Diversify Wealth Management LLC Buys 12,388 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Diversify Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 71.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 29,813 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 12,388 shares during the period. Diversify Wealth Management LLC's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $4,086,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Dunhill Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 1,542.9% in the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 230 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 50.0% in the 4th quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 300 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. PFS Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at $69,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 17.9% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 917 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $127,000 after purchasing an additional 139 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allworth Financial LP raised its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 50.8% in the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 992 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $138,000 after purchasing an additional 334 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

ATO traded up $0.61 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $145.55. The company had a trading volume of 1,045,948 shares, compared to its average volume of 680,075. The business has a 50-day moving average of $142.80 and a two-hundred day moving average of $136.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $110.46 and a 1 year high of $152.65. The company has a market cap of $22.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.19, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.71.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a dividend of $0.87 per share. This is a boost from Atmos Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.39%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 50.66%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Atmos Energy

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction 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. This trade represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.48% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Mizuho lifted their price objective on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. 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 report on Friday, December 20th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Atmos Energy currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $148.75.

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.