Cambiar Investors LLC Sells 11,306 Shares of Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Key Points

• Cambiar Investors LLC has reduced its holdings in Atmos Energy by 13.0% in the first quarter, now owning approximately 75,998 shares valued at $11.75 million.
• Atmos Energy reported a missed earnings per share (EPS) estimate of $1.16, slightly below the consensus estimate of $1.17, with revenue of $838.77 million.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, representing an annualized payout of $3.48 and a yield of 2.1%.

Cambiar Investors LLC reduced its position in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 13.0% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 75,998 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 11,306 shares during the period. Cambiar Investors LLC's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $11,748,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake 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 worth $3,213,925,000 after buying an additional 424,235 shares during the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 3,078,424 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $428,732,000 after purchasing an additional 58,391 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 146.2% during the fourth quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,713,421 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $238,628,000 after purchasing an additional 1,017,575 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 16.6% during the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,639,073 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $228,274,000 after purchasing an additional 233,790 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 541.4% during the fourth quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 1,525,116 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $212,403,000 after purchasing an additional 1,287,325 shares in the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 0.4%

NYSE ATO traded up $0.7470 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $166.8370. 514,386 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 973,235. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 52 week low of $128.12 and a 52 week high of $167.85. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $156.82 and a 200 day moving average price of $153.98. The stock has a market cap of $26.78 billion, a PE ratio of 22.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.69.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.17 by ($0.01). Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.05% and a return on equity of 9.00%. The company had revenue of $838.77 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $848.97 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.08 earnings per share. 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 disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 25th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 25th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is 47.80%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on ATO shares. Morgan Stanley set a $156.00 target price on Atmos Energy and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday. Argus upgraded Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 28th. Mizuho cut Atmos Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and decreased their price target for the company from $165.00 to $164.00 in a report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $163.00 target price (down previously from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Atmos Energy currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $158.27.

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.