Edward Geiser Acquires 2,500 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Stock

Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 2,602 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $377,003.78. This represents a 2,400.00 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Atmos Energy Trading Down 0.2 %

NYSE ATO opened at $146.51 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.74 billion, a PE ratio of 21.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.68. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $139.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $127.47. The company has a current ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. Atmos Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $110.46 and a 12 month high of $148.39.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders 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 yield of 2.38%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. This is an increase from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.87%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Blueshift Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 29.0% during the third quarter. Blueshift Asset Management LLC now owns 3,520 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $488,000 after buying an additional 792 shares during the period. Partners Group Holding AG boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 7.6% during the third quarter. Partners Group Holding AG now owns 329,015 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $45,638,000 after acquiring an additional 23,306 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its holdings in Atmos Energy by 11.2% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 58,229 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $8,077,000 after acquiring an additional 5,884 shares during the period. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $225,000. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 12.0% in the 3rd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 114,776 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $15,921,000 after purchasing an additional 12,269 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ATO has been the subject of several research reports. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com raised Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lifted their price target on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective 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. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $143.94.

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.