DRW Securities LLC Buys New Stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

DRW Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 7,210 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $1,000,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 92.7% during the first quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 3,813 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $453,000 after acquiring an additional 1,834 shares during the last quarter. BOKF NA lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 41.4% in the first quarter. BOKF NA now owns 1,162 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $137,000 after buying an additional 340 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 46.8% during the first quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 95,187 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $11,315,000 after acquiring an additional 30,367 shares during the last quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Atmos Energy by 11.4% during the 1st quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC now owns 21,991 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,614,000 after acquiring an additional 2,255 shares in the last quarter. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System raised its holdings in Atmos Energy by 5.3% in the 1st quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 276,397 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $32,855,000 after acquiring an additional 13,817 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Atmos Energy

In related news, Director Edward Geiser purchased 2,500 shares of Atmos Energy stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The shares were bought at an average price of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,602 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $377,003.78. This trade represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 0.1 %

NYSE:ATO traded up $0.14 on Tuesday, reaching $150.32. 603,597 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 878,144. The business has a fifty day moving average of $141.25 and a 200-day moving average of $129.12. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. Atmos Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $110.46 and a 52-week high of $151.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.68.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. This is a positive change from Atmos Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.32%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is 46.87%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 15th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a "hold" rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Barclays lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $144.31.

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.