Atria Investments Inc Has $4.36 Million Stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Atria Investments Inc grew its stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 1.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 31,399 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 402 shares during the period. Atria Investments Inc’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $4,355,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in ATO. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 4.4% during the first quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 3,122 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $371,000 after buying an additional 131 shares during the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in Atmos Energy by 51.0% during the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 116,401 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $13,832,000 after acquiring an additional 39,289 shares during the last quarter. Entropy Technologies LP increased its holdings in Atmos Energy by 192.1% in the 1st quarter. Entropy Technologies LP now owns 16,066 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,910,000 after purchasing an additional 10,566 shares in the last quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 2.9% during the first quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 11,076 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,317,000 after purchasing an additional 316 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 18.4% during the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 226,314 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $26,902,000 after purchasing an additional 35,197 shares during the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com raised shares of Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 15th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upped their price target on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $143.94.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Edward Geiser acquired 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction of $362,225.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 2,602 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $377,003.78. This trade represents a 2,400.00 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of Atmos Energy stock opened at $146.86 on Wednesday. Atmos Energy Co. has a one year low of $110.40 and a one year high of $148.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.73 and a quick ratio of 1.57. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $138.90 and its 200 day moving average is $127.33. The firm has a market cap of $22.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.38, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.68.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. This is an increase from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is presently 50.66%.

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.