Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO Shares Bought by KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS

Key Points

• KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS increased its stake in Atmos Energy Corporation by 4.6%, owning a total of 159,959 shares worth approximately $24.65 million.
• Atmos Energy reported quarterly earnings of $1.16 per share, slightly below analysts' expectations, with revenues of $838.77 million.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, indicating a 2.0% dividend yield and a payout ratio of 47.80%.

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 4.6% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 159,959 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 7,000 shares during the quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS owned 0.10% of Atmos Energy worth $24,651,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Sowell Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the first quarter worth about $273,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 28.8% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,158 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $334,000 after acquiring an additional 482 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 4.0% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 29,861 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $4,616,000 after acquiring an additional 1,157 shares in the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 26.0% in the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 378 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $58,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 20.6% in the first quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 109,772 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $16,969,000 after acquiring an additional 18,753 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently commented on ATO shares. Argus set a $172.00 price target on Atmos Energy in a research note on Thursday, September 18th. Mizuho boosted their price target on Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, September 26th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Atmos Energy from $162.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 25th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "buy (b+)" rating on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Saturday, September 27th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $163.00 price target (down previously from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Friday, August 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $162.50.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 0.9%

Shares of NYSE ATO opened at $174.83 on Wednesday. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $165.13 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $158.39. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $136.05 and a 52-week high of $175.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $28.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.02, a PEG ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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). The firm had revenue of $838.77 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $848.97 million. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.05% and a return on equity of 9.00%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.08 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Corporation 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 was paid on Monday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 25th were issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is 47.80%.

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.

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