StockNews.com Begins Coverage on Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO)

StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO – Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the utilities provider’s stock.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Atmos Energy from $130.00 to $125.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Citigroup increased their target price on Atmos Energy from $107.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Atmos Energy from $125.00 to $115.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 9th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $123.00 to $132.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 14th. Finally, Mizuho increased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $128.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $122.88.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

ATO stock opened at $114.69 on Thursday. Atmos Energy has a 12-month low of $97.71 and a 12-month high of $122.96. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The business has a 50 day moving average of $114.69 and a 200-day moving average of $112.29. The firm has a market cap of $16.42 billion, a PE ratio of 20.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.61.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO – Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 8th. The utilities provider reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.93 by ($0.02). Atmos Energy had a net margin of 17.06% and a return on equity of 8.50%. The firm had revenue of $1.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.14 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.86 EPS. Atmos Energy’s revenue for the quarter was up 46.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Atmos Energy will post 6 earnings per share for the current year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 6th. Investors of record on Friday, February 10th were paid a $0.74 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 16th. This represents a $2.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.58%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 51.84%.

Insider Activity at Atmos Energy

In related news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 12,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.14, for a total value of $1,464,250.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 228,846 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $26,807,020.44. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 11.2% during the fourth quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 214,221 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $24,008,000 after buying an additional 21,620 shares during the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 1.8% during the fourth quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 17,830 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,997,000 after buying an additional 321 shares during the last quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 107,652 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $12,065,000 after buying an additional 1,577 shares during the last quarter. Natixis grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 293.0% during the fourth quarter. Natixis now owns 192,381 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $21,560,000 after buying an additional 143,423 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Macquarie Group Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 8.3% during the fourth quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 190,198 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $21,226,000 after buying an additional 14,567 shares during the last quarter. 91.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Atmos Energy Corp. engages in the provision of natural gas services. It operates under the Distribution, and Pipeline and Storage business segments. The Distribution segment is involved in regulated natural gas distribution and related sales operations. The Pipeline and Storage segment includes pipeline and storage operations of Atmos Pipeline-Texas division and natural gas transmission operations.