Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Upgraded to Buy at Argus

Argus upgraded shares of Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report report published on Friday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has $150.00 target price on the utilities provider’s stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on ATO. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target 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. StockNews.com raised Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a “hold” rating and a $155.00 target price for the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised their price target on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $148.75.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Shares of Atmos Energy stock opened at $139.69 on Friday. 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 stock has a 50 day moving average of $143.40 and a 200 day moving average of $132.61. The firm has a market cap of $21.71 billion, a PE ratio of 20.33, a PEG ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.70.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.49%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. 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 Transactions at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director Edward Geiser acquired 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction of $362,225.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 2,602 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $377,003.78. The trade was a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Dunhill Financial LLC boosted its stake 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 valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new stake in Atmos Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at $37,000. PFS Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $69,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 17.9% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 917 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $127,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lummis Asset Management LP lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 50.0% during the 2nd quarter. Lummis Asset Management LP now owns 1,128 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $132,000 after purchasing an additional 376 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

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.