Pensionfund Sabic Purchases 2,000 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Pensionfund Sabic lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 22.2% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 11,000 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares during the period. Pensionfund Sabic’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $1,532,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in ATO. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in Atmos Energy by 40.5% during the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,288 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $179,000 after buying an additional 371 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in Atmos Energy by 6.7% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 228,733 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $31,728,000 after purchasing an additional 14,377 shares in the last quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 2.0% in the third quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 33,932 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $4,707,000 after buying an additional 650 shares during the period. Oddo BHF Asset Management Sas bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,299,000. Finally, Tidal Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 6.6% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 13,601 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,887,000 after buying an additional 841 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Shares of ATO stock traded down $1.15 during trading on Monday, hitting $137.64. The company had a trading volume of 74,881 shares, compared to its average volume of 465,050. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. Atmos Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $110.46 and a 52 week high of $152.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.70. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $142.78 and its two-hundred day moving average is $134.37.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th were issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.53%. This is a boost from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 50.66%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser acquired 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 acquisition, the director now owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at $377,003.78. The trade was a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.48% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Bank of America started coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $156.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set a “hold” rating and a $155.00 target price for the company. Finally, Barclays raised their price target 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. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Atmos Energy currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $148.75.

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.