Sigma Planning Corp Cuts Position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Sigma Planning Corp cut its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 6.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,180 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 332 shares during the quarter. Sigma Planning Corp’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $718,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in ATO. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its holdings in Atmos Energy by 4.4% in the first quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 3,122 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $371,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares during the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its holdings in Atmos Energy by 51.0% during the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 116,401 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $13,832,000 after acquiring an additional 39,289 shares in the last quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. raised its position in Atmos Energy by 2.9% during the first quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 11,076 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,317,000 after acquiring an additional 316 shares during the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 18.4% in the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 226,314 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $26,902,000 after purchasing an additional 35,197 shares in the last quarter. Finally, M&G Plc acquired a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,941,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Atmos Energy stock opened at $144.37 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.73 and a quick ratio of 1.57. Atmos Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $110.46 and a 12 month high of $148.39. The company has a market cap of $22.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.68. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $139.18 and its 200-day moving average is $127.47.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.87 per share. This is an increase from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is currently 46.87%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently issued reports on ATO. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 15th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price target on the stock. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upped their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $143.94.

Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy

In related news, Director Edward Geiser purchased 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction of $362,225.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at $377,003.78. The trade was a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

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.