Korea Investment CORP Grows Stake in Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Key Points

• Korea Investment CORP increased its stake in Atmos Energy Corporation by 13.2% in the first quarter, owning 128,810 shares valued at approximately $19.9 million.
• Atmos Energy recently reported a quarterly EPS of $1.16, slightly missing analysts' expectations and generating revenue of $838.77 million, below the consensus estimate.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.87, with a 2.1% dividend yield, to be paid on September 8th, showing a payout ratio of 47.80%.

Korea Investment CORP lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 13.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 128,810 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 15,037 shares during the period. Korea Investment CORP owned 0.08% of Atmos Energy worth $19,911,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Sowell Financial Services LLC bought a new position in Atmos Energy during the first quarter valued at $273,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 28.8% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,158 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $334,000 after buying an additional 482 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 29,861 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $4,616,000 after buying an additional 1,157 shares during the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 26.0% during the 1st quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 378 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $58,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 41.7% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,825 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $282,000 after buying an additional 537 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Atmos Energy stock opened at $165.9820 on Thursday. Atmos Energy Corporation has a one year low of $128.12 and a one year high of $167.85. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $156.82 and a 200-day moving average price of $153.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.80, a PEG ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.69.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.16 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.17 by ($0.01). Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.00% and a net margin of 25.05%.The company had revenue of $838.77 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $848.97 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.08 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 8th. Investors of record on Monday, August 25th will be given a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 25th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 47.80%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently commented on ATO. Mizuho cut Atmos Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and dropped their price target for the company from $165.00 to $164.00 in a research report on Monday, April 28th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $163.00 price target (down previously from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Argus raised Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 28th. Morgan Stanley set a $156.00 price target on Atmos Energy and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. Finally, UBS Group restated a "neutral" rating and set a $159.00 target price (up previously from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Atmos Energy has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $158.27.

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.