Analysts Set Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Target Price at $148.75

Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) has been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the ten brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $148.75.

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on ATO shares. 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. Bank of America started coverage on Atmos Energy in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $156.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price target for the company. Finally, Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th.

Insider Transactions at Atmos Energy

In other 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 acquired at an average price of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly 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 acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.48% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Atmos Energy

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. One Wealth Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the fourth quarter worth about $214,000. CWA Asset Management Group LLC lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 2,217 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $309,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Pensionfund Sabic grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 22.2% during the fourth quarter. Pensionfund Sabic now owns 11,000 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,532,000 after buying an additional 2,000 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in shares of 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. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 228,733 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $31,728,000 after acquiring an additional 14,377 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of ATO opened at $139.49 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.30, a PEG ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.71. Atmos Energy has a 12 month low of $110.46 and a 12 month high of $152.65. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $142.60 and a 200 day simple moving average of $134.80. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed 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 boost from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.49%. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is 50.66%.

About Atmos Energy

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.