American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO) Downgraded by StockNews.com to “Hold”

StockNews.com cut shares of American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Wednesday morning.

A number of other analysts have also commented on AEO. Bank of America reduced their price objective on shares of 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. Raymond James began coverage on American Eagle Outfitters in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a “market perform” rating on the stock. Barclays downgraded American Eagle Outfitters from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and dropped their target price for the company from $17.00 to $10.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Telsey Advisory Group dropped their target price on American Eagle Outfitters from $18.00 to $12.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 13th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reiterated a “market perform” rating and issued a $15.00 target price (down previously from $19.00) on shares of American Eagle Outfitters in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, American Eagle Outfitters currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $16.00.

American Eagle Outfitters Trading Down 1.5 %

AEO stock opened at $11.92 on Wednesday. American Eagle Outfitters has a one year low of $10.74 and a one year high of $26.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.29 billion, a PE ratio of 10.19, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.57. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $14.48 and a two-hundred day moving average of $17.42.

American Eagle Outfitters Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Investors of record on Friday, April 11th will be issued a $0.125 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 11th. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.19%. American Eagle Outfitters’s dividend payout ratio is currently 29.76%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other American Eagle Outfitters news, Director Cary D. Mcmillan sold 2,999 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 7.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Eagle Outfitters

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Investors Research Corp grew its holdings in American Eagle Outfitters by 1.4% during the third quarter. Investors Research Corp now owns 46,239 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $1,035,000 after purchasing an additional 650 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in American Eagle Outfitters by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 105,949 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $1,766,000 after purchasing an additional 724 shares during the last quarter. Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of American Eagle Outfitters by 5.2% in the fourth quarter. Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors LLC now owns 15,740 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $262,000 after acquiring an additional 783 shares during the period. TCM Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of American Eagle Outfitters by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. TCM Advisors LLC now owns 39,400 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $657,000 after acquiring an additional 800 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in shares of American Eagle Outfitters by 95.7% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,916 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 937 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.33% of the company’s stock.

American Eagle Outfitters Company Profile

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.