Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) Shares Bought by Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. grew its holdings in Atmos Energy Co. (NYSE:ATO) by 1.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 35,918 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 640 shares during the period. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.’s holdings in Atmos Energy were worth $4,982,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in ATO. Sustainable Insight Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the third quarter worth about $1,068,000. Atria Investments Inc increased its position in 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 purchasing an additional 402 shares during the period. PFS Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Atmos Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $69,000. Assetmark Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Atmos Energy by 10.0% in the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 56,632 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $7,855,000 after buying an additional 5,126 shares during the period. Finally, CWA Asset Management Group LLC acquired a new position in Atmos Energy during the third quarter worth $297,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Atmos Energy

In other news, Director Edward Geiser acquired 2,500 shares of Atmos Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $144.89 per share, with a total value of $362,225.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 2,602 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $377,003.78. This represents a 2,450.98 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ATO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays raised their target price on Atmos Energy from $129.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Atmos Energy from $134.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated 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 upped their price target on Atmos Energy from $144.00 to $150.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com raised Atmos Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $143.94.

Atmos Energy Stock Performance

Atmos Energy stock opened at $144.37 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a current ratio of 1.73. Atmos Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $110.46 and a fifty-two week high of $148.39. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $139.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of $127.47. The company has a market capitalization of $22.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.01, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.68.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 9th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be paid a $0.87 dividend. 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. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.41%. Atmos Energy’s payout ratio is presently 46.87%.

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.