Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC Has $1.41 Million Stock Position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 0.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,147 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 87 shares during the quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $1,407,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ATO. Dunhill Financial LLC raised its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 1,542.9% during the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 230 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares during the period. PFS Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $69,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in 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. Lummis Asset Management LP lifted its stake in Atmos Energy by 50.0% in the second 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Allworth Financial LP boosted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 50.8% in the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 992 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $138,000 after buying an additional 334 shares during the period. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Atmos Energy Stock Up 0.4 %

NYSE:ATO opened at $141.23 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. Atmos Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $110.46 and a twelve month high of $152.65. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $142.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $135.59.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th were given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This is a positive change from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.46%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 50.66%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Atmos Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued a “hold” rating and a $155.00 price target on the stock. Barclays upped their price objective on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, Argus raised Atmos Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price target for the company in a research report on Friday, December 20th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $148.75.

Insider Buying and Selling at Atmos Energy

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser purchased 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,602 shares in the company, valued at $377,003.78. This represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.48% of the company’s stock.

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.