Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Shares Bought by Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc

Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc raised its holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 3.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,921 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the period. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $407,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 12.7% during the 3rd quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 9,540 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,323,000 after buying an additional 1,074 shares during the last quarter. Greenleaf Trust increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 7.7% during the 3rd quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 2,438 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $338,000 after buying an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $367,000. Allworth Financial LP increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 50.8% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 992 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $138,000 after buying an additional 334 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 8,700 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,207,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

NYSE:ATO opened at $149.87 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.43. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $141.95 and a two-hundred day moving average of $139.86. The stock has a market cap of $23.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.35, a PEG ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.72. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $110.97 and a 1-year high of $152.65.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.03. Atmos Energy had a net margin of 25.90% and a return on equity of 8.89%. On average, research analysts expect that Atmos Energy Co. will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.32%. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is 49.57%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ATO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Mizuho upped their price objective on Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Bank of America began coverage on Atmos Energy in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $156.00 price target for the company. Argus upgraded Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price target for the company in a report on Friday, December 20th. StockNews.com downgraded Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $148.75.

Atmos Energy 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.