Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Receives $147.69 Average Target Price from Analysts

Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) has received a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the nine ratings firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $148.61.

Several brokerages recently weighed in on ATO. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upped their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. StockNews.com raised Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price objective on the stock. Mizuho boosted their target price on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Bank of America initiated coverage on Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday. They issued a “buy” rating and a $156.00 price target on the stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of Atmos Energy stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The stock was acquired 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $377,003.78. This trade represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 0.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Retirement Systems of Alabama grew its position in Atmos Energy by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 33,932 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $4,707,000 after purchasing an additional 650 shares during the last quarter. Oddo BHF Asset Management Sas purchased a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the third quarter worth about $2,299,000. Tidal Investments LLC grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 6.6% during the third 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 last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in Atmos Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $442,000. Finally, Toronto Dominion Bank raised its stake in Atmos Energy by 18.6% during the 3rd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 100,595 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $13,954,000 after acquiring an additional 15,777 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE:ATO opened at $140.58 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.85 billion, a PE ratio of 20.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.70. Atmos Energy has a 1 year low of $110.46 and a 1 year high of $152.65. 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 50-day moving average is $143.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $132.00.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a $0.87 dividend. This is a positive change from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.48%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 50.66%.

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.