Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. Acquires 6,853 Shares of Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Key Points

• Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its holdings in Atmos Energy Corporation by 14.5% during the second quarter, acquiring an additional 6,853 shares, bringing its total to 54,049 shares valued at $8,329,000.
• Atmos Energy's quarterly earnings report showed a missed consensus estimate with earnings at $1.16 per share against an expected $1.17, along with revenues of $838.77 million.
• The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, which reflects a total annualized dividend yield of 2.0%.

Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. grew its holdings in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 14.5% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 54,049 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 6,853 shares during the quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V.'s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $8,329,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Sowell Financial Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the first quarter worth about $273,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 28.8% in 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 period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 4.0% in 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 period. Private Trust Co. NA raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 26.0% during the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 378 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $58,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 20.6% during the first quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 109,772 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $16,969,000 after acquiring an additional 18,753 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ATO has been the subject of a number of research reports. Argus set a $172.00 price objective on Atmos Energy in a research report on Thursday, September 18th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $162.00 to $167.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 25th. Barclays reduced their price target on 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. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $163.00 target price (down previously from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Finally, Mizuho boosted their target price on Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, September 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $162.50.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

ATO stock opened at $170.07 on Monday. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 1-year low of $136.05 and a 1-year high of $171.20. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The firm has a market cap of $27.30 billion, a PE ratio of 23.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.74. The business's 50-day moving average price is $164.38 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $158.11.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last released 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 business had revenue of $838.77 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $848.97 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.08 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 25th were given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 47.80%.

About Atmos Energy

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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