8,255 Shares in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Purchased by USA Financial Formulas

USA Financial Formulas acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 8,255 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $1,150,000.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. CWA Asset Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 3.5% during the 4th quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 2,217 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $309,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 3.7% during the 3rd quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,307 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $320,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its holdings in Atmos Energy by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 5,973 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $829,000 after buying an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its position in Atmos Energy by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 10,147 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,407,000 after buying an additional 87 shares during the period. Finally, EP Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 5.4% during the second quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,880 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $219,000 after buying an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ATO has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Argus raised shares of Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, December 20th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $148.75.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser purchased 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 2,602 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $377,003.78. The trade was a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.48% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of Atmos Energy stock opened at $141.23 on Thursday. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $142.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $135.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.71. Atmos Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $110.46 and a fifty-two week high of $152.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.80.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th were issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. This is an increase from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.46%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 50.66%.

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.