Czech National Bank Boosts Holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Czech National Bank grew its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 6.4% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 33,658 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,036 shares during the quarter. Czech National Bank’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $4,688,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. ORG Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Atmos Energy by 127.0% during the 4th quarter. ORG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,481 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $624,000 after purchasing an additional 2,507 shares during the period. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 50.0% in the fourth quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 300 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 10,147 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,407,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. ORG Partners LLC boosted its stake in Atmos Energy by 85.0% during the fourth quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 1,382 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $193,000 after buying an additional 635 shares during the last quarter. Finally, One Wealth Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Atmos Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $214,000. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on ATO. Bank of America started coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $156.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Argus raised shares of Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday, December 20th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price 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. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Atmos Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $148.75.

Atmos Energy Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE ATO opened at $141.23 on Thursday. Atmos Energy Co. has a one year low of $110.46 and a one year 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. The company has a market capitalization of $21.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.71. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $142.71 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $135.59.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th were given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. This is a boost from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 50.66%.

Insider Activity

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser acquired 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following 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 ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.48% of the company’s stock.

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.