Global Retirement Partners LLC Boosts Stock Position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 5,973 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $829,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 176,224 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $20,957,000 after buying an additional 6,641 shares during the period. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. acquired a new position in Atmos Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $1,876,000. Swedbank AB raised its holdings in Atmos Energy by 565.3% in the 2nd quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 40,621 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $4,738,000 after purchasing an additional 34,515 shares during the period. M&G Plc acquired a new position in Atmos Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $32,941,000. Finally, FORA Capital LLC acquired a new position in Atmos Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $3,010,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

ATO stock opened at $143.26 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.73 and a quick ratio of 1.57. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $134.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $124.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.61 billion, a PE ratio of 21.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.68. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $105.44 and a 1 year high of $144.32.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The utilities provider reported $1.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.05 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $701.55 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $924.75 million. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.94% and a net margin of 25.09%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.94 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Co. will post 6.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 9th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 26th were given a $0.805 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 26th. This represents a $3.22 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.25%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.28%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently weighed in on ATO. Barclays upped their price target on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, August 15th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective 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, StockNews.com lowered Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $143.94.

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.