Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Shares Sold by Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd.

Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. lessened its holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 332,215 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 9,695 shares during the period. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. owned about 0.21% of Atmos Energy worth $46,082,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Dunhill Financial LLC lifted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 1,542.9% during the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 230 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 216 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $37,000. PFS Partners LLC bought a new stake in Atmos Energy during the third quarter valued at about $69,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in Atmos Energy by 17.9% in the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 917 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $127,000 after purchasing an additional 139 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allworth Financial LP grew its stake in Atmos Energy by 50.8% in the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 992 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $138,000 after purchasing an additional 334 shares during the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on ATO shares. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 15th. StockNews.com raised Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Mizuho boosted their target price on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $147.69.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser purchased 2,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The shares were bought at an average price of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction of $362,225.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at $377,003.78. This represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.50% of the company's stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ATO traded up $0.06 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $141.11. The stock had a trading volume of 875,165 shares, compared to its average volume of 873,576. The company has a 50 day moving average of $143.26 and a two-hundred day moving average of $131.40. Atmos Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $110.46 and a twelve month high of $152.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.94. The firm has a market cap of $21.93 billion, a PE ratio of 20.54, a PEG ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.70.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.47%. This is a boost from Atmos Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 50.66%.

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.