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

Key Points

• Atmos Energy's share price reached a new 12-month high of $168.86, closing at $167.36 with a trading volume of 43,298 shares.
• Analysts have given Atmos Energy an average rating of "Moderate Buy" with a target price average of $160.27, while institutional investors hold 90.17% of the stock.
• The company recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, representing a 2.1% yield, with a payout ratio of 47.80%.

Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high on Thursday . The company traded as high as $168.86 and last traded at $167.36, with a volume of 43298 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $166.77.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have issued reports on ATO. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, August 17th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $163.00 target price (down previously from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Friday, August 8th. UBS Group reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $159.00 price objective (up from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $156.00 to $153.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, Argus set a $172.00 target price on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Thursday, September 18th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Atmos Energy currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $160.27.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

The company's 50-day moving average price is $162.74 and its 200-day moving average price is $157.05. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The firm has a market cap of $26.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.86, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.75.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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). Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.05% and a return on equity of 9.00%. The firm had revenue of $838.77 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $848.97 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.08 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Investors of record on Monday, August 25th were given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. Atmos Energy's payout ratio is 47.80%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Atmos Energy

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in ATO. Sowell Financial Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the first quarter worth $273,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 28.8% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,158 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $334,000 after acquiring an additional 482 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Atmos Energy by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 29,861 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $4,616,000 after buying an additional 1,157 shares during the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 26.0% during the 1st quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 378 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $58,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 20.6% during the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 109,772 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $16,969,000 after buying an additional 18,753 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Atmos Energy Company 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.

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