Focus Partners Wealth Grows Stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Focus Partners Wealth grew its holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 162.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,934 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 3,053 shares during the quarter. Focus Partners Wealth's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $689,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Noble Wealth Management PBC purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 72.5% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 245 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. South Plains Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $51,000. Finally, Keystone Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $79,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on ATO shares. StockNews.com raised Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Morgan Stanley reissued an "overweight" rating on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Citigroup increased their target price on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday. Mizuho lowered Atmos Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $165.00 to $164.00 in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $155.15.

Insider Buying and Selling at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 15,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the director now directly owns 172,632 shares in the company, valued at $26,063,979.36. This trade represents a 7.99% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.48% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of ATO opened at $159.86 on Tuesday. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $154.52 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $147.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.56, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. Atmos Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $110.97 and a 12 month high of $167.45. The company has a market cap of $25.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.77, a P/E/G ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.74.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The utilities provider reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.92 by $0.11. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 25.90%. The business had revenue of $1.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.82 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.85 EPS. The company's revenue was up 18.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 27th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.18%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is 48.33%.

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.

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