Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO Shares Sold by IFM Investors Pty Ltd

Key Points

• IFM Investors Pty Ltd reduced its holdings in Atmos Energy Corporation by 15.8%, now owning 41,837 shares valued at approximately $6.47 million.
• Atmos Energy's recent earnings report revealed $1.16 earnings per share, missing analysts' estimates by $0.01, alongside a revenue of $838.77 million against an expected $848.97 million.
• The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.87, leading to an annualized yield of 2.1% and a dividend payout ratio of 47.80%.

IFM Investors Pty Ltd lessened its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 15.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 41,837 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 7,856 shares during the period. IFM Investors Pty Ltd's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $6,467,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Atmos Energy by 2.1% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,791,335 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $3,213,925,000 after buying an additional 424,235 shares during the period. Perpetual Ltd grew its position in Atmos Energy by 17.2% during 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 period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its position in 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 valued at $203,659,000 after buying an additional 257,341 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in 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 valued at $146,940,000 after buying an additional 34,878 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. grew its position in Atmos Energy by 11.3% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 895,475 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $138,422,000 after buying an additional 91,266 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 0.0%

Shares of Atmos Energy stock traded up $0.06 on Friday, reaching $166.45. The company had a trading volume of 414,826 shares, compared to its average volume of 799,724. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $161.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $156.30. The firm has a market cap of $26.72 billion, a PE ratio of 22.86, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.75. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $133.90 and a 52-week high of $168.86. 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 released 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 period last year, the firm posted $1.08 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 25th were given a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend 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%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Argus upgraded shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 28th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $163.00 target price (down previously from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, August 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Thursday, August 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $158.27.

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.