Wolfe Research Begins Coverage on Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO)

Wolfe Research began coverage on shares of Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Free Report) in a research report released on Monday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. The firm issued a peer perform rating on the utilities provider's stock.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised Atmos Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $142.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $156.00 target price on the stock. Argus upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 target price for the company in a research note on Friday, December 20th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Atmos Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $149.15.

Atmos Energy Trading Down 4.5 %

Shares of Atmos Energy stock traded down $6.92 during trading on Monday, reaching $148.37. 535,701 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 882,580. Atmos Energy has a 1 year low of $110.97 and a 1 year high of $157.62. The firm has a market cap of $23.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a quick ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The stock's fifty day moving average is $148.05 and its 200 day moving average is $143.72.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 research analysts expect that Atmos Energy will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th were given a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.35%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 25th. Atmos Energy's payout ratio is 49.57%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in ATO. Moody National Bank Trust Division boosted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 10.4% in the first quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 2,794 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $432,000 after purchasing an additional 263 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 181.2% in the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 433 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $67,000 after buying an additional 279 shares during the period. First Hawaiian Bank increased its stake in Atmos Energy by 6.6% in the 1st quarter. First Hawaiian Bank now owns 6,350 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $982,000 after buying an additional 395 shares in the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System increased its stake in Atmos Energy by 10.3% in the 4th quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 480,223 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $66,881,000 after buying an additional 45,022 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AG Asset Advisory LLC bought a new stake in Atmos Energy during the fourth quarter valued at about $238,000. 90.17% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Company 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.