Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P. Has $13.78 Million Position in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO)

Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P. reduced its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 18.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 89,148 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 20,732 shares during the quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P. owned approximately 0.06% of Atmos Energy worth $13,781,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in ATO. Brighton Jones LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $233,000. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 10.2% during the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 2,872 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $400,000 after acquiring an additional 267 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 33.1% during the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 1,195 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $166,000 after acquiring an additional 297 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 32.9% during the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,318 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $187,000 after acquiring an additional 326 shares during the period. Finally, D.A. Davidson & CO. boosted its stake in Atmos Energy by 9.3% in the 4th quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 10,948 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,525,000 after purchasing an additional 934 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 15,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.98, for a total value of $2,264,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 172,632 shares of the company's stock, valued at $26,063,979.36. This represents a 7.99% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.48% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Shares of ATO stock traded up $0.91 on Friday, hitting $153.30. 1,529,995 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 924,948. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.33 and a quick ratio of 1.25. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 12 month low of $113.46 and a 12 month high of $167.45. The stock has a market cap of $24.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a 50 day moving average of $156.35 and a 200 day moving average of $149.03.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The utilities provider reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.92 by $0.11. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.05% and a net margin of 25.35%. The business had revenue of $1.95 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.82 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.85 EPS. Atmos Energy's revenue for the quarter was up 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 27th were given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 27th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.27%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ATO has been the subject of several recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Atmos Energy in a research note on Monday, March 31st. They issued a "peer perform" rating for the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Citigroup upped their target price on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Mizuho downgraded Atmos Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and cut their target price for the company from $165.00 to $164.00 in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Six investment 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $156.05.

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.