Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO Stock Acquired by NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC

Key Points

• NorthCrest Asset Management increased its Atmos Energy stake by 2,678.6% in the third quarter, acquiring 88,018 additional shares for a total of 91,304 shares worth approximately $14.3 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 90.17% of ATO.
• Analysts maintain a generally cautious outlook, with three Buy ratings and eleven Holds; the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $183.58.
• Atmos Energy exceeded quarterly EPS expectations with $1.43 versus $1.35 forecast and pays a $4.00 annualized dividend, yielding about 2.5%. Shares recently traded at $162.39, below their 52-week high of $192.51.

NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC boosted its position in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 2,678.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 91,304 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 88,018 shares during the quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC owned 0.05% of Atmos Energy worth $14,284,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Atmos Energy during the second quarter worth $25,000. Continuum Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 627.3% in the 2nd quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 160 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Western Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on ATO shares. Barclays lowered their price target on Atmos Energy from $184.00 to $183.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Friday, August 28th. Truist Financial decreased their target price on Atmos Energy from $188.00 to $179.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 13th. Argus reissued a "buy" rating and set a $185.00 target price on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Tuesday, October 6th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Atmos Energy from $173.00 to $167.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 1st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $183.58.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

NYSE ATO opened at $162.39 on Tuesday. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $164.63 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $173.60. The stock has a market cap of $27.44 billion, a PE ratio of 19.33, a PEG ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.81. Atmos Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $154.72 and a fifty-two week high of $192.51.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.08. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.67% and a net margin of 28.50%. The company had revenue of $879.06 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $900.82 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.16 EPS. Atmos Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.400-8.500 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 8.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 24th were issued a $1.00 dividend. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 24th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 47.62%.

Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director William Ware bought 300 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 11th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $167.59 per share, for a total transaction of $50,277.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 488 shares of the company's stock, valued at $81,783.92. This trade represents a 159.57% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.43% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Atmos Energy Profile

Atmos Energy Corporation is a regulated natural gas distribution and pipeline company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The company delivers natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial and institutional customers and is one of the largest natural gas distributors in the United States.

Atmos Energy operates through two primary businesses: natural gas distribution and pipeline and storage operations. Its distribution activities include acquiring, transporting, storing and delivering natural gas, while its pipeline operations provide transportation and storage services and support the company's distribution network.

The company serves customers across eight states, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.

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