Franklin Resources Inc. Purchases 14,794 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 69.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 35,965 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 14,794 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc.'s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $5,009,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. CWA Asset Management Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.5% during the 4th 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 in the last quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. now owns 9,865 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,374,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Trust Point Inc. grew 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 valued at $358,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the period. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc increased its holdings 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 valued at $407,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Greenleaf Trust raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.5% during 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 period. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

ATO traded up $1.15 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $157.42. The stock had a trading volume of 116,357 shares, compared to its average volume of 904,086. The stock has a market cap of $24.99 billion, a PE ratio of 22.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.69. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $110.97 and a 1 year high of $157.62. 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 company's fifty day simple moving average is $149.49 and its 200 day simple moving average is $144.60.

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

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ATO has been the subject of several research reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. 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 report on Thursday, March 20th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Wolfe Research started coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Monday, March 31st. They set a "peer perform" rating for the company. Finally, Argus raised Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $151.94.

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.