Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Raised to Buy at Argus

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) was upgraded by research analysts at Argus from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday, MarketBeat.com reports. The firm currently has a $150.00 price target on the utilities provider’s stock. Argus’ price target points to a potential upside of 7.38% from the stock’s current price.

Several other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on ATO. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price target for the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH increased their price objective 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. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Bank of America began coverage on Atmos Energy in a research report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $156.00 price target on the stock. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Atmos Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $148.75.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:ATO opened at $139.69 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $143.40 and a 200-day moving average of $132.73. The firm has a market cap of $21.71 billion, a PE ratio of 20.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.94. Atmos Energy has a twelve month low of $110.46 and a twelve month high of $152.65.

Insider Activity at Atmos Energy

In related news, Director Edward Geiser purchased 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $144.89 per share, for a total transaction of $362,225.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at $377,003.78. This trade represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Dunhill Financial LLC raised its stake in Atmos Energy by 1,542.9% in the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 230 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the second quarter valued at about $37,000. PFS Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $69,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 17.9% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 917 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $127,000 after buying an additional 139 shares during the period. Finally, Lummis Asset Management LP grew its stake in Atmos Energy by 50.0% in the 2nd quarter. Lummis Asset Management LP now owns 1,128 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $132,000 after buying an additional 376 shares during the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.