Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Position Reduced by Diversify Advisory Services LLC

Diversify Advisory Services LLC reduced its stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 20.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 18,155 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 4,633 shares during the quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $2,577,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 200.0% during the first quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. now owns 288 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the second quarter valued at about $37,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 75.6% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 778 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $91,000 after purchasing an additional 335 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 248.5% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 805 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $96,000 after purchasing an additional 574 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allworth Financial LP raised its holdings in Atmos Energy by 50.8% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 992 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $138,000 after acquiring an additional 334 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Shares of Atmos Energy stock traded down $1.07 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $139.38. 215,390 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 869,079. The company has a quick ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 1.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The business has a fifty day moving average of $136.72 and a two-hundred day moving average of $125.58. The company has a market capitalization of $21.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.68. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $106.69 and a 1 year high of $144.32.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The utilities provider reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $701.55 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $924.75 million. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.09% and a return on equity of 8.94%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.94 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Atmos Energy Co. will post 6.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 26th were paid a dividend of $0.805 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 26th. This represents a $3.22 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.31%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.28%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on ATO shares. Barclays increased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a "hold" rating and a $155.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Atmos Energy from $128.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH increased their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $143.94.

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.