Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Upgraded by StockNews.com to Hold

by · The Cerbat Gem

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO – Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report released on Thursday.

Several other research analysts have also issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set a hold rating and a $155.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $128.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Atmos Energy has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $142.56.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Atmos Energy

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of Atmos Energy stock opened at $139.36 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $21.03 billion, a PE ratio of 20.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $133.42 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $123.39. Atmos Energy has a one year low of $105.44 and a one year high of $140.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a current ratio of 1.73.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The utilities provider reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.05 by $0.03. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.09% and a return on equity of 8.94%. The company had revenue of $701.55 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $924.75 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.94 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Atmos Energy will post 6.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 26th were paid a dividend of $0.805 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 26th. This represents a $3.22 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.31%. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is currently 48.28%.

Institutional Trading of Atmos Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ATO. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. lifted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 200.0% in the first quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. now owns 288 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 192 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at $37,000. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 467.0% during the first quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 618 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $73,000 after buying an additional 509 shares in the last quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy during the first quarter valued at $89,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in Atmos Energy by 75.6% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 778 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $91,000 after buying an additional 335 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

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.

See Also