Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund Sells 270 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund lowered its stake in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 4,596 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 270 shares during the quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $638,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 11.9% during the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 2,605 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $361,000 after buying an additional 277 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC increased its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 4,704 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $652,000 after acquiring an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 62,503 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $8,670,000 after acquiring an additional 1,092 shares during the period. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Atmos Energy by 3.7% during the third quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,307 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $320,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Atmos Energy by 9.7% in the third quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 4,234 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $587,000 after purchasing an additional 373 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 1.4 %

ATO opened at $146.97 on Tuesday. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $110.46 and a 1-year high of $148.39. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $139.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $127.90. The company has a current ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a market capitalization of $22.81 billion, a PE ratio of 21.39, a PEG ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.68.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. This is an increase from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.37%. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is 46.87%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The shares were bought at an average price of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction of $362,225.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at $377,003.78. This represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ATO has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lifted 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. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a “hold” rating and a $155.00 target price for the company. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $143.94.

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.