Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky Cuts Stock Position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lowered its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 12.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 59,285 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 8,244 shares during the quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $8,256,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of ATO. MML Investors Services LLC increased its position in Atmos Energy by 11.5% during the 4th quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 12,096 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,685,000 after buying an additional 1,244 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its position in Atmos Energy by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 41,076 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $5,721,000 after buying an additional 799 shares in the last quarter. Natixis bought a new position in Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $13,583,000. Norinchukin Bank The increased its position in Atmos Energy by 10.2% during the 4th quarter. Norinchukin Bank The now owns 7,123 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $992,000 after buying an additional 662 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S bought a new position in Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $740,000. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of Atmos Energy stock traded down $1.37 during trading on Friday, hitting $158.30. 1,245,877 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 929,363. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.55, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.69. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $151.49 and a 200-day simple moving average of $145.73. Atmos Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $110.97 and a 52-week high of $161.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 1.56.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.20 by $0.03. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.90% and a return on equity of 8.89%. On average, research analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th were given a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.20%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.57%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ATO has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com cut Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Atmos Energy from $142.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Atmos Energy in a research note on Monday, March 31st. They issued a "peer perform" rating for the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, March 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted 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 equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $154.39.

Atmos Energy Company 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.