Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Downgraded by StockNews.com to "Sell"

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently commented on the company. Argus raised Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 20th. Bank of America started coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, December 13th. They set a "buy" rating and a $156.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised 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. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $148.75.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

NYSE:ATO traded down $0.19 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $142.31. 835,927 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 891,239. The company has a current ratio of 1.56, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $141.10 and a 200 day moving average of $138.50. Atmos Energy has a twelve month low of $110.46 and a twelve month high of $152.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.27, a P/E/G ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.72.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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%. On average, analysts forecast that Atmos Energy will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Atria Investments Inc lifted its stake in 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 purchasing an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management UK Ltd. increased its holdings in Atmos Energy by 33.3% in the 4th quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management UK Ltd. now owns 8,000 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,114,000 after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares during the last quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG bought a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,897,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. lifted its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC increased its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 11.2% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 58,229 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $8,077,000 after purchasing an additional 5,884 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

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.