Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Sets New 1-Year High - Should You Buy?

Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $155.06 and last traded at $154.03, with a volume of 42517 shares. The stock had previously closed at $152.46.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently commented on ATO. Argus raised Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 20th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Wolfe Research started coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Monday. They set a "peer perform" rating for the company. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $142.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. 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 Trading Down 4.7 %

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 company has a market capitalization of $23.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.67. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $148.05 and a 200-day moving average price of $143.72.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The business 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. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.35%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.57%.

Institutional Trading of Atmos Energy

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. CWA Asset Management Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.5% during the fourth quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 2,217 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $309,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. grew its stake 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 acquiring an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Trust Point Inc. increased its holdings in Atmos Energy by 3.2% during 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 during the period. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc now owns 2,921 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $407,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Greenleaf Trust boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 2,524 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $352,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

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.