Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Reaches New 12-Month High - What's Next?

Key Points

• Atmos Energy shares reached a new 52-week high of $167.85 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, closing at $166.88 with over 79,000 shares traded.
• Analysts have revised price targets for the stock, with consensus rating now at a "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $158.27.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, yielding approximately 2.1%, with the payment scheduled for September 8th.

Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $167.85 and last traded at $166.88, with a volume of 79410 shares. The stock had previously closed at $165.81.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on ATO shares. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $163.00 price target (down from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, August 8th. UBS Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $159.00 price target (up from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Citigroup increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Wall Street Zen raised Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, August 17th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on Atmos Energy from $156.00 to $153.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Atmos Energy has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $158.27.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The firm has a market cap of $26.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.74, a PEG ratio of 3.11 and a beta of 0.69. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $157.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $154.46.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.17 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $838.77 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $848.97 million. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.05% and a return on equity of 9.00%. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.08 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 25th will be given a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 25th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.80%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Atmos Energy

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 191.2% in the first quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 166 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 141.2% during the 1st quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 234 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the period. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 50.0% during the 2nd quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 300 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy during the 2nd quarter worth about $46,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company's stock.

About Atmos Energy

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.