Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO Shares Sold by Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C.

Key Points

• Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. reduced its stake in Atmos Energy Corporation by 18.6%, now holding 382,404 shares worth $59.1 million after selling 87,600 shares in the past quarter.
• Atmos Energy reported earnings of $1.16 per share, missing analysts' estimates by $0.01, and revenue of $838.77 million, which was below expected levels.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share to be paid on September 8th, reflecting a 2.1% dividend yield and a payout ratio of 47.80%.

Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. reduced its position in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 18.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 382,404 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 87,600 shares during the quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. owned 0.24% of Atmos Energy worth $59,112,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in Atmos Energy by 146.2% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,713,421 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $238,628,000 after acquiring an additional 1,017,575 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Atmos Energy by 2.1% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,791,335 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $3,213,925,000 after acquiring an additional 424,235 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy in the first quarter valued at approximately $65,333,000. Merewether Investment Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the fourth quarter worth $47,817,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 21,802.9% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 282,109 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $43,608,000 after buying an additional 280,821 shares during the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Stock Down 1.2%

Shares of Atmos Energy stock traded down $2.01 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $164.47. The company had a trading volume of 263,040 shares, compared to its average volume of 965,225. The company's 50-day moving average is $159.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $155.83. Atmos Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $130.88 and a twelve month high of $168.86. The company has a market cap of $26.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.25.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.16 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 business had revenue of $838.77 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $848.97 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.08 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Corporation 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, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 25th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 25th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 47.80%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Sunday, August 17th. Argus upgraded shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 28th. UBS Group restated a "neutral" rating and set a $159.00 price target (up from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $163.00 target price (down from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average 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.