Toronto Dominion Bank Has $13.23 Million Stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Toronto Dominion Bank reduced its position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 5.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 95,000 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 5,595 shares during the period. Toronto Dominion Bank owned 0.06% of Atmos Energy worth $13,231,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Noble Wealth Management PBC bought a new position in Atmos Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 72.5% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 245 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. South Plains Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $51,000. Finally, Keystone Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $79,000. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 15,000 shares of Atmos Energy 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 approximately $26,063,979.36. This trade represents a 7.99% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.48% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Trading Down 0.4%

ATO stock traded down $0.63 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $154.05. 159,508 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 932,106. Atmos Energy Co. has a one year low of $113.46 and a one year high of $167.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 1.56. The company has a market cap of $24.47 billion, a PE ratio of 21.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.74. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $155.66 and its 200-day moving average price is $148.54.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results 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 company had revenue of $1.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.82 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.85 earnings per share. Atmos Energy's revenue was up 18.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be paid a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 27th. Atmos Energy's payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ATO has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Monday, March 31st. They issued a "peer perform" rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Mizuho lowered Atmos Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $165.00 to $164.00 in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Argus raised Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 28th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $156.35.

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.