Hennessy Advisors Inc. Sells 3,900 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Hennessy Advisors Inc. cut its position in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 2.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 172,886 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 3,900 shares during the period. Hennessy Advisors Inc. owned about 0.11% of Atmos Energy worth $24,078,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of ATO. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in 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 valued at $1,906,618,000 after buying an additional 1,341,640 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its stake in Atmos Energy by 3.5% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,800,610 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,498,153,000 after acquiring an additional 362,594 shares during the period. Sfmg LLC raised its position in Atmos Energy by 0.9% in the second quarter. Sfmg LLC now owns 1,059,221 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $123,558,000 after purchasing an additional 9,253 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 4.1% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 885,950 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $122,890,000 after purchasing an additional 34,555 shares during the period. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 36.7% during the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 730,759 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $85,240,000 after purchasing an additional 196,163 shares in the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE ATO traded up $0.61 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $145.55. The stock had a trading volume of 1,045,948 shares, compared to its average volume of 680,075. The firm has a market cap of $22.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.71. Atmos Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $110.46 and a fifty-two week 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 company's 50-day simple moving average is $142.80 and its 200 day simple moving average is $136.00.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on ATO. Bank of America began 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. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set a "hold" rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Mizuho upped their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Barclays increased their price target 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. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $148.75.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser acquired 2,500 shares of Atmos Energy 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 purchase, the director now owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at $377,003.78. The trade was a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.48% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Company 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.