Optimize Financial Inc Invests $261,000 in Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Key Points

• Optimize Financial Inc has acquired 1,688 shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO), amounting to a total investment of approximately $261,000 in the 1st quarter.
• Analysts have revised their ratings on Atmos Energy, with Citigroup increasing its price target from $148.00 to $163.00 and more upgrades reflecting a generally positive outlook for the stock.
• Atmos Energy recently reported an earnings miss with $1.16 EPS for the quarter, below the consensus estimate, while declaring a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, maintaining a dividend yield of 2.1%.

Optimize Financial Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 1,688 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $261,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ATO. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its position in Atmos Energy by 191.2% during the first quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 166 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 109 shares during the period. Brooklyn Investment Group grew its position in Atmos Energy by 141.2% during the first quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 234 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 137 shares during the period. Golden State Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Atmos Energy by 379.7% during the first quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 331 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $51,000 after buying an additional 262 shares during the period. Bank of New Hampshire acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy during the first quarter valued at $58,000. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA grew its position in Atmos Energy by 26.0% during the first 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 period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ATO traded up $0.06 during trading on Friday, hitting $166.45. The company had a trading volume of 414,826 shares, compared to its average volume of 799,724. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $161.08 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $156.26. Atmos Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $133.90 and a fifty-two week high of $168.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.

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

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 25th were paid a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 25th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.80%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ATO has been the topic of several analyst reports. UBS Group restated a "neutral" rating and set a $159.00 price target (up previously from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, August 17th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $156.00 to $153.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Citigroup lifted their target price 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. Finally, 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price 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.