Kestra Investment Management LLC Acquires Shares of 2,211 Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 2,211 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $307,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in ATO. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY grew its position in Atmos Energy by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY now owns 30,179 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $3,520,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the period. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC raised its position 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 valued at $320,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 1.4% in the third quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 5,973 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $829,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares during the period. Wedbush Securities Inc. lifted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 3.9% in the second quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 2,328 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $272,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the period. Finally, EP Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Atmos Energy by 5.4% in the 2nd quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,880 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $219,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

NYSE:ATO opened at $148.58 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $142.62 and a two-hundred day moving average of $130.29. Atmos Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $110.46 and a 12 month high of $152.65. The firm has a market cap of $23.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be paid a $0.87 dividend. 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 2.34%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 50.66%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lifted their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $147.69.

Insider Buying and Selling at Atmos Energy

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser acquired 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The stock was bought at an average price of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at approximately $377,003.78. The trade was a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.