AlphaQuest LLC Buys 7,676 Shares of Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Key Points

• AlphaQuest LLC increased its stake in Atmos Energy Corporation by 165.1%, reaching a total holding worth $1.91 million as of the last filing.
• Several institutional investors, including BNP Paribas Financial Markets and Bank of America Corp DE, significantly boosted their positions in Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter.
• Atmos Energy plans to pay a quarterly dividend of $0.87, with an annualized yield of 2.1% and a dividend payout ratio of 47.80%.

AlphaQuest LLC increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 165.1% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 12,326 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 7,676 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $1,905,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 541.4% during the 4th quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 1,525,116 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $212,403,000 after acquiring an additional 1,287,325 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 146.2% during the fourth quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,713,421 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $238,628,000 after purchasing an additional 1,017,575 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 424,235 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the first quarter valued at about $65,333,000. Finally, Merewether Investment Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $47,817,000. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 0.2%

NYSE ATO traded up $0.40 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $166.41. The company's stock had a trading volume of 927,878 shares, compared to its average volume of 975,631. 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 Corporation has a 52 week low of $128.12 and a 52 week high of $168.86. The stock has a market cap of $26.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.86, a P/E/G ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.69. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $157.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $154.70.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.16 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates 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 the consensus estimate of $848.97 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.08 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Argus upgraded Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 28th. Barclays reduced 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. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $163.00 price objective (down previously from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Finally, UBS Group reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $159.00 target price (up previously from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. 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's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $158.27.

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.