American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO) Shares Gap Up – Here’s Why

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE:AEO)’s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $11.06, but opened at $11.80. American Eagle Outfitters shares last traded at $11.50, with a volume of 2,124,255 shares.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on AEO shares. Telsey Advisory Group lowered their price objective on American Eagle Outfitters from $18.00 to $12.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. Bank of America reduced their price objective on American Eagle Outfitters from $18.00 to $13.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 14th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and set a $15.00 price objective (down from $19.00) on shares of American Eagle Outfitters in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. Raymond James initiated coverage on American Eagle Outfitters in a research report on Friday, December 13th. They set a “market perform” rating on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com cut American Eagle Outfitters from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, American Eagle Outfitters currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $16.00.

American Eagle Outfitters Stock Up 0.7 %

The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $14.57 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $17.46. The company has a market capitalization of $2.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.35, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.57.

American Eagle Outfitters Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.125 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 11th. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.13%. American Eagle Outfitters’s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.76%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Cary D. Mcmillan sold 2,999 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.02, for a total transaction of $48,043.98. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 7.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of American Eagle Outfitters

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in American Eagle Outfitters by 95.7% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,916 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 937 shares in the last quarter. Huntington National Bank grew its stake in American Eagle Outfitters by 258.8% in the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 2,045 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 1,475 shares in the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. grew its stake in American Eagle Outfitters by 2,239.1% in the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 2,573 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 2,463 shares in the last quarter. Park Place Capital Corp acquired a new position in American Eagle Outfitters in the fourth quarter worth about $45,000. Finally, State of Wyoming acquired a new position in American Eagle Outfitters in the fourth quarter worth about $49,000. 97.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About American Eagle Outfitters

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc operates as a multi-brand specialty retailer in the United States and internationally. The company provides jeans, apparel and accessories, and personal care products for women and men under the American Eagle brand; and intimates, apparel, activewear, and swim collections under the Aerie and OFFLINE by Aerie brands.