Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Purchases 28,952 Shares of Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Key Points

• Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its holdings in Atmos Energy Corporation by 540.9% in Q2, acquiring an additional 28,952 shares for a total of 34,305 shares worth approximately $5.29 million.
• Atmos Energy's stock opened at $166.68, with a market cap of $26.76 billion and a reported quarterly earnings miss of $1.16 EPS against the consensus estimate of $1.17.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.87, equating to an annual yield of 2.1%, with a payout ratio of 47.80%.

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 540.9% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 34,305 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 28,952 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A.'s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $5,287,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. SouthState Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 4.9% during the 1st quarter. SouthState Corp now owns 1,447 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $224,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the period. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,871 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $289,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the period. Private Trust Co. NA lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 26.0% during the 1st quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 378 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $58,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares during the period. Smith Shellnut Wilson LLC ADV lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. Smith Shellnut Wilson LLC ADV now owns 1,968 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $304,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the period. Finally, D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 11,029 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,705,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSE ATO opened at $166.68 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 1.37. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $136.05 and a 52-week high of $168.86. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $162.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $157.05. The stock has a market cap of $26.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.75.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.16 earnings per share (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 analyst estimates of $848.97 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.08 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 25th were given a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 25th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is 47.80%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on ATO shares. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Thursday, August 21st. Argus set a $172.00 price objective on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Thursday, September 18th. UBS Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $159.00 price objective (up from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $156.00 to $153.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $163.00 price objective (down from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. One equities research 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 data from MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $160.27.

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.

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