Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio Trims Stake in Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Key Points

• The Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio has reduced its stake in Atmos Energy Corporation by 2.0%, now holding 99,235 shares valued at approximately $15.3 million.
• Atmos Energy reported a missed earnings estimate for the recent quarter, with earnings per share of $1.16, slightly below the consensus estimate of $1.17.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, reflecting an annualized amount of $3.48 with a yield of 2.1%.

Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio reduced its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 99,235 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 2,010 shares during the quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio owned 0.06% of Atmos Energy worth $15,293,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised 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 acquiring an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group raised 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 acquiring an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC raised 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 acquiring an additional 262 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New Hampshire purchased a new position in Atmos Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $58,000. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA raised 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 acquiring an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Trading Down 0.2%

Shares of ATO opened at $166.48 on Friday. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $136.05 and a 52-week high of $168.86. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The firm's fifty day moving average is $162.96 and its two-hundred day moving average is $157.17. The stock has a market cap of $26.72 billion, a PE ratio of 22.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.09 and a beta of 0.75.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced its 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). Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.00% and a net margin of 25.05%.The business had revenue of $838.77 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $848.97 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.08 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ATO has been the subject of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Atmos Energy from $162.00 to $167.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday. UBS Group restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $159.00 price objective (up from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Barclays cut their price objective on Atmos Energy from $156.00 to $153.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $163.00 price objective (down from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, August 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $161.27.

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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