Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Shares Sold by Cohen & Steers Inc.

Cohen & Steers Inc. cut its holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 100.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 410 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 1,075,541 shares during the period. Cohen & Steers Inc.'s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $57,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. CWA Asset Management Group LLC lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 2,217 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $309,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. now owns 9,865 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,374,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares during the period. Trust Point Inc. increased its stake in Atmos Energy by 3.2% in the fourth quarter. Trust Point Inc. now owns 2,567 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $358,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the period. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.0% during the fourth quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc now owns 2,921 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $407,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Greenleaf Trust grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 2,524 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $352,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of ATO traded up $1.06 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $157.37. 904,405 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 911,452. 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 business has a fifty day moving average price of $150.32 and a 200-day moving average price of $144.93. Atmos Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $110.97 and a 12-month high of $159.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.42, a P/E/G ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.69.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.03. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 25.90%. Equities analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th were issued a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 25th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 49.57%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, March 17th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Atmos Energy from $142.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Atmos Energy in a research note on Monday, March 31st. They issued a "peer perform" rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $154.39.

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.