Morgan Stanley Lowers Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) Price Target to $143.00

Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO) had its price objective cut by equities researchers at Morgan Stanley from $145.00 to $143.00 in a report issued on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an “overweight” rating on the utilities provider’s stock. Morgan Stanley’s price objective suggests a potential downside of 4.70% from the stock’s previous close.

Several other analysts have also commented on ATO. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, August 15th. StockNews.com raised shares of Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $144.31.

Atmos Energy Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of ATO stock opened at $150.05 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.84, a P/E/G ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $141.02 and its 200 day moving average is $128.79. Atmos Energy has a 12-month low of $110.46 and a 12-month high of $151.24.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Edward Geiser bought 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 acquisition, the director now owns 2,602 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $377,003.78. This represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Atmos Energy

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Atria Investments Inc raised its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 31,399 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $4,355,000 after acquiring an additional 402 shares in the last quarter. Swedbank AB raised its stake in Atmos Energy by 565.3% during the second quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 40,621 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $4,738,000 after purchasing an additional 34,515 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. lifted its position in Atmos Energy by 3.6% during the second quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 419,721 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $48,960,000 after purchasing an additional 14,440 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 7.5% in the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 323,614 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $37,750,000 after buying an additional 22,531 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board increased its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 52.2% in the 2nd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 25,568 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,983,000 after buying an additional 8,774 shares during the last quarter. 90.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.