Amarillo National Bank Raises Holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Amarillo National Bank lifted its stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 7.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 33,821 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 2,468 shares during the quarter. Atmos Energy makes up 0.9% of Amarillo National Bank’s holdings, making the stock its 21st largest position. Amarillo National Bank’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $4,691,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 200.0% in the first quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. now owns 288 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the second quarter worth about $37,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 75.6% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 778 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $91,000 after buying an additional 335 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 248.5% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 805 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $96,000 after buying an additional 574 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 158.3% in the second quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 997 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $116,000 after buying an additional 611 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

NYSE ATO opened at $140.72 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $21.23 billion, a PE ratio of 21.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.68. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $136.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $125.13. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $105.44 and a 1-year high of $144.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.73 and a quick ratio of 1.57.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The utilities provider reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $701.55 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $924.75 million. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.94% and a net margin of 25.09%. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.94 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Co. will post 6.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 9th. Investors of record on Monday, August 26th were issued a $0.805 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 26th. This represents a $3.22 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.29%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.28%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a “hold” rating and a $155.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $128.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. StockNews.com downgraded Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH increased their price target on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $143.94.

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.