Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Director Purchases $362,225.00 in Stock

Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Director Edward Geiser purchased 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 completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at approximately $377,003.78. The trade was a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link.

Atmos Energy Stock Down 1.5 %

Shares of Atmos Energy stock opened at $144.37 on Friday. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $110.46 and a 1-year high of $148.39. The company has a market capitalization of $22.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.01, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.68. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $139.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $127.47. 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 Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be issued a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.41%. This is an increase from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 46.87%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have weighed in on ATO shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, August 15th. Barclays raised their price target on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Atmos Energy from $128.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $143.94.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Atmos Energy

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. raised its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 3,122 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $371,000 after buying an additional 131 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 154.8% during the 1st quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 28,884 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $3,433,000 after purchasing an additional 17,546 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. boosted its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. now owns 3,225 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $383,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 51.0% in the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 116,401 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $13,832,000 after purchasing an additional 39,289 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Entropy Technologies LP lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 192.1% during the first quarter. Entropy Technologies LP now owns 16,066 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,910,000 after purchasing an additional 10,566 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

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.