Moran Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 12.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 166,276 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 18,025 shares during the period. Moran Wealth Management LLC owned approximately 0.11% of Atmos Energy worth $23,157,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Amundi grew its position in Atmos Energy by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 818,991 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $114,266,000 after purchasing an additional 17,004 shares during the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC grew its position in Atmos Energy by 11.9% during the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 3,752 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $522,000 after buying an additional 398 shares in the last quarter. Machina Capital S.A.S. bought a new position in Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter valued at about $1,236,000. Edgestream Partners L.P. acquired a new position in Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $5,177,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 10.8% in the 4th quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC now owns 5,074 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $707,000 after acquiring an additional 494 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Mizuho upped their target price on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. StockNews.com cut shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Argus upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price target for the company in a research note on Friday, December 20th. Finally, Bank of America initiated coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, December 13th. They set a "buy" rating and a $156.00 price objective on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $148.75.
Read Our Latest Research Report on ATO
Atmos Energy Price Performance
Shares of NYSE:ATO traded down $0.10 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $147.06. The company's stock had a trading volume of 811,100 shares, compared to its average volume of 910,917. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $144.62 and its 200-day simple moving average is $141.66. The company has a market capitalization of $23.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.95, a P/E/G ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.67. 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 fifty-two week low of $110.97 and a fifty-two week high of $154.55.
Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced its 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 net margin of 25.90% and a return on equity of 8.89%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Atmos Energy Announces Dividend
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th were paid a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.37%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 49.57%.
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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