Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO Shares Sold by Perpetual Ltd

Key Points

• Perpetual Ltd reduced its stake in Atmos Energy Corporation by 2.9%, now holding approximately $217.53 million worth of stock, making it their 7th largest holding.
• Atmos Energy reported earnings per share of $1.16 for the last quarter, missing expectations, and had a revenue of $838.77 million, which was also below analysts' projections.
• The firm announced a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, representing a yield of 2.1%, with a payout ratio of 47.80%.

Perpetual Ltd lessened its position in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 2.9% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 1,411,508 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 42,582 shares during the quarter. Atmos Energy accounts for 2.6% of Perpetual Ltd's portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Perpetual Ltd owned 0.89% of Atmos Energy worth $217,527,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. SouthState Corp increased its position in Atmos Energy by 4.9% during the first quarter. SouthState Corp now owns 1,447 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $224,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its position in Atmos Energy by 3.8% in the first quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,871 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $289,000 after buying an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA increased its position in Atmos Energy by 26.0% in the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 378 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $58,000 after buying an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Smith Shellnut Wilson LLC ADV increased its position in Atmos Energy by 4.3% in the first quarter. Smith Shellnut Wilson LLC ADV now owns 1,968 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $304,000 after buying an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Finally, D.A. Davidson & CO. increased its position in Atmos Energy by 0.7% in the first quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 11,029 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,705,000 after buying an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 0.1%

ATO traded up $0.12 during trading on Monday, hitting $163.05. 768,270 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 964,754. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $162.11 and a 200 day simple moving average of $156.82. The firm has a market cap of $26.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.40, a P/E/G ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 0.75. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 1 year low of $136.03 and a 1 year 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 data on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.16 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.17 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $838.77 million for 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 quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.08 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 25th were issued a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date 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 (DPR) is currently 47.80%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have commented on the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $163.00 price target (down previously from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Argus set a $172.00 price objective on Atmos Energy in a research note on Thursday. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. Barclays dropped their price objective on Atmos Energy from $156.00 to $153.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, August 17th. One 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 company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $160.27.

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.