AG Asset Advisory LLC Acquires New Position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

AG Asset Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 1,707 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $238,000. Atmos Energy makes up about 0.2% of AG Asset Advisory LLC's holdings, making the stock its 20th largest holding.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Noble Wealth Management PBC purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 72.5% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 245 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. South Plains Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $51,000. Finally, Keystone Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $79,000. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

NYSE:ATO traded up $0.49 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $154.83. 3,090,018 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 939,362. Atmos Energy Co. has a one year low of $112.85 and a one year high of $167.45. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.59 billion, a PE ratio of 22.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.74. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $155.66 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $148.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 1.56.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The utilities provider reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.92 by $0.11. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.90% and a return on equity of 8.89%. The company had revenue of $1.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.82 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.85 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 18.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 27th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is 48.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ATO has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Mizuho downgraded shares of Atmos Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and cut their price target for the company from $165.00 to $164.00 in a report on Monday, April 28th. Wolfe Research started coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Monday, March 31st. They issued a "peer perform" rating on the stock. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Argus upgraded shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $156.35.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 15,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.98, for a total value of $2,264,700.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 172,632 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $26,063,979.36. The trade was a 7.99% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.48% of the company's stock.

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.