Pictet Asset Management Holding SA Raises Position in American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE:AEO)

Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lifted its stake in shares of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE:AEO) by 14.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 27,915 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock after buying an additional 3,563 shares during the period. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA’s holdings in American Eagle Outfitters were worth $465,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. EP Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Eagle Outfitters in the 3rd quarter worth $390,000. Barclays PLC increased its holdings in American Eagle Outfitters by 51.8% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 298,263 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $6,679,000 after buying an additional 101,795 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in American Eagle Outfitters during the third quarter worth about $141,000. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in American Eagle Outfitters by 2.2% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 688,869 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $14,266,000 after acquiring an additional 15,038 shares during the period. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in American Eagle Outfitters by 8.4% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,918,295 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $65,341,000 after acquiring an additional 226,821 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.33% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently weighed in on AEO. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on American Eagle Outfitters from $19.00 to $15.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 13th. UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of American Eagle Outfitters from $32.00 to $28.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. Barclays downgraded shares of American Eagle Outfitters from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $17.00 to $10.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Citigroup set a $13.00 target price on shares of American Eagle Outfitters and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Finally, Raymond James started coverage on American Eagle Outfitters in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a “market perform” rating for the company. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $16.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other American Eagle Outfitters news, Director Cary D. Mcmillan sold 2,999 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.02, for a total value of $48,043.98. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 7.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

American Eagle Outfitters Stock Performance

AEO stock opened at $11.25 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.94 billion, a PE ratio of 9.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.40. American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. has a one year low of $9.45 and a one year high of $25.15. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $12.77 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $16.47.

American Eagle Outfitters Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 11th will be paid a $0.125 dividend. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 11th. American Eagle Outfitters’s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.76%.

American Eagle Outfitters 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.