Dai ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd Sells 5,580 Shares of Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Dai ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd decreased its position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 15.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 30,498 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 5,580 shares during the quarter. Dai ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $4,230,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of ATO. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $37,000. PFS Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $69,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 75.6% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 778 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $91,000 after purchasing an additional 335 shares during the period. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 158.3% in the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 997 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $116,000 after purchasing an additional 611 shares during the period. Finally, Lummis Asset Management LP raised its stake in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 376 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Atmos Energy

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser acquired 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The shares were purchased at an average price 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $377,003.78. This represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

NYSE:ATO opened at $150.32 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $141.25 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $129.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.88, a P/E/G ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.68. Atmos Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $110.46 and a 12-month high of $151.24.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be paid a $0.87 dividend. This is a positive change from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.32%. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.87%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com raised Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $143.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Barclays lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. 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, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Atmos Energy from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Atmos Energy has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $144.31.

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.