Jump Financial LLC Purchases 8,319 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Jump Financial LLC boosted its position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 194.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 12,600 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 8,319 shares during the period. Jump Financial LLC's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $1,755,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Noble Wealth Management PBC acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 72.5% in the fourth quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 245 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 50.0% during the fourth quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 300 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Keystone Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $79,000. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 23.0% in the 4th quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 598 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $83,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ATO traded down $0.39 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $159.72. 1,790,296 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 921,549. The company has a 50-day moving average of $150.77 and a 200-day moving average of $145.24. Atmos Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $110.97 and a 52-week high of $161.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.43.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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%. Analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th were given a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 25th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.57%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Atmos Energy in a research note on Monday, March 31st. They set a "peer perform" rating for the company. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $142.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded shares of Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, March 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target 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.