Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Shares Sold by Quantbot Technologies LP

Quantbot Technologies LP reduced its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 89.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,373 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 11,416 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LP’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $190,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ATO. FMR LLC grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 11.2% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 58,229 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $8,077,000 after purchasing an additional 5,884 shares during the period. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy during the third quarter worth $225,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its position in Atmos Energy by 12.0% during the third quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 114,776 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $15,921,000 after buying an additional 12,269 shares during the period. DRW Securities LLC purchased a new position in Atmos Energy in the third quarter valued at $1,000,000. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 127.1% in the third quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 50,280 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $6,974,000 after acquiring an additional 28,142 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently commented on ATO. Mizuho raised their target price on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH boosted their price objective on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $147.69.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

NYSE ATO opened at $143.10 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $143.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is $130.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The company has a market cap of $22.24 billion, a PE ratio of 20.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 0.70. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $110.46 and a 1-year high of $152.65.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed 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. This is a boost from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.43%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 50.66%.

Insider Activity at Atmos Energy

In related news, Director Edward Geiser acquired 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at $377,003.78. This represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.