State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D Cuts Position in Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Key Points

• The State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D reduced its stake in Atmos Energy Corporation by 4.6%, selling 1,817 shares and now holding 38,038 shares valued at approximately $5.88 million.
• Atmos Energy's quarterly earnings showed an EPS of $1.16, slightly below analysts' expectations, with revenue reported at $838.77 million, which was also less than anticipated.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, with a dividend yield of 2.1%, scheduled to be paid on September 8th.

State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D reduced its holdings in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 4.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 38,038 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 1,817 shares during the period. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $5,880,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 109 shares during the period. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. South Plains Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $51,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 379.7% in the 1st 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 during the period. Finally, Bank of New Hampshire purchased a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the 1st quarter worth $58,000. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Trading Down 0.7%

Shares of NYSE ATO opened at $164.13 on Tuesday. Atmos Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $128.12 and a twelve month high of $167.45. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $156.30 and a 200-day simple moving average of $153.81. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.35 billion, a PE ratio of 22.55, a PEG ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.

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 analysts' consensus estimates 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 net margin of 25.05% and a return on equity of 9.00%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.08 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. UBS Group restated 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. Argus raised Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. Morgan Stanley set a $156.00 target price on shares of Atmos Energy and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday. Finally, Citigroup lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average 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.

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