Empowered Funds LLC Takes Position in Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Key Points

• Empowered Funds LLC acquired 8,349 shares of Atmos Energy during the second quarter, valued at approximately $1.44 million. Institutional investors collectively own 90.17% of the utility’s stock.
• Atmos Energy reported quarterly EPS of $1.43, exceeding estimates of $1.35, though revenue of $879.06 million fell short of expectations. The company reaffirmed fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $8.40–$8.50.
• Atmos Energy declared a quarterly dividend of $1.00 per share, equivalent to a 2.4% annual yield. Analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” rating with an average price target of $187.73.

Empowered Funds LLC bought a new position in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 8,349 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $1,438,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the second quarter valued at approximately $944,000. Dearborn Partners LLC bought a new stake in Atmos Energy in the second quarter valued at $32,443,000. Equitable Holdings Inc. purchased a new position in Atmos Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at $273,000. FSA Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Atmos Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at $309,000. Finally, Coastal Bridge Advisors LLC bought a new position in Atmos Energy in the 2nd quarter worth $1,070,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 0.7%

Shares of Atmos Energy stock opened at $168.84 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $173.04 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $177.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $28.53 billion, a PE ratio of 20.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.60. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $160.10 and a 52-week high of $192.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.81.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $879.06 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $900.82 million. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 28.50% and a return on equity of 9.67%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.16 earnings per share. Atmos Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.400-8.500 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 8.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 24th will be paid a dividend of $1.00 per share. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 24th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.56%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Atmos Energy news, Director William Ware bought 300 shares of Atmos Energy stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 11th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $167.59 per share, with a total value of $50,277.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 488 shares in the company, valued at approximately $81,783.92. This trade represents a 159.57% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.43% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ATO has been the topic of a number of research reports. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $182.00 to $191.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Wall Street Zen cut Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Atmos Energy from $196.00 to $190.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Atmos Energy from $196.00 to $198.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $184.00 to $183.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $187.73.

Atmos Energy Company Profile

Atmos Energy Corporation NYSE: ATO is a U.S.-based natural-gas utility that primarily focuses on the regulated distribution of natural gas. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company operates through local distribution systems to deliver natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial and electric generation customers. Atmos's core activities include pipeline operations, gas distribution, system maintenance and reliability programs designed to ensure safe and continuous service to its customers.

The company's services encompass gas delivery, system integrity and maintenance, storage and transmission connections, and customer-facing programs such as billing, conservation initiatives and energy-efficiency offerings.

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