Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Stock Holdings Increased by Merit Financial Group LLC

Merit Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 35.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,155 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,082 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $579,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ATO. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 10.8% in the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 13,745,352 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,906,618,000 after acquiring an additional 1,341,640 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake in Atmos Energy by 3.5% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,800,610 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,498,153,000 after purchasing an additional 362,594 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. increased its position in Atmos Energy by 2,212.0% in the 3rd quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 291,572 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $40,446,000 after purchasing an additional 278,961 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $32,221,000. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 45.7% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 444,267 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $51,544,000 after buying an additional 139,429 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on ATO shares. Argus raised shares of Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 20th. StockNews.com raised shares of Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH increased their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $148.75.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

NYSE:ATO opened at $141.76 on Thursday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $142.67 and its 200-day moving average is $136.61. The company has a market cap of $22.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.63, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.94. Atmos Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $110.46 and a 52-week high of $152.65.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th were issued a $0.87 dividend. 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. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.45%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 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.