position.
In other recent news, Academy Sports & Outdoors Inc. experienced a 2.2% decrease in second-quarter sales, totaling $1.55 billion, leading to a downward revision of the year-to-date outlook for both revenue and earnings.
Despite this, TD Cowen raised the company's price target to $56, maintaining a Hold rating, while Loop Capital held its Buy rating and $77 price target. Truist Securities and Evercore ISI also adjusted their price targets to $63 and $65 respectively, both maintaining positive ratings. Conversely, JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) reduced its price target to $52, keeping a neutral rating.
Amid these developments, analysts from various firms expressed confidence in Academy Sports' gross margin outlook and potential catalysts such as the opening of new stores and improved merchandising strategies.
The company has plans to open between 160 to 180 new stores over the next five years and enhance its online presence with initiatives like the My Academy Rewards program and same-day delivery via DoorDash (NASDAQ:DASH). These strategic growth initiatives are expected to play a significant role in Academy Sports' future performance.
InvestingPro Insights
As Academy Sports & Outdoors Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) navigates through the challenges of the current fiscal year, real-time data and insights from InvestingPro provide a deeper understanding of the company's financial health and market performance. With a market capitalization of $4.12 billion and a robust P/E ratio of 8.86, the company stands out as a potentially undervalued player in the retail sector. This is further supported by a P/E ratio of 8.68 over the last twelve months as of Q2 2025, indicating stability in earnings valuation over time.
InvestingPro Tips reveal that management's aggressive share buyback strategy could be a sign of confidence in the company's value. Additionally, the company's ability to cover interest payments with its cash flows and its liquid assets surpassing short-term obligations suggest a strong balance sheet. While 12 analysts have revised their earnings downwards for the upcoming period, the company has been profitable over the last twelve months and is predicted to remain profitable this year. These insights, along with the knowledge that Academy Sports & Outdoors has seen a high return over the last decade, can help investors weigh the company's long-term performance against current market headwinds.
For those seeking more in-depth analysis, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available at https://www.investing.com/pro/ASO, offering a comprehensive look at the company's financials and market outlook.
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