Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Stock Price Passes Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average – Here’s What Happened

Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) shares crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $134.09 and traded as high as $140.48. Atmos Energy shares last traded at $138.29, with a volume of 567,238 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have commented on ATO. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. StockNews.com upgraded Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Barclays increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, Mizuho upped their price objective on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $148.75.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 0.4 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $142.78 and its 200-day moving average is $134.25. The firm has a market cap of $21.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.70.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.51%. This is a boost from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 50.66%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of Atmos Energy stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction of $362,225.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at approximately $377,003.78. This represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.48% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Atria Investments Inc increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 1.3% during the third quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 31,399 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $4,355,000 after acquiring an additional 402 shares in the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board increased its stake in Atmos Energy by 52.2% during the 2nd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 25,568 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,983,000 after purchasing an additional 8,774 shares in the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank raised its holdings in Atmos Energy by 39.2% during the second quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 42,940 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $5,009,000 after buying an additional 12,084 shares during the last quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG acquired a new position in Atmos Energy during the third quarter worth $1,897,000. Finally, TD Asset Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 6.4% in the second quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 493,836 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $57,606,000 after buying an additional 29,742 shares in the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.