Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Hits New 52-Week High - Time to Buy?

Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $153.27 and last traded at $153.17, with a volume of 43876 shares. The stock had previously closed at $152.13.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on ATO shares. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Argus raised shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price target on the stock in a report on Friday, December 20th. Mizuho raised their target price 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. StockNews.com lowered shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, December 13th. They set a "buy" rating and a $156.00 target price for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Atmos Energy presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $148.75.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $23.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.11, a P/E/G ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.72. 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 firm has a fifty day moving average of $143.74 and a two-hundred day moving average of $141.01.

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 analysts' consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.03. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.90% and a return on equity of 8.89%. On average, analysts predict that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th will be given a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.35%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 49.57%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in ATO. Noble Wealth Management PBC acquired a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Dunhill Financial LLC raised its stake in Atmos Energy by 1,542.9% in the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 230 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Atmos Energy by 72.5% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 245 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, ST Germain D J Co. Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 50.0% during the 4th quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 300 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.