Guggenheim Capital LLC Raises Holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Guggenheim Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 7.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 33,138 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 2,213 shares during the quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $4,615,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Walleye Capital LLC bought a new stake in Atmos Energy in the fourth quarter worth $3,264,000. XTX Topco Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 38.8% in the fourth quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 13,716 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,910,000 after buying an additional 3,837 shares during the last quarter. Mariner LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 40.0% in the fourth quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 45,900 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $6,392,000 after buying an additional 13,103 shares during the last quarter. Trustmark National Bank Trust Department boosted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 5.3% in the fourth quarter. Trustmark National Bank Trust Department now owns 12,734 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,773,000 after buying an additional 644 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Townsquare Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 15,626 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $2,176,000 after buying an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Stock Down 0.1 %

NYSE ATO traded down $0.18 on Thursday, hitting $159.41. The stock had a trading volume of 415,902 shares, compared to its average volume of 920,675. The stock has a market cap of $25.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.43. Atmos Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $110.97 and a 52-week high of $161.49. The business's fifty day moving average price is $151.03 and its 200 day moving average price is $145.34.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.03. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.90% and a return on equity of 8.89%. Equities research analysts anticipate 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 was paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 25th were given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.18%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.57%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Monday, March 31st. They set a "peer perform" rating on the stock. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, March 17th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $142.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, March 20th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $154.39.

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.