CX Institutional Acquires 109 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

CX Institutional boosted its stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 1.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,394 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 109 shares during the period. CX Institutional’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $1,587,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Atria Investments Inc increased its position 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 valued at $4,355,000 after buying an additional 402 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management UK Ltd. boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 33.3% during the 4th quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management UK Ltd. now owns 8,000 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,114,000 after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares in the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its holdings 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 worth $2,983,000 after acquiring an additional 8,774 shares during the period. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,897,000. Finally, ST Germain D J Co. Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 50.0% in the 4th 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 period. 90.17% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Trading Down 0.0 %

Atmos Energy stock opened at $139.55 on Friday. Atmos Energy Co. has a one year low of $110.46 and a one year high of $152.65. The business’s fifty day moving average is $142.47 and its 200 day moving average is $136.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.69 billion, a PE ratio of 20.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.71.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. This is a positive change from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.49%. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is currently 50.66%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at approximately $377,003.78. This trade represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 0.48% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have issued reports on ATO. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price target for the company. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $148.75.

Atmos Energy 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.