KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Invests $21.15 Million in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS bought a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 151,859 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $21,149,000. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS owned 0.10% of Atmos Energy as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently 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 fourth quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 2,217 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $309,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the period. Albert D Mason Inc. raised its stake in Atmos Energy by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. now owns 9,865 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,374,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Trust Point Inc. boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Trust Point Inc. now owns 2,567 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $358,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the period. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.0% in the fourth quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc now owns 2,921 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $407,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Greenleaf Trust increased its holdings 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 valued at $352,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

ATO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Argus upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 target price for the company in a research report on Friday, December 20th. StockNews.com cut shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Bank of America assumed coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, December 13th. They set a "buy" rating and a $156.00 target price on the stock. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, March 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Atmos Energy from $142.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $149.15.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 0.5 %

ATO traded up $0.82 during trading on Thursday, reaching $150.98. The company had a trading volume of 661,547 shares, compared to its average volume of 823,575. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 1.56. Atmos Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $110.97 and a 12-month high of $154.55. The company has a market cap of $23.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.51, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.67. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $146.84 and its 200 day simple moving average is $143.00.

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

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th were given a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.30%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.57%.

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.