Tredje AP fonden Has $1.64 Million Position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Tredje AP fonden decreased its stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 50.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,741 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 11,741 shares during the quarter. Tredje AP fonden's holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $1,635,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 10.8% during the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 13,745,352 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,906,618,000 after purchasing an additional 1,341,640 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.5% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,800,610 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,498,153,000 after purchasing an additional 362,594 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.4% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 915,695 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $127,529,000 after purchasing an additional 29,745 shares during the period. Amundi raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 818,991 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $114,266,000 after purchasing an additional 17,004 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $112,002,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company's stock.

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Atmos Energy Stock Up 0.2 %

ATO stock traded up $0.25 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $150.81. The company had a trading volume of 702,373 shares, compared to its average volume of 817,508. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.43. Atmos Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $110.97 and a 52 week high of $154.55. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $145.61 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $142.31. The company has a market capitalization of $23.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.48, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.67.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 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%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th were paid a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.31%. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 49.57%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on ATO shares. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Mizuho lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. StockNews.com lowered Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, 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 report on Friday, December 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $148.75.

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.