Deutsche Bank AG Has $447.03 Million Holdings in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO)

Key Points

• Deutsche Bank AG reduced its stake in Atmos Energy Corporation by 6.1% during the first quarter, holding approximately $447 million, which represents 1.82% of the company.
• Atmos Energy announced a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, with an annualized dividend yield of 2.1%, payable on September 8th to stockholders of record on August 25th.
• Atmos Energy's stock has experienced a 3.5% increase, with a current market cap of $25.80 billion and earnings per share of $1.16 for the last quarter, slightly missing analyst estimates.

Deutsche Bank AG trimmed its position in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 6.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,891,902 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 186,522 shares during the quarter. Deutsche Bank AG owned approximately 1.82% of Atmos Energy worth $447,030,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings 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 acquiring an additional 424,235 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors lifted its position in shares of 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. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in shares of 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 worth $238,628,000 after purchasing an additional 1,017,575 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in shares of 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 during the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its holdings in shares of 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 valued at $212,403,000 after purchasing an additional 1,287,325 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 3.5%

Shares of NYSE ATO opened at $162.45 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $154.60 and a 200 day moving average price of $152.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 1.33. The stock has a market cap of $25.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.31, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.69. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $126.08 and a 52-week high of $167.45.

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 the consensus estimate of $1.17 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $838.77 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $848.97 million. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.05% and a return on equity of 9.12%. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.08 EPS. Analysts expect that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is 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 (DPR) is currently 47.80%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have issued reports on ATO. Mizuho downgraded Atmos Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $165.00 to $164.00 in a report on Monday, April 28th. UBS Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $159.00 price target (up previously from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Barclays dropped their price objective 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, Argus raised shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 28th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $157.14.

Insider Activity at Atmos Energy

In related news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 15,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 directly owned 172,632 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,063,979.36. The trade was a 7.99% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.48% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.

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