Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Stock Rating Upgraded by StockNews.com

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) was upgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday.

Several other brokerages have also commented on ATO. Wells Fargo & Company raised Atmos Energy from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $130.00 to $132.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 14th. UBS Group began coverage on Atmos Energy in a research note on Friday, April 12th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $124.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Atmos Energy from $122.00 to $119.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, June 24th. Mizuho boosted their price target on Atmos Energy from $133.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, May 13th. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on Atmos Energy from $121.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 14th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $128.67.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

ATO traded down $2.72 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $127.27. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 1,203,917 shares, compared to its average volume of 913,149. The stock has a market cap of $19.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.08, a PEG ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $118.70 and a 200 day simple moving average of $116.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. Atmos Energy has a twelve month low of $101.00 and a twelve month high of $132.24.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 8th. The utilities provider reported $2.85 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.62 by $0.23. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.01% and a net margin of 24.65%. The company had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.54 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.48 EPS. Atmos Energy’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Atmos Energy will post 6.77 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director Diana J. Walters sold 400 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.00, for a total transaction of $47,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,551 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $419,018. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Atmos Energy

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its position in Atmos Energy by 57.5% during the fourth quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 293 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp raised its position in Atmos Energy by 11.8% during the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 3,447 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $400,000 after purchasing an additional 363 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 40,804 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $4,729,000 after acquiring an additional 1,384 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $14,863,000. Finally, New York State Teachers Retirement System raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 13.4% in the 4th quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 135,401 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $15,693,000 after acquiring an additional 16,024 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

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.