Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Shares Acquired by Barclays PLC

Barclays PLC lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 15.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 560,790 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 73,007 shares during the quarter. Barclays PLC owned about 0.36% of Atmos Energy worth $77,788,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 10.8% during the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 13,745,352 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,906,618,000 after purchasing an additional 1,341,640 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,800,610 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,498,153,000 after acquiring an additional 362,594 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,550,227 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $180,834,000 after acquiring an additional 19,981 shares during the period. Cooke & Bieler LP grew its position in Atmos Energy by 4.6% in the second quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP now owns 1,521,696 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $177,506,000 after acquiring an additional 66,345 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sfmg LLC raised its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 0.9% during the second quarter. Sfmg LLC now owns 1,059,221 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $123,558,000 after purchasing an additional 9,253 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised their price target 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. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set a "hold" rating and a $155.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, August 15th. Morgan Stanley dropped 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. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased 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. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $147.69.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of ATO traded up $0.18 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $140.21. The stock had a trading volume of 647,872 shares, compared to its average volume of 872,412. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a market cap of $21.79 billion, a PE ratio of 20.41, a PEG ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.70. Atmos Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $110.46 and a fifty-two week high of $152.65. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $143.29 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $131.52.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a dividend of $0.87 per share. This is a positive change from Atmos Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.48%. Atmos Energy's payout ratio is presently 50.66%.

Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy

In related news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 2,602 shares of the company's stock, valued at $377,003.78. This trade represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.50% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Company 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.