Pensionfund Sabic Sells 1,700 Shares of Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Key Points

• Pensionfund Sabic has reduced its stake in Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) by 15.5%, selling 1,700 shares and now holding 9,300 shares valued at approximately $1.44 million.
• Atmos Energy recently reported earnings of $1.16 per share, missing analysts' expectations, and achieved revenue of around $838.77 million for the quarter.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, reflecting a 2.1% yield, with a current dividend payout ratio of 47.80%.

Pensionfund Sabic lowered its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 15.5% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,300 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 1,700 shares during the quarter. Pensionfund Sabic's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $1,438,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of ATO. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 191.2% during the 1st quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 166 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 141.2% during the 1st quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 234 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 379.7% during the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 331 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 262 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New Hampshire bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the 1st quarter valued at $58,000. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA raised its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

NYSE ATO opened at $166.45 on Friday. 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 $26.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.86, a P/E/G ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.75. The company's fifty day moving average is $161.08 and its two-hundred day moving average is $156.26. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $133.90 and a 52-week high of $168.86.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.17 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $838.77 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $848.97 million. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.00% and a net margin of 25.05%.During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.08 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley restated an "overweight" rating on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Thursday, August 21st. UBS Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $159.00 target price (up from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $163.00 target price (down from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Finally, Argus upgraded shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 28th. One equities 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average 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.

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