Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Has $20.62 Million Position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. reduced its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 11.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 148,040 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 19,851 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned 0.10% of Atmos Energy worth $20,618,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 10.8% in 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 purchasing an additional 1,341,640 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake 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 period. Benjamin Edwards Inc. raised its stake in 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 bought a new position in Atmos Energy in the third quarter worth about $32,221,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in Atmos Energy by 1,532.1% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 218,700 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $25,511,000 after acquiring an additional 205,300 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on ATO shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Barclays increased their target price on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, December 13th. They set a "buy" rating and a $156.00 price target for the company. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a "hold" rating and a $155.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $148.75.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

ATO stock traded up $0.61 on Friday, reaching $145.55. 1,045,948 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 680,075. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $142.80 and its 200 day moving average price is $135.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.62 billion, a PE ratio of 21.19, a PEG ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.80. Atmos Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $110.46 and a 12 month high of $152.65.

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 dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. This is an increase from Atmos Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 50.66%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Atmos Energy

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 2,602 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $377,003.78. The trade was a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.48% of the company's stock.

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.