Czech National Bank Has $5.98 Million Stock Position in Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Czech National Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO) by 6.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 38,825 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 2,368 shares during the period. Czech National Bank’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $5,983,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Sowell Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in Atmos Energy during the 1st quarter worth $273,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in Atmos Energy by 28.8% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,158 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $334,000 after acquiring an additional 482 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its position in Atmos Energy by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 29,861 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $4,616,000 after acquiring an additional 1,157 shares during the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA grew its position in Atmos Energy by 26.0% during the 1st quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 378 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $58,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC grew its position in Atmos Energy by 20.6% during the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 109,772 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $16,969,000 after acquiring an additional 18,753 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Down 0.6%

ATO stock opened at $162.54 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $161.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $156.60. Atmos Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $134.95 and a fifty-two week high of $168.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 1.37. The company has a market cap of $26.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.75.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.16 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.17 by ($0.01). Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.00% and a net margin of 25.05%.The firm had revenue of $838.77 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $848.97 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.08 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Investors of record on Monday, August 25th were paid a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 25th. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 47.80%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on ATO. Morgan Stanley restated an “overweight” rating on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Thursday, August 21st. UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating and set a $159.00 price objective (up previously from $146.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, August 17th. Barclays reduced their price objective on Atmos Energy from $156.00 to $153.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $163.00 price target (down previously from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $160.27.

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.