Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Shares Sold by Franklin Resources Inc.

Franklin Resources Inc. lowered its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 39.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 21,171 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 13,971 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc.’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $2,970,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Atria Investments Inc raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 31,399 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $4,355,000 after buying an additional 402 shares in the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its holdings in Atmos Energy by 52.2% during the second quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 25,568 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,983,000 after purchasing an additional 8,774 shares in the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 39.2% in the second quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 42,940 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $5,009,000 after purchasing an additional 12,084 shares during the period. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG bought a new position in Atmos Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at $1,897,000. Finally, TD Asset Management Inc increased its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 6.4% during the 2nd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 493,836 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $57,606,000 after purchasing an additional 29,742 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Edward Geiser acquired 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction of $362,225.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at $377,003.78. This represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 0.6 %

NYSE ATO opened at $140.06 on Thursday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $143.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $133.20. The stock has a market cap of $21.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.39, a PEG ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.70. Atmos Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $110.46 and a twelve month high of $152.65. 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 Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a $0.87 dividend. This is an increase 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 of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 50.66%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Argus upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 target price on the stock in a 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. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Atmos Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $148.75.

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.