Short Interest in DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. (NYSE:DKS) Expands By 19.6%

DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. (NYSE:DKS) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,820,000 shares, an increase of 19.6% from the November 30th total of 4,030,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,060,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.5 days. Currently, 8.6% of the shares of the company are sold short.

DICK’S Sporting Goods Price Performance

NYSE DKS traded down $0.98 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $234.07. 720,277 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,104,324. The company has a market capitalization of $19.07 billion, a PE ratio of 16.73, a PEG ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 1.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 1.72 and a quick ratio of 0.56. DICK’S Sporting Goods has a 52-week low of $137.06 and a 52-week high of $239.30. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $209.71 and its 200-day moving average is $212.78.

DICK’S Sporting Goods (NYSE:DKS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 26th. The sporting goods retailer reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.68 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $3.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.03 billion. DICK’S Sporting Goods had a return on equity of 42.00% and a net margin of 8.65%. The business’s revenue was up .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.85 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that DICK’S Sporting Goods will post 13.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

DICK’S Sporting Goods Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 27th. Investors of record on Friday, December 13th were issued a $1.10 dividend. This represents a $4.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.88%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 13th. DICK’S Sporting Goods’s dividend payout ratio is currently 31.45%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On DICK’S Sporting Goods

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of DICK’S Sporting Goods by 5.5% in the 2nd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 239,451 shares of the sporting goods retailer’s stock valued at $51,446,000 after buying an additional 12,396 shares during the period. Kerusso Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of DICK’S Sporting Goods during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,554,000. National Pension Service acquired a new position in DICK’S Sporting Goods in the third quarter valued at approximately $4,195,000. Strategy Asset Managers LLC purchased a new position in DICK’S Sporting Goods in the third quarter worth approximately $4,325,000. Finally, Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. increased its stake in DICK’S Sporting Goods by 402.9% during the third quarter. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. now owns 15,344 shares of the sporting goods retailer’s stock worth $3,202,000 after acquiring an additional 12,293 shares during the last quarter. 89.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $260.00 price objective on shares of DICK’S Sporting Goods in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. DA Davidson reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $265.00 price target on shares of DICK’S Sporting Goods in a research report on Thursday, September 5th. Barclays boosted their price objective on DICK’S Sporting Goods from $247.00 to $254.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 5th. Evercore ISI reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $280.00 target price on shares of DICK’S Sporting Goods in a research report on Thursday, September 5th. Finally, Loop Capital boosted their price target on shares of DICK’S Sporting Goods from $220.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $244.95.

About DICK’S Sporting Goods

DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an omni-channel sporting goods retailer primarily in the United States. The company provides hardlines, includes sporting goods equipment, fitness equipment, golf equipment, and fishing gear products; apparel; and footwear and accessories.