Strategic Financial Concepts LLC Makes New $3.87 Million Investment in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Strategic Financial Concepts LLC bought a new position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 27,774 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $3,868,000.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Dunhill Financial LLC increased its stake in Atmos Energy by 1,542.9% in the 3rd 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. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 50.0% in the 4th quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 300 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. PFS Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $69,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 17.9% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 917 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $127,000 after purchasing an additional 139 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allworth Financial LP lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 50.8% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 992 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $138,000 after buying an additional 334 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of ATO stock opened at $142.49 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.56. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $141.10 and a 200-day moving average of $138.50. Atmos Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $110.46 and a 52-week high of $152.65. The stock has a market cap of $22.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.30, a P/E/G ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.72.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.03. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 25.90%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 25th will be issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.44%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 49.57%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. 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 target price on the stock. StockNews.com cut Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Thursday. Argus raised Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Friday, December 20th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Atmos Energy has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $148.75.

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.