Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO) Shares Acquired by Jennison Associates LLC

Jennison Associates LLC lifted its stake in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 93.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 444,464 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 215,157 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC owned approximately 0.28% of Atmos Energy worth $68,705,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Asset Advisors Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Atmos Energy by 8.8% during the first quarter. Asset Advisors Investment Management LLC now owns 11,728 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,813,000 after buying an additional 945 shares during the period. Tributary Capital Management LLC raised its position in Atmos Energy by 40.1% during the first quarter. Tributary Capital Management LLC now owns 2,880 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $445,000 after purchasing an additional 825 shares in the last quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC raised its position in Atmos Energy by 5.4% during the first quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 3,618 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $559,000 after purchasing an additional 185 shares in the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its position in Atmos Energy by 6.9% during the first quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 4,011 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $620,000 after purchasing an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PAX Financial Group LLC raised its position in Atmos Energy by 12.4% during the first quarter. PAX Financial Group LLC now owns 3,529 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $545,000 after purchasing an additional 389 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy

In related news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 15,000 shares of Atmos Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.98, for a total transaction of $2,264,700.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 172,632 shares of the company's stock, valued at $26,063,979.36. This trade represents a 7.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.48% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of ATO stock traded up $0.78 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $159.00. 479,665 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 907,784. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 1 year low of $122.87 and a 1 year high of $167.45. The company's 50 day moving average is $154.27 and its two-hundred day moving average is $151.15. The company has a current ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm has a market cap of $25.26 billion, a PE ratio of 22.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.70.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The utilities provider reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.92 by $0.11. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.05% and a net margin of 25.35%. The firm had revenue of $1.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.82 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.85 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th were given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.19%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 27th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ATO has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wall Street Zen upgraded Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Barclays decreased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $156.00 to $153.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $156.00 price objective on Atmos Energy and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $156.95.

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.