Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Shares Acquired by Stratos Wealth Partners LTD.

Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 3.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 32,839 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,129 shares during the quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD.’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $4,574,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. CWA Asset Management Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.5% during the fourth quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 2,217 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $309,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. lifted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. now owns 9,865 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,374,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Trust Point Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Trust Point Inc. now owns 2,567 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $358,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.7% during the third quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,307 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $320,000 after buying an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 1.4% during the third 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 during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy

In related news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction of $362,225.00. Following the purchase, 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 filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.48% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. StockNews.com downgraded Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Thursday. Mizuho increased their target price on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Argus raised shares of Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday, December 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Atmos Energy has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $148.75.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:ATO opened at $143.07 on Friday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $141.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $138.15. The company has a market cap of $22.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.83, a PEG ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.94. Atmos Energy Co. has a one year low of $110.46 and a one year high of $152.65.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.20 by $0.03. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.04% and a return on equity of 8.83%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.43%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 50.66%.

Atmos Energy Company 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.