Kingsview Wealth Management LLC Acquires 2,517 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Kingsview Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 152.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,166 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 2,517 shares during the quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $580,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dunhill Financial LLC raised its holdings in Atmos Energy by 1,542.9% in the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 230 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. increased 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 acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. PFS Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the third quarter valued at $69,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $79,000. Finally, Slocum Gordon & Co LLP bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $125,000. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

NYSE:ATO traded down $1.31 on Friday, hitting $146.67. The stock had a trading volume of 745,597 shares, compared to its average volume of 915,958. The stock has a market cap of $23.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $141.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $139.17. Atmos Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $110.97 and a 52-week high of $152.65.

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

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.37%. Atmos Energy's payout ratio is currently 49.57%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on ATO shares. Mizuho raised their price target on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Argus upgraded Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price target for the company in a report on Friday, December 20th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Bank of America assumed coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, December 13th. They set a "buy" rating and a $156.00 price target for the company. Finally, StockNews.com cut Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $148.75.

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.