GAMMA Investing LLC Purchases 371 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 40.5% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 1,288 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 371 shares during the quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $179,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of ATO. Dunhill Financial LLC boosted its stake in Atmos Energy by 1,542.9% in the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 230 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. PFS Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the third quarter worth about $69,000. Lummis Asset Management LP boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 50.0% in the 2nd quarter. Lummis Asset Management LP now owns 1,128 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $132,000 after purchasing an additional 376 shares in the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP increased its position in Atmos Energy by 50.8% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 992 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $138,000 after purchasing an additional 334 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 76.9% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,224 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $143,000 after purchasing an additional 532 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised their target price on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, 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. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $148.75.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser acquired 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at approximately $377,003.78. This represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.48% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of Atmos Energy stock opened at $139.49 on Thursday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $142.60 and its 200 day simple moving average is $134.77. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.71. Atmos Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $110.46 and a 12 month high of $152.65.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 2.49%. This is a positive change from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.