DnB Asset Management AS raised its position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 8.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 37,364 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 2,941 shares during the quarter. DnB Asset Management AS's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $5,204,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $209,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 12.0% during the third quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 114,776 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $15,921,000 after acquiring an additional 12,269 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 11.2% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 58,229 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $8,077,000 after acquiring an additional 5,884 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 7.6% in the third 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 5.9% in the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 27,068 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $3,755,000 after purchasing an additional 1,500 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Atmos Energy Stock Performance
Shares of ATO stock traded down $7.65 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $147.64. 1,431,793 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 886,490. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $148.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $143.79. 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 12-month low of $110.97 and a 12-month high of $157.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.03, a P/E/G ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.67.
Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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%. On average, analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.
Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th were issued a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.36%. Atmos Energy's payout ratio is 49.57%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of research firms have issued reports on ATO. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Wolfe Research began coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Monday. They issued a "peer perform" rating for the company. StockNews.com cut shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $156.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $142.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $149.15.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on ATO
About Atmos Energy
(
Free Report)
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.
Featured Stories
Before you consider Atmos Energy, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Atmos Energy wasn't on the list.
While Atmos Energy currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Wondering where to start (or end) with AI stocks? These 10 simple stocks can help investors build long-term wealth as artificial intelligence continues to grow into the future.
Get This Free Report
Like this article? Share it with a colleague.
Link copied to clipboard.
