Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Stake Boosted by Mariner LLC

Mariner LLC increased its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 40.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 45,900 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 13,103 shares during the period. Mariner LLC's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $6,392,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of ATO. Trustmark National Bank Trust Department lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 5.3% during the fourth quarter. Trustmark National Bank Trust Department now owns 12,734 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,773,000 after purchasing an additional 644 shares in the last quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 1.4% in the 4th 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 in the last quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 10.9% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 9,198 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,281,000 after buying an additional 903 shares during the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.6% during the fourth quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 68,081 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $9,482,000 after acquiring an additional 2,350 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Texas Yale Capital Corp. increased its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Texas Yale Capital Corp. now owns 34,784 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $4,844,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ATO traded down $1.80 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $157.87. 254,347 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 923,058. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 1.56. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $151.29 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $145.49. Atmos Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $110.97 and a 52 week high of $161.49. The company has a market cap of $25.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.69.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 25.90%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th were paid a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.20%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.57%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ATO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com lowered Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Wolfe Research began coverage on Atmos Energy in a research note on Monday, March 31st. They issued a "peer perform" rating for the company. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $142.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $154.39.

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.