NBC Securities Inc. Grows Position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

NBC Securities Inc. lifted its position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 104,250.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 25,044 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 25,020 shares during the period. NBC Securities Inc.'s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $3,871,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Trust Point Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.2% in the fourth quarter. Trust Point Inc. now owns 2,567 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $358,000 after buying an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc grew its holdings in Atmos Energy by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc now owns 2,921 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $407,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Greenleaf Trust raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 2,524 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $352,000 after buying an additional 86 shares during the period. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in Atmos Energy by 4.2% in the fourth quarter. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,226 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $310,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the period. Finally, Geller Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Geller Advisors LLC now owns 4,585 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $639,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Argus raised shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $156.35.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Shares of Atmos Energy stock traded down $2.44 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $152.17. 896,080 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,055,144. The business has a fifty day moving average of $155.83 and a two-hundred day moving average of $148.65. The company has a quick ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The company has a market capitalization of $24.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.74. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $113.46 and a 1 year high of $167.45.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced 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. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 25.90%. The firm had revenue of $1.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.82 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.85 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 18.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be given a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 27th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.29%. Atmos Energy's payout ratio is 48.33%.

Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 15,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.98, for a total value of $2,264,700.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 172,632 shares of the company's stock, valued at $26,063,979.36. The trade was a 7.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 0.48% of the company's stock.

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.