Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO Shares Sold by New York State Teachers Retirement System

Key Points

• The New York State Teachers Retirement System sold 1.5% of its holdings in Atmos Energy Corporation, now owning approximately 119,363 shares valued at $18.4 million.
• Atmos Energy's stock performance has seen a 12-month low of $136.05 and a high of $179.70, with a market cap of $28.31 billion.
• The company recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, translating to an annual yield of 2.0% and a payout ratio of 47.80%.

New York State Teachers Retirement System trimmed its holdings in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 1.5% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 119,363 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 1,777 shares during the period. New York State Teachers Retirement System owned about 0.08% of Atmos Energy worth $18,395,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in ATO. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 2.1% in the 1st 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 in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $65,333,000. Clark Capital Management Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 2,713.2% in the 1st quarter. Clark Capital Management Group Inc. now owns 305,769 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $47,266,000 after purchasing an additional 294,900 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 24.3% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 1,317,500 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $203,659,000 after purchasing an additional 257,341 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 93.8% in the 1st quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 444,464 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $68,705,000 after purchasing an additional 215,157 shares in the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Barclays set a $175.00 target price on Atmos Energy in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Cowen began coverage on Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday. They issued a "hold" rating on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, August 17th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $163.00 price target (down from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Atmos Energy from $162.00 to $167.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $168.89.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

ATO stock opened at $176.34 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $28.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.22, a P/E/G ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.74. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $168.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $159.73. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 12-month low of $136.05 and a 12-month high of $179.70.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last issued 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). The company had revenue of $838.77 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $848.97 million. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.00% and a net margin of 25.05%.During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.08 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Investors of record on Monday, August 25th were paid a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 25th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 47.80%.

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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