Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Stock Holdings Reduced by Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI

Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI reduced its position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 26,608 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 396 shares during the quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $3,691,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in ATO. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 92.7% in the 1st quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 3,813 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $453,000 after buying an additional 1,834 shares in the last quarter. American International Group Inc. lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 1.3% in the first quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 39,446 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $4,689,000 after acquiring an additional 510 shares during the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC bought a new stake in Atmos Energy in the first quarter worth approximately $201,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 37.7% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 100,651 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $11,964,000 after purchasing an additional 27,547 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BOKF NA increased its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 41.4% during the 1st quarter. BOKF NA now owns 1,162 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $137,000 after purchasing an additional 340 shares during the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Atmos Energy

In related news, Director Edward Geiser acquired 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The shares were bought at an average price of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction of $362,225.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at $377,003.78. This trade represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ATO has been the subject of several analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com raised Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Atmos Energy from $128.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upped their target price on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $143.94.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

ATO opened at $150.14 on Friday. Atmos Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $110.46 and a 12-month high of $150.38. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.68. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $140.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $128.42. The company has a quick ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.32%. This is a positive change from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is 46.87%.

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.