Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Given Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the ten brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $148.75.

ATO has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a "hold" rating and a $155.00 price target for the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH increased their target price on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Argus raised shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Friday, December 20th. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE ATO traded up $0.14 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $136.65. 611,946 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 729,237. The company has a market capitalization of $21.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.71. Atmos Energy has a 12 month low of $110.46 and a 12 month high of $152.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $142.68 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $134.63.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th were given a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.55%. This is an increase from Atmos Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Atmos Energy's payout ratio is currently 50.66%.

Insider Activity at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director Edward Geiser purchased 2,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 2,602 shares of the company's stock, valued at $377,003.78. The trade was a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.48% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Atmos Energy

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ATO. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 10.8% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 13,745,352 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,906,618,000 after buying an additional 1,341,640 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 3.5% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,800,610 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,498,153,000 after acquiring an additional 362,594 shares during the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 2,212.0% during the third quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 291,572 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $40,446,000 after acquiring an additional 278,961 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC acquired a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $32,221,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 1,532.1% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 218,700 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $25,511,000 after purchasing an additional 205,300 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.