Community Financial Services Group LLC Has $1 Million Stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Community Financial Services Group LLC raised its stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 5.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,198 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 370 shares during the quarter. Community Financial Services Group LLC’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $1,002,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. CWM LLC lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 8,366 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,160,000 after acquiring an additional 409 shares in the last quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc. bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the third quarter valued at about $235,000. Creative Planning boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 2.0% during the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 34,491 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $4,784,000 after purchasing an additional 663 shares during the last quarter. Asset Dedication LLC grew its position in Atmos Energy by 7.5% in the 3rd quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 2,026 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $281,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in Atmos Energy by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 21,224 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,944,000 after buying an additional 742 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ATO has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Argus raised Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 target price for the company in a research report on Friday, December 20th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, December 13th. They set a “buy” rating and a $156.00 price objective for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $148.75.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 2.0 %

ATO opened at $145.12 on Wednesday. Atmos Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $110.46 and a 12 month high of $152.65. The company has a market cap of $23.03 billion, a PE ratio of 20.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a current ratio of 1.56, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The company has a 50 day moving average of $140.98 and a 200 day moving average of $138.63.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 earnings per share (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%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.40%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 25th. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 49.57%.

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.