Voloridge Investment Management LLC Sells 72,416 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Voloridge Investment Management LLC decreased its position in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 95.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,358 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 72,416 shares during the period. Voloridge Investment Management LLC's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $468,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Barclays PLC grew its stake in Atmos Energy by 15.0% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 560,790 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $77,788,000 after buying an additional 73,007 shares during the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new position in Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $233,000. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its stake in Atmos Energy by 11.0% during the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 4,665 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $650,000 after buying an additional 464 shares during the last quarter. PFG Investments LLC lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 34.7% during the 4th quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 2,534 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $353,000 after acquiring an additional 653 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 25.4% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 4,481 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $622,000 after acquiring an additional 907 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 15,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.98, for a total value of $2,264,700.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 172,632 shares in the company, valued at $26,063,979.36. This trade represents a 7.99% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.48% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ATO has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Mizuho cut Atmos Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $165.00 to $164.00 in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Atmos Energy in a research report on Monday, March 31st. They set a "peer perform" rating for the company. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $156.35.

Atmos Energy Trading Down 0.5%

ATO stock traded down $0.82 during trading on Monday, reaching $153.86. 297,772 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 932,687. Atmos Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $113.46 and a 52-week high of $167.45. The business's 50 day moving average price is $155.66 and its 200-day moving average price is $148.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.44 billion, a PE ratio of 21.91, a P/E/G ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.74.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The utilities provider reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.92 by $0.11. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 25.90%. The firm had revenue of $1.95 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.82 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.85 earnings per share. Atmos Energy's revenue for the quarter was up 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be issued a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 27th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.33%.

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.