Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Stock Rating Upgraded by LADENBURG THALM/SH SH

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at LADENBURG THALM/SH SH to a "strong-buy" rating in a report released on Monday,Zacks.com reports.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Mizuho raised their price objective on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. StockNews.com downgraded Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Bank of America assumed coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, December 13th. They set a "buy" rating and a $156.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Argus raised Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Friday, December 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $149.15.

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Atmos Energy Price Performance

Shares of ATO traded down $2.10 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $148.72. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,937,687 shares, compared to its average volume of 823,326. Atmos Energy has a one year low of $110.97 and a one year high of $154.55. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $146.29 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $142.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.67.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly 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%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Atmos Energy will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Noble Wealth Management PBC acquired a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Dunhill Financial LLC increased its position 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 buying an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position 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 bought a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, ST Germain D J Co. Inc. increased its position in Atmos Energy by 50.0% in the 4th quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 300 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. 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.