Lbp Am Sa Has $1.28 Million Stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

LBP AM SA raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 35.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,206 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 2,429 shares during the period. LBP AM SA's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $1,282,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. CWA Asset Management Group LLC increased its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.5% during the 4th quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 2,217 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $309,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the period. Albert D Mason Inc. raised its position in Atmos Energy by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. now owns 9,865 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,374,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the period. Trust Point Inc. lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Trust Point Inc. now owns 2,567 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $358,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 3.7% during the 3rd quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,307 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $320,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares during the period. Finally, Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc now owns 2,921 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $407,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have weighed in on ATO. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday. Mizuho boosted their price target on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Bank of America started coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $156.00 target price for the company. Argus upgraded Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price target for the company in a report on Friday, December 20th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $149.15.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Shares of ATO stock traded down $0.03 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $150.72. 1,061,758 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 903,113. The stock's 50-day moving average is $145.83 and its 200-day moving average is $142.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.43. The stock has a market cap of $23.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.67. Atmos Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $110.97 and a 52 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 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.20 by $0.03. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 25.90%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 25th were issued a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.31%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 25th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is 49.57%.

Atmos Energy 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.