ABC Arbitrage SA Invests $2.56 Million in Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

ABC Arbitrage SA bought a new stake in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 16,576 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $2,555,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Atmos Energy by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,791,335 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $3,213,925,000 after purchasing an additional 424,235 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC bought a new position in Atmos Energy during the 1st quarter valued at $65,333,000. Clark Capital Management Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 2,713.2% during the 1st quarter. Clark Capital Management Group Inc. now owns 305,769 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $47,266,000 after acquiring an additional 294,900 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 24.3% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 1,317,500 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $203,659,000 after acquiring an additional 257,341 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 93.8% in the 1st quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 444,464 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $68,705,000 after acquiring an additional 215,157 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Atmos Energy stock opened at $178.73 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $28.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.55, a PEG ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.73. Atmos Energy Corporation has a one year low of $136.05 and a one year high of $180.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.25. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $171.18 and a 200-day moving average price of $162.45.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.06. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.00% and a net margin of 25.05%.The business had revenue of $754.64 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $726.97 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.08 EPS. Atmos Energy has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.150-8.350 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 24th will be given a dividend of $1.00 per share. This is an increase from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.87. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 24th. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 53.40%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on ATO shares. TD Cowen raised shares of Atmos Energy to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Mizuho increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $164.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, September 26th. Bank of America reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $185.00 price target (up from $182.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $167.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $163.00 price objective (down previously from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $170.44.

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.