Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Research Coverage Started at Bank of America

Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) in a research note issued to investors on Friday morning. The firm issued a buy rating and a $156.00 target price on the utilities provider’s stock.

A number of other equities analysts also recently weighed in on ATO. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 22nd. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH boosted their target price 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. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Mizuho upped their price objective on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $148.61.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of Atmos Energy stock opened at $140.58 on Friday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $143.31 and its 200 day simple moving average is $132.00. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. Atmos Energy has a 12 month low of $110.46 and a 12 month high of $152.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.70.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.48%. This is an increase from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 50.66%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director Edward Geiser purchased 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, 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 acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Atmos Energy

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Dunhill Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 1,542.9% during the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 230 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new position in Atmos Energy in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. PFS Partners LLC purchased a new position in Atmos Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $69,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 158.3% in the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 997 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $116,000 after buying an additional 611 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 17.9% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 917 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $127,000 after buying an additional 139 shares in the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.