Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Shares Sold by Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI

Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI trimmed its position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 1.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 26,608 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 396 shares during the period. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $3,691,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of ATO. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 92.7% in the 1st quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 3,813 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $453,000 after acquiring an additional 1,834 shares in the last quarter. American International Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 1.3% in the first quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 39,446 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $4,689,000 after purchasing an additional 510 shares during the period. LRI Investments LLC bought a new stake in Atmos Energy during the first quarter valued at $201,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 37.7% during the first quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 100,651 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $11,964,000 after purchasing an additional 27,547 shares during the period. Finally, BOKF NA lifted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 41.4% in the 1st quarter. BOKF NA now owns 1,162 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $137,000 after buying an additional 340 shares during the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the director now directly owns 2,602 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $377,003.78. This trade represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ATO has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. StockNews.com raised Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. 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 report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Atmos Energy from $128.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $143.94.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 2.0 %

Shares of Atmos Energy stock opened at $150.14 on Friday. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $110.46 and a 1-year high of $150.38. The company has a market capitalization of $23.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.85, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.68. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $140.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $128.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 1.57.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be issued a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.32%. This is an increase from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 46.87%.

Atmos Energy 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.