Blueshift Asset Management LLC Grows Stock Holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO)

Blueshift Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 29.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,520 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 792 shares during the quarter. Blueshift Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $488,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Partners Group Holding AG grew its position in Atmos Energy by 7.6% in the 3rd quarter. Partners Group Holding AG now owns 329,015 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $45,638,000 after acquiring an additional 23,306 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its stake in shares of Atmos Energy by 11.2% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 58,229 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $8,077,000 after purchasing an additional 5,884 shares during the period. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Atmos Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $225,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its stake in Atmos Energy by 12.0% during the 3rd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 114,776 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $15,921,000 after buying an additional 12,269 shares during the period. Finally, DRW Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Atmos Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,000,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Atmos Energy Price Performance

Atmos Energy stock opened at $151.42 on Thursday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $141.79 and a two-hundred day moving average of $129.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.94. The company has a market cap of $23.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.68. Atmos Energy Co. has a one year low of $110.46 and a one year high of $152.65.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.30%. This is an increase from Atmos Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. Atmos Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 50.66%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com raised Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target 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. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH boosted their price objective on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Mizuho raised their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $148.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Atmos Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $147.69.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Edward Geiser purchased 2,500 shares of Atmos Energy stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The shares were bought 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 directly owns 2,602 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $377,003.78. This trade 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 available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.50% 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.