BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp Sells 3,717 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp cut its position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 12.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 25,172 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 3,717 shares during the period. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $3,492,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec bought a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $201,000. PDT Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $222,000. Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 5.9% in the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 27,068 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $3,755,000 after purchasing an additional 1,500 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its holdings in Atmos Energy by 7.6% during the 3rd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 99,355 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $13,782,000 after acquiring an additional 7,059 shares during the period. Finally, Blueshift Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 29.0% during the third quarter. Blueshift Asset Management LLC now owns 3,520 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $488,000 after acquiring an additional 792 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

NYSE ATO traded down $2.08 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $143.95. 902,326 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 876,762. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $142.81 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $130.48. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $110.46 and a 1 year high of $152.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The company has a market cap of $22.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.70.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be issued a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.42%. This is an increase from Atmos Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Atmos Energy's payout ratio is currently 50.66%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on ATO shares. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised their price target on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $147.69.

Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director Edward Geiser acquired 2,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at $377,003.78. The trade was a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.50% 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.