Aberdeen Group plc Has $27 Million Stock Holdings in Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Key Points

• Aberdeen Group plc increased its stake in Atmos Energy Corporation by 41.7% during the 1st quarter, owning approximately 176,162 shares valued at $26.99 million.
• Atmos Energy's most recent earnings report showed an EPS of $1.16, slightly missing analysts' estimates, with revenues of $838.77 million, compared to expectations of $848.97 million.
• The firm declared a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, with an annualized yield of 2.1% and a payout ratio of 47.80%.

Aberdeen Group plc increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 41.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 176,162 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 51,864 shares during the quarter. Aberdeen Group plc owned 0.11% of Atmos Energy worth $26,999,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of ATO. Sowell Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in Atmos Energy in the first quarter valued at about $273,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in Atmos Energy by 28.8% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,158 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $334,000 after purchasing an additional 482 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Atmos Energy by 4.0% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 29,861 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $4,616,000 after purchasing an additional 1,157 shares in the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA grew its stake in Atmos Energy by 26.0% in the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 378 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in Atmos Energy by 41.7% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,825 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $282,000 after purchasing an additional 537 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of NYSE:ATO traded up $0.7470 on Thursday, reaching $166.8370. The company had a trading volume of 513,825 shares, compared to its average volume of 971,646. Atmos Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $128.12 and a twelve month high of $167.85. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $156.82 and a 200 day moving average price of $153.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.92, a P/E/G ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.16 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.17 by ($0.01). Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.00% and a net margin of 25.05%.The business had revenue of $838.77 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $848.97 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.08 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect 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. Investors of record on Monday, August 25th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 25th. Atmos Energy's payout ratio is currently 47.80%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have commented on ATO. UBS Group restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $159.00 target price (up previously from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH restated 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. Mizuho downgraded Atmos Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their target price for the company from $165.00 to $164.00 in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $156.00 price target on Atmos Energy and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $158.27.

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.