Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Shares Sold by Holocene Advisors LP

Holocene Advisors LP reduced its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 87.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 6,581 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 47,961 shares during the quarter. Holocene Advisors LP's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $913,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the 2nd quarter worth about $37,000. PFS Partners LLC bought a new stake in Atmos Energy during the third quarter worth about $69,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 17.9% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 917 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $127,000 after buying an additional 139 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP increased 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 buying an additional 334 shares during the period. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 158.3% during the second quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 997 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $116,000 after acquiring an additional 611 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of Atmos Energy stock traded down $1.08 on Friday, reaching $141.96. The company had a trading volume of 673,062 shares, compared to its average volume of 874,485. 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 1 year low of $110.46 and a 1 year high of $152.65. The firm has a market cap of $22.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.66, a P/E/G ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.70. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $143.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $131.01.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be issued a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. This is a boost from Atmos Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.45%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 50.66%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently commented on ATO. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH boosted their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Mizuho increased their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $147.69.

Insider Buying and Selling at Atmos Energy

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser purchased 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the director now owns 2,602 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $377,003.78. This trade represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.