Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Stock Price Breaks Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• Atmos Energy shares rose above their 200-day moving average of $174.14, trading as high as $174.88 with approximately 1.02 million shares changing hands.
• Analyst sentiment remains cautious: the stock has an average “Hold” rating and a consensus price target of $183.27, with several firms recently lowering their targets.
• Atmos Energy reported quarterly EPS of $1.43, beating estimates, and pays a quarterly dividend of $1.00, equivalent to a $4.00 annualized dividend and a 2.3% yield.

Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report)'s stock price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday. The stock has a 200-day moving average of $174.14 and traded as high as $174.88. Atmos Energy shares last traded at $174.6830, with a volume of 1,023,094 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on Atmos Energy from $173.00 to $167.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 1st. Wall Street Zen downgraded Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Atmos Energy in a research report on Monday, July 13th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $179.00 to $174.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 15th. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $184.00 to $183.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $183.27.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. The company's fifty day moving average is $164.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $174.14. The stock has a market cap of $29.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.57.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.08. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.67% and a net margin of 28.50%. The company had revenue of $879.06 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $900.82 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.16 earnings per share. Atmos Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.400-8.500 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 8.47 earnings per share for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 8th. Investors of record on Monday, August 24th were issued a $1.00 dividend. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 24th. Atmos Energy's payout ratio is currently 47.62%.

Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director William Ware bought 300 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 11th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $167.59 per share, with a total value of $50,277.00. Following the purchase, the director owned 488 shares in the company, valued at approximately $81,783.92. The trade was a 159.57% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.43% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Atmos Energy

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Compound Planning Inc. grew its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Compound Planning Inc. now owns 1,716 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $317,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. Woodmont Investment Counsel LLC raised its stake in Atmos Energy by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. Woodmont Investment Counsel LLC now owns 1,309 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $205,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Great Lakes Retirement Inc. lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 2.3% in the third quarter. Great Lakes Retirement Inc. now owns 2,822 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $441,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 0.8% in the first quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 8,153 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,506,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Root Financial Partners LLC lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 39.1% in the first quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC now owns 235 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Atmos Energy Company Profile

Atmos Energy Corporation NYSE: ATO is a regulated natural gas utility that distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers. The company also operates natural gas pipeline and storage assets, supporting the transportation and management of gas within its service areas.

Atmos Energy serves more than 3 million distribution customers across eight states, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas and Colorado. Its distribution operations include a large network of natural gas pipelines and related infrastructure, while its pipeline and storage business provides transportation and storage services primarily in Texas and Mississippi.

The company traces its history to 1906 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

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