Gabelli Funds LLC Cuts Holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Gabelli Funds LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 1.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 98,900 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 1,100 shares during the period. Gabelli Funds LLC owned about 0.07% of Atmos Energy worth $11,756,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of ATO. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $137,757,000. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 11.6% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 10,032,032 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,162,713,000 after acquiring an additional 1,041,608 shares during the period. Perpetual Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 46.2% in the 1st quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 1,411,697 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $167,808,000 after acquiring an additional 446,292 shares during the period. Reaves W H & Co. Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 281.3% in the 4th quarter. Reaves W H & Co. Inc. now owns 562,622 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $65,208,000 after acquiring an additional 415,054 shares during the period. Finally, M&G Plc acquired a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,941,000. 90.17% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of ATO stock traded up $1.23 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $126.16. 504,438 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 844,450. Atmos Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $101.00 and a fifty-two week high of $127.90. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $117.45 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $116.16. The company has a quick ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The stock has a market cap of $19.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.91, a PEG ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.67.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 8th. The utilities provider reported $2.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.62 by $0.23. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.01% and a net margin of 24.65%. The business had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.54 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.48 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Atmos Energy Co. will post 6.78 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 28th were issued a dividend of $0.805 per share. This represents a $3.22 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 24th. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.28%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com cut Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Saturday. UBS Group began coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, April 12th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $124.00 price target on the stock. Barclays increased their target price on Atmos Energy from $121.00 to $129.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 14th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Atmos Energy from $122.00 to $119.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Atmos Energy from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their target price for the company from $130.00 to $132.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $128.67.

Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director Diana J. Walters sold 400 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.00, for a total transaction of $47,200.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 3,551 shares in the company, valued at $419,018. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.50% 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.