Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. (NYSE:AESI) Major Shareholder Gregory M. Shepard Purchases 32,155 Shares

Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. (NYSE:AESI) major shareholder Gregory M. Shepard purchased 32,155 shares of Atlas Energy Solutions stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 27th. The stock was bought at an average price of $19.04 per share, with a total value of $612,231.20. Following the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 7,651,210 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $145,679,038.40. This trade represents a 0.42 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Large shareholders that own more than 10% of a company’s shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

Atlas Energy Solutions Stock Performance

AESI opened at $19.38 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.23. Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. has a 52-week low of $17.49 and a 52-week high of $26.86. The firm has a market cap of $2.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.53 and a beta of 1.03. The business’s fifty day moving average is $22.37 and its 200-day moving average is $21.66.

Atlas Energy Solutions (NYSE:AESI) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 24th. The company reported $0.06 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.18 by ($0.12). The firm had revenue of $271.34 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $272.94 million. Atlas Energy Solutions had a net margin of 8.78% and a return on equity of 11.01%. Sell-side analysts expect that Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. will post 0.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atlas Energy Solutions Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st were paid a $0.25 dividend. This is an increase from Atlas Energy Solutions’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.16%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. Atlas Energy Solutions’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 126.58%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on AESI. Bank of America reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $22.50 price objective on shares of Atlas Energy Solutions in a report on Monday, January 13th. Citigroup downgraded Atlas Energy Solutions from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $23.00 to $22.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Stephens upped their price target on shares of Atlas Energy Solutions from $28.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Atlas Energy Solutions from $19.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Atlas Energy Solutions in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $23.00 target price on the stock. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Atlas Energy Solutions currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $24.83.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of AESI. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Atlas Energy Solutions by 12.6% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,915,325 shares of the company’s stock worth $153,382,000 after purchasing an additional 773,035 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Atlas Energy Solutions by 31.5% in the fourth quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,908,810 shares of the company’s stock valued at $86,697,000 after acquiring an additional 935,410 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in shares of Atlas Energy Solutions by 25.5% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 3,390,269 shares of the company’s stock valued at $75,197,000 after purchasing an additional 689,846 shares during the last quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Atlas Energy Solutions by 19.3% during the 4th quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC now owns 2,247,774 shares of the company’s stock worth $49,856,000 after acquiring an additional 363,742 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp grew its stake in Atlas Energy Solutions by 15.0% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,751,059 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,173,000 after purchasing an additional 227,776 shares during the period. 34.59% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Atlas Energy Solutions

Atlas Energy Solutions Inc engages in the production, processing, and sale of mesh and sand that are used as a proppant during the well completion process in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico. The company provides transportation and logistics, storage solutions, and contract labor services. It sells its products and services to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies, and oilfield services companies.