Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Receives $156.35 Average Price Target from Analysts

Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) has been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the eleven research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, four have given a buy recommendation and two have issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $156.35.

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on ATO shares. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded shares of Atmos Energy to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $160.00 to $159.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Monday, March 31st. They issued a “peer perform” rating on the stock. Mizuho lowered shares of Atmos Energy from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $165.00 to $164.00 in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 1.3%

Shares of NYSE:ATO opened at $154.39 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.52 billion, a PE ratio of 21.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.71. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $155.90 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $148.85. Atmos Energy has a one year low of $113.46 and a one year high of $167.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.43.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The utilities provider reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.92 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $1.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.82 billion. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.90% and a return on equity of 8.89%. Atmos Energy’s revenue for the quarter was up 18.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.85 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Atmos Energy will post 7.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th were given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 27th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.25%. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Kim R. Cocklin sold 15,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.98, for a total transaction of $2,264,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 172,632 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $26,063,979.36. This represents a 7.99% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.48% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Atmos Energy

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 191.2% during the 1st quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 166 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares during the period. Noble Wealth Management PBC bought a new position in Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 72.5% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 245 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 141.2% in the 1st quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 234 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cary Street Partners Financial LLC bought a new position in Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. 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.