Arvest Bank Trust Division Makes New $8.87 Million Investment in Atmos Energy Corporation $ATO

Arvest Bank Trust Division acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO) during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 57,532 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $8,866,000.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy in the fourth quarter valued at $233,000. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 6.7% in the 1st quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 39,745 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $6,144,000 after acquiring an additional 2,510 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 8,500 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,314,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 9,610 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,485,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sigma Planning Corp lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 16.5% during the first quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 3,963 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $613,000 after purchasing an additional 561 shares during the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:ATO opened at $178.01 on Friday. 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 stock has a market cap of $28.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.45, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.73. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 1-year low of $136.05 and a 1-year high of $180.65. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $171.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $162.66.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.06. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.05% and a return on equity of 9.00%. The business had revenue of $754.64 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $726.97 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.08 earnings per share. Atmos Energy has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.150-8.350 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 8th. Investors of record on Monday, November 24th will be issued a dividend of $1.00 per share. This is a boost from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.87. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 24th. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 53.40%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ATO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Atmos Energy from $167.00 to $181.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Argus set a $172.00 target price on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Thursday, September 18th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b+)” rating on shares of Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $163.00 price target (down from $171.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, August 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average 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.