Global Retirement Partners LLC Grows Position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its stake in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,973 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $829,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 10.6% during the 3rd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 4,438 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $616,000 after acquiring an additional 424 shares during the last quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $221,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 21,224 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,944,000 after acquiring an additional 742 shares during the last quarter. Asset Dedication LLC lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 7.5% during the 3rd quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 2,026 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $281,000 after acquiring an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Creative Planning lifted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 34,491 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $4,784,000 after acquiring an additional 663 shares during the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of ATO stock opened at $143.26 on Monday. Atmos Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $105.44 and a 1-year high of $144.32. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $134.92 and its 200 day moving average price is $124.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.73 and a quick ratio of 1.57. The company has a market cap of $21.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.68.

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The utilities provider reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.03. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 8.94% and a net margin of 25.09%. The firm had revenue of $701.55 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $924.75 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.94 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Atmos Energy Co. will post 6.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Atmos Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 9th. Investors of record on Monday, August 26th were paid a dividend of $0.805 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 26th. This represents a $3.22 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.25%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.28%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on ATO shares. Barclays raised their price target on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. StockNews.com lowered Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $128.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set a “hold” rating and a $155.00 target price for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $143.94.

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.