Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Receives Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) have been assigned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the ten ratings firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $148.75.

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on ATO shares. Mizuho upped their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Barclays lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Argus raised shares of Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 target price for the company in a research note on Friday, December 20th. Bank of America started coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, December 13th. They set a “buy” rating and a $156.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of ATO opened at $138.47 on Tuesday. Atmos Energy has a 1 year low of $110.46 and a 1 year high of $152.65. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $142.61 and a 200-day simple moving average of $135.38. The stock has a market cap of $21.52 billion, a PE ratio of 20.16, a PEG ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.71.

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 given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. This is a positive change from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.51%. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is presently 50.66%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The stock was bought at an average price of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at approximately $377,003.78. The trade was a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 0.48% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 7.2% in the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 23,632 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,757,000 after buying an additional 1,581 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 24.4% in the 2nd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 41,464 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $4,809,000 after buying an additional 8,144 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 178,001 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $20,764,000 after purchasing an additional 7,301 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 18.3% in the second quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 8,466 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $988,000 after acquiring an additional 1,312 shares during the period. Finally, Candriam S.C.A. lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 4.9% in the second quarter. Candriam S.C.A. now owns 20,169 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,353,000 after purchasing an additional 936 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

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.