Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Shares Sold by UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC

UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC cut its holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) by 1.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,373,328 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 25,100 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC owned about 0.88% of Atmos Energy worth $190,494,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Atria Investments Inc grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 1.3% during the third quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 31,399 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $4,355,000 after buying an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. Swedbank AB boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 565.3% in the 2nd quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 40,621 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $4,738,000 after purchasing an additional 34,515 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. lifted 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 valued at $48,960,000 after acquiring an additional 14,440 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 7.5% during 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 acquiring an additional 22,531 shares during the period. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 52.2% during the 2nd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 25,568 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,983,000 after acquiring an additional 8,774 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on ATO. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lifted their price objective on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a "hold" rating and a $155.00 price target for the company. 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. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $147.69.

Atmos Energy Stock Down 0.1 %

Atmos Energy stock traded down $0.11 during trading on Friday, reaching $151.32. 367,233 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 905,003. The company's 50-day moving average is $142.39 and its two-hundred day moving average is $129.99. 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 52-week low of $110.46 and a 52-week high of $152.65. The firm has a market cap of $23.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.03, a PEG ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.68.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.30%. This is a boost from Atmos Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. Atmos Energy's dividend payout ratio is 50.66%.

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 owned by corporate insiders.

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.