Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Shares Acquired by Partners Group Holding AG

Partners Group Holding AG lifted its stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 7.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 329,015 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 23,306 shares during the period. Atmos Energy makes up 3.1% of Partners Group Holding AG's investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest holding. Partners Group Holding AG owned 0.21% of Atmos Energy worth $45,638,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ATO. Atria Investments Inc increased its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 1.3% in the third quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 31,399 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $4,355,000 after buying an additional 402 shares in the last quarter. Swedbank AB increased its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 565.3% during the 2nd quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 40,621 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $4,738,000 after purchasing an additional 34,515 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 419,721 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $48,960,000 after purchasing an additional 14,440 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 7.5% in the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 323,614 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $37,750,000 after buying an additional 22,531 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board increased its position in Atmos Energy by 52.2% during the second quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 25,568 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $2,983,000 after buying an additional 8,774 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently commented on the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH increased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a "hold" rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. Finally, StockNews.com raised Atmos Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $144.31.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE:ATO traded up $0.14 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $150.32. 603,597 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 878,144. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $141.25 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $129.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.94. Atmos Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $110.46 and a twelve month high of $151.24. The company has a market cap of $23.36 billion, a PE ratio of 21.85, a P/E/G ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.68.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. This is an increase from Atmos Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.87%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Edward Geiser acquired 2,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction of $362,225.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 2,602 shares of the company's stock, valued at $377,003.78. This represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.