LPL Financial LLC Has $16.97 Million Position in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO)

Key Points

• LPL Financial LLC increased its stake in Atmos Energy Corporation by 20.6% in Q1, owning 109,772 shares worth approximately $16.97 million after acquiring an additional 18,753 shares.
• Atmos Energy reported $1.16 earnings per share for the most recent quarter, missing the consensus estimate by $0.02, and is expected to post 7.18 earnings per share for the current year.
• The company has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, with a dividend yield of 2.2%, to be paid on September 8th.

LPL Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 20.6% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 109,772 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 18,753 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC owned approximately 0.07% of Atmos Energy worth $16,969,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ATO. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Atmos Energy by 191.2% during the 1st quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 166 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 109 shares during the period. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. South Plains Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $51,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Atmos Energy by 379.7% during the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 331 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 262 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New Hampshire acquired a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 1st quarter valued at about $58,000. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.98, for a total value of $2,264,700.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 172,632 shares in the company, valued at $26,063,979.36. This trade represents a 7.99% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.48% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Shares of ATO stock traded up $5.43 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $162.45. 2,039,494 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 977,901. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.33 and a quick ratio of 1.25. The company has a market cap of $25.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.69. The stock's fifty day moving average is $154.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $152.51. Atmos Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $126.08 and a fifty-two week high of $167.45.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $848.97 million. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.35% and a return on equity of 9.05%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.08 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 25th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 25th. Atmos Energy's payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on ATO shares. UBS Group restated a "neutral" rating and set a $159.00 price target (up from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Morgan Stanley set a $156.00 target price on Atmos Energy and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Mizuho downgraded shares of Atmos Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $165.00 to $164.00 in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $157.14.

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.