Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO Shares Acquired by Czech National Bank

Key Points

• The Czech National Bank increased its stake in Atmos Energy Corporation by 6.5%, holding a total of 38,825 shares valued at $5.98 million as of the latest SEC filing.
• Atmos Energy reported quarterly earnings of $1.16 per share, which missed analysts' expectations, while revenue was $838.77 million, below the projected $848.97 million.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, indicating an annualized yield of 2.1% and a payout ratio of 47.80%.

Czech National Bank raised its position in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 6.5% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 38,825 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 2,368 shares during the quarter. Czech National Bank's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $5,983,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Atmos Energy by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,791,335 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $3,213,925,000 after purchasing an additional 424,235 shares during the period. Perpetual Ltd raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 17.2% in the first quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 1,454,090 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $224,773,000 after buying an additional 213,075 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 24.3% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 1,317,500 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $203,659,000 after buying an additional 257,341 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.8% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 950,573 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $146,940,000 after buying an additional 34,878 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. increased its position in Atmos Energy by 11.3% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 895,475 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $138,422,000 after acquiring an additional 91,266 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ATO has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Wall Street Zen raised Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, August 17th. Barclays decreased their price target on Atmos Energy from $156.00 to $153.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 10th. UBS Group reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $159.00 price objective (up from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Morgan Stanley restated an "overweight" rating on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $163.00 target price (down previously from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, August 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $160.27.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Atmos Energy stock traded up $0.12 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $163.05. The company's stock had a trading volume of 778,089 shares, compared to its average volume of 871,263. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.17 billion, a PE ratio of 22.40, a P/E/G ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 0.75. Atmos Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $136.03 and a fifty-two week high of $168.86. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $162.26 and its 200 day simple moving average is $156.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 1.37.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results 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 during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $848.97 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.08 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Investors of record on Monday, August 25th were issued a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 25th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 47.80%.

Atmos Energy Company 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.