Allianz Asset Management GmbH Has $3.07 Million Position in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO)

Key Points

• Allianz Asset Management GmbH has increased its stake in Atmos Energy by 45.1%, now holding nearly 20,000 shares valued at over $3 million.
• Notable institutional investors, such as Capital International Investors and BNP Paribas Financial Markets, have significantly expanded their shares, indicating growing institutional interest in the company.
• Atmos Energy declared a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, translating to an annual yield of 2.22%, with a payout ratio of approximately 48.33%.

Allianz Asset Management GmbH increased its position in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 45.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 19,831 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 6,166 shares during the quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $3,065,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Atmos Energy by 191.2% during 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 during the period. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. South Plains Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $51,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 379.7% during the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 331 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $51,000 after acquiring an additional 262 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New Hampshire acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy during the 1st quarter worth about $58,000. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on ATO shares. Barclays cut their price target on Atmos Energy from $156.00 to $153.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Wall Street Zen raised Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Argus raised Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 28th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price target on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $157.14.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

ATO stock traded down $0.15 during trading on Friday, hitting $155.77. The company had a trading volume of 829,913 shares, compared to its average volume of 967,599. The company has a current ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a market cap of $24.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.63, a P/E/G ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $154.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $151.88. Atmos Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $126.08 and a fifty-two week high of $167.45.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The utilities provider reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.92 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $1.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.82 billion. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.05% and a net margin of 25.35%. The business's revenue was up 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.85 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th were given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 27th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. Atmos Energy's payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 15,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.98, for a total transaction of $2,264,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 172,632 shares in the company, valued at $26,063,979.36. The trade was a 7.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.48% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.