Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Shares Acquired by B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG grew its position in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 19.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 16,298 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 2,620 shares during the quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $2,270,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Noble Wealth Management PBC purchased a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Dunhill Financial LLC grew its stake in Atmos Energy by 1,542.9% in the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 230 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Atmos Energy by 72.5% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 245 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. increased its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 50.0% during the fourth 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 during the period. Finally, Keystone Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $79,000. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Down 1.3 %

Shares of NYSE:ATO traded down $1.97 during trading on Monday, hitting $145.84. The company's stock had a trading volume of 523,278 shares, compared to its average volume of 886,611. The company has a market capitalization of $23.15 billion, a PE ratio of 20.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 1.56. Atmos Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $110.97 and a fifty-two week high of $157.62. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $148.22 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $143.88.

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 for the quarter, topping 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, research analysts expect that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th were given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.39%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 49.57%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, March 17th. Wolfe Research started coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Monday, March 31st. They set a "peer perform" rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $142.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. StockNews.com lowered Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Argus raised shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Atmos Energy currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $149.15.

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.