Advisors Asset Management Inc. Has $1.53 Million Stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Advisors Asset Management Inc. reduced its holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 22.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 11,020 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 3,252 shares during the quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $1,529,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,550,227 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $180,834,000 after purchasing an additional 19,981 shares during the period. Cooke & Bieler LP lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 4.6% in the second quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP now owns 1,521,696 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $177,506,000 after buying an additional 66,345 shares during the period. Sfmg LLC grew its position in Atmos Energy by 0.9% during the second quarter. Sfmg LLC now owns 1,059,221 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $123,558,000 after buying an additional 9,253 shares in the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC increased its stake in Atmos Energy by 36.7% during the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 730,759 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $85,240,000 after acquiring an additional 196,163 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in Atmos Energy by 18.9% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 710,826 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $82,918,000 after acquiring an additional 113,109 shares in the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

NYSE ATO opened at $150.13 on Tuesday. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $110.46 and a 1-year high of $151.24. The company has a 50 day moving average of $141.02 and a 200-day moving average of $128.90. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm has a market cap of $23.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.85, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.68.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be given a $0.87 dividend. This is an increase from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.32%. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is presently 46.87%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the completion of 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 position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH boosted their price objective on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. StockNews.com raised shares of Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price objective on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $144.31.

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.