Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Price Target Cut to $190.00 by Analysts at Morgan Stanley

Key Points

• Morgan Stanley cut Atmos Energy’s price target to $190 from $196 while maintaining an “equal weight” rating, implying 11.73% upside from the stock’s $170.05 price.
• Analyst sentiment remains cautious, with four Buy ratings and nine Holds; the consensus rating is “Hold” and the average price target is $187.73.
• Atmos Energy beat quarterly EPS estimates, reporting $1.43 versus the expected $1.35, although revenue of $879.06 million fell short of forecasts. Management issued fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $8.40–$8.50.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) had its price objective dropped by stock analysts at Morgan Stanley from $196.00 to $190.00 in a report issued on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an "equal weight" rating on the utilities provider's stock. Morgan Stanley's price objective would suggest a potential upside of 11.73% from the company's current price.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Argus reduced their price objective on Atmos Energy from $190.00 to $185.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 2nd. Citigroup boosted their target price on Atmos Energy from $182.00 to $191.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Truist Financial reduced their price target on Atmos Energy from $188.00 to $179.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 13th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $184.00 to $183.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $193.00 to $196.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, May 15th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $187.73.

Atmos Energy Stock Down 0.3%

Shares of NYSE:ATO traded down $0.47 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $170.05. 169,128 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,271,399. The firm has a market cap of $28.74 billion, a PE ratio of 20.22, a P/E/G ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.60. Atmos Energy has a fifty-two week low of $160.10 and a fifty-two week high of $192.51. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $173.62 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $178.34. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.08. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 28.50% and a return on equity of 9.67%. The firm had revenue of $879.06 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $900.82 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.16 EPS. Atmos Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.400-8.500 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Atmos Energy will post 8.46 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy

In other Atmos Energy news, Director William James Ware acquired 300 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 11th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $167.59 per share, with a total value of $50,277.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 488 shares in the company, valued at approximately $81,783.92. This represents a 159.57% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.43% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Atmos Energy

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Garner Asset Management Corp acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. Kingdom Financial Group LLC. bought a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 627.3% in the 2nd quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 160 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the period. Finally, Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Atmos Energy

Atmos Energy Corporation NYSE: ATO is a U.S.-based natural-gas utility that primarily focuses on the regulated distribution of natural gas. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company operates through local distribution systems to deliver natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial and electric generation customers. Atmos's core activities include pipeline operations, gas distribution, system maintenance and reliability programs designed to ensure safe and continuous service to its customers.

The company's services encompass gas delivery, system integrity and maintenance, storage and transmission connections, and customer-facing programs such as billing, conservation initiatives and energy-efficiency offerings.

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