Pacer Advisors Inc. Has $3.06 Million Stock Holdings in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO)

Key Points

• Pacer Advisors Inc. reduced its holdings in Atmos Energy Corporation by 28.5% in Q1, selling 7,888 shares to hold a total of 19,806 shares valued at approximately $3.06 million.
• Atmos Energy recently reported a quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $3.03, exceeding analysts' expectations of $2.92, and showing a year-over-year revenue increase of 18.4%.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, yielding 2.23%, with a payout ratio of 48.33%.

Pacer Advisors Inc. decreased its position in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 28.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 19,806 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 7,888 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $3,062,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ATO. Capital International Investors raised its holdings in Atmos Energy by 211.8% during the fourth quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 8,160,144 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,136,463,000 after purchasing an additional 5,543,451 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Atmos Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $206,538,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its position in Atmos Energy by 541.4% in the fourth quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 1,525,116 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $212,403,000 after buying an additional 1,287,325 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in Atmos Energy by 146.2% in the fourth quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,713,421 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $238,628,000 after buying an additional 1,017,575 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Merewether Investment Management LP acquired a new position in Atmos Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $47,817,000. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 15,000 shares of the firm's 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 transaction, the director directly owned 172,632 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $26,063,979.36. This trade represents a 7.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.48% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on ATO shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Mizuho cut shares of Atmos Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $165.00 to $164.00 in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $156.00 price objective on shares of Atmos Energy and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $157.14.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of ATO traded up $0.33 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $156.25. 258,196 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 963,514. The stock's fifty day moving average is $154.33 and its 200 day moving average is $151.88. The stock has a market cap of $24.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 1.33. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 1-year low of $126.08 and a 1-year high of $167.45.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The utilities provider reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.92 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $1.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.82 billion. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.35% and a return on equity of 9.05%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.85 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th were paid a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 27th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

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.