Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC Increases Stock Position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 2,094.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 54,500 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 52,016 shares during the period. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $7,590,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Noble Wealth Management PBC acquired a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Atmos Energy by 72.5% in the fourth quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 245 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. grew its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 50.0% during the 4th quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 300 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. Keystone Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter worth approximately $79,000. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 23.0% during the 4th quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 598 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $83,000 after buying an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on ATO. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. StockNews.com lowered Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Finally, Wolfe Research began coverage on Atmos Energy in a research report on Monday, March 31st. They set a "peer perform" rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $154.28.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE ATO traded up $1.22 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $163.18. The company's stock had a trading volume of 195,344 shares, compared to its average volume of 938,776. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $110.97 and a 1 year high of $163.16. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $153.04 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $146.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.43.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.03. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 25.90%. On average, equities analysts predict that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Profile

Atmos Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated natural gas distribution, and pipeline and storage businesses in the United States. It operates through two segments, Distribution, and Pipeline and Storage. The Distribution segment is involved in the regulated natural gas distribution and related sales operations in eight states.