Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 104.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 7,163 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 3,668 shares during the period. Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $998,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Noble Wealth Management PBC bought a new position in Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Atmos Energy by 72.5% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 245 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy in the fourth quarter worth $37,000. South Plains Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $51,000. Finally, Keystone Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $79,000. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Mizuho cut shares of Atmos Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $165.00 to $164.00 in a report on Monday, April 28th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $155.15.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on ATO
Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy
In other Atmos Energy news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 15,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.98, for a total value of $2,264,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 172,632 shares of the company's stock, valued at $26,063,979.36. This trade represents a 7.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.48% of the company's stock.
Atmos Energy Price Performance
Shares of NYSE ATO traded up $1.61 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $159.29. The company's stock had a trading volume of 451,070 shares, compared to its average volume of 930,543. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.30 billion, a PE ratio of 22.68, a P/E/G ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.74. 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 $167.45. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $154.27 and a two-hundred day moving average of $147.54.
Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The utilities provider reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.92 by $0.11. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 25.90%. The business had revenue of $1.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.82 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.85 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 18.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Atmos Energy Announces Dividend
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be paid a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 27th. Atmos Energy's payout ratio is 48.33%.
About Atmos Energy
(
Free Report)
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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