Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Stock Holdings Trimmed by Franklin Resources Inc.

Franklin Resources Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 39.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 21,171 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 13,971 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc.'s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $2,970,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 10.8% in the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 13,745,352 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,906,618,000 after purchasing an additional 1,341,640 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,800,610 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,498,153,000 after buying an additional 362,594 shares during the period. Benjamin Edwards Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 2,212.0% in the third quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 291,572 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $40,446,000 after buying an additional 278,961 shares in the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC acquired a new position in Atmos Energy during the third quarter worth $32,221,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in Atmos Energy by 1,532.1% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 218,700 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $25,511,000 after acquiring an additional 205,300 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Argus raised Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday, December 20th. Bank of America began coverage on Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, December 13th. They set a "buy" rating and a $156.00 target price on the stock. Barclays raised their price target 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, Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a "hold" rating and a $155.00 price objective on the stock. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $148.75.

Atmos Energy Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of ATO stock traded down $0.06 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $140.00. 336,821 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 874,213. The stock has a market cap of $21.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.38, a PEG ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.70. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $143.26 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $133.24. Atmos Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $110.46 and a fifty-two week high of $152.65. 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 Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th were given a $0.87 dividend. This is a positive change from Atmos Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.49%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 50.66%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Atmos Energy

In related news, Director Edward Geiser purchased 2,500 shares of Atmos Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The shares were purchased 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $377,003.78. The trade was a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Atmos Energy 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.